Today is a major primary day across the U.S. – Florida, Alaska, California, and Wyoming all vote on August 18 – dominating the national picture with Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds leading Florida’s GOP governor primary to succeed Ron DeSantis and a special runoff in California’s 14th District to replace Eric Swalwell. At the same time, courts and legislatures are reshaping the 2026 midterms, with federal judges allowing new maps in Utah while blocking efforts in Alabama, extreme weather driving headlines from 180,000 without power in Hawaii after Tropical Storm Lala to historic floods killing 6 in Indiana and 108-year heat records in Oklahoma, and infrastructure fights from the $2-3B Louisiana International Terminal permit to Colorado Springs’ controversial Project Taurus AI data center.
- Alabama: State is fighting to execute Jeffrey Lee despite federal nitrogen hypoxia ruling, and filed emergency motions to the U.S. Supreme Court to allow a new GOP-favored congressional map for August special primaries.
- Alaska: Top-four nonpartisan primary held today Aug 18 – DOJ subpoenas issued over second candidate named Dan J. Sullivan accused of entering Senate race to confuse voters against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.
- Arizona: Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed 48% of election bills in 2026 session, as Phoenix city brief for Aug 18 focuses on police leave and water issues.
- Arkansas: Entergy Arkansas faces scrutiny over its first major rate hike in 10 years, tied to energy costs for large data center projects.
- California: Special runoff election today Aug 18 in 14th Congressional District (Bay Area) – Democrats Aisha Wahab vs Melissa Hernandez to fill vacancy left by Eric Swalwell after no majority on June 16.
- Colorado: Colorado Springs City Council decision looms for Project Taurus – 100MW AI data center at former Intel plant on Garden of the Gods Road, appeals denied after 14.5-hour hearing in July, final hearing set for Sept 17.
- Connecticut: Following Aug 11 primary, Gov. Ned Lamont administration highlights manufacturing and economic growth, with state parties pivoting to November general election matchups.
- Delaware: State prepares for Sept 15 primary – focus on competitive congressional race and who will control Congress after midterms polling.
- Florida: Primary Day today Aug 18 – GOP gubernatorial primary with Trump-backed Rep. Byron Donalds vs Jay Collins, James Fishback and Paul Renner leading; Trump voted by mail in Palm Beach County; new congressional map expected to net GOP up to 4 seats.
- Georgia: State election board and court fights over election rules continue to dominate ahead of November, with data center development debates mirroring Florida.
- Hawaii: Tropical Storm Lala downgraded after brushing islands Aug 16-17, but leaves 180,000+ utility customers without power and 100 homes damaged, ports and airports reopening Aug 18.
- Idaho: Aftermath of Aug 1-2 Twin Falls In-N-Out mass shooting dominates coverage – armed citizen video credited with preventing more casualties.
- Illinois: Gov. JB Pritzker presses Pentagon for answers on extended USS Abraham Lincoln deployment, citing lack of information on Illinois sailors aboard.
- Indiana: Powerful storms and historic floods since Aug 12 kill 6 including 4-year-old boy; Gov. Braun says Trump agreed to emergency declaration Aug 16.
- Iowa: Iowa Department of Health and Human Services confirms 11 new measles cases Aug 13, bringing 2026 total to 12 vs 9 all of 2025.
- Kansas: Voters decisively rejected constitutional amendment to elect state Supreme Court justices on Aug 5 ballot, 61% opposed, preserving nominating commission.
- Kentucky: 1 killed, 4 injured including 2 children in mass shooting at outdoor concert at Charles Young Park in downtown Lexington on Aug 15 evening.
- Louisiana: Louisiana secures key federal permit Aug 17 from Army Corps of Engineers to build $2-3B Louisiana International Terminal deep-water container port in St. Bernard Parish.
- Maine: Sen. Susan Collins announced Aug 14 all ICE enforcement officers in Maine now equipped with body-worn cameras.
- Maryland: State officials monitor Bay health and Baltimore crime initiatives as top local story, with primary season over and focus on November Senate race.
- Massachusetts: Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña arrested Aug 14 on federal fraud charges for allegedly obtaining over $1.5M in COVID-19 small-business loans and diverting to campaign.
- Michigan: University of Michigan picks next president – Vanderbilt Provost C. Cybele Raver selected; severe thunderstorms expected statewide Tuesday night Aug 18.
- Minnesota: Democrats chose Sen. Amy Klobuchar as nominee for governor in Aug 11 primary, facing Republican Lisa Demuth in November; also suing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today Aug 18 over extradition.
- Mississippi: Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell announces run for Mississippi Attorney General at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday Aug 19.
- Missouri: Greene County has new sheriff for first time in 18 years – Commission accepts Sheriff Jim Arnott resignation Aug 18 after Senate confirmation as U.S. Marshal, appoints Jason Johnson interim.
- Montana: BHE Montana signed agreement Monday to join California ISO’s new Extended Day-Ahead Market.
- Nebraska: Omaha and Lincoln districts prepare for school year start with focus on property tax and education funding debate in Legislature.
- Nevada: Clark County faces ongoing heat and energy demand surge, with Las Vegas tourism and primary turnout analysis leading local news.
- New Hampshire: Post-August legislative session wrap focuses on housing costs and opioid settlement spending.
- New Jersey: Transit and Paterson mayoral race coverage dominates, with NJ Transit service reliability top concern for commuters Aug 18.
- New Mexico: Environment Department hosted public webinar today Aug 18, 2-3:30 p.m., on PFAS Protection Act and consumer product protections.
- New York: Medical Aid in Dying Act goes into effect today Aug 18 – allows terminally ill adults with <6 months to request medication; Empire State manufacturing activity accelerated strongly in August.
- North Carolina: Gov. Josh Stein vetoed House Bill 377 on Monday Aug 18, saying it would have chilling effect on judicial independence by giving state Supreme Court power to censure/remove judges.
- North Dakota: State launched $50.5M in rural health funding opportunities Aug 18, ahead of NDSU Fall Fan Day tonight at 5:30 p.m. in Fargo.
- Ohio: U.S. News 2026-2027 Best High Schools ranking released today Aug 18 – Walnut Hills High School named best in Ohio for third year.
- Oklahoma: Oklahoma City faces extreme heat breaking 108-year-old record as hottest 2-day pattern hits state Tuesday-Wednesday Aug 18-19.
- Oregon: Willamette National Forest issued Stage 2 Fire Restrictions effective 12:01 a.m. Aug 17 – campfires banned due to critically dry fuels and hot weather.
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia and Pittsburgh districts prepare for return to school with state budget impasse over education funding still unresolved.
- Rhode Island: State housing package and Washington Bridge replacement remain top storylines as summer tourism season winds down.
- South Carolina: Charleston port expansion and GOP presidential surrogate visits highlight top news as 2026 general election ramps up.
- South Dakota: Crops under severe stress from dry August – 90% of state in drought, farmers report leaf roll in corn and soybeans as exceptional drought levels continue.
- Tennessee: Nashville/Davidson County joined Harris County TX, El Paso County TX and Columbus OH in lawsuit filed Aug 17 challenging FEMA June 2026 decision to hold back Homeland Security grant funding over election administration rules.
- Texas: Minnesota sued Texas Gov. Greg Abbott today Aug 18 to compel extradition of ICE agent Christian Castro held since May 29 on assault charges from Minneapolis deportation surge – warning he could walk free after 90 days Aug 26.
- Utah: Federal three-judge panel declined to block Utah’s new congressional map ahead of midterms, denying GOP officials including Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens – locks in Democrat-leaning Salt Lake City seat that could end Utah’s all-GOP delegation.
- Vermont: State reports tourism rebound and flood recovery funding allocation as top Aug 18 headlines.
- Virginia: State focuses on data center growth in Northern Virginia and Loudoun County zoning fights, plus early voting preparations for November.
- Washington: Wildfire smoke and air quality alerts top news in Eastern Washington, with Seattle housing affordability measures debated in City Council.
- West Virginia: Coal severance tax revenue drop and opioid settlement distribution headline state news Aug 18.
- Wisconsin: Dairy industry and state fair aftermath plus 2026 Senate race polling dominate coverage.
- Wyoming: Primary Day today Aug 18 – voters in Wyoming join Florida, Alaska and California with congressional and local primaries on ballot, live updates statewide.
