Stories from United States

Governor Wes Moore signed legislation to reform the state's foster care system. The measure was introduced in response to the death of a 16-year-old in a Baltimore hotel while in state custody.

Documents obtained by Axios from the governor's office and five different agencies suggest information is being delayed or held back. This lack of transparency is raising questions regarding whether state residents are being denied access to critical information. The delay reportedly involves agencies across Olympia. Agencies including the Department of Health, transportation, and the Washington State Patrol have been directed to contact the governor's office before publishing news releases or responding to media inquiries. Records show the governor's office delayed a notice regarding a confirmed measles case at SeaTac Airport in October to make changes to the shared information. Staffers have reportedly expressed frustration with the requirement to run all communications through the governor's office.

Walmart is transitioning from paper price tags to digital screens in grocery stores to allow for real-time price adjustments based on demand or other data. Delegate Lord Charcutian noted that a recent move by Walmart spurred legislative action.

The Trump administration is urging Congress to restore funding for the Department of Homeland Security as available funds dwindle. The White House has issued warnings to Congress regarding the situation, according to an AP News report.

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Dallas Stars 4-2 to take a 3-2 series lead. The result places the Wild in a commanding position in the series. Quinn Hughes scored two goals during the game. The Wild are scheduled to face the Avalanche in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Flyers skated past the Oilers in the first period to advance to the second round. This victory marks the Wild's first playoff series win in 11 years. The Ducks also advanced after scoring three goals in the first period against the Oilers.

The Marina Coast Water District is reactivating a 30-year-old desalination plant in Marina, California. Remlea Schezinga of the district stated the move aims to diversify the water portfolio. The project is intended to reduce reliance on the groundwater basin and improve sustainability. The plant is expected to help boost the local water supply. The project involves preparing an existing intake well at Marina State Beach to pipe water back to the plant for re-injection into the dunes. The project is expected to serve roughly 1,000 homes along the Monterey Peninsula. The legislature must still approve $55 million to cover the California Department of Motor Vehicles' costs to execute the plan. The project is currently in its first phase involving preparation. It is expected to provide an additional 300 acre feet of water and become operational by the end of this year.

Greg Hogan has been appointed to oversee the US government's Login.gov platform. The move is part of an effort to integrate driver's licenses and passport information into the service.

California authorities are required to share immigration and privacy data to comply with the federal REAL ID Act. State officials say compliance ensures California driver's licenses and IDs remain accepted at federal facilities like airports.

Employees at the Environmental Protection Agency are filing allegations of agency retaliation. The employees claim that two-week suspensions violated their First Amendment rights and federal whistleblower protections. Attorneys representing the staff have submitted 15 complaints and stated that more are forthcoming. More than 600 EPA employees are filing claims of unlawful agency retaliation following an investigation launched in the summer of 2025. More than a dozen separate complaints have been filed so far, with lawyers representing workers stating more are expected. The investigation, which began around September 2025, resulted in disciplinary actions across three groups. These actions included proposed termination notices, outright firings of mostly probationary employees, and two-week suspensions without pay.

Disney does not plan to spin off ESPN, according to a report from Business Insider. The sports channels will remain within Disney as the company develops its streaming offerings.