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Good morning, it’s Tuesday, March 24, 2026. In today’s edition, the rise in telehealth abortions; SCOTUS appears set to overrule absentee voting law; Nevada blocks prediction market from operating:
Top Stories
ABORTION: The number of abortions performed in the United States in 2025 exceeded the number performed before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, driven by an increase in medication provided via telehealth to patients in states where the procedure is banned. At least 91,000 abortions were provided via telehealth, an increase which researchers at the pro-abortion rights Guttmacher Institute attributed to new shield laws in blue states. (Pluribus News)
ELECTIONS: The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority appeared ready to reject a Mississippi law allowing mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive within five business days of an election to be counted. At least 19 states allow late ballots to be counted. The Mississippi law was adopted by the GOP-led legislature in 2020. (New York Times)
PREDICTION MARKETS: A Carson City judge has granted the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s request for an injunction prohibiting prediction market Kalshi from taking bets in Nevada. The board issued a cease and desist letter to the company last year. Kalshi sued, but the judge said the board is likely to prevail on the merits of the case. (Nevada Current)
The Rhode Island Lottery has launched an investigation into prediction market sites. (Providence Journal)
DISASTER RELIEF: President Trump has rejected more disaster aid requested by Democratic-led states than at any point in the 47-year history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Trump administration approved just 23% of requests from those states, and 89% of requests from Republican-led states. (Politico)
IMMIGRATION: New Jersey lawmakers have given final approval to a package of immigration bills. One would bar law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. Another would generally bar government entities and health care facilities from requesting information about a person’s immigration status. A third would codify a state policy barring New Jersey police from cooperating with federal agents on immigration enforcement. (New Jersey Globe)
ENERGY: Pennsylvania’s House Environmental Resources and Natural Protection Committee approved legislation requiring data center projects to report water needs in advance of construction. The House is scheduled to vote today on separate legislation requiring data centers to report annual water and energy use. (State Affairs)
HEALTH CARE: The Idaho House is considering legislation to impose three-month work requirements on adults who participate in Medicaid expansion, the maximum allowed under federal legislation passed last year. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. John Vander Woude (R), thinks the measure would kick about 15,000 residents out of the program. (Idaho Statesman)
MORE: The Iowa House gave final approval to legislation allowing health care providers and facilities to refuse services and medical procedures based on moral and ethical objections. The bill provides broad liability shields for conscience-based refusals and creates whistleblower protections for those who report suspected violations. (Cedar Rapids Gazette)
In Politics & Business
NEW HAMPSHIRE: A new St. Anselm College poll finds Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) leads former Executive Council member Cinde Warmington (D) 46% to 39%. Ayotte leads a hypothetical matchup with restauranteur Jon Kiper (D) 45% to 30%. Warmington holds a big lead on Kiper in the Democratic primary, 40% to 13%, though a full 48% say they’re unsure. (St. Anselm)
MISSOURI: Supporters of a proposed referendum seeking to overturn Republican-approved congressional district lines said they have received the minimum number of signatures required to make the November ballot. The group says data from the Secretary of State’s office showed officials have verified at least 129% of required signatures in five congressional districts, and 102% of the required number in another seat. (KCUR)
MICHIGAN: One Fair Wage, a group that sought to restore changes made to the state’s minimum wage laws, has dropped its campaign. Instead, the group said it would back a separate proposed ballot initiative seeking to limit political contributions. (Detroit News)
CALIFORNIA: The University of Southern California has canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for today after criticism that its criteria for inclusion excluded every candidate of color. Legislative leaders wrote to USC leaders demanding the inclusion of more candidates. (Los Angeles Times)
MASSACHUSETTS: State House Minority Leader Brad Jones (R) will not seek re-election after 24 years running the GOP caucus. Jones was first elected in a 1994 special election. He said he’d participated in at least 8,180 roll call votes in the legislature. (State Affairs)
By The Numbers
66: The number of times Oregon voters have been asked to overturn bills approved by the legislature. Forty-two of those measures referred to the ballot have been upheld by voters. The 67th referendum comes in May, when voters will weigh in on a transportation law passed last year. (Oregonian)
46,066: The number of opioid overdoses in the year ending in October 2025. That’s just more than half the number of deaths recorded at the peak of the overdose crisis in June 2023. (Rhode Island Current)
8,000: The number of new workers the Groton, Conn.-based submarine maker Electric Boat intends to hire this year. That’s about double the number of new hires the company made across its facilities last year. (CT Insider)
Off The Wall
The Georgia Senate is the latest legislative body to vote against the twice-yearly switch to and from Daylight Saving Time. The Senate voted 45-5 on Monday to advance legislation adopting permanently staying on Daylight Saving Time. Georgia would be the first state to adopt Atlantic standard time, the same time zone as parts of Canada, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. (State Affairs)
The Texas Department of Transportation has stopped issuing road signs to the small town of Bug Tussle, after more than 70 road signs were stolen over the years. The town’s unusual name either comes from a church ice cream social ruined by invading insects, or from an argument between two men who were distracted by, well, two bugs tussling. (UPI)
German handball team Fuechse Berlin said a storied silver dish trophy had been stolen and melted down. Four months later, the team found the trophy — in their own basement. Authorities believe thieves stashed the trophy in the basement to retrieve later. (Associated Press)
Quote of the Day
“It’s hard for lawmakers to legislate what doesn’t currently exist.”
— Nevada Assemb. Selena Torres-Fossett (D), on the lack of proposals to regulate automated license plate readers. (Nevada Independent)