By Brian Lyman | Editor
Good morning. We’ve got a story on the impact of fines and fees; one on the possible effect of a rule change and another on a loss for President Donald Trump and his attorneys.
Northport residents await their court appearances at the Northport Public Safety Building in Northport, Ala., on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (Will McLelland for Alabama Reflector)
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
By Ralph Chapoco
A study released by the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama (PARCA) last week found a correlation between increases in court fines and fees and incarceration rates around the state. The PARCA analysis found that an additional $100 in criminal court fines was associated with an increase in the jail population of about 34 people per 100,000, though the authors said this was correlation and not necessarily causation.
White House budget director Russell Vought speaks with reporters inside the U.S. Capitol in 2025.(Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
HEALTHCARE
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
A group of 23 governors, all Democrats, sent a letter Monday objecting to major changes to the grantmaking process, warning that it could affect maternal health and reproductive care programs. The changes would include political appointees in the reviews of grants, which the White House says would advance transparency but critics said would threaten grant stability. As of Sunday afternoon, there were more than 278,000 comments on the proposed changes.
President Donald Trump attends a bilateral meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
DC BUREAU
By Ashley Murray
A federal judge in Florida Monday ruled that President Donald Trump “acted in bad faith” by dropping a lawsuit against the IRS and directing members of his cabinet to establish a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. Judge Kathleen Williams referred one of Trump’s attorneys to the Florida State Bar for a review of possible disciplinary action and prohibited another attorney from making filings in her federal district for a year.
ICYMI
Maine AG announces investigation into fatal ICE shooting | Eesha Pendharkar and Emma Davis, Maine Morning Star
Private equity might dodge state laws by partnering with healthcare nonprofits | Anna Claire Vollers, Stateline
SC governor appoints Sen. Lindsey Graham's sister to fulfill his term | Jessica Holdman, South Carolina Daily Gazette
Thanks for reading First Look. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.