States, Cities and Counties
Here's a look at documents covering state government, cities and counties
Featured Stories
Statement From A.G. Brown on Maryland's Full Recovery of COVID-Era Relief Funding Owed to Its Schools
BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 10 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on June 9, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on Maryland's Full Recovery of COVID-Era Relief Funding Owed to Its Schools
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued the following statement after the Maryland State Department of Education received the final $87 million owed to Maryland schools from the federal Education Stabilization Fund, completing the full recovery of approximately $188 million in COVID-era relief funding that the federal administration had tried to
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, June 10 -- Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on June 9, 2026:
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Statement from Attorney General Brown on Maryland's Full Recovery of COVID-Era Relief Funding Owed to Its Schools
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today issued the following statement after the Maryland State Department of Education received the final $87 million owed to Maryland schools from the federal Education Stabilization Fund, completing the full recovery of approximately $188 million in COVID-era relief funding that the federal administration had tried towithhold.
In March 2025, the Secretary of Education cut off states' access to COVID-era relief funds that had already been awarded to their schools. Maryland joined a coalition of states led by New York and sued in federal court.
The court sided with the states and ordered the federal government to release the money. Maryland schools received $101 million in December 2025. After further delays by the federal government, the remaining $87 million was received on June 1, completing Maryland's full recovery of the funds.
"Maryland's schools have now recovered every dollar of COVID relief funding that the Trump Administration tried to withhold. The pandemic may be over, but its impacts are still being felt in classrooms across our State.
These resources are critical to helping our students recover from the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Because of our lawsuit, now that money is going where it belongs. Our Office will always defend Maryland's children and the resources they need for the future they deserve."
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Original text here: https://oag.maryland.gov/News/pages/Statement-from-Attorney-General-Brown-on-Maryland%e2%80%99s-Full-Recovery-of-COVID-Era-Relief-Funding-Owed-to-Its-Schools-.aspx
R.I. A.G. Neronha Offers Guidance to Those Affected by UnitedHealthcare and Brown University Health's Health Insurance Contract Negotiation
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 10 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:
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Attorney General Neronha offers guidance to those affected by UnitedHealthcare and Brown University Health's health insurance contract negotiation
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced updates to the Office's website for consumers of UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage health insurance plan. Recently, Brown University Health and UnitedHealthcare have publicly announced that, absent a breakthrough in contract negotiations, Brown University
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PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, June 10 -- Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:
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Attorney General Neronha offers guidance to those affected by UnitedHealthcare and Brown University Health's health insurance contract negotiation
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha today announced updates to the Office's website for consumers of UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage health insurance plan. Recently, Brown University Health and UnitedHealthcare have publicly announced that, absent a breakthrough in contract negotiations, Brown UniversityHealth physicians will no longer accept UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans as of July 1, 2026.
Unless Brown University Health and UnitedHealthcare reach an agreement, Brown University Health physician offices will be designated "out of network" for individuals who are enrolled in certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans. This announcement follows a similar breakdown in contract negotiations over Brown University Health hospitals in 2025, which led to Brown University Health hospitals being designated out of network with certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.
"Rhode Islanders have every right to be frustrated at a health care system that doesn't work for them," said Attorney General Neronha. "Once again, patients are caught in the middle of a contract dispute they had no role in creating. When negotiations like this break down, the cost, literally and figuratively, is borne by older adults and people with complex medical needs who suddenly must worry about whether they can keep seeing their doctors or afford their care.
We are monitoring this closely to ensure patients have access to the resources they need to maintain access to care. Given this disruption, UnitedHealthcare and Brown University Health need to know that my Office expects them to be responsive to patient requests and to ensure all the continuity of care resources to which patients are entitled are easily accessible. In the meantime, my Office will continue strenuously advocating for a system that prioritizes patients rather than using them as bargaining chips."
The Office's website, complete with frequently asked questions, can be found at www.riag.ri.gov\\medicare-advantage.
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Original text here: https://riag.ri.gov/press-releases/attorney-general-neronha-offers-guidance-those-affected-unitedhealthcare-and-brown
Pa. State Sens. Gebhard, Langerholc Bill to Better Identify Delinquent Children as Victims of Human Trafficking Approved by Committee
HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, June 10 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Republicans issued the following news release:
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Gebhard, Langerholc Bill to Better Identify Delinquent Children as Victims of Human Trafficking Approved by Committee
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Chris Gebhard (R-48) and Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) to better identify delinquent children as victims of human trafficking has been approved by the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.
Senate Bill 1369 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the Pennsylvania
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HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, June 10 -- The Pennsylvania Senate Republicans issued the following news release:
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Gebhard, Langerholc Bill to Better Identify Delinquent Children as Victims of Human Trafficking Approved by Committee
Legislation sponsored by Sens. Chris Gebhard (R-48) and Wayne Langerholc, Jr. (R-35) to better identify delinquent children as victims of human trafficking has been approved by the Senate Aging and Youth Committee.
Senate Bill 1369 would require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, in consultation with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, the PennsylvaniaState Police, and county children and youth agencies, to develop a screening process to determine if a delinquent child is a victim of human trafficking or may be at risk of becoming a victim of human trafficking. The screening process would be administered by county children and youth agencies when they have contact with a child who is lacking parental control, as well as by juvenile probation officers during intake conferences if a written allegation is made.
"Far too often, vulnerable children go unnoticed or unsupported, and this legislation aims to close those gaps in a meaningful and coordinated way," said Gebhard, who introduced the bill. "Even if this helps identify just one child who otherwise would have gone unnoticed, this legislation will have been worth it."
"Establishing a standardized screening process will help authorities across the commonwealth identify children in need," said Langerholc, who co-sponsored the bill and chairs the Senate Aging and Youth Committee. "This collaborative approach is a crucial effort to protect every child from human trafficking and ensure victims receive support and care."
The legislation would also require children identified through the screening process to be connected with services available to victims of human trafficking.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
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Original text here: https://www.pasenategop.com/news/gebhard-langerholc-bill-to-better-identify-delinquent-children-as-victims-of-human-trafficking-approved-by-committee/
Michigan Overdose Death Rate Declines by 47 Percent Since 2021
LANSING, Michigan, June 10 (TNSxrep) -- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release:
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Michigan overdose death rate declines by 47 percent since 2021
Preliminary 2025 data projects decrease in overdose deaths for fourth year in a row
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces that Michigan's overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021.
Preliminary data for 2025 is projecting a lower rate of 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 30.8 in 2021. This suggests overdose deaths have continued
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LANSING, Michigan, June 10 (TNSxrep) -- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release:
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Michigan overdose death rate declines by 47 percent since 2021
Preliminary 2025 data projects decrease in overdose deaths for fourth year in a row
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announces that Michigan's overdose death rate has declined by 47% since 2021.
Preliminary data for 2025 is projecting a lower rate of 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents compared to a rate of 30.8 in 2021. This suggests overdose deaths have continuedto decline for the fourth year in a row. In 2021, there were 3,096 overdose deaths compared to fewer than 1,800 deaths projected for 2025.
"MDHHS remains committed to continuing programs and partnerships that help reduce overdose deaths, expand treatment options and support long-term recovery," said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. "This decrease represents real progress and reflects the impact of sustained, data-driven investments of opioid settlement dollars across Michigan."
This progress reflects Michigan's continued statewide strategy and efforts to address substance use disorder through the pillars of prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery services.
In 2019, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer established the Michigan Opioids Task Force to create a coordinated approach to reduce overdose deaths. The state's response focuses on those four main pillars ensuring programs are aligned toward one goal - saving lives.
"Michigan's progress did not happen by accident," said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive and chair of the Michigan Opioids Task Force. "It is the result of years of work to expand naloxone access, strengthen harm reduction services, improve real-time data, remove barriers to treatment and support people throughout recovery. These are not just statistics. These are parents, children, siblings, friends and neighbors who are alive today because life-saving tools and services were available when they were needed."
While the overall overdose death rate has declined significantly, MDHHS continues to focus on addressing persistent racial and geographic disparities in both overdose deaths and access to care. Urban counties and regions continue to experience disproportionately higher overdose rates than the rest of the state - 24% higher than the total state rate in 2024 - and Black overdose death rates are more than twice that of all other residents. The Michigan Opioids Task Force will continue to use data, community partnerships and targeted investments to better understand where disparities remain and strengthen services in communities most affected.
"While this decline is encouraging, our work is not done," said Hertel. "Substance use disorder continues to affect families and communities across Michigan. MDHHS will work with providers, local partners, community organizations and people with lived experience to build on this progress and ensure residents can access the services and support they need."
Harm reduction expansion has been a key component of Michigan's overdose response. Since 2019, Michigan has expanded from five agencies offering harm reduction services to 115 community-based sites. The Naloxone Direct Portal was also launched in 2020 to provide free naloxone for community distribution. Since then, more than 1.8 million naloxone kits have been distributed statewide, with nearly 34,000 reported uses to reverse overdoses and help save lives.
An MDHHS modeling study released in 2025 found that harm reduction programs have saved lives, reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits and prevented hepatitis C cases in Michigan. Investments in these programs have primarily been supported through opioid settlement dollars.
Improvements have also been made in data collection and response. Today, the state can identify changes to overdoses due to the drug supply more quickly, alert communities and coordinate public health responses.
MDHHS and the Michigan Opioids Task Force have worked to expand access to treatment and recovery services by:
* Removing prior authorization barriers for medications used to treat opioid use disorder.
* Supporting telehealth options to improve access to care.
* Expanding the Substance Use Disorder Health Home model, a service and payment model through Medicaid for providing coordinated care for SUD-related services.
* Incentivizing more than 200 providers to expand access to substance use disorder care for more than 12,000 clients.
* Expanding access to medications to treat opioid use disorder in 25 county jails.
* Supporting service delivery expansion for 32 recovery community organizations.
* Adding more than 250 recovery housing beds in the last two years.
Prevention efforts continue to be a core part of the state's response. MDHHS has supported prevention and family preservation services for more than 400 families involved in the child welfare system, with at least 95% of families remaining together. The department has also launched public awareness campaigns using research and polling to tailor messaging and measure effectiveness.
Funding for substance use disorder services in Michigan is coordinated through several sources, including Medicaid, federal grants and opioid settlement funding. The state is slated to receive more than $1.8 billion from national opioid settlements by 2040, with half distributed to the State of Michigan Opioid Healing and Recovery Fund and the other half distributed directly to county, city and township governments
Continued investment remains critical as Michigan monitors an increasingly complex and changing drug supply, including contamination involving fentanyl, xylazine and medetomidine, as well as renewed concerns about carfentanil. MDHHS is also working to address emerging substances sold in convenience stores, smoke shops and online, including products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine, commonly known as 7-OH, and nitrous oxide. These evolving risks underscore the need to sustain prevention, harm reduction, treatment, recovery and surveillance efforts that can quickly respond to emerging threats and help protect residents.
For more information about substance use disorder resources and the state's opioid settlement investments, visit Michigan.gov/opioids.
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Original text here: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2026/06/09/2025-overdose
Lt. Gov. Jones Prioritizes Funding for Georgia's Hospitals
ATLANTA, Georgia, June 10 -- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:
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Lt. Governor Burt Jones Prioritizes Funding for Georgia's Hospitals
Lt. Governor Burt Jones wrote a letter to President Donald Trump and Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator, in support of their ongoing efforts to address a fairer and more equitable wage index system under the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). Lt. Governor Jones encourages Congress to support these efforts to ensure that Georgia hospitals can have access to a financial benefit ranging from $150,000,000
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ATLANTA, Georgia, June 10 -- Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, R-Georgia, issued the following news release on June 9, 2026:
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Lt. Governor Burt Jones Prioritizes Funding for Georgia's Hospitals
Lt. Governor Burt Jones wrote a letter to President Donald Trump and Dr. Mehmet Oz, CMS Administrator, in support of their ongoing efforts to address a fairer and more equitable wage index system under the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). Lt. Governor Jones encourages Congress to support these efforts to ensure that Georgia hospitals can have access to a financial benefit ranging from $150,000,000to $245,400,000.
"Rural healthcare in Georgia and across our nation is in crisis," said Lt. Governor Burt Jones. "Estimates of proposed solutions indicate a financial benefit to Georgia, with hospitals in our threatened rural areas benefitting most.
Addressing the wage index variability would bridge the healthcare gap by bringing back just a fraction of the money that has been taken from Georgia hospitals by those in California and New York under the Biden Administration.
These changes could save healthcare, especially in our rural areas, where outcomes, sustainability, and access are most vulnerable. I am grateful for the Administration's leadership in advancing this transformative reform within Medicare and our nation's entire healthcare system."
The full text of the support letter is linked here: https://ltgov.georgia.gov/document/document/lg-burt-jonescms-wage-index-noticegeorgia (PDF, 166.68 KB)
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INFODOC: https://ltgov.georgia.gov/document/document/lg-burt-jonescms-wage-index-noticegeorgia
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Original text here: https://ltgov.georgia.gov/press-releases/2026-06-09/lt-governor-burt-jones-prioritizes-funding-georgias-hospitals
Horse Spot Expands Charleston County Operations
COLUMBIA, South Carolina, June 10 -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce posted the following news from Horse Spot:
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Horse Spot expands Charleston County operations
Company's investment will create 11 new jobs
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Horse Spot, a premier equestrian technology platform, today announced it is expanding its operations in Charleston County. The company's investment will create 11 new jobs.
Founded in 2022, Horse Spot is designed to modernize and simplify competition management for equestrian events and supports more than 1,800 horse shows, rodeos and fairs annually. The platform allows
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COLUMBIA, South Carolina, June 10 -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce posted the following news from Horse Spot:
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Horse Spot expands Charleston County operations
Company's investment will create 11 new jobs
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Horse Spot, a premier equestrian technology platform, today announced it is expanding its operations in Charleston County. The company's investment will create 11 new jobs.
Founded in 2022, Horse Spot is designed to modernize and simplify competition management for equestrian events and supports more than 1,800 horse shows, rodeos and fairs annually. The platform allowsevent organizers to manage an entire show from a single system, including entries, scheduling, payments and results.
Horse Spot is expanding its operation, located at 997 Morrison Drive in Charleston, to deepen its footprint in the Lowcountry and bring its platform to more competitions across the Carolinas.
Operations are already online. Individuals interested in joining the Horse Spot team should visit the company's careers page.
"We grew up in the saddle and built careers in tech, finance and design. When we landed in Charleston and found a community that understood both worlds, we knew this was where Horse Spot was meant to be built."
-Horse Spot CEO and Technical Co-Founder Christopher Lenard
"We are proud to see a technology company like Horse Spot deepening its commitment to our state. This announcement is a testament to the strength of South Carolina's skilled workforce, and we look forward to supporting Horse Spot's latest chapter in Charleston County."
-Gov. Henry McMaster
"Congratulations to Horse Spot and Charleston County on this expansion that will bring 11 new job opportunities to the local community. We are proud to see the company continuing to grow, thrive and build its legacy in South Carolina's Lowcountry."
-Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III
"Horse Spot's expansion marks an exciting new chapter for Charleston County. By combining advanced technology with equestrian sport, their investment supports an industry that has been a longstanding tradition our community. We look forward to Horse Spot's continued momentum and growth."
-Charleston County Council Chairman Joe Boykin
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Original text here: https://www.sccommerce.com/news/horse-spot-expands-charleston-county-operations
Attorney General McCuskey leads 20-state coalition defending religious students' right to state scholarship funds
CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 10 -- West Virginia Attorney General John B. McCuskey issued the following news release:
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Attorney General McCuskey leads 20-state coalition defending religious students' right to state scholarship funds
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading a 20-state coalition in support of students pursuing degrees that Virginia has deemed too religious to qualify for the state's scholarship programs. The coalition's amicus brief in Johnson v. Fleming argues that those exclusions violate the students' First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.
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CHARLESTON, West Virginia, June 10 -- West Virginia Attorney General John B. McCuskey issued the following news release:
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Attorney General McCuskey leads 20-state coalition defending religious students' right to state scholarship funds
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is leading a 20-state coalition in support of students pursuing degrees that Virginia has deemed too religious to qualify for the state's scholarship programs. The coalition's amicus brief in Johnson v. Fleming argues that those exclusions violate the students' First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.
The plaintiffs are not pursuing degrees solely to lead a religious congregation. Cameron Johnson is pursuing a Pastoral Leadership degree while also considering careers in real estate and nonprofit work. Luke Thomas is studying Music and Worship. Trace Stevens, a member of the Virginia National Guard, is pursuing a religious studies degree to qualify for a commission as a National Guard Chaplain. All three were denied Virginia state scholarship dollars solely because of the religious character of their chosen programs of study, even though the scholarships are available to students in comparable secular programs.
"Students who are called to religious study deserve the same access to state scholarship programs as anyone else. West Virginia will not stand by while other states force students to choose between their faith and a public benefit they have every right to receive," Attorney General McCuskey said.
Virginia has sought to justify its scholarship exclusions by relying on Locke v. Davey, a U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting Washington State to exclude from a scholarship program students who were training to become ministers. The coalition's brief argues that Locke does not apply here: these students are pursuing degrees that open onto a range of career paths, and Virginia's exclusions are arbitrary, funding some religious programs while denying funds to others.
The brief also warns that a ruling for Virginia could harm not only religious students but every state that administers scholarship programs. West Virginia serves religious students and wants to continue doing so without making the arbitrary and constitutionally risky government judgments about which degrees are "too religious" to fund that a Virginia-style regime would require.
The coalition asks the Fourth Circuit to reverse the district court's ruling and hold that Virginia's scholarship exclusions violate the First Amendment.
West Virginia is joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. Each state administers scholarship programs serving hundreds of thousands of students, religious and non-religious students alike.
Read the brief here (https://ago.wv.gov//article/attorney-general-mccuskey-leads-20-state-coalition-defending-religious-students-right-state ).
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Original text here: https://ago.wv.gov//article/attorney-general-mccuskey-leads-20-state-coalition-defending-religious-students-right-state
