Yesterday was such a gorgeous day to go 0-9!

ICYMI: Maine lawmakers have given final approval to a moratorium on data centers larger than 20 megawatts — the first statewide ban of its kind in the country.

via @mainemorningstar.com

mainemorningstar.com/2026/04/09/l...

Meet the Tech Reporters Using AI to Help Write and Edit Their Stories Independent writers are using AI agents all throughout their reporting process. What’s the value of a human journalist, anyway?

okay.
www.wired.com/story/tech-r...

How Trump’s expansion of federal power threatens states’ authority • Stateline As the United States of America marks its 250th anniversary this year, the relationship between the states and the federal government is approaching a breaking point.

NEW: Ahead of the country’s 250th birthday, the bedrock principles of federalism — the uniquely American system of power sharing between Washington and the states — are being tested.

stateline.org/2026/03/30/how-trumps-ex...

Data center dilemma: Why money isn’t winning over communities | News From The States

Episode 21 is live!

This week, we will head to Mason County, Kentucky and address the increased community uproar against data centers with city commissioner Max Moran.

@maddyfitz.bsky.social @stateline.org @kentuckylantern.com @danielleegaines.bsky.social
www.newsfromthestates.com/episode/data...

Your personal data might set your grocery prices. States aim to crack down. • Stateline With many Americans struggling to afford the basics, consumers and state lawmakers alike are becoming more concerned about how retailers are using algorithms — many of which rely on personal data — to...

With many Americans struggling to afford the basics, consumers and state lawmakers alike are becoming more concerned about how retailers are using algorithms — many of which rely on personal data — to price products.

My latest with @stateline.org:
stateline.org/2026/03/27/y...

Multiple states offer financial incentives to businesses building data centers. However, public opposition is on the rise.
Tomorrow, we will take a look at this with @maddyfitz.bsky.social of @stateline.org and a city commissioner from Germantown, Kentucky.
www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stor...

Eating my way through Philly

Supreme Court skeptical of allowing states to count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day • Stateline The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices on Monday appeared skeptical of the validity of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, in a case that could potentially affect hundreds of thousands of voters during the upcoming midterm elections.

NEW from Jonathan Shorman: The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices appeared skeptical of the validity of mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.

stateline.org/2026/03/23/supreme-court...

A photo of three ICE agents walking through Atlanta airport

ICE agents at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta on Monday, March 23. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

ODU shooting case renews debate over Virginia’s inactive background check law • Virginia Mercury Federal charges filed against a Virginia man accused of illegally selling the gun used in a recent shooting at Old Dominion University are intensifying scrutiny of the state’s now-defunct universal…

After federal authorities charged a Smithfield woman with illegally selling a firearm used in the deadly Old Dominion University shooting earlier this month, Virginia’s stalled law requiring background checks for most private gun sales is prompting fresh scrutiny. virginiamercury.com/2026/03/23/o...

The pay gap between women and men widened last year, analysis finds • Stateline The earnings gap between men and women slightly widened last year, according to a new analysis published Thursday. The left-leaning Economic Policy Institute calculated women last year earned 18.6% le...

The pay gap between women and men *grew* last year.

stateline.org/2026/03/19/t...

Women and girls are taking Grok to court over sexualized AI deepfakes A new lawsuit filed Monday joins two others centered around nonconsensual explicit images allegedly made by the AI chatbot.

On Monday, three girls filed a class-action lawsuit against xAI alleging that the company’s Grok AI tool was used to generate child sexual abuse material from their photos.

Residents of cities like #philadelophia, #nyc, #atlanta, and #kansascity... how do you feel about the fact that the World Cup is coming to your town?

a guitar braided into Coogler's hair

A treble clef braided into Coogler's hair

Viewers noticed Ryan Coogler appears to have a guitar and treble clef braided in his hair at the #Oscars

Clock ticking on Virginia budget as Democrats clash over data center tax break • Virginia Mercury With just days remaining in the 2026 legislative session, Virginia lawmakers are running out of time to reach agreement on a new two-year state budget, even as Democrats control the governor’s office ...

From @virginiamercury.com: With adjournment days away, Virginia lawmakers are running out of time to reach an agreement on a new two-year state budget. The biggest obstacle is a growing dispute over the state's data center tax exemption.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/11/c...

Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials • Stateline As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities.Lawmakers in at le...

My latest on data centers @stateline.org
stateline.org/2026/03/06/t...

Temporarily banning data centers draws more interest from state, local officials • Stateline As communities’ concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt development of the facilities.Lawmakers in at least 12 states have introduced legislation this session that would temporarily ban data centers, according to Good Jobs First, a watchdog group that focuses on economic development incentives.

From Madyson Fitzgerald: As concerns grow over rising electricity prices and the environmental effects of data centers, some local and state officials want to halt new developments.

stateline.org/2026/03/06/temporarily-b...

Crisis Pregnancy Centers Series | News From The States Billion Dollar Baby Bump: A States Newsroom 50-state investigation examining the tax records of more than 1,600 crisis pregnancy center organizations nationwide and state and federal budgets found the...

Public funding for crisis pregnancy centers has grown exponentially, but oversight hasn’t. Our investigation with @statesnewsroom.com is ongoing. If you’ve had an experience with a crisis pregnancy center, please get in touch: cpcproject@statesnewsroom.com.

www.newsfromthestates.com/tags/crisis-...

Bill mandating ingredient labels on menstrual products headed to Spanberger • Virginia Mercury While some companies label ingredients used to make menstrual health products like tampons or pads, many disclose little about the chemicals their products contain.

Virginia lawmakers have passed a bill requiring clear ingredient labels on menstrual products sold in the state, aiming to boost transparency and consumer safety.

The measure now heads to Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s desk.

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/03/b...

🚨 NEW @statesnewsroom.com found 21 states funneled ~ half $1B to crisis pregnancy centers. by
@kelciemmorris.bsky.social @acvollers.bsky.social y.social
@nhassanein.bsky.social y.social @sofiaresnick.bsky.social @amandavhernan.bsky.social and myself!

www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxp...

Taxpayer dollars flood pregnancy centers. Oversight hasn't followed. Editor's note: This is the first report in an ongoing series.The patient came in with a belly full of blood, Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung recalled. Her pregnancy was ectopic, no longer viable, and could ha...

A States Newsroom investigation found 21 states funneled nearly half a billion dollars to faith-based crisis pregnancy centers. While the magnitude of funding is growing, oversight is not.

From our series Billion Dollar Baby Bump:
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/taxp...

A stellar series from my stellar colleagues @statesnewsroom.com + @stateline.org!

Va. lawmakers propose guardrails for artificial intelligence use in education • Virginia Mercury As Virginia schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, state lawmakers question the technology’s impact on students' safety, critical thinking and learning skills.

AI in VA: Advocates of artificial intelligence praise the technology for increasing efficiency and productivity.

But as schools adopt AI and students spend more time on screens, Virginia state lawmakers have questions. @virginiamercury.com

virginiamercury.com/2026/03/02/v...

Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states • Stateline As some states welcome more data centers with tax incentives, others are scaling back to balance economic development and energy considerations.

The data center momentum is shifting.

After years of states pushing legislation to accelerate the development of data centers, some legislators want to limit or repeal state and local incentives that paved their way. My latest for @stateline.org

stateline.org/2026/02/24/d...

Senators propose phasing out data center tax credit, House budget keeps it • Virginia Mercury Data center industry opposes rolling back tax credit that costs the state a billion dollars annually.

Va. lawmakers are split in the budget’s final weeks: Senate plant pushes to phase out a major data center tax credit to free up revenue, while the House budget keeps the break intact — setting up a clash as negotiators work toward a deal before the session ends.

virginiamercury.com/2026/02/24/s...

Data center tax breaks are on the chopping block in some states • Stateline As some states welcome more data centers with tax incentives, others are scaling back to balance economic development and energy considerations.

Lawmakers changing their minds about data centers...

Great story from @maddyfitz.bsky.social @stateline.org
stateline.org/2026/02/24/d...

Subscribe • Stateline Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local policy stories from across the country. You'll get the latest stories and headlines delivered to your inbox each…

Stateline Daily is your cheat sheet for the day's most important state and local policy stories from across the country.

You'll get the latest stories and headlines delivered to your inbox each morning.

@maddyfitz.bsky.social
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Our small staff of four reporters has brought distinctive stories about Operation Metro Surge this year, for free and without advertising. Your generous support is what makes that work possible. If you're willing and able, please help us keep it going. minnesotareformer.com/donate/

As Trump targets elections, states fight back in court | News From The States

Episode 16 is live!

This week, we will address Trump's attacks on elections and how some states are pushing back. This episode will feature Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts, Elias Law Group's Elisabeth Frost, and @stateline.org.

@georgiarecorder.com
www.newsfromthestates.com/episode/trum...