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Fed hikes rates as federal net interest tops $1 trillion
The Federal Reserve raised interest rates a quarter point Wednesday, its first increase in three years, a unanimous move that came despite President Donald Trump's demands for cuts, with officials signaling more increases could follow this year.

Former AG Barr: Climate change lawsuits could cripple energy companies

Advocates and former Trump administration officials warned of dire consequences if an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision favors environmental activists.  

Legal nonprofit scrutinized over alleged Chinese influence ahead of climate case
As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a major climate case that could raise energy prices across the U.S., a libertarian legal organization held a virtual roundtable Wednesday discussing an environmental law organization whose ties to China have drawn scrutiny from Congress and national security groups.

Battleground voters want Social Security fixed, but not with more debt
Most voters in five battleground Senate states want lawmakers to fix Social Security before its retirement trust fund is depleted in 2032, but that support softens once specific tax increases or benefit cuts are named.

Lawmakers scold, praise U.S. Supreme Court ahead of term
Lawmakers both expressed frustration and praised the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday before its term begins on Oct. 5. 

Jewish leaders call on El-Sayed to affirm five commitments
A coalition of Michigan Jewish leaders says it is concerned by the lack of response from U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed after requesting five commitments from him.

U.S. House passes bill meant to offset data center energy costs
The U.S. House nearly unanimously passed a bill Wednesday night aimed at shielding ordinary Americans from electricity price hikes caused by data centers.

Taxpayer Philanthropy: $2.6M in federal funds paid to trans-care nonprofit
Three years ago, North Carolina passed a stringent ban against transgender medical interventions on children, outlawing surgical or chemical treatments on anyone under 18. That same year, the fortunes of the nonprofit Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group began to soar.

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AGTECH LEASES: The Arizona State Land Department canceled AgTech's five agricultural leases over concerns about sewage sludge. The Center Square talked to the Arizona State Land Department and AgTech about the matter.

HOUSE BOUNCES: House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has released lawmakers even earlier than anticipated for a whopping seven-week recess, strategically avoiding a vote on Rep. Thomas Massie’s, R-Ky., impeachment resolution against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

CALIFORNIA CLIMATE BILLS: U.S. Reps. Vince Fong and James Gallagher are pushing legislation to roll back environmental regulations in California, The Center Square has learned.

FEDERAL ADMIN LEAVE: The government spent $9.5 billion on salaries for federal employees on paid administrative leave in 2025, a sixfold jump from 2023, with most of the increase traced to the Trump administration's deferred-resignation program, which let workers stop working while drawing pay, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

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Dave Mason
Regional Editor
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