Year: 2025

  • Hall Pass: Your Ticket to Understanding School Board Politics, Edition #160

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    Welcome to Hall Pass, a newsletter written to keep you plugged into the conversations driving  school board governance, the politics surrounding it, and education policy.  In today’s edition, you’ll find: Reply to this email to share reactions or story ideas! On the issues: The debate over standardized testing In this section, we curate reporting, analysis,…

  • Twenty-eight Democratic primaries for New York City Council are contested this year—we’re following 13 as battlegrounds

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    Welcome to the Wednesday, June 11, Brew.  By: Briana Ryan Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Twenty-eight Democratic primaries for New York City Council are contested this year—we’re following 13 as battlegrounds As part of our ongoing coverage of local elections across the United States, we’re spotlighting 13 battleground Democratic…

  • New Yorkers to decide on constitutional amendment regarding the forest preserve land at Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex in November 2025

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    New York voters will decide on a constitutional amendment to authorize a land exchange related to the Mount Van Hoevenberg Olympic Sports Complex on Nov. 4, 2025. The amendment was referred to the ballot by the New York State Legislature. In New York, a constitutional amendment is referred to the ballot by passing both chambers…

  • Ballotpedia releases federal judicial vacancy count for June 2025

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    In this month’s federal judicial vacancy count, Ballotpedia tracked nominations, confirmations, and vacancies from May 2, 2025, through June 1, 2025. Ballotpedia publishes the federal judicial vacancy count at the start of each month. HIGHLIGHTS New vacancies There were 49 vacancies out of 870 active Article III judicial positions, a total vacancy percentage of 5.6,…

  • Michigan voters have decided 319 ballot measures since 1880

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    Ballotpedia completed an inventory of all Michigan ballot measures since 1880. Between 1880 and 2024, Michigan voters decided on 319 ballot measures. Of these, 165 measures (51.7%) were approved and 154 (48.3%) were defeated. In Michigan, measures can be placed on the ballot through the state legislature, as well as through the citizen-initiated process. The…

  • Texas comptroller removes BlackRock from boycott list

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    In this week’s edition of Economy and Society: In the states Texas comptroller removes BlackRock from boycott list What’s the story? Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced last week that his office removed BlackRock from the state’s list of firms barred from managing public investment funds over their treatment of fossil fuel companies. Hegar said BlackRock’s…

  • Indiana to become 10th state to hold partisan school board elections

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    Welcome to the Tuesday, June 10, 2025, Brew.  By: Lara Bonatesta Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day: Indiana to become 10th state to hold partisan school board elections  On May 6, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) signed Senate Bill 287 into law, making Indiana the 10th state to require or…

  • Rhode Island Senate approves environmental rights amendment; three states have similar constitutional provisions

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    The Rhode Island State Senate passed a constitutional amendment to establish a right to clean air, clean water, healthy soil, a life-supporting climate, and preservation of the environment. Senate Resolution 327 (S. 327), introduced by State Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski (D-37), passed the Senate in a vote of 32-4 on June 3. The constitutional amendment…

  • Ortiz Jones defeats Pablos in San Antonio mayoral runoff election

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    Gina Ortiz Jones defeated Rolando Pablos 54.3% to 45.7% in the June 7, runoff election for mayor of San Antonio, Texas. Ortiz Jones and Pablos advanced to the runoff from the nonpartisan general election on May 3. Ortiz Jones received 27.2% of the vote and Pablos received 16.6%. The two advanced to a runoff because…

  • An early look at Alabama’s U.S. Senate election in 2026

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    Voters in Alabama will elect one member to the U.S. Senate in the general election on November 3, 2026. The election will fill the Class II Senate seat of Tommy Tuberville (R), who first took office in 2021. On May 27, Tuberville announced he would run for governor rather than run for re-election. WHNT-TV‘s Brian…