Good morning, it’s Thursday, December 11, 2025. In today’s edition, Indiana redistricting vote coming Thursday; Georgia preps AI regulations; poll shows Ohio governor race tied:
Top Stories
REDISTRICTING: The Indiana Senate votes today on new congressional district maps that would create a 9-0 Republican delegation. Senate Majority Whip Michael Crider (R) said he doubted Republicans have the votes to pass the bill. About a dozen lawmakers have yet to say how they will vote on the map. Crider said he worried the new plan could backfire and create as many as three Democratic districts. (State Affairs)
Another Indiana lawmaker, Rep. Ed Clere (R), was the victim of a bomb threat Wednesday night. Police didn’t find anything dangerous at Clere’s home. (Indianapolis Star)
MORE: Utah lawmakers voted Tuesday to postpone the filing deadline for congressional races in a bid to buy time for the state Supreme Court to consider a challenge to new congressional district maps. Lawmakers have about two months to appeal a district court judge’s ruling that implemented new maps giving Democrats a shot at winning a Salt Lake City-based district. (Salt Lake Tribune)
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: The Georgia Senate has rolled out a 33-page report full of recommendations for limiting the digital harms caused by social media and AI on children. The report calls for giving parents control over what apps their kids can download, and for classifying chatbots as commercial products to give regulators more oversight authority. (State Affairs)
IMMIGRATION: The Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced legislation making it illegal for employers to intentionally hire someone who doesn’t have legal status in the United States. The bill would require the Department of Corrections to train new sheriffs on ICE laws and cooperating with federal authorities. (State Affairs)
MORE: A federal judge in San Francisco has ruled the Trump administration’s extended takeover of the California National Guard is illegal, temporarily barring the government from deploying state troops. Judge Charles Breyer gave the administration until Monday to appeal. (Sacramento Bee)
SNAP: The U.S. Agriculture Department has approved waivers allowing Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee to ban the purchase of sugary foods and beverages with SNAP benefits. When the waivers take effect next year, 18 states will ban SNAP participants from using benefits to purchase unhealthy foods. (New York Times)
BUDGETS: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) rolled out a proposed $117 billion state budget, including increased spending on law enforcement, $1.6 billion in Everglades restoration and $1.56 billion in teacher pay raises. The budget proposes slashing 350 state government positions, including county health department jobs. (Associated Press)
PUBLIC HEALTH: An Ohio House committee studying the impact of the psychedelic compound ibogaine met for the first time Wednesday, the first step toward deciding whether to allow the product to be used to treat addiction and PTSD. Texas has recently invested $50 million in clinical trials of the drug. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
OHIO: A new Emerson College poll finds former state health director Amy Acton (D) virtually tied with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy (R), 46%-45%. The last Emerson poll, from August, found Ramaswamy leading 49%-39%. Gov. Mike DeWine’s (R) approval rating stands at just 26%, while 45% disapprove. (Emerson)
WISCONSIN: Former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan (D) formally launched his bid for governor. Brennan, who has never held elected office, has served for the last four years as president of the Greater Milwaukee Committee. (State Affairs)
NORTH DAKOTA: Justice Lisa Fair McEvers will become the first female chief justice of the state Supreme Court, after winning about 83% of the vote among sitting justices and district court judges. Justice Jerod Tufte received about 16% of the vote. North Dakota is the only state in which the chief justice is elected by sitting justices and district court judges. (Fargo Forum)
By The Numbers
$12 million: The amount Calhoun, Monroe and Chippewa counties in Michigan are on track to generate in ICE detention revenue this year. ICE pays those counties about $100 per detainee per day, according to invoices. (MLive)
20%: The increase in the price of USDA choice boneless steaks over the last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average price stands at $14.13 a pound, down from its record peak of $14.32 in August. (New York Times)
Off The Wall
A San Francisco woman on her way to the hospital gave birth in a driverless Waymo vehicle. The company detected “unusual activity” in the car and called to check in on the passenger. The woman, the baby and the vehicle arrived at the hospital safely. Waymo said it wasn’t the first birth to take place in one of its cars, though it didn’t elaborate. (Los Angeles Times)
In-N-Out Burger has removed the number 67 from its ticket order system over the viral 6-7 trend. The decision comes after online videos showed teenagers waiting for order number 67 to be called before erupting in boisterous celebration. The number 69 has been removed from the ordering system too, though for other reasons. (UPI)
Well, skibidi.
Quote of the Day
“In my opinion, they act more as a failed experiment. They’re a quasi-elected, pseudo-government that have more power and are entitled to more rights than I think most cities and counties do.”
— Florida Rep. Ron Porras (R), who has authored first-of-its-kind legislation to allow homeowners to dismantle homeowners associations. (News4Jax)