State / Local

Cartels Turn to Social Media to Lure Americans into Human Smuggling as Texas Enforces Stricter Laws
Thousands of people have been arrested under Texas’ human smuggling law. Now they face at least a decade in prison under sentencing guidelines that took effect this year.
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Violent Venezuelan Gang Members Expanding Operations in Midwest
Tren de Aragua members arrested in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Wisconsin. Tren de Aragua gang members are known for violence, murder, kidnapping, extortion, bribery and human and drug trafficking.
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More States Require Energy Companies to Pay for Damages Caused by Climate-Related Disasters
In recent years, several U.S. states have enacted laws to hold fossil fuel companies financially accountable for damages resulting from climate change. These actions reflect growing concerns about the connection between corporate practices, climate change, and disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.
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As Trump Mulls His FEMA Pick, a Political Land Mine Awaits in Florida
Florida may also present Trump with one of his thorniest political challenges: FEMA is hiking insurance rates and punishing flood-prone construction in the president-elect’s favorite state.
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A 2006 Study Found Undocumented Immigrants Contribute More Than They Cost Texas. The State Hasn’t Updated It Since.
A comptroller’s report found that deporting the estimated 1.4 million undocumented immigrants living in Texas in 2005 would have cost the state about $17.7 billion in gross domestic product.
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Washington Office Begins Tracking Statewide Deadly Use of Force Incidents
This month, the Washington State Office of Independent Investigation began tracking deadly use of force incidents involving law enforcement officers.
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Denver Spends More Than $350 Million on Migrants
Spending on migrants in Denver has ballooned to an estimated $356 million, an updated analysis says. The estimate, which amounts to $7,900 per foreign national in the city, includes spending from the city, schools, and health care systems.
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Nuclear Is Here ... and Here and Here
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) helped start the nuclear age more than 80 years ago, and it remains at the forefront of nuclear research. The lab is also actively involved in promoting east Tennessee’s nuclear industry and consulting with nuclear businesses that move into the area.
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Extensive Review of Champlain Towers Collapse Completed
A NIST team completed its extensive review, measurement and testing of critical building evidence extracted from the site of the 2021 partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida.
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Denver Will Stand in the Way of Mass Deportation
“More than us having DPD stationed at the county line to keep [National Guard units from other states] out, you would have 50,000 Denverites there,” Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said. “It’s like the Tiananmen Square moment with the rose and the gun, right? You’d have every one of those Highland moms who came out for the migrants. And you do not want to mess with them.”
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Texas Offers Land for Use for Trump Deportations
Trump has said he plans to declare a national emergency on his first day in office, citing the border crisis. In an effort to aid the administration, Texas offered state property in Starr County, where more than 1,400 acres could be used to construct deportation facilities and staging areas.
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Even Blue States Are Embracing a Tougher Approach to Crime
A nationwide shift toward more conservative policies continues in 3 more states. The outcomes of seven ballot measures in Arizona, California and Colorado reflect the stricter approach to crime that’s been seen across much of the country recently.
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Despite Back-to-Back Deals on Water from Mexico, Relief for South Texas Farmers Is Far from Certain
Texas agreed to take 120,000 acre-feet of water from Mexico this month, only after the U.S. and Mexico agreed to an updated treaty.
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New York City to End Controversial Migrant Debit Card Program
New York City is ending its controversial program that gave newly arriving migrants debit cards pre-loaded with money to pay for food, baby supplies and other necessities.
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Mexico Is Offering Water to South Texas. But There’s a Catch Farmers Aren’t Happy About.
Farmers say they want the water, but not if it goes against the allotment they need for the spring planting season.
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