state regulators

Italy and the Czech Republic are preparing to call on the European Union to soften its rules on carbon permits and energy supply, according to a Reuters report. The joint push signals growing resistance within the bloc to strict emissions trading requirements, amid concerns over energy costs and security of supply. The move could complicate the EU's green transition agenda and will be watched closely by other member states.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has withdrawn from a major climate case, reversing an earlier decision to take part. The move comes amid scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest surrounding the justice. The reversal is drawing attention to ethical questions facing the Supreme Court and to the stakes of the climate litigation, which could have significant consequences for environmental regulation in the United States.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will no longer take part in a pending climate change case before the court. The announcement, reported by SCOTUSblog, removes one justice from a dispute with potential consequences for climate regulation, leaving eight justices to decide the outcome. Reasons for the withdrawal were not stated in the report.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a high-profile climate case before the Court, according to Politico. The withdrawal removes one justice from a closely watched dispute over climate regulation, potentially affecting how the Court rules on an issue with sweeping implications for federal environmental policy and the states and industries involved.

President Trump brought leading technology executives to the White House for discussions on artificial intelligence safety, even as his administration pushes the United States to compete with China for dominance in the field. The meeting highlights the tension between regulating rapidly advancing AI systems and maintaining American leadership in the technology. Details of the talks are covered in a Reuters World News podcast update.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have announced a lawsuit against prediction-market platform Polymarket, accusing it of running an illegal gambling operation in the state. The announcement was made through the governor's official office. The move marks a significant escalation in US regulatory scrutiny of prediction markets.

The Environmental Protection Agency says it will reconsider air quality rules at a time when Texas is dealing with sharply elevated diesel prices, described by some as a disaster. The move raises questions about whether federal emissions standards may be eased to relieve cost pressures on trucking and industry in the state.

Churchgoers in an Indian state are now required to sign declarations before holding prayer meetings under a new anti-conversion law. The regulation is part of a wider wave of state-level laws restricting religious conversions in India. Christian communities say the rules create hurdles for ordinary worship, while supporters argue the measures prevent forced or fraudulent conversions.

California has enacted a new law tightening regulations on explosive chemicals, a measure passed in response to an incident in Garden Grove that raised safety concerns. The legislation imposes stricter controls on the sale and storage of such substances. Details of the Garden Grove incident and the law's specific provisions remain limited in available reporting.

US Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has made a last-minute decision not to participate in a pending climate change case, according to a report by the ABA Journal. The move raises questions about the reason for his recusal, which has not been explained. His absence could affect the court's balance in a case with significant implications for climate-related litigation and regulation in the United States.

GitHub has published an update to its developer policy, outlining changes around transparency requirements, how US state-level policy affects the platform, and what developers can expect going forward. The company says the update is intended to make its rules clearer for the millions of developers who build on the platform, though details of specific enforcement changes remain limited in the announcement.

Ahead of the BRICS summit, attention is turning to how the grouping's discussions could influence occupational and environmental health and safety policy across member countries. Analysts suggest agreements on labour standards and environmental rules made at the summit could affect workplace protections and regulation in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Wisconsin lawmaker Toney is calling on the state to act on automatic license plate reader (ALPR) technology after Flock safety cameras were dropped in northeastern Wisconsin. The withdrawal of the cameras has renewed debate over privacy and surveillance, with Toney pushing for statewide rules governing how plate-reading data is collected and used.

President Trump said the United States cannot stifle artificial intelligence development, arguing that AI industry leaders 'have to self-police' the technology rather than face heavy government regulation. His comments signal a light-touch regulatory approach that favors innovation and industry responsibility over federal oversight, drawing attention as AI tools rapidly expand and debate intensifies over safety rules and government intervention.

President Trump has signed a voluntary artificial intelligence safety agreement alongside executives from leading AI companies, according to Reuters. Alongside the safety commitments, the group also backed a major expansion of data center capacity in the United States to support growing AI workloads. The deal marks the White House's latest effort to shape AI development without formal regulation.

Donald Trump said leading technology executives have signed a 'morally binding' agreement to help police artificial intelligence. The comments signal a push to frame voluntary industry commitments as central to AI oversight in the United States. Details of which executives signed, what the accord requires, and how it would be enforced were not immediately clear, leaving analysts to question the practical weight of a purely moral commitment.

The National Federation of Independent Business has endorsed 86 candidates running for the Pennsylvania legislature, citing their support for small business priorities. The endorsements highlight issues such as taxes, regulation, and the economic climate for small employers in the state heading into the election.

The village board in Ilion, New York, has postponed a vote on a proposed moratorium that would temporarily block new data center development while officials review local regulations. The delay gives trustees more time to consider the measure, which comes as data center projects draw scrutiny in communities across New York State.

A federal court has ruled that prediction market operator Kalshi is subject to Tennessee's gambling laws in relation to its sports event contracts. The decision means the company cannot treat its sports offerings as federally regulated derivatives exempt from state gambling regulation, and it could shape how states oversee sports prediction markets and similar platforms operating nationwide.

Kristina Montgomery has been elected president of the Retail Energy Supply Association, the industry group representing competitive retail energy suppliers in the United States. The announcement, reported by trade and local business outlets, signals new leadership for the association as retail energy markets face ongoing debates over pricing, regulation and the role of competition in supplying households and businesses.

Parents are calling on the US Supreme Court to safeguard the right to religious education. The appeal, reported by The Center Square, centers on families seeking constitutional protection for faith-based schooling choices. Supporters view the case as a key test of religious liberty in education, while critics worry about the separation of church and state. The court's response could shape how states regulate or fund religious schools.

Sports prediction markets from Kalshi and Polymarket operate in a legal gray zone across the United States, with their status varying from state to state. A new breakdown examines where the platforms are permitted to offer sports event contracts and where regulators have pushed back, as federal and state authorities continue to debate whether these markets count as regulated derivatives or unlicensed sports betting.

Delaware's Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has updated the state's hunting regulations following a Delaware Supreme Court ruling concerning the minimum age requirement for hunters. The decision prompted the agency to revise its rules to bring them in line with the court's interpretation. Local outlets are reporting the regulatory changes, though details of the ruling and the specific amendments have not been widely circulated.

Oregon insurance regulators are warning consumers about health insurance plans that carry low monthly premiums but can leave policyholders with unexpectedly high medical bills. Officials are urging residents to look beyond upfront cost when choosing coverage, as deductibles and out-of-pocket charges may outweigh the savings. The advisory highlights growing concerns about plan affordability and transparency in the state's insurance market.

US lawmakers are struggling to craft policies that keep pace with the rapid spread of artificial intelligence. As AI tools reshape jobs, privacy, copyright and national security, Congress faces pressure to regulate a technology that is evolving faster than legislation can be written, leaving gaps that states, agencies and companies are trying to fill in the meantime.

A new study published in Nature reports that mechanical forces can regulate cell memory, meaning a cell's ability to retain information about its past states. The finding suggests that physical cues, not only biochemical signals, influence how cells remember their identity and history. Researchers in cell biology and mechanobiology are likely to discuss its implications for development, tissue repair and disease research.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking the public for input on HealthPartners' proposed acquisition of Essentia Health. His office is soliciting community comments as part of its review of the deal, which would combine two major healthcare providers serving Minnesota and neighboring states. Residents and patients are being invited to weigh in before regulators decide whether the acquisition can move forward.

North Carolina state representative and former state budget director Lee Briner? Briner, alongside the State Employees Association of North Carolina, is again backing a legal challenge to the state's certificate-of-need laws, which restrict who can open or expand healthcare facilities. The group argues the rules limit patient choice and raise costs, while defenders say they protect access and quality of care.

A bill called the Protect College Sports Act is under scrutiny, with a detailed read-through of its provisions circulating among sports outlets and readers. The legislation touches on how college athletics are governed and regulated, and commentators are walking through its actual text to assess what it would change for student-athletes and universities. Early discussion focuses on separating the bill's stated goals from its concrete legal effects.

Massachusetts has introduced new clean power requirements for data center development, becoming the third US state in as many months to restrict such projects. The move reflects growing scrutiny of the energy demands of data centers, and it adds momentum to a wave of state-level action on the industry's power use and climate footprint.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has reached a settlement agreement with a concrete mixing facility in Lafayette Parish over wastewater enforcement matters. The deal resolves the state's enforcement action concerning the facility's handling of wastewater. Concrete plants face ongoing scrutiny across the Gulf Coast for discharge practices, making the settlement a notable example of state environmental regulators pursuing compliance through negotiated agreements rather than extended litigation.

A federal judge in New York has ruled that the state's climate change act is unconstitutional and preempted by federal law. The decision strikes at one of the most ambitious state-level climate statutes in the United States and is expected to draw an appeal. Legal experts and climate advocates are watching closely, as the ruling could influence similar climate laws in other states and reshape how states may regulate emissions.

Polymarket has introduced Bitcoin price bets that resolve every 15 minutes, a fast-cadence product for its crypto prediction markets. The rollout comes as New York regulators pursue legal action against the platform over alleged unlicensed gambling. The juxtaposition of expansion and litigation is drawing attention to the regulatory pressure facing prediction markets in the United States.