Good morning, it’s Thursday, July 9, 2026. In today’s edition, federal housing bill full of state-level ideas; blue states ban “restrictive covenants” for grocery stores; another Dem ends Wisconsin governor bid:
Top Stories
HOUSING: The bipartisan housing bill sitting on President Trump’s desk is full of pro-housing measures championed in the states. The federal bill streamlines environmental reviews of certain housing projects, rewards cities that encourage homebuilding and increases mortgage lending for manufactured housing and alternative dwelling units. (Pluribus News)
ECONOMY: Democratic governors in Washington and Rhode Island have signed bills this year banning the use of deed restrictions relating to grocery stores. The so-called restrictive covenants can be written into deeds in ways that prevent future grocery stores from operating in urban cores and small towns alike. The laws place short time limits on restrictive covenants, with exemptions if grocery store owners open new locations nearby. (Pluribus News)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) has signed bipartisan legislation to combat fraud in public benefit programs. The bill will require the state to issue chip-enabled electronic benefit cards to reduce theft in SNAP program benefits. It will expand electronic monitoring in Medicaid-funded home care. (Cleveland Plain Dealer)
GAMBLING: A federal judge in Manhattan has denied prediction market company Kalshi’s request for a preliminary injunction against the New York Gaming Commission. The ruling allows Attorney General Letitia James (D) to pursue legal action against Kalshi over allegations the company violated gambling laws. (Albany Times Union)
AGRICULTURE: North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein (D) has signed legislation barring foreign governments and citizens from purchasing agricultural land or property within 50 miles of a military base. The law will require foreign-owned properties to register with the Secretary of State’s office. (State Affairs)
TRADE: Democratic attorneys general from 22 states have written to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in opposition to proposed tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union. The tariffs, proposed last month, allege the countries have labor policies that violate the U.S. Tariff Act of 1930, which prohibits importing any products made using forced labor. (Sacramento Bee)
In Politics & Business
WISCONSIN: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) has dropped his campaign for governor. He endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D). (State Affairs) A group funded by the Democratic Governors Association is up with new ads attacking presumptive GOP nominee and U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) across three media markets. (State Affairs)
NEVADA: Gov. Joe Lombardo’s (R) campaign and his GOP allies have already spent $13.3 million on television, streaming and digital advertising. Democrats backing Attorney General Aaron Ford (D) have spent just $77,000. Lombardo’s allies started going negative on Ford in February. (Nevada Independent)
IDAHO: Retired Supreme Court Justice John Stegner will officially kick off his independent campaign for governor this morning. The latest campaign finance reports show Stegner has raised $393,000, three times as much as Democratic nominee Terri Pickens. Gov. Brad Little (R) has pulled in $2.1 million. (Idaho Capital Sun)
CRIME BLOTTER: Dana Williamson, the former chief of staff to California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), will be sentenced in September after pleading guilty to bank fraud and perjury charges in May. Williamson faces up to 38 years in prison and a $1.35 million fine for her role in a scheme to siphon campaign funds from former Attorney General Xavier Becerra. (Sacramento Bee)
MORE: Illinois Rep. Carol Ammons (D) faces 10 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy charges after a two-year FBI investigation into alleged kickbacks for her campaign account. (Capitol News Illinois)
By The Numbers
18: The number of Emmy nominations for the Apple TV hit “Pluribus,” including one for best drama. (Albuquerque Journal)
What should we call our soon-to-be hit series about drama on the floor of a state legislature?
78%: The share of Kansas City singles who say they have matched with someone on a dating app during the World Cup, the highest share of any host city. Nearly six in 10 singles say they have dated or hooked up with a World Cup visitor. (Kansas City Star)
Off The Wall
Supporters of a proposed ballot initiative in Portland, Ore., that would allow residents to vote on how to spend 2% of the city’s budget have submitted 78,743 signatures to qualify for November’s ballot, nearly double the 40,437 they need. The participatory budget program would allow residents to suggest ideas for how to spend the money. (Willamette Week)
7-Eleven has sued sneaker giant Nike over the planned launch of the new Air Max 95, a shoe that features the convenience store’s signature red, orange and green color scheme. The federal lawsuit filed in Dallas claims the sneaker could cause confusion among consumers who might assume a connection between the two companies. (Oregonian)
Bonus: Nike plans to launch the shoe on Saturday — 7/11.
Quote of the Day
“We reach a point where there’s a lot of little things going on that don’t require a full formal session, but need to be straightened out.”
— Massachusetts House Speaker Ron Mariano (D), on a $561 million economic development bill that passed late Wednesday. The bill includes provisions related to housing, gambling, AI and film tax credits, among many other items. (State Affairs)