Good morning, it’s Thursday, July 2, 2026. Happy Independence Day! We’re off Friday for the long weekend, we’ll see you Monday. In today’s edition, states turn to AI-powered traffic cameras; New Jersey approves nation-leading social media bill; new polls in Iowa, Georgia:
Top Stories
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: States are turning to AI-powered cameras to enforce traffic laws and reduce roadway accidents. Virginia lawmakers approved the use of AI-powered cameras to capture speeders and crosswalk violators,. Maryland lawmakers in the last few years created pilot programs in two cities to use the technology. While traditional speed cameras snap photos of license plates, the AI-powered programs analyze driver behavior and identify violations. (Pluribus News)
SOCIAL MEDIA: New Jersey lawmakers have given final approval to a package of bills that amount to some of the strongest protections for minors online. The bills include a duty of care and a private right of action, allowing citizens to sue to enforce the law. The bills would require social media companies to apply high privacy settings by default and bar companies from targeting kids for age-inappropriate advertising. (Pluribus News)
ENERGY: A bipartisan group of 11 Western governors are backing the establishment of a multi-state task force to update the region’s energy grid. The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition, or WestTEC, will aim to advance permitting reform to expedite timelines for grid improvements. (Pluribus News)
MORE: Delaware lawmakers have approved legislation preventing large-load energy users from applying for state tax incentives. Two more bills will require major energy users, like data centers, to get approval from the Public Service Commission for plans to mitigate impacts on rate payers. (Delaware Public Media)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE: The New Jersey Assembly has approved legislation to impose new fees on private detention facilities. The bill would impose an annual fee of 8% of the value of detention center contracts with the federal government and a monthly fee of $15 per inmate per day of detention. The fees would apply to two private prisons that contract with ICE. (New Jersey Monitor)
GUN POLITICS: The Trump administration has sued California and Virginia over new laws restricting the sale of semiautomatic firearms. Virginia’s new law bans the sale and manufacture of certain semiautomatic weapons. The California law prohibits gun shops from selling handguns that can be made fully automatic. The administration says both laws violate the Second Amendment. (Associated Press)
PUBLIC SAFETY: The Massachusetts House has approved a $63.4 billion state budget that includes a provision allowing candidates for state and local offices to keep their home addresses off ballots or official candidate lists. Candidates would only be required to list their city or town of residence. (State Affairs)
In Politics & Business
COLORADO: First-time candidate Victor Marx (R) has taken a narrow lead in the GOP race for governor. As of last night, Marx led state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer (R) by a margin of 2,262 votes, or about half a percentage point. About 8% of ballots remain to be counted. If the two finish within a margin of less than 0.5%, the state requires an automatic recount. (Denver Post)
IOWA: A new Fox News poll shows Auditor Rob Sand (D) leading businessman Zach Lahn (R) 53% to 44% in the race for governor. Sand’s favorable ratings stand at 54%, while 33% see him unfavorably. For Lahn, 38% of voters see him favorably while 41% see him unfavorably. (Fox News)
GEORGIA: Another Fox News poll shows former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) leading businessman Rick Jackson (R) 52% to 47%. Lance Bottoms is seen favorably by 52% of voters, while 38% see her unfavorably. Jackson’s favorable rating stands at 43%, while 38% see him unfavorably. (Fox News)
ILLINOIS: House Speaker Chris Welch (D) is calling on state Rep. Harry Benton (D) to resign, after an internal investigation found “clear patterns” of unethical and “outrageous” behavior. Benton had been accused of sexual harassment. Welch said the House would move to expel Benton if he doesn’t resign. (Chicago Tribune)
By The Numbers
74: The number of natural gas-fired power plants that will generate at least 100 megawatts of electricity that are planned for construction across the nation. Nearly half of those plants, 32, are planned in Texas, according to the Environmental Integrity Project. (Texas Tribune)
About two dozen: The number of New York Times reporters and editors who will be assigned to cover Taylor Swift’s (alleged) wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce this weekend at Madison Square Garden. (New York Times)
Off The Wall
When Alabama lawmakers return to session in January, they will move into the new $400 million State House, Legislative Services Agency Director Othni Lathram said this week. The building will be ready for staff to move in by Election Day, Lathram said. Construction is on time and on budget. (AL.com)
A new study by researchers in Barcelona has determined that giraffes may be capable of simple math. Researchers used two containers of carrot pieces to determine whether giraffes could track which box had more food. The animals were able to select the right containers 68% of the time. (UPI)
This is our third giraffe-related item in about a week. We’re starting to think we need a new giraffe-specific section of the newsletter.
Quote of the Day
“When you have 37% at grade level, that is a failure, and we have to take ownership of that, and we have to do better.”
— California Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D), on legislation that would require public schools to assess kindergarteners for early math difficulties. The bill won unanimous support in the Assembly’s Education Committee on Wednesday. (Los Angeles Times)