By Brian Lyman | Editor
Three weeks until Election Day, and we’ll have plenty of stories on the campaigns over the next 21 days.
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EDUCATION
By Andrea Tinker
The Alabama State Board of Education Thursday approved a $6.8 billion funding request for K-12 schools for the 2028 fiscal year, which begins next October. The request, representing about a 4% increase over the current budget, seeks additional money for reading programs, school breakfast and transportation. Next year’s budget is expected to be tight amid rising healthcare costs and questions over revenue.
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones addresses the audience at a town hall in Fort Deposit on Monday, Oct. 12, 2026, (Ralph Chapoco/Alabama Reflector)
ELECTIONS 2026
By Ralph Chapoco
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones outlined his proposals to regulate data center at a town hall Monday in Fort Deposit in Lowndes County. The former U.S. senator reiterated his plans for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, as well as support for giving local communities more power over data centers and limiting tax incentives for the facilities. Lowndes County could be the site of a hyperscale data center that has drawn community concern.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota speaks during a rally in support of Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., outside a federal courthouse in Newark, New Jersey, on Oct. 21, 2025. (Reena Rose Sibayan/New Jersey Monitor)
DC BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
U.S. House Democratic leaders Monday condemned a Department of Homeland Security raid on the Washington home of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minnesota, saying President Donald Trump’s “violent mass deportation machine” had attacked the congresswoman, who came to the United States as a refugee at age 12 and was later naturalized as a U.S. citizen. Trump has repeatedly attacked Omar and threatened to send her to Somalia.
ICYMI
US senators from both parties blast Trump order to import Russian diesel as illegal | Jacob Fischler, DC Bureau
Trump heads West in latest swing to bolster GOP in rocky lead-up to midterms | Ariana Figueroa, DC Bureau
Data center backlash set to sway midterm elections | Alex Brown, Stateline
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