Maine Governor Janet Mills signed an executive order on Friday to create a task force dedicated to examining the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) for the state’s residents, economy, and institutions.
A recent faculty survey from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) reveals troubling trends regarding academic freedom and political bias in U.S. colleges. The survey highlights a significant bias against conservatives in academia, with only 20% of respondents believing a conservative would be a "positive fit" in their department, while 71% felt a liberal would fit well. Additionally, 39% of faculty members viewed a conservative as a "poor fit."
A $70 million furniture manufacturing plant planned by SBA Home, a Lithuanian company that produces furniture for IKEA, will bring 250 new jobs to Mocksville, North Carolina, thanks to significant state and local incentives. The North Carolina Economic Investment Committee approved a $1.4 million job development investment grant, to be distributed over the next 12 years, while Mocksville and Davie County contributed $800,000 in incentives to support the project.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis pushed back against "false media narratives" about illegal immigration, following a report highlighting the state's economic growth.
The prosecution concluded its case on Wednesday in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, setting the stage for closing arguments in the coming days.
Defense attorneys for former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and codefendant Michael McClain are set to begin presenting their case Wednesday in a corruption trial that has captured significant attention. The trial, which involves 23 counts of bribery, racketeering, and official misconduct, centers around the alleged "Madigan Enterprise" scheme in which utilities like ComEd and AT&T Illinois allegedly provided no-work jobs and contracts to individuals loyal to Madigan in exchange for favorable legislation in Springfield.
California lost 156,300 jobs in the first half of 2024, according to the latest federal quarterly payroll data, contradicting Governor Gavin Newsom’s optimistic claims about job growth in the state. While Newsom’s office had highlighted preliminary job survey data, which often overestimates employment numbers, the finalized payroll data shows a starkly different picture. In January, California’s payroll data counted 18,037,900 jobs, but by June, that number had dropped to 17,881,600, reflecting a significant job loss.
With a federal shutdown looming on Friday, congressional leaders are in a race against time to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government running. Key sticking points include farm aid and disaster assistance, with bipartisan negotiations at a standstill.
