Office of Governor Wes Moore · Original source
Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Department of Health received $168,410,111 in federal funding for the second year of the five-year Rural Health Transformation Program. In year one the department received $168 million and awarded nearly $129 million to 187 organizations. The program is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Almost one-third of Maryland residents live in rural areas.
Office of Governor Bob Ferguson · Original source
Governor Bob Ferguson chose Jimi Hendrix as Washington’s submission to the U.S. Mint American Innovation $1 Coin Program. The program issues four new coins a year through 2032 honoring innovators from each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. Other finalists included Bruce Lee and martial arts innovation, and Medic One and paramedic innovation. Design development and federal review are the next steps.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs · Original source
The Department of Veterans Affairs opened a new outpatient clinic in West Burlington, Iowa, its 47th new healthcare clinic since 2025. The nearly 18,000-square-foot facility replaces a smaller Burlington clinic and adds radiology, physical therapy and audiology alongside primary care and mental health services. VA says it can serve more than 3,000 veterans at full capacity, versus roughly 900 seen at the old clinic.
U.S. Department of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during the G7 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Paris. According to the State Department readout, the two discussed bilateral efforts on freedom of navigation, defense industrial cooperation and the trade relationship. Rubio also commended recent German government contributions to the Gang Suppression Force in Haiti.
U.S. Department of State · Original source
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot. According to the State Department readout, they discussed U.S. concerns about the International Criminal Court and the situation in the Middle East, including freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. They also discussed efforts toward a durable, long-term peace settlement in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill · Original source
Governor Mikie Sherrill appointed Shirley U. Emehelu as New Jersey’s next Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. Emehelu took office on Monday, November 9. She previously served as Acting Secretary of State and Acting State Comptroller, and earlier as Executive Assistant Attorney General from 2022 to 2024. The release says the appointment marks a first in state history, and includes supportive statements from officials.
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency · Original source
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency unveiled an updated web-enabled cyber incident reporting form on its Incident Reporting Portal. The questionnaire asks more granular questions about incident type, including malware, social engineering, hacking techniques and insider threats, and incorporates the MITRE ATT&CK framework. CISA says better data will help it correlate related activity and spot trends. Only federal civilian agencies must report, though other organizations are encouraged to.
NASA · Original source
Astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory found a hidden companion object pulling material from the massive star AT 2016blu every 113 days. The star, at least 33 times the Sun’s mass, lies in galaxy NGC 4559 about 30 million light-years away. It is the first X-ray detection of this class of erupting star and the first found with a black hole or neutron star companion. The study appears in The Astrophysical Journal.
U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The Justice Department sued the City of Glendale, California, alleging that its concealed carry permitting regime violates the Second Amendment. The department says an initial application costs $1,971 to $2,106 and a renewal $1,271 to $1,406, compared with $100 and $25 in the previous fiscal year. It also cites required psychological exams, reference interviews and reviews of applicants’ social media statements.
U.S. Department of Justice · Original source
The Justice Department sued Lyft in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging violations of Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The complaint says Lyft and its drivers refuse rides to passengers with service animals and stowable wheelchairs, charge cancellation fees to riders unlawfully denied service, and decline policy modifications. The suit seeks a court order requiring policy changes and driver training, plus monetary relief.
NASA Earth Observatory · Original source
NASA’s Earth Observatory reported that the 2026 Antarctic ozone hole reached its annual maximum area on September 18. An unusually strong polar vortex created conditions for depletion over a large area. Measured by mean size from September 7 to October 13, it was the seventh largest in 48 years of monitoring, though not as deep as other large holes on record.
NASA · Original source
Four research volunteers completed NASA’s second yearlong Mars surface simulation, leaving the Mars Dune Alpha habitat at Johnson Space Center in Houston on October 31 after 378 days. The crew, Ross Elder, Ellen Ellis, James Spicer and Matthew Montgomery, entered on October 19, 2025. Researchers will use post-mission evaluations to interpret health and performance data for future Moon Base and Mars planning.
