Across the U.S. today the dominant stories are weather and energy – a severe Northeast outbreak has tornado and flood watches from Delaware through Connecticut, New York and New Jersey threatening NYC subways with 2-4 inches of rain, while a dangerous heat dome from Texas with 105-110 degree indices to the Midwest triggered a Department of Energy emergency power order for 17 states including Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, and Western wildfires are burning 235,000+ acres on the Colorado-Utah border and 1.5 million acres in Oregon with air quality alerts across Montana, Idaho and Washington. Politically, South Dakota held its historic first-ever GOP gubernatorial runoff, Wisconsin opened early voting July 28 for its Aug. 11 governor primary, Massachusetts finalized 9 November ballot questions including weed repeal and same-day registration, and Virginia rose to No. 3 in CNBC’s Top States for Business. Health officials are tracking a 9-state cyclosporiasis outbreak that surged to 303 cases in Oklahoma and a 25-year worst measles outbreak affecting Pennsylvania, while Florida saw an AMBER Alert for a 13-year-old in Marion County and a Jacksonville quadruple shooting, Hawaii investigates a 30-person melee at Kaanapali Alii resort in Maui, and energy fights continue in Alaska over Enstar gas storage and in New Mexico where Sierra County passed an 18-month data center moratorium over the Spaceport America proposal.
- Alabama: Men’s basketball SEC schedule release dominates state coverage. Alabama announced its full 2026-27 slate on July 27, opening Nov. 3 vs Sam Houston and starting SEC play Jan. 2 at Mississippi State, closing March 6 at Auburn. The reveal confirms a fifth straight trip to Knoxville to face Tennessee.
- Alaska: Southcentral gas storage fight. Enstar, the region’s largest gas utility, filed for reconsideration after the Regulatory Commission of Alaska denied its request to expand storage, arguing in a July 27 filing that new storage can’t wait before winter as Cook Inlet supply tightens.
- Arizona: Monsoon storms hit Phoenix. Early July 28 thunder, lightning and heavy rain woke the Valley, sparking palm tree fires and knocking out power to nearly 4,500 customers at peak, after record heat drove record power demand.
- Arkansas: Legislative activity and recruiting news. The Arkansas General Assembly posted Recently Filed Bills for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, while Arkansas football added Buford, Ga. 4-star OL Ben Mubenga as its 23rd commitment for 2026.
- California: Affordability and weather dominate. California ranked last for affordability in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States Rankings released July 28, even as monsoon moisture and wildfire impacts continued statewide. Governor Newsom also hosted Texas Democrats in Sacramento amid redistricting fight.
- Colorado: Wildfire season. Four large fires across Colorado-Utah border have burned 235,000+ acres combined as of July 28, including Snyder Fire on Snyder Mesa, Babylon, Ferris and Gold Mountain fires, with containment ranging 50-100%.
- Connecticut: Severe weather threat. A tornado watch was issued July 28 for western Connecticut, northern Delaware, New Jersey, western Pennsylvania and central/southern New York, affecting over 30 million people, with flood risk through July 29.
- Delaware: Part of same Northeast severe outbreak as Connecticut, included in tornado watch zone July 28, with flood watches for northern Delaware and hazardous outlooks issued by NWS Mount Holly.
- Florida: Public safety alerts. Florida AMBER Alert issued late July 27 for 13-year-old Juliet Arioso from Marion County, and Jacksonville police investigated its 6th quadruple shooting of 2026 on July 27 in the 8000 block of Susie Street.
- Georgia: Law enforcement and weather. Stephens County pursuit ended July 28 after multi-county chase from Toccoa to Clarkesville, while Upstate Georgia faced severe storm risk July 28 with damaging winds and hail expected.
- Hawaii: Maui resort melee investigation. Maui Police confirmed response to Kaanapali Alii resort in Lahaina for disorderly incident involving about 30 people, with seven victims ages 17-62 and a 20-year-old Makawao man arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault, as family alleges racial threats.
- Idaho: Air quality alert day. Southwest Idaho under Weather Alert Day July 28 as wildfire smoke triggered air quality alerts through Friday, with Boise in 90s and triple-digit heat returning.
- Illinois: Court ruling on tuition. U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn struck down Illinois laws granting in-state tuition and aid to undocumented students on July 28, siding with Trump administration challenge.
- Indiana: Part of national cyclosporiasis outbreak linked to produce, with health officials tracking cases alongside Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and others, urging produce washing and cooking to 158F.
- Iowa: Energy emergency and heat. Iowa among 17 states included in U.S. Department of Energy emergency power order July 27 to handle dangerous heat wave driving AC load.
- Kansas: Conversion therapy ordinances. Three Kansas cities ordered to repeal ordinances banning conversion therapy after March 2026 Supreme Court ruling found bans like Kansas City’s unconstitutional; Kansas City passed its ban in 2019.
- Kentucky: Politics and health. Gov. Andy Beshear called on Sen. Mitch McConnell to disclose health details or resign, noting McConnell hasn’t been seen publicly for 43 days since hospitalization, while state reports 468 cyclosporiasis reports as of July 22.
- Louisiana: Named as one of five finalists for DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus alongside Tennessee and others, competing for potential $50B investment.
- Maine: Air quality impacts from Canadian wildfire smoke persist across northern New England, with moderate alerts July 28.
- Maryland: Heat emergency and power grid order overlaps Mid-Atlantic; state agencies on alert as DOE emergency order covers region.
- Massachusetts: Ballot set. Secretary William Galvin’s office confirmed nine questions will appear on November 2026 ballot after challenge to repeal legal marijuana failed July 21, including public records expansion to governor, same-day registration, all-party primaries and firearms law referendum.
- Michigan: President Trump at GM Milford Proving Ground July 28 to tout trade and industrial policies less than 100 days before midterms, highlighting manufacturing revival while state polling shows 33% approval.
- Minnesota: Severe weather and agriculture monitoring as Midwest heat dome expands; no major injuries reported as of morning July 28.
- Mississippi: Heat advisories statewide with indices 105-110, similar to neighboring Texas and Louisiana, with schools adjusting outdoor activities.
- Missouri: Heat and power grid strain under DOE emergency order; St. Louis under heat advisory July 28.
- Montana: Air quality alerts. Warm, dry, smoky conditions with air quality alerts in multiple counties July 27-28 and July 27 active alerts noted, as smoke from western wildfires pushes particulate levels up.
- Nebraska: Among 17 states in DOE emergency power order July 27 to assure grid during dangerous heat, plus lawsuit over Democratic Senate primary replacement after candidate dropout.
- Nevada: Democratic primary calendar news. Nevada lost bid to be first Democratic primary in 2028 after DNC Rules Committee vote July 25 kept South Carolina first.
- New Hampshire: Northeast severe weather outbreak, included in flood watches and severe thunderstorm outlook for July 28-29.
- New Jersey: Under tornado watch and flood watch July 28 as part of 30-million-person Northeast severe outbreak.
- New Mexico: Sierra County approved 18-month moratorium on large-scale data centers amid protests over Green Data proposal at Spaceport America; Spaceport says no agreements signed.
- New York: NYC travel advisory July 28 8am to July 29 8am and flood watch with 2-3 inches forecast, isolated 4 inches, with rates over 2.5 inches per hour threatening roads and subways.
- North Carolina: Severe storms expected Western NC July 28, with NWS warning of damaging winds and large hail as main threats following recent Helene memory triggers.
- North Dakota: Air quality alerts from wildfire smoke, agriculture heat stress monitoring July 28.
- Ohio: Part of nine-state cyclosporiasis outbreak alongside Oklahoma and others.
- Oklahoma: Cyclosporiasis outbreak climbs to 303 cases as of July 27, with 298 confirmed and 5 probable and 18 hospitalizations, up from 56 on July 14, among nine states linked to produce, with CDC warning true number higher.
- Oregon: Wildfires burn 1.5M acres across mainly central and eastern Oregon with 23 homes lost, highways closed, 12,200 personnel fighting and $144M costs, driven by early fuel curing.
- Pennsylvania: Measles and severe weather. Pennsylvania reports cases amid worst U.S. measles outbreak in 25+ years, while western PA included in July 28 tornado watch zone.
- Rhode Island: Coastal flood and severe thunderstorm outlook as Northeast system moves through July 28-29.
- South Carolina: Upstate severe storm risk July 28 near Spartanburg with hail and damaging winds, finalist for Fargo wrestling rosters with Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming July 6 listing.
- South Dakota: Historic first-ever GOP gubernatorial primary runoff July 28 triggered by 35% threshold law, incumbent Larry Rhoden (25%) vs Toby Doeden (31%).
- Tennessee: DOE finalist for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, one of five finalists after 28 applications from 26 states to support fuel fabrication, enrichment, reactors and nuclear-powered data centers, with up to $50B investment and 25,000 jobs estimated.
- Texas: Triple-digit heat grips Texas July 28 as heat advisories expand in Panhandle, North Texas and coast with heat index 105-110, and Texas now leads Fortune 500 headquarters with 57 vs California 56.
- Utah: Utah among states with 235,000+ acres burning on Colorado-Utah border July 28, and finalist for DOE nuclear campus.
- Vermont: Flood watch and severe weather monitoring as part of Northeast system moving through Vermont July 28-29.
- Virginia: Rises to No. 3 in CNBC 2026 America’s Top States for Business, up from last year with Texas 4th and Minnesota 5th, announced July 9, and finished top five every year since 2018.
- Washington: Named top ten state by U.S. News 2026 Best States Rankings, ranking ninth overall after 10th in 2025, reported as “Washington named top ten state by US News rankings”.
- West Virginia: Deadly flash flooding submerges hotel in Weston and north-central communities, with water pouring into lobby and rescues underway July 28.
- Wisconsin: Early voting underway July 28 through Aug. 9 for Aug. 11 election including governor primary, plus Dem gubernatorial primary debate July 28 7pm, as upheaval in governor’s race stokes angst.
- Wyoming: Wildfire smoke and heat, with state agencies monitoring air quality; Fargo wrestling roster grouping includes Wyoming with Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina July 6.
