Releases in this digest

Headlines link to our pages; synopses are MediaRelease.co summaries.

Governor Stein Announces Italian Diagnostic Imaging Company to Invest $230 Million in Sanford for its First U.S. Manufacturing Plant

Office of Governor Josh Stein · Original source

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that Milan-based Bracco Imaging will invest $230 million and create 200 jobs at its first U.S. location, a contrast media manufacturing site in Sanford, Lee County. The new jobs could add more than $20.6 million a year in payroll. The project is supported by a Job Development Investment Grant approved by the state's Economic Investment Committee, with a projected 397% return on public investment.

Governor Newsom orders action to protect Highway 1 and coastal communities ahead of El Niño storms

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom · Original source

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order at Crystal Cove State Park in Newport Beach to protect Highway 1 ahead of potential El Niño storms, creating a Highway 1 Task Force led by the state transportation and natural resources agencies. A second order builds on his September El Niño emergency proclamation to strengthen flood preparedness. Emergency spending on the Big Sur corridor totaled about $312 million from 2020 to 2026.

Governor Sherrill Requests Major Disaster Declaration and Federal Relief for Monmouth, Atlantic, and Cape May Counties for Nor’easter Recovery

Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill · Original source

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill asked President Donald Trump for a federal major disaster declaration for Monmouth, Atlantic and Cape May counties after a severe Nor'easter in September. FEMA-validated preliminary damages totaled about $13.8 million in Cape May, $8.5 million in Monmouth and $4.7 million in Atlantic County. The request seeks FEMA Public Assistance grants and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.

Governor Hochul Announces New York's Legal Cannabis Market Surpasses $4 Billion in Retail Sales, Marking Major Economic Milestone

Office of Governor Kathy Hochul · Original source

New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced the state's regulated adult-use cannabis market has passed $4.1 billion in retail sales since sales began in December 2022, ranking third nationally. Sales reached $1.41 billion through the third quarter of 2026, with 744 licensed adult-use dispensaries operating. The state said 56% of adult-use licenses went to social and economic equity applicants and $35 million has been committed to community reinvestment grants.

VA awards record high $106.5M in cemetery grants in FY 26

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Original source

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded a record $106.5 million in fiscal year 2026 grants to 21 cemeteries in states, territories and tribal nations, the most single-year funding since the Veterans Cemetery Grant Program began in 1980. Grants fund new cemeteries, expansions, improvements and maintenance. VA said the program has awarded more than $1.2 billion to over 120 cemeteries since 1980.

Secretary Burgum Signs Order to Support American Ranchers, Expand Grazing and Cut Red Tape

U.S. Department of the Interior · Original source

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum signed a Secretary's Order to expand grazing on federal lands and support ranchers, with the national cattle herd at a 75-year low. The order formalizes the Rangeland Health Initiative across all Interior bureaus with grazing lands, requires full 10-year grazing permit renewals and creates a public map of available lands. Bureaus have 30 days to identify new lands for potential grazing.

GSA, Anthropic Reach OneGov Agreement on Discounted, Consumption-Based Pricing for Claude

U.S. General Services Administration · Original source

The U.S. General Services Administration expanded its OneGov agreement with Anthropic, giving government buyers a 40% discount on consumption-based, token-priced use of Claude models available to the government, including FedRAMP-authorized environments. Agencies have no minimum order requirement and pay only for what they use. GSA said its OneGov strategy has generated more than $1.8 billion in savings since its inception.

Governor Ivey Announces Helix Electric to Build $45.3 Million Facility in Jackson County, Create 160 Jobs

Office of Governor Kay Ivey · Original source

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced that California-based electrical contractor Helix Electric has broken ground on a $45.3 million Advanced Fabrication Campus in Jackson County that will create 160 jobs. The facility will make prefabricated electrical components and large modular electrical assemblies, including underground duct banks and modular electrical skids. The project aligns with the Alabama Department of Commerce's Catalyst economic development plan for rural Target Counties.

NIST Report Provides Guidelines for Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards

National Institute of Standards and Technology · Original source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology released NISTIR 8547, Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography Standards, a road map for moving away from quantum-vulnerable algorithms to the quantum-resistant standards it published in August 2024. The report identifies vulnerable algorithms in existing NIST standards and sets transition plans. Federal high-value systems must migrate key establishment by 2030 under Executive Order 14412, with 2035 the overall federal target.

Trump Administration Drives Opioid Deaths to Lowest in Nearly a Decade

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · Original source

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released ASPE analysis saying opioid-related deaths have fallen to their lowest level since a public health emergency was declared in 2017. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the findings in Detroit. The overall age-adjusted death rate hit a record low of 689.2 per 100,000 in 2025, while opioid prescriptions dispensed fell to 45.3% of March 2015 levels.

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