Today is driven by four overlapping national stories: In Texas, two soldiers were killed when a Fort Hood AH-64 Apache crashed in Bell County around 1:35pm local, sparking a grass fire and evacuations; nationally, Tennessee, Alabama and Oklahoma have scheduled executions for Aug 13-14, the first time three states will execute on the same day in nearly 16 years; voters in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut, Vermont and South Carolina went to polls Aug 11 — Wisconsin moderate David Crowley upset democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the Democratic governor primary, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan upset Rep. Angie Craig, and Ned Lamont won in Connecticut; and a landmark youth-safety trial began in Oakland, California on Aug 12 testing Colorado, Kentucky, California and New Jersey’s claims that Meta designed platforms to keep young users hooked. Overhead, a partial solar eclipse visible from Alaska to North Carolina and the Perseid meteor shower peaking tonight dominates local coverage, plus Google’s Made by Google Pixel 11 launch is set for 6pm ET tonight in New York City.
- Alabama: Execution of Jeremy Williams set for window starting midnight Aug 13 at Holman for 2021 rape-murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland; first AL execution in 2026. Triple-execution day with TN and OK.
- Alaska: Best US view of partial solar eclipse today — up to 28% coverage, max 8:21am Anchorage, 8:27am Fairbanks. One of few states where eclipse visible.
- Arizona: No eclipse visibility. Part of national execution surge discussion — 2 executions in 2026 per CNN tally. Perseid viewing tonight.
- Arkansas: No eclipse. Coverage focused on meteor shower and death-penalty debate.
- California: Federal trial starts today Aug 12 in Oakland — CO, KY, CA, NJ vs Meta over youth addiction and misleading safety; 29 states also allege illegal child data collection.
- Colorado: Co-plaintiff in Meta trial starting today. Member of new governors public-health alliance.
- Connecticut: Primary Aug 11 — Gov. Ned Lamont won Democratic primary over progressive Josh Elliott. Partial eclipse ∼18% visible.
- Delaware: Partial eclipse 10-15% visible. Member of health alliance.
- Florida: Gov. DeSantis signed death warrant Aug 12 for ‘Hog Trail Killer’ Daniel Conahan; state has led nation with 12 executions so far in 2026.
- Georgia: Williams victim taken from Columbus City, GA. Northern GA partial eclipse visible. Perseid coverage.
- Hawaii: Not in eclipse path. Health alliance member. Perseid peak tonight.
- Idaho: No eclipse. Listed among death-penalty states in surge.
- Illinois: Not in eclipse path for most. Health alliance member. Chicago covering Meta trial.
- Indiana: 2 executions so far in 2026. No eclipse.
- Iowa: No eclipse. Local focus on MN/WI primary impacts.
- Kansas: Death-penalty state in national list. No eclipse.
- Kentucky: Co-plaintiff in Meta trial starting today.
- Louisiana: 1 execution in 2026 per tally. No eclipse.
- Maine: Top Lower-48 for eclipse — ∼22% coverage, max ∼1:53pm Bangor.
- Maryland: Partial eclipse 10-15% visible. Health alliance.
- Massachusetts: Partial eclipse ∼20% visible. Primary state Aug 11. Health alliance.
- Michigan: Partial eclipse ∼14% visible. Fallout from progressive vs moderate primaries.
- Minnesota: Primary Aug 11 — Flanagan upset Craig by ∼20 points in Senate Dem primary; Sen. Amy Klobuchar won gov Dem nomination to replace Walz; Lisa Demuth beat Mike Lindell in GOP gov primary; Michele Tafoya won GOP Senate primary.
- Mississippi: Death-penalty state, 2 executions in 2026 per tally. No eclipse.
- Missouri: 1 execution in 2026. No eclipse.
- Montana: Partial eclipse ∼13% visible, midday viewing.
- Nebraska: Death-penalty state in list. No eclipse.
- Nevada: No eclipse visibility — explicitly excluded. Perseid guides.
- New Hampshire: Partial eclipse ∼21% coverage, among best Northeast views.
- New Jersey: Co-plaintiff in Meta trial. Partial eclipse ∼17% visible. Health alliance.
- New Mexico: Previously won $942M in penalties vs Meta, watching today’s trial.
- New York: Made by Google Pixel 11 launch today Aug 12 at 6pm ET in NYC. Partial eclipse ∼18-20% visible. Health alliance.
- North Carolina: Partial eclipse visible in northern NC. Perseid peak tonight.
- North Dakota: Partial eclipse ∼17% coverage.
- Ohio: Executions on hold per moratorium. No eclipse.
- Oklahoma: One of triple-execution states — Carlos Cuesta-Rodriguez scheduled for 2003 murder case, third OK execution this year.
- Oregon: Execution moratorium. No eclipse in most of state.
- Pennsylvania: Execution moratorium. Partial eclipse ∼16% visible.
- Rhode Island: Partial eclipse ∼19% visible. Health alliance.
- South Carolina: Primary Aug 11 — special Senate primary with 9 GOP rivals after appointment of Sen. Darline Graham. Trump endorsement tested.
- South Dakota: Partial eclipse ∼14% visible.
- Tennessee: Triple-execution state — Anthony Hines scheduled for 1985 murder of Catherine Jenkins; state also has ongoing Meta consumer trial in Nashville.
- Texas: Two Fort Hood soldiers killed in Apache crash south of Salado, Bell County ∼1:34pm today, sparked wildfire and evacuations.
- Utah: No eclipse visibility — explicitly excluded.
- Vermont: Primary Aug 11 — House and governor primaries; partial eclipse ∼21% visible.
- Virginia: Northern VA partial eclipse 10-15% visible.
- Washington: Not in eclipse path for most. Health alliance. Perseid viewing.
- West Virginia: No eclipse visibility for most.
- Wisconsin: Primary Aug 11 — David Crowley (39.8%) defeated Francesca Hong (39.4%) by ∼3,000 votes in Dem gov primary, stunning comeback; GOP nom Tom Tiffany. Ballot shortage investigation in Milwaukee.
- Wyoming: Death-penalty state list. No eclipse.
