The United States closes a 20-year chapter today as it completes its military withdrawal from Iraq, while facing a potential federal government shutdown at midnight, major weather emergencies from Arizona’s Grand Canyon flash floods to Texas flooding from Hurricane Polo remnants, and a sweeping new federal action mailing $500 ACA refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states. States are also reacting to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s unprecedented call for governors to bid to host the “next great American base,” new state laws in California limiting AI in employment decisions, Florida’s minimum wage hike to $15, and court battles over New York City’s pied-à-terre tax, marking September 30 as a day of national transition and local disruption.
Top News by State – September 30, 2026:
- Alabama: Among 30 states where residents will receive $500 ACA refund checks starting today for excessive fees paid on federal exchange
- Alaska: Among 30 states eligible for $500 ACA refund checks; also monitoring federal shutdown impacts on federal lands and services
- Arizona: More than 20 people may be missing after significant flash flood event in Grand Canyon’s Bright Angel Canyon and Phantom Ranch area
- Arkansas: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks as federal marketplace states
- California: Gov. Newsom signed new laws today requiring human decision-making for employee firings and limiting AI use, plus enhanced protections for sexual assault survivors on college campuses
- Colorado: Part of price-accuracy investigation showing 47% failure rate at convenience chains; also among states suing FAA over commercial drone delivery environmental review
- Connecticut: State-run ACA exchange state – residents NOT receiving $500 federal refund checks; bracing for federal shutdown effects on state services
- Delaware: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks starting today
- Florida: Minimum wage increases from $14 to $15 per hour today, final increase from 2020 ballot measure; also among 30 states receiving ACA refund checks
- Georgia: Federal exchange state but not listed in initial ACA refund rollout; voters watching government shutdown and Pentagon base bid process
- Hawaii: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Idaho: Monitoring Texas-style flooding risks and federal land management during shutdown deadline
- Illinois: Price-accuracy issues at 7-Eleven and Circle K stores reported across state as part of national investigation
- Indiana: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Iowa: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Kansas: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Kentucky: Facing federal funding uncertainty as government shutdown looms at midnight
- Louisiana: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Maine: State-run exchange state – excluded from $500 federal refunds; monitoring New England storm impacts
- Maryland: State-run exchange state – excluded from federal refund program; state government preparing for federal shutdown impacts on DC metro
- Massachusetts: State-run exchange state – excluded from $500 checks; watching $500 ACA debate as own marketplace states excluded
- Michigan: Among 30 states receiving ACA refund checks; also among 15 states suing FAA over drone delivery rules
- Minnesota: State-run exchange state – excluded from federal refund checks; state officials preparing contingency plans
- Mississippi: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Missouri: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Montana: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Nebraska: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Nevada: State facing tourism and federal workforce impacts from potential shutdown
- New Hampshire: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- New Jersey: Cinnamon recall distributed to retailers in state from Nov 2025 to Sept 2026; state-run exchange excludes residents from federal refund
- New Mexico: Monitoring border and federal land issues as shutdown deadline approaches
- New York: Staten Island judge ordered city to restart and effectively scrap rollout of new pied-à-terre tax on pricey secondary homes
- North Carolina: Among 30 states receiving ACA refund checks; Circle K failed 62% of price-accuracy inspections in state
- North Dakota: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Ohio: Among 30 states receiving ACA refund checks; Circle K failed 82% of inspections in Columbus area between 2023-2025
- Oklahoma: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Oregon: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Pennsylvania: Cinnamon recall distributed to state retailers; state-run exchange means residents ineligible for $500 federal checks
- Rhode Island: State-run exchange state – excluded from federal refund program
- South Carolina: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- South Dakota: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Tennessee: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Texas: Heavy rain and flooding expected Wednesday-Friday as remnants of Hurricane Polo embed with cold front; 2-6 inches along I-35, up to 10-20 inches in pockets; Gov. Abbott warns of flash flooding ; also among 30 states receiving ACA checks
- Utah: Among 30 states receiving ACA refund checks; 7-Eleven failed 47% of price inspections in Utah and Colorado
- Vermont: State-run exchange state – excluded from federal refunds; preparing for federal shutdown impacts
- Virginia: Federal workforce heavy state bracing for potential government shutdown tonight
- Washington: State-run exchange state – excluded from federal refunds; tech and federal contractor impacts expected if shutdown occurs
- West Virginia: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Wisconsin: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
- Wyoming: Among 30 states receiving $500 ACA refund checks
