Featured Stories
Shapiro Administration Awards Downtown Nazareth New Main Street Designation
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 24 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued the following news:
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Shapiro Administration Awards Downtown Nazareth New Main Street Designation
October 23, 2026
This new designation through the Main Street Matters program enables the Nazareth Economic Development Commission to apply for up to $225,000 in supportive grant funding for revitalization efforts in the Northampton County borough.
In his 2026-2027 state budget, Governor Josh Shapiro secured another $20 million for the continued support of the Main Street Matters program.
Since
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, Oct. 24 -- The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development issued the following news:
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Shapiro Administration Awards Downtown Nazareth New Main Street Designation
October 23, 2026
This new designation through the Main Street Matters program enables the Nazareth Economic Development Commission to apply for up to $225,000 in supportive grant funding for revitalization efforts in the Northampton County borough.
In his 2026-2027 state budget, Governor Josh Shapiro secured another $20 million for the continued support of the Main Street Matters program.
Sincebeing created by Governor Shapiro in 2024, Main Street Matters has invested $34 million in 137 revitalization projects in communities across the Commonwealth.
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Nazareth, PA - Today, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger awarded downtown Nazareth a new Main Street designation through the Main Street Matters program, which provides downtown business districts with the support and tools they need to spur economic growth and create healthy, strong communities.
Governor Josh Shapiro secured $20 million to continue funding Main Street Matters in his 2026-27 state budget. A crucial component of Pennsylvania's 10-year Economic Development Strategy, Main Street Matters has invested $34 million in 137 revitalization projects in communities across the Commonwealth since it was created in 2024 by Governor Shapiro.
As part of today's announcement, Secretary Siger visited several small businesses in the Northampton County borough, including Bella Bean Coffee Shop, Let Them Eat Cake, and the Birthright Brewing Co.
"Today is an exciting day for Nazareth and the entire Lehigh Valley region," said Secretary Siger. "Through its new Main Street designation, Nazareth is eligible for additional resources and opportunity to revitalize its downtown corridor, boost local businesses, and improve the quality of life for residents. Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, downtowns across our Commonwealth are better positioned for economic growth and success."
As part of this new Main Street designation, the Nazareth Economic Development Commission (NEDC) can apply for up to $225,000 in supportive grant funding for revitalization efforts. The NEDC will implement its first-ever streetscape plan in the core commercial district. It will also establish a strategy that calls for decorative and functional pedestrian lighting, public art, unified street furniture, waste management, and creative and safe crosswalks.
"On behalf of the Nazareth Economic Development Commission, I am proud to share that Nazareth has been awarded Main Street Matters designation by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, joining just 19 communities across the Commonwealth selected for this distinction. This recognition is an important milestone for our community and an opportunity to build on the unique character, history, and entrepreneurial spirit that make Nazareth special," said Lori Bernardo, President of the Nazareth Economic Development Commission. "A vibrant downtown is essential to our local economy and quality of life. We look forward to building on this momentum, strengthening support for our small businesses, attracting new opportunities, and working alongside our Borough, business community, and residents to ensure a bright and sustainable future for downtown Nazareth. This designation is not simply a recognition of where we are today, but an investment in what we can accomplish together."
"It's exciting to see the initiatives come to light - by leveraging the creative energy of the community and by building from the existing pride to develop more unity and cohesion, Nazareth is becoming the place to be," said Julie Fitzpatrick, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Downtown Center. "As DCED's nonprofit partner and statewide coordinator for Main Street America, Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) will be there along this journey to make sure designation will elevate downtown. The Main Street model for community revitalization is designed to support communities of any size to encourage sustainable economic development and improve the quality of life for local residents so that the community becomes the best and most authentic version of itself. PDC looks forward to assisting the NEDC in their commitment to this initiative."
Main Street Matters funding supports community revitalization efforts in planning, business support, aesthetic improvements, and the increase of safety and security. Specific uses include planning activities, facade grant programs, business improvement grant programs, accessible housing programs, and district development grants.
Earlier this year, the Shapiro Administration awarded more than $17.2 million across 56 community projects that strengthen local economies and support downtown revitalization efforts. In its latest round of funding, Main Street Matters received more than 220 applications requesting more than $68 million - underscoring the need for sustained investment in Pennsylvania's Main Streets.
As part of the DCED-administered program, communities can also apply to become a designated Main Street or Elm Street. Designation creates the opportunity for targeted investment and development through the identification of specific needs for investment and/or the design, development, and implementation of a strategy to address those needs.
Since taking office, Governor Shapiro has made Pennsylvania more competitive -- attracting over $43 billion in private-sector investment while creating more than 29,000 good-paying jobs across the Commonwealth and earning national recognition.
The Governor's 2026-27 budget builds on this momentum by investing in long-term economic growth and ensuring communities across the Commonwealth can compete and win.
Learn more about the Shapiro Administration's efforts to support Pennsylvania's communities, workers, and businesses and spur the economy, to build a stronger, more competitive economy for all Pennsylvanians.
For more information about Main Street Matters or DCED, visit the agency's website (https://dced.pa.gov/).
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Original text here: https://dced.pa.gov/newsroom/shapiro-administration-awards-downtown-nazareth-new-main-street-designation/
Rare Ostrich-like Dinosaur Ready for Study at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Oct. 24 -- The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources issued the following news release:
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October 23, 2026
Rare Ostrich-like Dinosaur Ready for Study at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
RALEIGH
Paleontologists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Utah recently tag-teamed a dinosaur excavation from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The 75-million-year-old specimen represents the first substantially complete skeleton of its kind discovered in the region.
Roughly
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, Oct. 24 -- The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources issued the following news release:
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October 23, 2026
Rare Ostrich-like Dinosaur Ready for Study at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences
RALEIGH
Paleontologists from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and the Natural History Museum of Utah recently tag-teamed a dinosaur excavation from Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in southern Utah. The 75-million-year-old specimen represents the first substantially complete skeleton of its kind discovered in the region.
Roughly8 to 10 feet long in life, the beaked, toothless dinosaur belonged to a group of fast-running theropods known as ornithomimids. Museum scientists believe the remarkably preserved specimen -- wrapped in a 5,000-pound plaster jacket for safe transport from the field -- could ultimately become the defining example, or holotype, of a dinosaur species new to science.
"This is exactly the kind of fossil paleontologists dream about. A beautifully preserved skeleton with the potential to tell us something genuinely new about dinosaur evolution," said Lindsay Zanno, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences' head of paleontology and a 2026 recipient of the North Carolina Award, the state's highest civilian honor.
The new specimen will be prepared and studied in the N.C. Museum's SECU DinoLab in full view of the public and under the direction Zanno and her team, who have built an internationally recognized paleontology research program, most recently making global headlines for research confirming Nanotyrannus as a distinct dinosaur rather than a juvenile T. rex.
"The SECU DinoLab was built around a powerful idea: the public shouldn't have to wait until the science is finished to be part of discovery," added N.C. Museum Director Denise Young. "Bringing new specimens like this one into the lab means North Carolinians can continue to watch world-class science unfold right here in Raleigh." The N.C. Museum is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
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About the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh (11 and 121 W. Jones St.) is an active research institution that engages all visitors in the wonders of science and the natural world. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission is free. For more information, visit www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum also supports Prairie Ridge Ecostation, a 45-acre outdoor education and research facility in west Raleigh, as well as a satellite facility in Whiteville.
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About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. At more than 100 sites across the state, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.dncr.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2026/10/23/rare-ostrich-dinosaur-ready-study-nc-museum-natural-sciences
N.Y. Comptroller DiNapoli: MTA Financial Outlook Stable in Short Run But Gaps Loom as Costs Rise
ALBANY, New York, Oct. 24 (TNSbrep) -- New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following news release:
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DiNapoli: MTA Financial Outlook Stable in Short Run but Gaps Loom as Costs Rise
Strong Focus on Savings, Revenue, and Labor Negotiations Needed to Maintain Budget Balance
October 22, 2026
Outyear budget gaps fueled by rising costs require the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to find long-term strategies to further control non-discretionary costs while continuing to build ridership, hit its savings targets, and negotiate a new labor contract, according to
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ALBANY, New York, Oct. 24 (TNSbrep) -- New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli issued the following news release:
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DiNapoli: MTA Financial Outlook Stable in Short Run but Gaps Loom as Costs Rise
Strong Focus on Savings, Revenue, and Labor Negotiations Needed to Maintain Budget Balance
October 22, 2026
Outyear budget gaps fueled by rising costs require the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to find long-term strategies to further control non-discretionary costs while continuing to build ridership, hit its savings targets, and negotiate a new labor contract, according toState Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's annual report on the authority's finances.
"The MTA's near-term financial outlook remains stable, but that could change in the coming years," DiNapoli said. "Meeting higher savings goals, keeping a tight focus on growing ridership through safe, reliable service and working constructively with labor will help avoid a return to the fiscal instability of years past. New Yorkers need a strong MTA to keep our economy running well."
The MTA's most recent Financial Plan shows budget balance in its $21.9 billion 2026 operating budget, but outyear budget gaps continue to widen, driven by rising non-discretionary costs during the financial plan period, creating increases in unanticipated expenses when compared to earlier financial plans. The MTA projects gaps of $295 million in 2027, $507 million in 2028, $707 million in 2029, and $897 million in 2030. These gaps have widened despite stronger than expected tax revenues and recent progress on savings initiatives.
Over its 2027-2030 Financial Plans, the MTA expects operating expenses to increase 3.4% annually. Much of this is driven by non-discretionary costs, including healthcare, pensions and benefits, energy, debt service, and paratransit. These costs are expected to grow 5% a year from 2026 to 2030, by which point they will account for more than half of all operating costs. These costs are set against an expected 2.1% rise in annual revenues (including as-yet unapproved fare and toll increases in 2027 and 2029) from 2027 to 2030.
The MTA has yet to reach a new agreement with the Transport Workers Union following the contract's expiration in May 2026. Since early 2026, the Authority has lost more than 1,000 operations and maintenance workers, amid concerns about ongoing increases in overtime costs.
DiNapoli's report notes that management of several of the MTA's budget pressures are within its control, and proactive monitoring of revenue collections, continued expansion of recent cost savings efforts, and a negotiated labor settlement should provide clarity as to how it will maintain budget balance in the coming years.
The report also details the budgetary risks that the MTA cannot control, including federal decisions regarding transportation capital funding and federal actions that affect the cost of fuel and goods impacted by tariffs. Any delay in the opening of two anticipated casinos expected in 2030 is another potential risk that could cost the MTA $160 million of the $300 million expected from casino gaming taxes that year.
The MTA assumes ridership across the system will reach 74% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2026, with differences among its divisions. Subway ridership is expected to reach 78% of the 2019 level this year, but buses will only reach 60%. Long Island Rail Road, which has had the strongest recovery, is expected to reach 97% and Metro-North Railroad 87% of 2019 levels this year.
Fare revenue remains a critical factor for understanding the MTA's current fiscal position and the path forward. Before the pandemic, tolls and fares covered more than 50% of the MTA's operating budget, but just 34% in 2025, reflecting its increased dependence on taxes and subsidies. In 2027, MTA projects 38% of revenue will come from fares (26%) and tolls (12%).
New efforts to reduce fare evasion should be monitored for effectiveness in improving paid ridership, as its recovery has stalled, most notably on buses. The MTA estimates 49% of bus riders did not pay in the second quarter of 2026, up from 45% in the same period last year. DiNapoli's report estimates that a 10 percentage point drop in fare evasion in 2026 would have generated up to $150 million in additional bus fare revenue.
DiNapoli's report encourages the MTA to continue to make greater use of its savings program. Starting in 2023, MTA has set savings targets to help balance its budget without impacting service. The MTA reported that its program achieved $396 million in savings in 2025 and has set a target of $750 million in savings by 2029.
The annual report also examined the MTA Customer Satisfaction Surveys, the status of its Capital Program, and its outstanding debt burden.
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Report
Financial Outlook for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (https://www.osc.ny.gov/files/reports/osdc/2026/pdf/2026-mta-july-plan-report.pdf)
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Original text here: https://www.osc.ny.gov/press/releases/2026/10/dinapoli-mta-financial-outlook-stable-short-run-gaps-loom-costs-rise
N.H. A.G. Formella and Secretary of State Scanlan Provide Voters With Update on Use of Student ID Cards Ahead of General Election
CONCORD, New Hampshire, Oct. 24 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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Date: October 23, 2026
Attorney General Formella and Secretary of State Scanlan Provide Voters with Update on Use of Student ID Cards Ahead of General Election
Concord, NH - On October 22, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the District Court's October 2 injunction in a case challenging HB 323, which the legislature enacted to prohibit the use of student ID cards when registering to vote and voting.
The Supreme Court's decision means that registration and identity requirements
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CONCORD, New Hampshire, Oct. 24 -- New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella issued the following news release:
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Date: October 23, 2026
Attorney General Formella and Secretary of State Scanlan Provide Voters with Update on Use of Student ID Cards Ahead of General Election
Concord, NH - On October 22, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the District Court's October 2 injunction in a case challenging HB 323, which the legislature enacted to prohibit the use of student ID cards when registering to vote and voting.
The Supreme Court's decision means that registration and identity requirementsfor the November 3 State General Election revert to the same as those that were in effect during the September 8 State Primary Election.
Accordingly, effective immediately, student ID cards cannot be used to prove identity when registering to vote, voting by absentee ballot, or when checking in to vote on election day.
To assist student voters with navigating voter registration and voter identification requirements, the Secretary of State's Office has produced a "Student Guide to Voting in NH" and a "Student Guide to Registering to Vote". The Attorney General's Office and the Secretary of State's Office encourage people to share these guides with any eligible voters they know who are students.
Additionally, the Secretary of State's Office will immediately resume radio public service announcements and begin running television PSAs informing the public that student ID cards cannot be used to prove identity.
The General Election is November 3. For more information on the upcoming election, visit www.sos.nh.gov/elections.
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Original text here: https://www.doj.nh.gov/news-and-media/attorney-general-formella-and-secretary-state-scanlan-provide-voters-update-use
Md. A.G. Brown Protects Public Service Loan Forgiveness as Trump Administration Drops Appeal
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 24 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Protects Public Service Loan Forgiveness as Trump Administration Drops Appeal
10/23/2026
BALTIMORE, MD - Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that the Trump administration dismissed its appeal of a court decision vacating a U.S. Department of Education rule that would have allowed the administration to strip Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility from employees of government and nonprofit organizations it deems to have a "substantial
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 24 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brown Protects Public Service Loan Forgiveness as Trump Administration Drops Appeal
10/23/2026
BALTIMORE, MD - Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that the Trump administration dismissed its appeal of a court decision vacating a U.S. Department of Education rule that would have allowed the administration to strip Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility from employees of government and nonprofit organizations it deems to have a "substantialillegal purpose."
PSLF is the federal program that forgives the remaining federal student loans of borrowers who work in public service and make 10 years of qualifying payments. As part of a coalition of 22 attorneys general, Attorney General Brown sued the Trump administration over the rule in November 2025 and secured a decision from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacating the rule in June 2026. By dropping its appeal of the decision, the Trump administration concedes the case, leaving the district court's ruling in place and resolving the matter in favor of Maryland and the other plaintiff states.
"The Marylanders who rely on Public Service Loan Forgiveness include the librarians in our children's schools, the nurses in our hospitals, and the state employees who keep our government and its essential services running," said Attorney General Brown. "By defeating the unlawful rule, we are ensuring that no one is punished because their employer's mission does not match the President's politics."
Congress created the PSLF in 2007 with bipartisan consensus to encourage college graduates to work in the public sector, where salaries are often lower than jobs in the private sector. PSLF helps nonprofits; the armed forces; and federal, state, and local governments recruit and retain skilled workers who might otherwise be forced to turn to private-sector employment to afford to pay their student loans.
The administration's rule would have used an ambiguous standard to target certain actions it doesn't like, including providing legal services to immigrants; providing gender-affirming care to minors; participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and engaging in civil protest and assembly. In the June 2026 order, the court held that the U.S. Department of Education's regulations were contrary to law, arbitrary and capricious, exceeded the agency's statutory authority, and violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Attorney-General-Brown-Protects-Public-Service-Loan-Forgiveness-as-Trump-Administration-Drops-Appeal-.aspx
Historic flooding hits San Juan County as National Guard, State Police carry out rescues
SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 24 -- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, posted the following news release:
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Historic flooding hits San Juan County as National Guard, State Police carry out rescues
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Governor Lujan Grisham preparing request for federal disaster declaration
SANTA FE - State emergency crews are working alongside San Juan County officials to rescue residents and support evacuations after historic flooding along the San Juan and Animas rivers.
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and worked overnight to support affected communities, including coordinating
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SANTA FE, New Mexico, Oct. 24 -- Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, D-New Mexico, posted the following news release:
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Historic flooding hits San Juan County as National Guard, State Police carry out rescues
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Governor Lujan Grisham preparing request for federal disaster declaration
SANTA FE - State emergency crews are working alongside San Juan County officials to rescue residents and support evacuations after historic flooding along the San Juan and Animas rivers.
The State Emergency Operations Center is activated and worked overnight to support affected communities, including coordinatingstate agencies with federal, local and Tribal partners to deliver lifesaving response resources.
By Saturday, law enforcement had reported hundreds of water rescues between Farmington and Bloomfield. The National Weather Service estimates that thousands of homes and buildings have also been affected. On Friday, the San Juan River at Farmington ran 2 feet above its previous record, set in 1909.
"Families in Bloomfield and Farmington spent the night on rooftops watching the river flood their homes, and our National Guard and State Police crews have been bringing them to safety," said Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham. "Right now, our focus is saving lives. If you're told to evacuate, go. Once the water recedes, the state will do everything in its power to help San Juan County families rebuild."
About 58 New Mexico National Guardsmen, including swift water rescue teams, were deployed to San Juan County on Friday and Saturday. When washed-out roads and severe weather cut off a family near Chaco Canyon, a New Mexico National Guard emergency response team reached them overnight Thursday and evacuated their infant, who was having repeated seizures.
Floodwaters also reached the Bloomfield Water Reclamation Facility, and untreated wastewater flowed into the San Juan River. City officials are asking residents to limit water use.
Flood warnings remain in effect through Sunday afternoon for the Animas River near Farmington and for the San Juan River at Farmington and Shiprock.
No deaths have been reported.
Governor Lujan Grisham is preparing a request for an Emergency Disaster Declaration from the federal government in response to the flooding in San Juan County and surrounding areas this week. On Friday, the Governor requested that federal officials approve a Major Disaster Declaration for the flooding that struck New Mexico from Sept. 20 through Oct. 2. That request seeks federal assistance for 14 counties, including Dona Ana County, and three Tribal nations. The state estimates public infrastructure damage from that flooding at $27.1 million. Damage from this week's flooding in San Juan County and surrounding areas will be assessed once the water recedes.
Residents in affected areas should:
* Evacuate immediately if told to do so. Shelter is available at McGee Park, which accepts pets and RVs, and at Power House Church and First Baptist Church in Shiprock.
* Call 911 if you are trapped or in immediate danger. Call 2-1-1 for other assistance.
* Never walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Turn Around. Don't Drown!
* Check road conditions at nmroads.com and pay attention to local emergency alerts.
Find more information about flood safety at https://www.dhsem.nm.gov/preparedness-for-residents/flooding/.
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Original text here: https://www.governor.state.nm.us/newsroom/historic-flooding-hits-san-juan-county-as-national-guard-state-police--2163/
Gov. Newsom Visits San Quentin as California's Public Safety Strategy Delivers Historic Low Crime Rates and Record-low Recidivism
SACRAMENTO, California, Oct. 24 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release:
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Oct 23, 2026
Governor Newsom visits San Quentin as California's public safety strategy delivers historic low crime rates and record-low recidivism
What you need to know: During a visit to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center for the third annual San Quentin Film Festival, Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted California's public safety strategy, which combines strong law enforcement and accountability, crime prevention, victim support, rehabilitation and pathways to successful reentry.
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SACRAMENTO, California, Oct. 24 -- Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-California, issued the following news release:
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Oct 23, 2026
Governor Newsom visits San Quentin as California's public safety strategy delivers historic low crime rates and record-low recidivism
What you need to know: During a visit to San Quentin Rehabilitation Center for the third annual San Quentin Film Festival, Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted California's public safety strategy, which combines strong law enforcement and accountability, crime prevention, victim support, rehabilitation and pathways to successful reentry.
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SANQUENTIN - As crime rates decline and prison recidivism rates reach record lows, Governor Gavin Newsom visited the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center to meet with attendees at the third annual San Quentin Film Festival, the nation's first in-prison film festival, and highlight California's approach to public safety.
California's strategies make communities safer by combining strong law enforcement and accountability with prevention, victim services, rehabilitation and opportunities for people leaving prison to build productive lives -- leading to record-low crime and recidivism rates, the lowest in recent history.
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Public safety means bringing crime down, holding people accountable, supporting victims and giving people a real opportunity to change. We're focused on law enforcement, prevention and rehabilitation because safer communities require both accountability for harm and a path forward. California's strategies are making communities safer -- and the data proves it -- with crime rates at their lowest in modern history.
- Governor Gavin Newsom
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To view the b-roll from today's visit, click here.
Crime is down across California
Since Governor Newsom took office, homicide has declined 20%, robbery 31%, property crime 24%, and motor vehicle theft 19%, while violent crime has declined 3%.
California's latest statewide figures show significant declines in crime from 2024 to 2025:
* Homicide fell 18.6% - reaching the lowest level since 1966
* Robbery fell 19.9%
* Violent crime fell 10.2%
* Property crime fell 14.3%
* Motor vehicle theft fell 25.8%
Earlier this week, the Governor also established an interagency effort focused on community safety, violence prevention and intervention, and victim support. The effort is designed to assess programs, improve coordination and data-sharing, evaluate outcomes and develop a blueprint to help sustain progress.
California is expanding opportunities for incarcerated people to build skills, pursue education and prepare for employment and successful reentry, while emphasizing personal responsibility and rehabilitation.
The state's recidivism reporting highlights the importance of rehabilitation and education. Among people released after earning Rehabilitation Achievement Credits, 81.5% remained conviction-free for three years; the figure was 76.7% for those earning Educational Merit Credits and 66.7% for those participating in general rehabilitative programming. Of those released after a parole hearing, 97.5% do not reoffend.
At California State Prison Corcoran staff have helped transform a formerly deactivated facility into an Honor Dorm, a voluntary community for approximately 100 incarcerated people selected based on classification, behavior and readiness. The initiative emphasizes accountability, education, vocational training, rehabilitative programming and preparation for employment.
California has expanded higher-education access throughout its correctional system: all 30 state institutions offer community college distance or correspondence courses, and bachelor's degree programs are available at 12 institutions. At San Quentin, 34 students have begun a Cal State LA bachelor's degree program in Liberal Studies. The 21-month program, launched in August, operates through the prison's new Learning Center.
So far, incarcerated students have earned 9,966 associate degrees, 451 bachelor's degrees and 48 master's degrees. Associate and bachelor's degree programs are offered free of charge. Research cited by the Public Policy Institute of California found that people who participated in college programs were 31% more likely to have jobs after release.
Prevention, victim services and stronger communities
California's public safety strategy extends beyond law enforcement to address violence before it occurs and ensure victims and survivors receive support.
Since 2019, the state has directed $546.8 million toward public safety efforts, including the California Violence Intervention and Prevention (CalVIP) grant program and victim services.
Community-based violence prevention can deliver measurable results. Research on Richmond's Peacemaker Fellowship found the program was associated with a 61% reduction in fatal and nonfatal firearm assaults from 2010 to 2024.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services helps victims and survivors access services, receive notifications, exercise their rights and participate in the justice process. The state has also announced six $50,000 rewards - $300,000 total--for information leading to arrests and convictions in four unsolved California murders.
Pathways to rehabilitation, care and good-paying jobs
Legislation signed by the Governor, including AB 113, supports targeted strategies for rehabilitation, workforce training, supportive housing and trauma-informed care.
Key efforts include:
* $4 million for trauma-informed care in women's prisons. The funding supports two outside contracts to provide care and train staff in best practices for working with people affected by trauma.
* $2.15 million for rehabilitation and opportunity. This includes $850,000 in Amador County for firefighter housing and training, including support for families visiting loved ones at Pine Grove or Growlersberg fire camps, and $1.3 million for vocational training workspace with recording, television and film production capabilities and tools for creating social media content.
* $760,000 for housing and support services for formerly incarcerated people training for entertainment-industry union careers. The staffed Los Angeles facility will provide wraparound services and training designed to lead to union jobs through the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
These strategies complement California's broader $2.1 billion public safety effort and its ongoing work to reduce crime, strengthen communities and support successful reentry.
Accountability, rehabilitation and hope
California's approach recognizes that accountability and rehabilitation are complementary parts of public safety. Through prison and parole reforms, the state has expanded opportunities for people to demonstrate growth, prepare for reentry and earn consideration for release through established public-safety processes.
The Governor's clemency actions reflect on that principle. Pardons can recognize rehabilitation and help remove barriers to employment and civic participation. Commutations can make a person eligible for an earlier parole hearing; they do not guarantee release. The parole process independently evaluates public safety and considers input from victims and survivors and district attorneys.
California's strategy puts victims first--supporting their rights, safety, participation and access to services while also pursuing accountability for harm and delivering rehabilitative programming to those who need it.
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Original text here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/10/23/governor-newsom-visits-san-quentin-as-californias-public-safety-strategy-delivers-historic-low-crime-rates-and-record-low-recidivism/
