Office of Governor Spencer J. Cox · Original source
Utah Governor Spencer J. Cox will lead a trade and diplomatic delegation to Ireland and Northern Ireland from October 20 to 28, organized by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development with World Trade Center Utah. The mission targets partnerships in life sciences, energy infrastructure, quantum computing, advanced manufacturing and digital technology. The delegation plans to meet Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin in Dublin and will also visit Galway and Belfast.
U.S. Department of the Interior · Original source
The U.S. Department of the Interior and National Park Service finalized a rule restoring the Alaska-specific framework for wildlife harvest, subsistence-related activities and some public access procedures in Alaska’s national parks and preserves. It rescinds regulatory changes made in 2015, 2017 and 2024 and returns to rules developed under the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. The federal subsistence priority is unchanged. The rule publishes in the Federal Register on October 19, 2026 and takes effect 30 days later.
U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The U.S. Justice Department announced charges against 16 noncitizens in North Carolina, New York and Idaho over alleged illegal voting and false claims of U.S. citizenship. Ten people were charged in the Eastern District of North Carolina over voting in the 2024 elections, five were arrested in the Northern District of New York, and one Canadian national in Idaho is accused of voting in the 2022 general election. Most are lawful permanent residents; all are presumed innocent.
Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis · Original source
Florida has asked President Donald Trump to approve a Major Disaster Declaration after Hurricane Isaias, Governor Ron DeSantis announced. The Florida Division of Emergency Management is requesting Public Assistance for 15 Northwest Florida counties, including Bay, Escambia and Okaloosa, and Individual Assistance for residents of eight counties whose homes and property were damaged. The state is also working with Emergency RV to provide temporary housing for displaced Panhandle residents while recovery operations continue.
Office of Governor Josh Shapiro · Original source
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has petitioned the state Public Utility Commission to intervene in a case challenging PPL Electric Utilities’ rate structure, which his office says is the first such gubernatorial intervention in at least 15 years. The move backs a complaint from the Office of Consumer Advocate that current PPL rates do not shield existing customers from data center costs and outage risks. Shapiro will seek a separate customer class so large data centers bear the costs their demand creates.
Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Original source
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced $44.4 million to train 49,000 new apprentices through 131 programs statewide, speaking in Bakersfield, Kern County. The package includes $15.9 million from the Apprenticeship Innovation Fund for 67 programs and $28.5 million in Employment Training Panel funding for 64 programs. The state says it has supported about 694,000 earn-and-learn opportunities since 2019, including nearly 267,000 registered apprentices, and added 129,300 jobs in the year to September 2026.
Office of Governor Kathy Hochul · Original source
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the state’s Home Energy Assistance Program will open on November 2, with about 1.5 million benefits expected this winter. More than 1.1 million households will be paid automatically through SNAP or Public Assistance enrolment. Citing heating oil prices up 67% on last year, the state has raised base benefits for delivered fuels to $990 for oil, kerosene or propane and $700 for wood, pellets or coal. Emergency benefit applications open January 4, 2027.
U.S. Department of Energy · Original source
The U.S. Department of Energy plans to award up to $50 million in Defense Production Act funding to Virginia Energy’s grid-enhancing technologies project for Virginia and West Virginia. The 48-month effort, run with Appalachian Power and Potomac Edison, will use advanced reconductoring and Dynamic Line Rating on existing lines to add about 290 megawatts of transmission capacity, one to four years faster than conventional upgrades. The funding comes from $1 billion appropriated for energy projects critical to national security.
Office of Governor Joe Lombardo · Original source
Arizona has joined Nevada’s lawsuit challenging the federal framework for Colorado River operations after 2026, prompting statements from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo and Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger. Lombardo said the federal plan unfairly burdens the Lower Basin without requiring meaningful Upper Basin cuts. Entsminger cited flaws in the Environmental Impact Statement and said SNWA is still working with California and Arizona on a Lower Basin deal to ease demands on Lake Mead.
The White House · Original source
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 16, 2026 implementing the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, which became law on September 18. The order sets a 500% increase in duties on Russian goods and 100% increases for the five largest buyers of Russian oil and gas and the top five facilitators of sanctions evasion. It then waives those duties and most of the Act’s sanctions, citing the national interest, while existing Russia sanctions stay in force.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security · Original source
Preliminary Fiscal Year 2026 figures released by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection show 98,708 southwest border apprehensions, which DHS says is a 95% fall on the yearly average under the Biden administration. Nationwide encounters totalled 379,243, the lowest the agency has recorded, and the Border Patrol finished its first fiscal year with no releases. CBP also reported 250 miles of new barrier and nearly 1 million pounds of drugs seized.
