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International Myeloma Foundation: Dr. Wee Joo Chng to Receive Asian Myeloma Network Distinguished Service Award at the 10th AMN Summit in Shanghai
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California, Oct. 17 -- The International Myeloma Foundation issued the following news:
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Dr. Wee Joo Chng to Receive Asian Myeloma Network Distinguished Service Award at the 10th AMN Summit in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, Oct. 16, 2026 -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will be holding the Asian Myeloma Network (AMN) awards ceremony on Saturday, October 17, during the 10th Annual AMN Summit in Shanghai, China from October 15-18, 2026.
This year's 10th Annual AMN Summit will be Asia's largest gathering ever of myeloma specialists, along with patients and caregivers.
Launched
... Show Full Article
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, California, Oct. 17 -- The International Myeloma Foundation issued the following news:
* * *
Dr. Wee Joo Chng to Receive Asian Myeloma Network Distinguished Service Award at the 10th AMN Summit in Shanghai
SHANGHAI, Oct. 16, 2026 -- The International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) will be holding the Asian Myeloma Network (AMN) awards ceremony on Saturday, October 17, during the 10th Annual AMN Summit in Shanghai, China from October 15-18, 2026.
This year's 10th Annual AMN Summit will be Asia's largest gathering ever of myeloma specialists, along with patients and caregivers.
Launchedin 2023 by the AMN Executive Committee, the Asian Myeloma Network Distinguished Service Award recognizes and honors the lifelong achievements of deserving AMN myeloma specialists, who have made a considerable impact in the field of myeloma research, clinical trials, and patient support.
This year's AMN Distinguished Service Awardee is Wee Joo Chng, MB ChB, PhD, FRCP (UK), FRCPath (UK), FAMS.
Dr. Chng is the Chairman of the Asian Myeloma Network; a member of the IMF Scientific Advisory Board; Vice President of Biomedical Sciences Research, Office of the Deputy President at the National University of Singapore; Yong Loo Lin Professor in Medical Oncology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore; Senior Consultant, Division of Haematology, Department of Haematology-Oncology at the National University Cancer Institute; and Group Chief Scientist at the National University Health System.
Dr. Chng obtained his medical degree from the University of Leeds, UK, and did his internal medicine residency in the United Kingdom.
He completed his fellowship training in hematology in Singapore, prior to receiving an A*STAR international fellowship in 2004 in multiple myeloma genetics at the Mayo Clinic.
Currently, Dr. Chng is highly involved in translational research -- particularly, in the use of high-resolution global genomic techniques to understand biology, identify drug targets, understand drug resistance, and improve disease prognosis in hematological malignancies, with the ultimate goals of improving patient outcomes and personalizing treatment.
Dr. Chng has received numerous awards in the field of myeloma, including the 2021 Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Graduate Mentor of the Year (GRAMAY) Award; 2020 Brian G.M. Durie Outstanding Achievement Award; 2020 National Day Awards - Public Administration Silver Medal; 2017 NUS YYL SOM Outstanding Researcher of the Year Award; 2017 NMRC Senior Translational (STaR) Research Award; 2016 26th Seah Cheng Siang Memorial Lecture; and the 2016 NMEA National Outstanding Clinician-Scientist Award.
He has co-authored a number of publications, with some of his notable work published in prestigious medical journals such as Leukemia, Haematologica, Blood, Cancer Research, and Blood Cancer Journal.
Dr. Chng has professional memberships in numerous organizations, including the American Society of Haematology (ASH), American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG), and the Singapore Society of Haematology.
"It is a real honor to receive this award. It has been a real privilege to be trusted by the International Myeloma Foundation and all my colleagues at the Asian Myeloma Network to lead the AMN. One of the biggest joys in my career so far has been the opportunity to work with my colleagues to make impact on the lives of myeloma patients in Asia, to develop the next generation of myeloma experts, to provide an avenue for the voice of Asian myeloma patients to be heard and all wild establishing strong friendships across the countries and regions. We are by no means done. Expect more to come!" said Dr. Chng.
"Dr. Chng has been instrumental in advancing myeloma research and care throughout Asia, while also making important contributions to the field globally," said S. Vincent Rajkumar, MD, Chair of the International Myeloma Working Group and Chair of the IMF Board of Directors. "His scientific leadership, commitment to collaboration, and dedication to developing the Asian Myeloma Network have helped create an increasingly strong platform for research, clinical trials, physician education, and improved patient care across the region. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition."
"Dr. Chng embodies the spirit of the Distinguished Service Award because his impact extends far beyond his own extraordinary scientific accomplishments," said Heather Cooper Ortner, President and CEO of the International Myeloma Foundation. "He has invested in building a community of clinicians, researchers, and leaders across Asia who are working together to improve the lives of people with myeloma. Under his leadership, the Asian Myeloma Network has grown into an important force for collaboration, education, research, and patient support. The IMF is incredibly proud to recognize Dr. Chng for his years of service and for the lasting impact he continues to have on the myeloma community throughout Asia and around the world."
"Prof. Chng has been a central figure in the AMN since its inception. For several years he led the AMN clinical trial work and was responsible for many AMN initiatives, including the AMN Tissue Bank project and the creation of the AMN Young Investigators Committee. Now as the Chair of the AMN, Prof. Chng is leading the network to new heights. He is very much deserving of this recognition," said IMF Senior Vice President of Global Affairs Daniel Navid.
"The AMN Distinguished Service Award is an important milestone in the continued development of this important regional initiative. The AMN's body of work--including clinical trials, basic myeloma research, physician training, and patient support--is becoming increasingly recognized. The AMN Distinguished Service Award provides a spotlight to honor leading Asian myeloma specialists," said Daniel about this award.
IMF Executive Vice President of Research and Operations Lisa Paik and IMF SVP of Global Affairs Daniel Navid will be presenting the award to AMN Chairman Dr. Wee Joo Chng on Saturday, October 17, during the 2026 AMN Summit Award Dinner.
To learn more about the Asian Myeloma Network and its annual summit and programs, visit myeloma.org/asian-myeloma-network.
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ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of the bone marrow plasma cells -- white blood cells that make antibodies. A cancerous or malignant plasma cell is called a myeloma cell. Myeloma is called "multiple" because there are frequently multiple patches or areas in bone where it grows. It often involves damage to bone and kidneys. Multiple myeloma is still incurable, but great progress has been made in terms of survival over the last two decades. The disease is twice as common and is diagnosed at a younger age in African Americans than white Americans. The most common presenting symptoms include fatigue and bone pain.
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ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MYELOMA FOUNDATION
Founded in 1990, the International Myeloma Foundation (IMF) is the world's leading organization dedicated to multiple myeloma. The IMF is steadfast in its mission: accelerating the prevention and cure of myeloma and improving the quality of life for patients and families.
The IMF serves people impacted by myeloma at every stage of the disease by combining world-class research, trusted education, global advocacy, and direct support. A cornerstone of this work is the International Myeloma Working Group(R) (IMWG)--a network of more than 380 internationally renowned researchers and clinicians who establish the guidelines that shape how myeloma is diagnosed, treated, and managed across the globe.
Through its global network of support groups, educational programs, its 24/7 generative-AI myeloma assistant Myelo(R), its InfoLine, and its advocacy for greater healthcare access, the IMF helps people living with myeloma and their care partners navigate diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. At the same time, the IMF ensures scientific advances translate into better care and outcomes.
Learn more at www.myeloma.org or contact the IMF InfoLine at (800) 452-CURE (2873) (U.S. & Canada), +1 (818) 487-7455 (worldwide), or infoline@myeloma.org.
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Original text here: https://www.myeloma.org/dr-wee-joo-chng-receive-asian-myeloma-network-distinguished-service-award-10th-amn-summit-shanghai
Reason Foundation: Kratom Use by Students Does Not Mean Kratom Caused Deaths at Ole Miss
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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Kratom use by students does not mean kratom caused deaths at Ole Miss
Outlawing more products will not prevent deaths like those at Ole Miss. But regulating them and enforcing those rules might.
Michelle Minton
Managing Director
October 15, 2026
University officials have urged the public to avoid speculating about the circumstances that led to the deaths of two students at the University of Mississippi, or "Ole Miss," following news that both potentially used kratom products prior to their deaths.
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 16 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news:
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Kratom use by students does not mean kratom caused deaths at Ole Miss
Outlawing more products will not prevent deaths like those at Ole Miss. But regulating them and enforcing those rules might.
Michelle Minton
Managing Director
October 15, 2026
University officials have urged the public to avoid speculating about the circumstances that led to the deaths of two students at the University of Mississippi, or "Ole Miss," following news that both potentially used kratom products prior to their deaths.Some media outlets have linked the deaths to kratom use anyway, adding to the pressure on local and federal lawmakers to ban all kratom products. Tragic as these deaths are, the use of kratom by these students does not mean that kratom caused their deaths and policymakers should not rashly institute prohibitions that are unlikely to prevent deaths like this in the future.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found dead on Sept. 21, reportedly with similar packages of kratom products nearby. It is not yet clear exactly what these products contained, whether either had been using those products when they died, or what else they may have taken. Autopsy and post-mortem toxicology reports have not yet been made public.
Based on the packaging, these products likely contained at least mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MGPI) and dihydro-7-hydroxymitragynine, known as MGM-15. Both have been classified as controlled substances since August 2026 when the Drug Enforcement Agency moved to temporarily list these and other derivatives of kratom under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.
These are not the traditional preparations of kratom, the colloquial name given to a variety of products derived from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree. In Southeast Asia, where kratom trees grow, people typically chew kratom leaves or brew them into a tea that can alleviate pain, boost energy, or help alleviate opioid cravings and withdrawal. With traditional preparations, users primarily ingest mitragynine--the plant's most abundant alkaloid. Some of that mitragynine is then converted by the liver into its more potent metabolite, 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)--a minor alkaloid found in only trace amounts in the plant itself--which is believed to produce most of the plant's pain-relieving effects.
Since gaining popularity in Europe and the U.S., kratom manufacturers have learned how to isolate the alkaloids in kratom extracts, allowing manufacturers to add an unlimited amount of those minor alkaloids, like 7-OH, into gummies, shots, capsules, or tablets to create more potent "concentrated" products. While traditional kratom preparations have been used for generations in Southeast Asian countries with few adverse events reported, concentrated kratom products have received significant media and regulatory attention in the U.S. due to several high-profile incidents of adverse effects. Most, but not all, of these incidents can be traced to poor manufacturing processes, such as contamination with salmonella or heavy metals, or to illicit suppliers who have laced kratom products with other substances, like opioids.
Even aside from poor manufacturing processes or intentional adulteration, these products still carry risk. For example, the evidence is clear that mixing kratom with other substances is a bad idea. While lower doses of kratom leaves can be stimulating, higher doses cause sedation. Taking kratom alongside other depressants, like alcohol, cold medicine, or a range of prescription medications, may compound that sedative effect.
Mixing kratom with other medications can lead to another potentially dangerous side effect. Many of kratom's alkaloids have been shown to bind to and inhibit the liver enzymes needed to metabolize many common prescriptions and over-the-counter medications. This is similar to how grapefruit juice can alter medication metabolism and why labels on many medications caution against mixing that medication with grapefruit juice. Combining kratom with such medications can lead to a toxic build-up of the medication because the body cannot clear it from the bloodstream quickly enough.
According to statements made by their roommates, both students were regular users of other drugs. Hamilton was supposedly a frequent cannabis user while Strang was reportedly a daily user of "whippets," or nitrous oxide, and had consumed a "Xanax bar" in the hours leading up to his death. The possible use of Xanax--a central nervous system depressant--alongside kratom is especially concerning, as kratom is known to inhibit the precise enzyme the body uses to metabolize that medication.
Despite these risks, deaths linked to kratom remain exceedingly rate in the U.S., even for concentrated products. Moreover, nearly all those deaths involve the use of additional substances. Since 2019, federal officials have identified just 85 overdose cases related to concentrated 7-OH products, 55 of which were fatal, with many involving the co-ingestion of opioids. Similarly, when researchers examined all fatal overdoses between 2016 and 2017--more than 127,000 deaths--they identified only 152 where post-mortem toxicology found kratom in their systems. Of these, only in seven cases was kratom the only substance found in their system. Nearly all people who have died while using kratom had also consumed far more dangerous substances like heroin or cocaine.
This is not to say that kratom is safe or that it played no role in the deaths at Ole Miss. The death of two students is tragic and deserves a thorough investigation. But that investigation must answer whether the specific kratom products involved caused their deaths, not simply whether the students used them. That question cannot be answered until toxicology and autopsy reports are made public and the products they used have been analyzed. What we know so far seems to paint a more complex picture.
Both students allegedly used other substances, with claims that one had been using depressants with known kratom interactions. The product involved--reportedly the same brand purchased by both students--was illicitly purchased, raising questions about its quality and ingredients, and overdoses involving kratom rarely involve kratom alone.
It is likely that toxicology reports will show that one or both of the students were using kratom at the time of their deaths. This will undoubtedly lead to demands for a total prohibition on kratom products, as Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has already called for following the deaths. But, while the rush to blame kratom is understandable, this urge is not evidence-based and won't prevent tragedies like this in the future.
There are currently an estimated five million adults who use kratom in the U.S. Surveys indicate that a substantial portion of them use kratomto wean themselves off opioids. Outlawing all kratom products will not eliminate this demand. Instead, some kratom consumers will return to opioids or turn to illicit suppliers of kratom--suppliers with no incentive to comply with regulations or age restrictions. In addition to putting those adults at even greater risk, the proliferation of illicit kratom dealers may perversely increase youth access to those products and whatever else illicit dealers may be selling.
The better solution is to regulate kratom products to ensure they are produced through safe manufacturing processes for adults and kept away from youth. Mississippi already restricts sales of kratom products to those 21 years or older. It was already against the law in Mississippi for Hamilton and Strang to have purchased kratom. Mississippi law also limits the allowable concentrations of alkaloids, like 7-OH, and bans synthesized alkaloids, functionally outlawing concentrated kratom products.
Whether or not the students' deaths were caused in whole or part by kratom, no retailer should have sold them any type of kratom due to their age. The suspected products involved should not have been sold to anyone based on their ingredients, which are prohibited under both Mississippi and federal law. Outlawing more products will not prevent deaths like those at Ole Miss. But regulating them and enforcing those rules might.
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Michelle Minton is the managing director of drug policy at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/kratom-use-by-students-does-not-mean-kratom-caused-deaths-at-ole-miss/
How Do Georgia Constitutional Amendments Work?
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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How Do Georgia Constitutional Amendments Work?
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When Georgians go to the polls on November 3, they'll vote on three proposed changes to the state constitution. Most voters know what a law is. Fewer know how the constitution gets changed, or why the final decision lies with voters. Here's a quick guide.
Q: What is a constitutional amendment?
A: It's a change to Georgia's constitution, the state's top-level rulebook. Every law the General Assembly passes has to fit inside the constitution.
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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How Do Georgia Constitutional Amendments Work?
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When Georgians go to the polls on November 3, they'll vote on three proposed changes to the state constitution. Most voters know what a law is. Fewer know how the constitution gets changed, or why the final decision lies with voters. Here's a quick guide.
Q: What is a constitutional amendment?
A: It's a change to Georgia's constitution, the state's top-level rulebook. Every law the General Assembly passes has to fit inside the constitution.Amending it takes two steps: lawmakers propose the change, and voters decide whether to adopt it.
Q: Is this direct democracy, like a citizen initiative?
A: In some states, such as California and Florida, citizens can gather signatures to put their own proposals on the ballot. Georgia uses legislative referrals rather than citizens' initiatives. Only the legislature can place an amendment on the ballot, and voters decide whether it passes.
Q: How does an amendment get on the ballot?
A: It follows these steps:
* A legislator introduces a resolution, not a regular bill.
* Two-thirds of the members of each chamber must vote yes on a recorded roll-call vote. That's at least 120 of 180 House members and 38 of 56 senators.
* The governor's approval is not required. The constitution says the governor cannot veto a proposed amendment.
* The amendment goes on the ballot at the next general election in an even-numbered year.
* If a simple majority of voters say yes, the amendment becomes part of the Constitution.
Q: Is that all it takes?
A: No. Many amendments only give permission. For example, an amendment might say the legislature "may" create a fund. The details still have to be written into an ordinary law, called enabling legislation. That bill requires a simple majority of each chamber and goes through the ordinary legislative process, including review by the governor.
Q: How can voters learn what they're voting on?
A: A: The Attorney General, the Legislative Counsel and the Secretary of State prepare plain-language summaries. These are published in newspapers in the weeks before the election, and the full text is available at every county probate court. The Secretary of State also posts the summaries online. On the ballot itself, voters see only a short yes-or-no question, so it pays to read up ahead of time.
Q: Why amend the constitution instead of just passing a law?
A: A law can't override the constitution. If the constitution forbids something, or puts a decision out of lawmakers' reach, the only way forward is an amendment. Georgia's constitution is far more detailed than the U.S. Constitution. It covers taxes, budgets, schools, courts and local government in fine detail. Common reasons for amending it include:
* The constitution forbids it. Georgia's constitution generally bars "earmarking," which means locking a tax or fee into a single use. Existing exceptions allow some dedicated state funds, but a proposal that falls outside those exceptions requires an amendment.
* A court struck down a law. In 2011, the Georgia Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that a state law creating state charter schools violated the constitution's provision on local control of schools. Lawmakers responded with a 2012 amendment to allow the state to approve charter schools, which voters approved 58.6% to 41.4%.
* The constitution is very precise about it. The constitution includes specific numbers, like acreage caps for certain tax breaks. Changing them takes an amendment.
* Lawmakers want it to last. A future legislature can repeal a law with a simple majority. An amendment can only be undone by another amendment, which takes two-thirds of the legislature and a statewide vote. For example, in 2014 voters approved an amendment barring lawmakers from raising the income tax rate above 6%. The top rate was already 6%, so nothing changed at the time, but it made a future tax hike much harder.
Q: Haven't Georgians always voted on lots of amendments?
A: Yes, and it used to be more common. By the mid-1970s, Georgia's constitution was the longest in the nation, with more than 800 amendments. Many were local amendments that applied to just one county, city or school district. Changing a local rule often meant amending the state constitution.
A 1976 revision under Gov. George Busbee reorganized the document but changed little. A full rewrite followed: lLawmakers approved a new constitution in 1981, voters ratified it on November 2, 1982, and it took effect July 1, 1983. Its biggest reform was banning new local amendments. Local matters are now handled by ordinary local laws or local home-rule ordinances.
Q: How often has the current constitution been amended?
A: The 1983 constitution had been amended 93 times through 2024. Most amendments pass, since a proposal that wins two-thirds of both chambers usually has support from both parties. But voters do say no. In 2016, they rejected Gov. Nathan Deal's Opportunity School District amendment, which would have allowed a state takeover of chronically failing schools, 60% to 40%.
Q: What's on the ballot this year?
A: Three amendments:
* Amendment 1 would raise the cap on farm and timber land eligible for conservation-use property tax treatment from 2,000 to 4,000 acres.
* Amendment 2 would require probate judges statewide to be elected in nonpartisan races.
* Amendment 3 would allow the legislature to create a dedicated Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund.
We take a closer look at each one in separate posts.
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Original text here: https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/how-do-georgia-constitutional-amendments-work/
Congress Should Fix USF, Not Just Save It, Says ITIF
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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Congress Should Fix USF, Not Just Save It, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON--Following the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that the Universal Service Fund's administrative structure violates federal law, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, ITIF's director of broadband and spectrum policy:
The Universal
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 [Category: Computer Technology]-- The Information Technology and Innovation Foundation posted the following news release:
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Congress Should Fix USF, Not Just Save It, Says ITIF
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WASHINGTON--Following the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that the Universal Service Fund's administrative structure violates federal law, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), the leading think tank for science and technology policy, released the following statement from Joe Kane, ITIF's director of broadband and spectrum policy:
The UniversalService Fund's structure is back in legal jeopardy. When Congress responds to the court's ruling, it should fix more than USF's administrative design. Congress should sunset the outdated High-Cost program and replace it with a more effective low-income benefit, funded with general revenue. Paired with a clear statutory basis for the fund's administration, those reforms would put USF on firm legal footing, do more to close the digital divide, and cost consumers less.
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Original text here: https://itif.org/publications/2026/10/16/congress-should-fix-usf-not-just-save-it-says-itif/
Boston Indicators Brief Explores Sharp Drop in Massachusetts Overdose Deaths, Warns Funding and Eligibility Cuts Could Reverse Trend
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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Boston Indicators brief explores sharp drop in Massachusetts overdose deaths, warns funding and eligibility cuts could reverse trend
October 15, 2026
Boston - New research from Boston Indicators, the research center at the Boston Foundation, explores the notable drop in opioid overdose deaths in 2025, but suggests that the recent decline could reverse in the face of federal funding cuts to addiction-related treatments, programs and services. The new research brief, Declining Opioid Overdose
... Show Full Article
BOSTON, Massachusetts, Oct. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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Boston Indicators brief explores sharp drop in Massachusetts overdose deaths, warns funding and eligibility cuts could reverse trend
October 15, 2026
Boston - New research from Boston Indicators, the research center at the Boston Foundation, explores the notable drop in opioid overdose deaths in 2025, but suggests that the recent decline could reverse in the face of federal funding cuts to addiction-related treatments, programs and services. The new research brief, Declining Opioid OverdoseDeaths in Massachusetts: Drivers, Risks, and What Comes Next, shows that Massachusetts' opioid overdose rates, which have been among the highest in the nation in recent years, have fallen by nearly 60 percent since peaking in 2022.
Read the full brief (https://www.bostonindicators.org/article-pages/2026/october/declining-opioid-overdose-deaths)
The brief notes that the sharp decline has been broad-based across racial, ethnic, and age groups, with death rates falling by 56 percent for Whites, 57 percent for Latinos, 68 percent for Blacks, and 73 percent for AAPI residents, just since 2022.
"We are still witnessing too many overdose deaths in the state, but the new data are encouraging after a decade that featured historically high overdose death rates," said Luc Schuster, Executive Director of Boston Indicators. "We must also be aware that some of the biggest drivers of the decline, including the wider availability of overdose treatments and programs, require constant investment and vigilance to continue this important trend."
The brief highlights three possible driving factors behind the recent sharp decline noted in a Massachusetts Department of Public Health report: changes in the drug supply and improved monitoring; a reduction in the pool of people at risk of fatal overdose; and expanded access to harm reduction and treatment, especially the expanded availability of naloxone to reverse dangerous overdoses.
Whether those driving factors and the recent decline can be maintained depends largely on sustaining investments in public health that the Trump administration has threatened to cut. Changes in Medicaid eligibility and new Medicaid work requirements under the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act, for example, could lead to thousands of Medicaid-enrolled adults in Massachusetts diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD) losing health coverage through inability to keep up with eligibility requirements or difficulty meeting new work requirements. If that loss of Medicaid leads to losing medication for managing OUD, research shows that people are six times more likely to die in the four weeks after they stop treatment.
Proposed cuts to federal agencies that administer substance abuse and mental health grants and other funding also weaken the ability to allocate resources to where they are most needed, and prohibitions on federal funds being used on substance test kits and other harm reduction supplies also have safety impacts. The Trump administration has also moved to cut funding and staff for government agencies in charge of data collection and overdose surveillance.
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Original text here: https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2026/october/boston-indicators-opioid-brief-release
Amendment 3: A Dedicated Fund for Next Generation 9-1-1
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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Amendment 3: A Dedicated Fund for Next Generation 9-1-1
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Q: What does Amendment 3 do?
A: It authorizes the General Assembly to create the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund by law and to dedicate specific revenues to it. Money in the fund could be used only to expand, maintain and operate 9-1-1 systems across the state, including the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1.
Q: What exactly will the ballot say?
A: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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Amendment 3: A Dedicated Fund for Next Generation 9-1-1
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Q: What does Amendment 3 do?
A: It authorizes the General Assembly to create the Georgia Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund by law and to dedicate specific revenues to it. Money in the fund could be used only to expand, maintain and operate 9-1-1 systems across the state, including the transition to Next Generation 9-1-1.
Q: What exactly will the ballot say?
A: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the GeneralAssembly to dedicate certain existing revenues, including revenues reallocated by law, to a nonlapsing fund to be used exclusively for the expansion, maintenance, and operation of emergency 9-1-1 systems in this state?"
Q: What is Next Generation 9-1-1?
A: Many 9-1-1 centers still run on technology built for landline voice calls. Next Generation 9-1-1 is a digital upgrade. It lets people reach 9-1-1 by voice, text and data, so dispatchers and first responders can receive photos or video before they arrive. It also makes it easier for 9-1-1 centers to share information and to locate callers more accurately.
Q: Why does this need a constitutional amendment?
A: Georgia's constitution generally prohibits "earmarking," meaning locking tax or fee revenue into one use. Normally, money flows into the state's general budget, and lawmakers decide each year how to spend it. A fund that can only be used by 9-1-1 services requires constitutional permission, and Amendment 3 provides it. Any appropriation from the fund for another purpose would be void, and unspent money wouldn't lapse back to the general budget at the end of the year.
Q: Does Amendment 3 create a new tax or fee?
A: No. The amendment itself doesn't create a tax or fee, set a dollar amount, or name the revenue sources. It only allows the legislature to create the fund and decide by law which revenues go into it. The ballot language says those can include existing revenues reallocated by law. The current 9-1-1 charge on phone bills is $1.50 a month. Approving the amendment would not change it by itself.
Q: Who would benefit?
A: Anyone who calls 9-1-1, along with the dispatchers and first responders who answer. Supporters, including lead author Rep. Chuck Martin, say a dedicated statewide fund would pay for upgrades like texting 9-1-1 and even out service from county to county. Today, local governments run Georgia's 9-1-1 centers, and many spend their own money on top of the fees they receive.
Q: Are there any downsides?
A: Dedicated funds reduce budget flexibility. Once money is in the fund, future legislatures couldn't redirect it to other needs, even in a budget crunch. If lawmakers move existing revenue into the fund, whatever currently receives that money could get less. The resolution doesn't identify any program that would lose funding or estimate how much money the fund would hold.
Q: How did lawmakers vote?
A: House Resolution 1243 passed the House 162-0 on March 4, 2026, and the Senate 49-0 in its final vote on March 31, 2026. Its authors included Rep. Chuck Martin and House Speaker Jon Burns, and Sen. Timothy Bearden carried it in the Senate.
Q: What does a yes or no vote mean?
* Yes: The legislature may create a dedicated Next Generation 9-1-1 Fund whose money can only be used for 9-1-1 systems.
* No: The constitution would not gain this new authorization. 9-1-1 funding continues under current arrangements.
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Original text here: https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/amendment-3-a-dedicated-fund-for-next-generation-9-1-1/
Amendment 2: Nonpartisan Elections for Probate Judges
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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Amendment 2: Nonpartisan Elections for Probate Judges
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Q: What does Amendment 2 do?
A: It would require every probate judge in Georgia to be elected in a nonpartisan election. Candidates would appear on the ballot without a "Republican" or "Democrat" label next to their names.
Q: What exactly will the ballot say?
A: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to require that all probate court judges be elected in nonpartisan elections?"
Q: What does a probate judge do?
A:
... Show Full Article
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 16 -- The Georgia Public Policy Foundation posted the following news release:
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Amendment 2: Nonpartisan Elections for Probate Judges
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Q: What does Amendment 2 do?
A: It would require every probate judge in Georgia to be elected in a nonpartisan election. Candidates would appear on the ballot without a "Republican" or "Democrat" label next to their names.
Q: What exactly will the ballot say?
A: "Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to require that all probate court judges be elected in nonpartisan elections?"
Q: What does a probate judge do?
A:Every Georgia county has a probate court. Probate judges handle wills and estates, guardianships and conservatorships, and involuntary commitments. They also issue marriage licenses and weapons carry licenses, and in some counties they hear traffic cases or run elections. For many Georgians, the probate court is the court they're most likely to deal with directly.
Q: How are other judges in Georgia elected?
A: Georgia's constitution already requires nonpartisan elections for Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, superior court judges and state court judges. A 2025 state law did the same for magistrates. That leaves probate judges as the only Georgia judges who can still be elected on a partisan basis, depending on the county. Amendment 2 would add one sentence to the constitution (Article VI, Section VII, Paragraph I) to cover them.
Q: Why does this need a constitutional amendment?
A: The constitution is where Georgia spells out which judges are chosen in nonpartisan races. Adding probate judges to that list sets a single statewide rule. Without it, the election format can vary from county to county under local laws.
Q: What are the arguments for it?
A: Supporters say judges should be impartial and that party labels don't belong in courtrooms. They also note that Georgia already treats nearly every other judgeship this way, so the change makes the system consistent.The proposal drew bipartisan support. Cherokee County Probate Judge Keith Wood and other judges testified in favor, and former Govs. Nathan Deal (R) and Roy Barnes (D) backed it in a letter to lawmakers. It passed the House 147-20 and the Senate 46-0.
Q: What are the arguments against it?
A: In down-ballot races, a party label is one of the few cues many voters have about a candidate. Removing it could leave some voters with less information when choosing a probate judge. Opponents in the Senate also argued that nonpartisan races, which Georgia holds alongside the May primaries, tend to draw fewer voters, and that partisan ballots already let voters hold judges accountable. There's a local-control argument, too: today a county can move its probate races to nonpartisan through a local act, and the amendment would replace that county-by-county choice with one statewide rule. Political parties also lose a way to identify their candidates, and local election offices would need to update ballots and voter guidance.
Q: Would it change probate judges' terms or duties?
A: No. Their term lengths stay governed by existing provisions of the constitution, and their duties and jurisdiction don't change. The amendment changes only how they're elected.
Q: How did lawmakers vote?
A: House Resolution 251 passed the House 147-20 on February 11, 2026. In the Senate, it took a reconsideration vote before final passage, 46-0, on March 31, 2026. Rep. Kimberly New was the lead author, and Sen. Brian Strickland carried it in the Senate.
Q: What does a yes or no vote mean?
* Yes: All probate judges would be elected in nonpartisan races.
* No: Probate judge elections stay as they are now, which is partisan in many counties.
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Original text here: https://www.georgiapolicy.org/news/amendment-2-nonpartisan-elections-for-probate-judges/ (TNSmlt)
