a day of split-screen America heading into the final weeks of the midterm cycle. Campaigning dominates North Carolina and New York, court rulings reshape maps in Utah, while execution, sentencing and major arrests mark Alabama, Mississippi and Vermont. Severe weather is the other lead – flash floods kill in New Mexico, lift a car in Connecticut, and force festival cancellations in California – as wildfire, smoke advisories, and infrastructure closures stretch from Oklahoma to Michigan. Public health alerts on measles in Kansas and Pennsylvania, economic moves from Amazon in Florida to a $93 billion capital plan in New York City, and sports headlines like Notre Dame-Nebraska’s renewal show how local decisions are reverberating nationally.
Top News by State – September 16, 2026:
- Alabama: State set to execute Jeffery Lee, 50, on Thursday for 1998 double murder in pawn shop holdup, second execution in 2026.
- Alaska: Alaska Energy Metals announced Sept 16 completion of 100% Canwell claim block purchase for Nikolai Nickel Project.
- Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs announced State Land Dept terminated five agricultural leases in Yuma County for AgTech LLC spreading sewage sludge biosolids.
- Arkansas: State Sen. Jonathan Dismang announced resignation effective Sept 15 after nearly 20 years to join Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas.
- California: Inaugural Ocean Way music festival set for Sept 26-27 canceled Sept 16 due to Hurricane Marie coastal erosion.
- Colorado: Gov. Jared Polis signed executive order Sept 16 at Denver Zoo directing agencies to protect and support pollinators.
- Connecticut: New Haven driver caught in flash floods that lifted Tesla off road, incident updated Sept 16.
- Delaware: Oktoberfest at Delaware Saengerbund in Ogletown named 2nd best in U.S. by USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards Sept 16.
- Florida: Amazon to temporarily close Midway Road warehouse at I-95, cutting 300 jobs and transferring 850 ahead of $200M expansion to 2028.
- Georgia: State election officials released final ballot for Nov. 2026 midterms Sept 16, with competitive House races in Atlanta suburbs drawing national attention.
- Hawaii: University of Hawai’i research Sept 16 warns rising rents straining housing lifeline for thousands; Barnwell Industries announced exit from Hawaii same day.
- Idaho: Boise surgeon Dr. Daniel Gay earned SRC Master Surgeon accreditation for hernia care; Idaho Liberty Bell Tour announced for Rupert and Soda Springs Sept 17-19.
- Illinois: Illinois Lottery confirmed Sept 15 anonymous winner of $1.04 billion Powerball from Aug 12 bought ticket at Hy-Vee in Quincy.
- Indiana: ICE announced Operation Safe Community-Indiana netted 426 arrests Aug 30-Sept 3, release dated Sept 16.
- Iowa: Reps. Zach Nunn and Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted Sept 16 to limit President Trump’s war powers in Iran.
- Kansas: Dept of Health reported domestic travel-associated measles case in September amid 3,294 confirmed U.S. cases in 2026 as of Sept 10.
- Kentucky: Five men face federal cockfighting charges per Sept 16 release; Gov. Beshear highlighted $250M medical debt relief for 130,000 Kentuckians.
- Louisiana: Louisiana coast under tropical monitoring Sept 16 as Gulf disturbance brings flood risk to New Orleans and Baton Rouge ahead of weekend.
- Maine: Maine Marine Patrol announced Sept 16 increased patrols after lobstermen gear conflicts off Midcoast following storm damage.
- Maryland: Baltimore County schools announced Sept 16 emergency HVAC upgrades after heat-related closures last week.
- Massachusetts: Fall River police responded to shooting near Jencks and Cash streets after shots fired in parking lot Sept 16.
- Michigan: MDOT announced overnight detour and lane closure on northbound I-75 in Genesee County Sept 16-17 for drainage work.
- Minnesota: St. Cloud Chamber held candidate forum for Senate Districts 13 and 14 Sept 16 at its office.
- Mississippi: Jackson police arrested suspect in Tasia Fortune case after Medical Examiner ruled hanging death a homicide Sept 11.
- Missouri: Public hearing on possible data center rules scheduled in Jefferson City Sept 16 coinciding with annual veto session.
- Montana: Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirmed Sept 16 evidence shows hunter near Augusta was attacked by grizzly bear Monday.
- Nebraska: Notre Dame and Nebraska announced home-and-home football series for 2032-2033 Sept 16, first meeting in 32 years.
- Nevada: Pedestrian killed and driver detained in Las Vegas early Sept 16; Clark County issued smoke advisory at 9:52 am.
- New Hampshire: Recount Sept 16 upheld Daniel Fitzpatrick’s 1-vote win 264-263 over Paige Dunleavy for Democratic nomination in Strafford County District 6.
- New Jersey: Hovione opened new 31,000 sq ft facility at New Jersey campus Sept 16 expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- New Mexico: Flash flooding killed 3 – two adults and one child – overnight in northwest New Mexico as monsoon flood threat continues.
- New York: Mayor Eric Adams released $93 billion FY2026 September Capital Commitment Plan, largest in city history, focused on MTA and housing.
- North Carolina: President Donald Trump heads to North Carolina Sept 16 to campaign for GOP Senate candidate Michael Whatley in tight race.
- North Dakota: Cole Reschny named youngest captain in University of North Dakota hockey history ahead of 2026-27 season.
- Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 462 allowing students with severe allergies to carry nasal-spray epinephrine at schools.
- Oklahoma: Air crews battling massive Gracemont wildfire burning thousands of acres southwest of Oklahoma City overnight Sept 16.
- Oregon: Oregon Health Authority made hundreds of thousands in duplicate Medicaid payments 2020-2024 per audit released Sept 16.
- Pennsylvania: Measles cases topped 700 after fourth outbreak-related death reported Sept 16 involving 18-year-old in Mifflin County.
- Rhode Island: Gov. Dan McKee lost Democratic gubernatorial primary to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes per results certified Sept 16.
- South Carolina: South Carolina Ports Authority reported record container volume Sept 16 as Charleston expansion nears completion.
- South Dakota: FBI seeking public help in 2015 disappearance of Kyle resident Alejandro Pilar Vasquez with $25,000 reward announced Sept 15.
- Tennessee: New law HB2518 to strengthen market for recycled materials highlighted in analysis published Sept 16.
- Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott announced Sept 16 economic development mission to Japan and South Korea; TDI announced actions to lower property insurance costs.
- Utah: Federal court ruled Sept 15 new Utah voting districts favoring Democrats can be used in 2026 election, rejecting GOP block.
- Vermont: Theodore Bland sentenced to life Sept 14 for murdering two men during drug trafficking per DOJ; Secretary of State praised mail-in ballot ruling Sept 15.
- Virginia: Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced secure chip-and-tap EBT rollout to prevent SNAP fraud and $7.4M Twain Lumber investment reopening sawmill creating 74 jobs Sept 16.
- Washington: Washington State Ferries announced Sept 16 fall schedule adjustments due to crew shortages and vessel maintenance on Seattle-Bainbridge route.
- West Virginia: West Virginia DHHR reported Sept 16 uptick in flood-related water contamination tests after heavy rain in southern counties.
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin Elections Commission certified Sept 16 ballot access challenges for state Supreme Court race drawing national spending.
- Wyoming: Wyoming Game and Fish announced Sept 16 emergency elk feeding grounds closure due to brucellosis monitoring in western Wyoming.
