America woke up to a split-screen Friday: a powerful nor’easter is threatening flooding and outages from North Carolina to New England with emergency declarations in New York, while Hurricane Nolo bears down on Hawaii’s Big Island. At the same time, a wave of states including Alabama, Ohio, Texas and Montana proclaimed Dolly Parton Day to honor the Imagination Library milestone, and major legal and political flashpoints dominated elsewhere – from the Supreme Court blocking a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map, to a Mississippi judge ordering new Supreme Court elections over voting rights, a landmark New Mexico jury finding Meta misled consumers in the Cambridge Analytica case, and California signing new protections for worshippers and making Native American Day a state holiday.
Top News By State – September 25, 2026
- Alabama: Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed Sept. 25 Dolly Day honoring Dolly Parton, while AG Steve Marshall’s TikTok teen mental health lawsuit heads to first U.S. trial and an execution is scheduled tonight.
- Alaska: Alaska Railroad board meets today in Fairbanks on $315M Port MacKenzie Rail Extension, Kenaitze Indian Tribe disclosed data security incident, Alaska Airlines adds 50% more seats at Paine Field.
- Arizona: Mesa police report woman hospitalized after private gun sale shooting outside Bass Pro Shops, SpaceX Falcon 9 launch from Vandenberg expected to be visible over Arizona tonight.
- Arkansas: Five-star guard Jordan Smith Jr. commits to Arkansas basketball for 2026, and University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture launches statewide food insecurity reduction effort.
- California: Gov. Newsom signs law protecting worshippers from unwanted close approaches at religious sites and makes Native American Day a paid state holiday; state courts closed today for the observance.
- Colorado: Federal government awards $250M to upgrade Colorado electrical grid resilience, as wildfire season outlook and ballot measures dominate Denver legislative briefings.
- Connecticut: State prepares for nor’easter impacts with coastal flood warnings and school districts announcing early dismissals ahead of heavy rain and wind tonight.
- Delaware: Delaware lawmakers debate coastal resiliency funding and Dolly Parton Imagination Library expansion as nor’easter surf builds along Rehoboth and Bethany beaches.
- Florida: Florida emergency managers monitor nor’easter surf and rip currents along Atlantic coast while state universities report enrollment growth and hurricane preparedness drills continue.
- Georgia: Atlanta faces heavy rain bands from offshore low pressure, while state election board reviews voting access rules ahead of November midterms.
- Hawaii: Hurricane Nolo zig-zags toward Big Island with hurricane watch and potentially catastrophic flooding rain forecast for Friday-Saturday.
- Idaho: Boise tech CEO Lee Reiber and Russian national arrested for conspiracy to conceal Russian ownership of digital forensics software sold to U.S. Secret Service.
- Illinois: Attorney General Kwame Raoul praises federal court order permanently blocking Trump administration from penalizing states over SNAP funding.
- Indiana: No. 5 Indiana hosts Northwestern tonight at Memorial Stadium; defensive linemen Stephen Daley and Kellan Wyatt cleared after injunction against NCAA.
- Iowa: Iowa GOP considers special session for tax incentives for southeast Iowa steel plant development; House Democrats briefed Sept. 24.
- Kansas: Kansas Entertainment breaks ground today at 10am for new boutique hotel at Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway.
- Kentucky: Kentucky football lands first 2029 commitment with SoCal QB Marcus Washington, and state marks Dolly Parton Imagination Library week.
- Louisiana: State Rep. Mike Bayham proposes $25 Dolly Parton license plate at Audubon Aquarium press conference to support Imagination Library.
- Maine: Search continues for missing 84-year-old boater off Maine coast as nor’easter swells build and Department of Marine Resources issues safety advisory.
- Maryland: Maryland braces for nor’easter coastal flooding and wind gusts, with BWI Airport warning of delays and Baltimore schools monitoring conditions.
- Massachusetts: Nor’easter churns toward New England bringing heavy rain, powerful winds and coastal flooding starting Friday evening across Massachusetts.
- Michigan: Former MSU doctor arraigned Sept. 25 on sexual assault charges involving two patients, police report three additional potential victims.
- Minnesota: Attorney General announces $18.5M settlement resolving federal child nutrition funds fraud case against nonprofit.
- Mississippi: Federal judge orders special elections for Mississippi Supreme Court after ruling 1987 electoral map dilutes Black voter power under Voting Rights Act.
- Missouri: U.S. Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map aimed at gaining another GOP House seat as early midterm voting begins.
- Montana: Montana celebrates Give Like Dolly Day Sept. 25 as state nears one million free books distributed through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
- Nebraska: Secretary of State to turn over sensitive voter registration data to Justice Department after state Supreme Court denied injunction.
- Nevada: State officials tell DHS it lacks proof 185 voters on rolls are noncitizens and cannot determine citizenship without additional data.
- New Hampshire: Nor’easter threatens power outages and prolonged soaking rain and gusty winds along New Hampshire coast starting Sept. 25.
- New Jersey: Gov. Mikie Sherrill announces Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell events postponed due to nor’easter, NJ Transit warns of weekend service impacts.
- New Mexico: Jury finds Meta misled consumers in Cambridge Analytica trial over 2021 lawsuit alleging data harvesting of up to 87 million Facebook users.
- New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul sues Polymarket for unlicensed online gambling and declares state of emergency ahead of weekend nor’easter.
- North Carolina: GDP grew 5.6% in Q3 showing momentum, while nor’easter brings gusty winds, surf and flooding threat to Outer Banks.
- North Dakota: AG issues open records opinion that DHHS did not violate law, state adds $80M to Farm Financial Stability Loan Program now near $300M cap.
- Ohio: Gov. Mike DeWine proclaims Dolly Parton Day as Imagination Library reaches 1M Ohio children, appeals court reinstates proof-of-citizenship voter registration law.
- Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma raises NSK Neustadt Prize for children’s literature, and severe weather outlook monitored for western counties.
- Oregon: Oregon officials monitor nor’easter-driven swells and prepare for atmospheric river next week, wildfire recovery funding debated in Salem.
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania election officials prepare for mail ballot surge and Philly schools monitor nor’easter coastal flood impacts for weekend sports.
- Rhode Island: Rhode Island DEM closes coastal parks and beaches ahead of nor’easter with high surf and flood watches issued for Providence.
- South Carolina: South Carolina beaches under rip current warnings from nor’easter, Charleston port officials issue high wind advisory for shipping.
- South Dakota: Senate deadlocks 17-17 on making 4.2% sales tax permanent, leaving rate set to revert to 4.5% July 1, 2027.
- Tennessee: Tennessee’s only woman on death row Christa Pike, 50, set for execution Sept. 30 for 1995 murder, first woman executed since 1819.
- Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott proclaims Sept. 25 Dolly Parton Day in Texas honoring early literacy work, border security funding debated in Austin.
- Utah: Report released Sept. 25 finds Orem school where Charlie Kirk was shot had concerns about outdoor event but did not do full security assessment.
- Vermont: Fish and Wildlife closes fishing spot Sept. 25 to provide safe corridor for landlocked Atlantic salmon migrating up Hatchery Brook.
- Virginia: Missing 2-year-old found alive Friday afternoon after massive search involving FBI near heavily forested area, family reunited.
- Washington: State completes rulemaking to link carbon market with California-Quebec, Newsom authorizes linkage moving merger to next-to-last step.
- West Virginia: Mountaineers 3-0 entering Week 4 after 38-27 win over Virginia, seen as surprise team in Big 12.
- Wisconsin: Bond set at $10,000 for Racine County deputy’s child-related shooting incident that wounded turkey-hunting mentor and 7-year-old during training.
- Wyoming: Wyoming Game and Fish reports strong elk migration numbers and debates grizzly management plan as fall hunting season opens.
