dominated by three cross-cutting themes: energy and infrastructure stress, with Texas pausing data center permits for a grid audit, California legalizing E15 fuel, New Mexico under flood watches, and Montana battling large wildfires; a nationwide public health alert as measles surges in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin; and major economic shifts including billion-dollar manufacturing expansions in Georgia and Alabama, federal court battles over Missouri’s congressional map and South Carolina’s redistricting, and workforce initiatives in Connecticut and Michigan, all unfolding as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly.
Top News by State – September 22, 2026:
- Alabama: U.S. Steel broke ground on a $475 million quench and temper facility at Fairfield Tubular Operations in Fairfield.
- Alaska: Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered flags to half-staff September 22 in honor of former Rep. Cheri Davis, while the Marijuana Control Board met to consider lifting THC purchase limits.
- Arizona: Arizona’s 6th Congressional District emerged as one of 18 toss-up races that could decide House control, with focus on the One Big Beautiful Bill.
- Arkansas: Morning headlines highlighted how rising diesel prices are squeezing Arkansas truck drivers and heat is impacting farmers.
- California: Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 795, clearing the final regulatory hurdle for retailers to sell E15 gasoline.
- Colorado: Colorado Supreme Court unanimously struck an initiative requiring voter approval for certain fees from the 2026 ballot for violating single-subject rule.
- Connecticut: State Senator Cathy Osten cited a new report showing the Eastern Connecticut Manufacturing Pipeline created 6,464 jobs and $549 million impact over 10 years.
- Delaware: Delaware Republicans unveiled the 2026 Contract with Delaware Voters with 10 proposals on affordability, public safety and education at Legislative Hall in Dover.
- Florida: Attorney General James Uthmeier sued 3 insulin makers Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and 3 PBMs CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Optum Rx over alleged insulin price-fixing.
- Georgia: Gov. Brian Kemp announced Pirelli will invest $1.2 billion to expand its Rome tire plant and U.S. headquarters, quintupling employment.
- Hawaii: Qualcomm opened its Snapdragon Summit 2026 in Maui, unveiling next-gen flagship chips and agentic AI plans through Sept 24.
- Idaho: Idaho’s 80-foot grand fir from Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest was selected as the 2026 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree.
- Illinois: Federal judge ruled federally chartered credit unions are exempt from Illinois law banning swipe fees on sales taxes and tips.
- Indiana: Indiana Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in convicted Delphi murderer Richard Allen’s appeal of his 130-year sentence.
- Iowa: Johnson County judge blocked closure of the State Historical Society of Iowa research facility in Iowa City, ordering it remain open.
- Kansas: New federal $50k annual cap on professional program loans under Big Beautiful Bill threatens to worsen Kansas physician shortage.
- Kentucky: Battery startup EnerVenue that scrapped $264M Kentucky factory in 2024 opened first factory in China on Sept 22 as Trump-Xi meet.
- Louisiana: Residents near SpaceX’s proposed Louisiana launch site raised environmental and transparency concerns over the deal.
- Maine: National Weather Service warned a September nor’easter could hit Maine by Friday Sept 25 with heavy rain and hazardous marine conditions.
- Maryland: MTA offered free all-day rides on Local Bus, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MARC and Commuter Bus for Car Free Day.
- Massachusetts: Gov. Maura Healey announced plan to file legislation suspending state gas tax for two months, cutting 24 cents per gallon.
- Michigan: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced MSF Board approval for $651M Arbor South mixed-use project in Ann Arbor with 1,000+ housing units.
- Minnesota: Willmar police reported shooting near Rau Park left two young men dead and one critically injured Monday night.
- Mississippi: Lafayette County authorities investigated deaths of two Ole Miss students after football weekend, with packaged kratom found at scenes.
- Missouri: Federal appeals court ruled Missouri must use GOP-leaning Trump-backed congressional map for Nov. 3 elections pending Supreme Court review.
- Montana: Sand Creek Fire at 35,520 acres 71% contained and Bobcat Lakes Fire at 10,896 acres 88% contained continued burning in Beaverhead County.
- Nebraska: Public Service Commission dismissed complaint against The Andersons Inc., allowing it to keep grain dealer license after $5,000 fine.
- Nevada: Fervo Energy secured two Department of Energy awards totaling ∼$20M for Enhanced Geothermal Systems appraisal in Humboldt County.
- New Hampshire: Former middleweight champ Kendrick Ball Jr. won WBC USNBC Silver super middleweight title over Bryan Vera in Derry.
- New Jersey: U.S. Senator Andy Kim toured Commercial Solar Panel Recycling in Phillipsburg highlighting New Jersey solar recycling leadership.
- New Mexico: Flood Watches covered much of New Mexico as tropical and monsoon moisture threatened flash flooding through Sept 24.
- New York: President Trump met French President Emmanuel Macron in New York on sidelines of UN General Assembly to discuss Iran and Ukraine.
- North Carolina: Over $600 million in federal funds headed to North Carolina to replace nine crumbling Marine barracks at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point.
- North Dakota: Armstrong Operating reported 1,500 barrels of produced water and 10 barrels of oil spilled at Laurine Engel 1 site south of Dickinson.
- Ohio: Ohio’s measles outbreak surged with 47 new cases in one week, 327% increase, with 34 in Wayne County.
- Oklahoma: Police arrested 16-year-old in connection with weekend homicide at Almonte Apartments in southwest Oklahoma City.
- Oregon: Gov. Tina Kotek ordered flags at half-staff Sept 22 to honor wildland firefighter Jesús Gutiérrez Toral who died fighting Austin Fire.
- Pennsylvania: Department of Health reported 792 measles cases statewide Sept 22, up 25 since Friday, with 155 hospitalized.
- Rhode Island: Incoming nor’easter prompted gale warnings and Block Island Ferry high-speed cancellation starting Sept 22-23.
- South Carolina: State Senate rejected Trump’s push to redraw congressional districts ahead of November, declining to cancel early primary voting.
- South Dakota: State Senate deadlocked 17-17 on making 4.2% sales tax rate permanent, stalling bill before July 1, 2027 sunset to 4.5%.
- Tennessee: Inmate accused of stabbing correctional officer to death was found dead at Riverbend Maximum Security in Nashville at 12:40 a.m. Sept 22.
- Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott halted all state data center permits until ERCOT completes grid audit, directing TCEQ to stop issuances.
- Utah: Former USPS worker indicted for allegedly dumping over 300 mail-in ballots before June primary was arrested Sept 22.
- Vermont: Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders announced new policy limiting new superintendent hires to one-year contracts amid district merger talks.
- Virginia: Implementation of Governor Abigail Spanberger’s Data Center Accountability Framework continued to draw attention Sept 22.
- Washington: Microsoft announced nearly 600 global layoffs Sept 22, including about 300 in Washington and 268 Xbox roles.
- West Virginia: President Trump approved $4.5 million in expedited Individual Assistance for Lewis and Upshur counties after July 21-22 flooding.
- Wisconsin: Health officials announced new measles case in Chippewa County, pushing state’s 2026 total over 170 cases.
- Wyoming: Bureau of Land Management offered right-of-way grants for two carbon storage projects covering nearly 650,000 acres in southwest Wyoming.
