Stateline

5 days ago | stateline.org | Alex Brown

For years, outdoors enthusiasts in New Mexico have pushed to overhaul the state Department of Game & Fish — an agency plagued by leadership turnover, funding woes and the scorn of hunters and tree-huggers alike. Now, state lawmakers have given the agency a new name, a new mission, new leadership and a boost in funding to expand its role. The sweeping law enacted in March puts New Mexico at the forefront of a growing movement to rethink states’ traditional model of wildlife management.

6 days ago | stateline.org | Kevin Hardy

Compared with major American cities, the ridership on public buses in Minot, North Dakota, can seem relatively minuscule. But the 82,000 rides taken each year allow people without cars to get to work, help those with disabilities get around and connect patients with crucial health care. “The value of those rides is unmeasurable, because the people that are using our system need our system,” said Brian Horinka, the city’s transit superintendent.

1 week ago | stateline.org | Rob Schofield

This story first appeared on NC Newsline. The nation’s last unsettled race from the 2024 general election has been decided. North Carolina Supreme Court Republican candidate Jefferson Griffin has conceded to incumbent Democratic Justice Allison Riggs. The Associated Press reported that Griffin provided a statement Wednesday morning indicating that he has decided not to appeal the ruling of U.S. District Court Judge Richard Myers II that Riggs must be certified as the winner.

1 week ago | stateline.org | Anna Claire Vollers

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Tara Campbell unlocked the front door of the Bricklayers Hall, a no-frills brick building on South Union Street in downtown Montgomery, half a mile from the white-domed Alabama Capitol. She was dressed in leggings, a T-shirt and bright blue running shoes. It was 8 a.m. on a Saturday, and she exuded the bouncy enthusiasm of a Zumba instructor as she welcomed the handful of Black women who’d just arrived. Like Campbell, they were dressed for a workout.

1 week ago | stateline.org | Amanda Hernandez

For help, call 1-888-373-7888 or text *233733 for the 24/7 National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national, toll-free hotline. States are moving to strengthen protections against human trafficking, but some advocates warn that federal funding cuts could undermine efforts to support survivors. This year, lawmakers in several states have introduced bills to expand education, strengthen penalties and fund survivor support.