Attorney General
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Yost Awards 30 More Grants Supporting Addiction Treatment for Inmates
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 31 -- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued the following news release:
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Yost Awards 30 More Grants Supporting Addiction Treatment for Inmates
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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) Attorney General Dave Yost has awarded a fourth round of grants totaling $5.3 million to support addiction treatment for incarcerated Ohioans.
"These grants do more than prevent overdoses - they give inmates a fighting chance to break the cycle of substance abuse and incarceration," Yost said. "Credit to Ohio's sheriffs and local leaders for their hard work and innovation in putting this money to good use
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 31 -- Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued the following news release:
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Yost Awards 30 More Grants Supporting Addiction Treatment for Inmates
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(COLUMBUS, Ohio) Attorney General Dave Yost has awarded a fourth round of grants totaling $5.3 million to support addiction treatment for incarcerated Ohioans.
"These grants do more than prevent overdoses - they give inmates a fighting chance to break the cycle of substance abuse and incarceration," Yost said. "Credit to Ohio's sheriffs and local leaders for their hard work and innovation in putting this money to good useacross the state."
During the final quarter of 2025, Yost's office awarded grants to 17 jails, extending the program's reach to 49 jails serving 54 counties. Eligibility was also expanded to community-based correctional facilities, with 13 facilities awarded funding. CBCFs are residential prison diversion programs for nonviolent offenders, many of whom struggle with addiction.
With the latest payments, the total awarded since Yost announced the first round of grants in March exceeds $10.9 million.
In all, Yost's office is offering $60 million in opioid settlement money over the next several years. Overdose is a leading cause of death among jail inmates in Ohio, accounting for at least 70 deaths since 2020, according to a USA Today report.
The attorney general's Opioid Remediation Grant Program is awarding county jails and CBCFs up to $200,000 per year to hire a full-time addiction-services coordinator or contract with a company that provides such services to treat opioid and other addictions, helping inmates through detox and recovery. Additionally, any county that operates a jail can apply for a $50,000 grant to fund medications and supplies for inmates experiencing opioid withdrawal.
The recipients of this round of grants are:
Jails
* Adams County jail: $200,000
* Clark County jail: $220,000
* Columbiana County jail: $250,000
* Fairfield County jail: $244,364
* Geauga County jail: $149,088
* Greene County jail: $220,000
* Hancock County jail: $71,276
* Harrison County jail: $107,000
* Jackson County jail: $200,000
* Knox County jail: $104,675
* Lawrence County jail: $250,000
* Licking County Justice Center: $200,000
* Logan County jail: $200,000
* Noble County jail: $200,000
* Portage County jail: $200,000
* Scioto County jail: $215,000
* Wood County jail: $200,000
CBCFs
* Community Correctional Center for Butler, Clermont and Warren Counties: $50,000
* CROSSWAEH CBCF (Seneca County): $101,948
* Eastern Ohio Correction Center (Jefferson and Columbiana counties): $199,881
* Franklin County CBCF: $246,227
* McDonnell Center (Cuyahoga County): $134,240
* MonDay Community Correctional Institution (Montgomery County): $199,375
* Northeast Ohio Community Alternative Program (Trumbull County): $145,390
* Northwest Community Corrections Center (Wood County): $171,395
* STAR Community Justice Center (Scioto County): $250,000
* Stark Regional Community Correction Center: $72,349
* Summit County CBCF: $134,240
* West Central Community Correctional Facility (Union County): $199,248
* The WORTH Center (Allen County): $200,000
An application for 2026 grants will be available in January.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Dominic Binkley: 614-728-4127
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Original text here: https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/December-2025/Yost-Awards-30-More-Grants-Supporting-Addiction-Tr
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Responds to President Trump's Comments December 31st on Portland National Guard Deployment
SALEM, Oregon, Dec. 31 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Responds to President Trump's Comments December 31st on Portland National Guard Deployment
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"The law prevailed and Portland never saw troops on its streets. This outcome shows that standing up for the Constitution works. We're grateful for the professionalism and service of the Guard members caught in the middle of this legal fight. We look forward to seeing them return home to their families and communities soon.
"If the federal government attempts
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SALEM, Oregon, Dec. 31 -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued the following news release:
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Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield Responds to President Trump's Comments December 31st on Portland National Guard Deployment
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"The law prevailed and Portland never saw troops on its streets. This outcome shows that standing up for the Constitution works. We're grateful for the professionalism and service of the Guard members caught in the middle of this legal fight. We look forward to seeing them return home to their families and communities soon.
"If the federal government attemptsto revisit this effort, we are prepared to respond again in court."
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Original text here: https://www.doj.state.or.us/media-home/news-media-releases/ag-rayfield-responds-to-trumps-comments-on-national-guard-deployment/
Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Stop Unlawful Cut of Nearly $50 Million from Rural North Carolina Schools
RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 31 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Stop Unlawful Cut of Nearly $50 Million from Rural North Carolina Schools
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RALEIGH - Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the U.S. Department of Education for unlawfully terminating nearly $50 million in federal education funding for North Carolina public schools, most of it serving rural and low-income communities.
The funding was awarded through the federal Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program and was already being used
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RALEIGH, North Carolina, Dec. 31 -- North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Jeff Jackson Sues to Stop Unlawful Cut of Nearly $50 Million from Rural North Carolina Schools
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RALEIGH - Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the U.S. Department of Education for unlawfully terminating nearly $50 million in federal education funding for North Carolina public schools, most of it serving rural and low-income communities.
The funding was awarded through the federal Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) program and was already being usedby schools across North Carolina to support approximately 23,000 students, including in counties heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene.
On December 12, the Department of Education notified North Carolina that these grants would be terminated effective December 31. If allowed to stand, this will force schools to shut down programs and potentially lay off staff in the middle of the school year.
"Our kids deserve better. A surprise cut of nearly $50 million from rural schools, with virtually no notice and no allegation of misuse, is unlawful and harmful," said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. "The Department of Education approved these programs, allowed schools to build them, and now it's trying to pull the rug out from under dozens of rural communities. Our students shouldn't be treated like that, and we're going to court to protect them."
Congress authorized and funded the Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) Program through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act to support schools serving communities with high poverty, poor health outcomes, and lower educational attainment. In 2023, the Department of Education awarded more than $49.8 million through this program to the North Carolina Community Schools Coalition, which includes the Department of Public Instruction. Over five years, the coalition planned to serve 55 schools across 18 North Carolina public school districts.
The grants support students in rural and under-resourced areas by expanding learning opportunities, addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) that affect student development and success, strengthening and retaining effective elementary and middle school educators, and improving student achievement. They also fund early childhood education and literacy initiatives, family programming, and college and career exposure opportunities, including college tours and presentations from trade programs.
The FSCS program is designed to give schools local control so they can respond to the real needs of their students and communities. Rural districts face different challenges, and this flexibility allows schools to decide how best to support students - whether that means addressing food insecurity, expanding after-school programs, providing health or mental health services, or helping families stay housed.
That flexibility is especially critical during emergencies. After Hurricane Helene, schools used these funds to help families secure temporary housing and transportation so students could remain connected to school during a period of extreme disruption.
Despite its abrupt termination, the Department of Education had previously reviewed and approved how this funding would be used when the grants were awarded. Schools were transparent from the outset about how they planned to support students, the Department signed off on those plans, and districts relied on that approval to hire staff and build programs.
Now, without alleging misuse or performance failure, the Department is pulling the rug out from the rural schools that followed the rules and relied on the federal government's word. Under federal law, multi-year grants like these can only be terminated for performance-based reasons.
"NC Community Schools exist at the intersection of grassroots community engagement and evidence-based school improvement strategy," said Dan Kimberg and Dr. Kanecia Zimmerman, Co-Directors of the NC Community Schools Coalition. "NCCSC's work in communities across NC has demonstrated what is possible when schools, staff, students, families, and community members are empowered to lead transformational change to meet their local needs."
"The Community School infrastructure was a key reason United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County was able to step into a central role in relief and recovery following Hurricane Helene," said Dan Leroy, CEO of the United Way of Asheville City and Buncombe County. "Community School Coordinators helped organize donations from across the state, and connected families to vital resources like food, clothing, household goods, cash, and temporary housing, Family Resource Centersdesigned to respond to community-identified needsdid exactly that, serving as trusted hubs of support in the immediate aftermath of the disaster."
The lawsuit alleges that the Department of Education's actions violate the Administrative Procedure Act, federal education regulations, and the U.S. Constitution, which gives Congress - not executive agencies - the authority to direct federal spending.
A copy of the complaint is available here.
VIDEO (Available for media use)
Download the full video clip here.
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QUOTES (Available for media use)
"Community schools embody our commitment to excellence in education, ensuring every childregardless of ZIP codehas access to wraparound services that support learning. These federal funds serve our most rural and under-resourced communities, providing mental health support, after-school programs, and family services that improve attendance and achievement."
- North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
"In Hyde County, our school is the center of our communities. Often it's a reliable place that families can turn for support. This is especially true in a rural community, where access to services can be limited by distance, transportation, and availability. That is why the Full-Service Community Schools program has been so impactful for us this year. With this federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education, we have been able to implement wraparound supports like rural health options, food and clothing resources, parent education, and engagement opportunities that help remove barriers to learning. The outcome is not just stronger connections between schools and families, but real improvements in student attendance and readiness to learn. When funding like this is canceled, it hits rural communities hardest. This grant levels the playing field by ensuring students have the supports they need to succeed. Canceling this program pulls resources from communities that already have the fewest options and the greatest needs."
- Dr. Melanie Shaver, Superintendent, Hyde County Schools
"As an existing Community Schools site, Sampson County Schools has seen firsthand how this work strengthens student outcomes by addressing barriers beyond the classroom. Community Schools funding allows us to coordinate academic supports with mental health services, family engagement, and community partnerships especially critical in a rural county like ours where access to services is limited. The abrupt cancellation of this funding disrupts proven, student-centered systems that were already making a difference for our schools and families."
- Dr. Jamie King, Superintendent, Sampson County Schools
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Original text here: https://ncdoj.gov/attorney-general-jeff-jackson-sues-to-stop-unlawful-cut-of-nearly-50-million-from-rural-north-carolina-schools/
Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Manhattan
ALBANY, New York, Dec. 31 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Manhattan
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December 31, 2025
NEW YORK - The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Shelton Ennis, who died on June 26, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. The OSI was previously conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter, but has opened an
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ALBANY, New York, Dec. 31 -- New York Attorney General Letitia James issued the following news release:
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Attorney General James' Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Manhattan
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December 31, 2025
NEW YORK - The New York Attorney General's Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of Shelton Ennis, who died on June 26, 2025 following an encounter with members of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) in Manhattan. The OSI was previously conducting a preliminary assessment of the matter, but has opened aninvestigation following the receipt of new information.
At approximately 9:52 p.m., NYPD officers engaged with Mr. Ennis in the vicinity of 137th Street and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. Mr. Ennis ran from the officers and the officers pursued Mr. Ennis on foot. An officer apprehended Mr. Ennis, and both Mr. Ennis and the officer fell to the ground. Mr. Ennis was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officers recovered a knife at the scene.
Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI's assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.
These are preliminary facts and subject to change.
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Original text here: https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-office-special-investigation-opens-investigation-39
Attorney General Brenna Bird Joins Letter to Stop "Reputation Risk" Debanking
DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 31 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brenna Bird Joins Letter to Stop "Reputation Risk" Debanking
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Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined a letter to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) urging the elimination of "reputation risk" in banking supervisory programs. These banking regulators could use the threat of reputation risk to discourage banks from having clients that are unpopular with certain administrations, such as gun manufacturers.
Federal
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DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 31 -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Brenna Bird Joins Letter to Stop "Reputation Risk" Debanking
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Attorney General Brenna Bird has joined a letter to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) urging the elimination of "reputation risk" in banking supervisory programs. These banking regulators could use the threat of reputation risk to discourage banks from having clients that are unpopular with certain administrations, such as gun manufacturers.
Federalbanking statutes should make sure banks are safe for their customersnot mandate clients based on public opinion or political sentiment. The concept of "reputation risk" is subjective, and regulators have applied it inconsistently. Most famously, regulators have used the excuse of reputation risk to "debank" religious groups, political organizations, and other lawful industries based on political affiliation.
"No one should lose their ability to do business with a bank because of their politics," said Attorney General Bird. "I'm joining this coalition to ensure that banks govern their clients based on fiscal soundness and safety issues, not partisan issues."
Iowa joined the West Virginia-led letter along with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Read the full letter here.
For More Information:
Jen Green
jen.green@ag.iowa.gov
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Original text here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/newsroom/attorney-general-brenna-bird-joins-letter-to-stop-reputation-risk-debanking/
Attorney General Bonta Secures Significant Victory Against Trump Administration, Ending Unlawful Delays in Review of Medical and Public Health Research Grants
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 31 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Significant Victory Against Trump Administration, Ending Unlawful Delays in Review of Medical and Public Health Research Grants
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a multistate settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that permanently resolves claims made in a lawsuit he co-led in April challenging the Trump Administration's unlawful delays in reviewing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications.
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SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 31 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Secures Significant Victory Against Trump Administration, Ending Unlawful Delays in Review of Medical and Public Health Research Grants
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California Attorney General Rob Bonta secured a multistate settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that permanently resolves claims made in a lawsuit he co-led in April challenging the Trump Administration's unlawful delays in reviewing National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant applications.As part of the agreement, which remains subject to court approval, HHS commits to resuming the usual process for considering NIH grant applications on a prompt, agreed-upon timeline. The aforementioned lawsuit filed by Attorney General Bonta also alleged that NIH had terminated large swaths of already-issued grants for projects that are currently underway based on the projects' perceived connection to "diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)," "transgender issues," "vaccine hesitancy," and other topics disfavored by the current Administration. Today's agreement limits NIH from applying those directives while reviewing applications for new grants.
"I am pleased that the Trump Administration has agreed to stop delaying the review process for NIH grants. That, of course, should have never happened in the first place, and it's why my fellow attorneys general and I took the Administration to court earlier this year," said Attorney General Bonta. "Going forward, we remain committed to ensuring HHS fulfills its obligations under the agreement."
NIH grant applications typically undergo several rounds of rigorous review by subject-matter experts and agency officials who assess each proposal's scientific merit in light of funding availability and agency priorities. Earlier this year, the Administration took the unprecedented step of cancelling upcoming meetings for the agency's review panels and delaying the scheduling of future meetings. The Administration also indefinitely withheld issuing final decisions on applications that had already received approval from the relevant review panels, leaving the plaintiff states awaiting decisions on billions of dollars in requested research funding.
As a result of the Administration's delays and terminations, the states alleged that their public research institutions experienced significant harm. In California, NIH funding creates over 50,000 jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. Over the decades, this funding has brought humanity the eradication of polio, discovery of genes that cause breast and ovarian cancer, and the transformation of HIV from a fatal disease into one people can live with.
Today's agreement complements the coalition's victory in an earlier phase of the lawsuit, in which the plaintiff states challenged unlawful directives that targeted NIH projects based on their perceived connection to "DEI," "transgender issues," "vaccine hesitancy," and other topics disfavored by the Trump Administration. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts found for the plaintiff states and set aside the unlawful directives; a hearing on the federal government's appeal of that decision is scheduled for January 6, 2026.
Joining Attorney General Bonta in reaching this settlement are the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Hawai`i, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
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Original text here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-secures-significant-victory-against-trump-administration
Attorney General Bonta Marks Major Litigation Victory as Trump Administration Backs Away from Its Efforts to Federalize and Deploy California National Guard
SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 31 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Marks Major Litigation Victory as Trump Administration Backs Away from Its Efforts to Federalize and Deploy California National Guard
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Following Supreme Court decision, Trump Administration withdraws motion to stay, allows lower court order ending the extended federalization of the California National Guard to go fully into effect
OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today celebrated the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw its legal effort
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SACRAMENTO, California, Dec. 31 -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued the following news release:
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Attorney General Bonta Marks Major Litigation Victory as Trump Administration Backs Away from Its Efforts to Federalize and Deploy California National Guard
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Following Supreme Court decision, Trump Administration withdraws motion to stay, allows lower court order ending the extended federalization of the California National Guard to go fully into effect
OAKLAND - California Attorney General Rob Bonta today celebrated the Trump Administration's decision to withdraw its legal effortto block an order by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ending the continued federalization and deployment of California National Guard troops in and around Los Angeles. The Trump Administration's capitulation comes on the heels of a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in a related case, Illinois v. Trump, rejecting its nearly limitless conception of presidential authority to federalize the National Guard and the activities those troops can engage in.
The deployment of California National Guard troops ended earlier this month after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit refused to pause the District Court's preliminary injunction order with respect to the deployment, but the troops remained federalized. With today's filing, the Trump Administration agrees to allow the District Court's order with regard to the federalization of these troops to go into effect, allowing for the return of command of these troops to Governor Newsom for the first time since they were initially federalized in early June.
"For six months, California National Guard troops have been used as political pawns by a President desperate to be king. From the political display in MacArthur Park to their unlawful participation in indiscriminate immigration raids, the militaristic deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles streets has left lasting scars in Angeleno communities. There is a reason our founders decided military and civilian affairs must be kept separate; a reason that our military is, by design, apolitical," said Attorney General Bonta. "Now, in the face of a stinging rebuke by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump Administration is backing away from its efforts to federalize and deploy California National Guard troops. I'm incredibly proud of my team who worked nights and weekends to defend the Constitution and bring about an end of the President's unlawful overreach of executive power. While our rule of law remains under threat, our democratic institutions are holding. My office is not backing down and we're ready for whatever fights lie ahead."
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Original text here: https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-marks-major-litigation-victory-trump-administration-backs
