WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- Rep. Mark Alford, R-Missouri, issued the following news release: * * * Alford, Vernetti Introduce Bills to Protect Elections from Illegal Alien Influence * Today, Congressman Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago) and State Representative Jeff Vernetti (R-Camdenton) introduced complementary bills to restore the integrity of the citizen initiative petition process. Specifically, both bills will require non-profits that engage in election-related or political work to participate more PR

ARLINGTON, Virginia, Feb. 27 -- The Arlington Public Schools issued the following news on Feb. 26, 2026: * * * Superintendent Presents FY 2027 Proposed Budget: Investing in High Quality Staff and Retaining Student Support Proposed budget totals $855.69 million, with compensation funded first and reductions focused on efficiencies * APS Superintendent Dr. Francisco Duran presented his Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to the School Board. The proposed budget totals $855.69 million, a 1.3% inc more PR

COLUMBIA, Missouri, Feb. 26 -- The University of Missouri School of Journalism issued the following news release: * * * Elizabeth Stephens selected as 2026 Kiplinger Fellow * By Emily Early COLUMBIA, Mo. (Feb. 26, 2026) -Associate Professor Elizabeth Stephens was selected as a 2026 Kiplinger Fellow through Ohio University's annual Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism. Stephens, the executive editor of the Columbia Missourian -the Missouri School of Journalism's community newspa more PR

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, Feb. 27 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island issued the following news: * * * ACLU Files Court Brief in Public Employee Free Speech Case Arguing that "Disparaging" Speech is Not Entitled to Less Protection The brief argues that the court applied an inappropriate standard by judging the speech based on its tone, rather than any disruptive effect it had in the workplace, potentially diminishing free speech protections for all public employees. * The  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities issued the following research by Wesley Tharpe, senior advisor for state tax policy, policy analysts Clara Wilson and Joanna LeFebvre, all of the State Fiscal Policy team: * * * Sound State Revenue Choices Essential to Counteract Harmful Policies and Build Forward State and local policymakers nationwide are facing a one-two punch entering 2026. For one, last summer's harmful Republican megabill paired enormous tax breaks for we more PR

CHARLESTON, South Carolina, Feb. 27 -- Charleston Southern University issued the following news: * * * Lowcountry Education Leaders Met to Strengthen Regional Collaboration On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Charleston Southern University hosted a regional convening of Lowcountry education leaders as four Colleges of Education deans and four district leaders met to strengthen collaboration aimed at improving schools and supporting educators across the region. Participating Higher Education Lead more PR

ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Feb. 27 -- Education Minnesota issued the following news release: * * * Education Minnesota endorses Johnson, McCollum and Omar for Congress Education Minnesota has endorsed the campaigns of Jake Johnson, a member of the union, and U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum and Ilhan Omar in the first round of 2026 federal endorsements from Minnesota's largest labor union. Educators from the candidates' districts interviewed the candidates during the endorsement process. Their recommend more PR

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 27 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news on Feb. 26, 2026: * * * 'Secularist' James Talarico confronts Christian nationalism in yanked Colbert interview The FFRF Action Fund salutes Texas state Rep. James Talarico as its "Secularist of the Week" for confronting Christian natio more PR

MADISON, Wisconsin, Feb. 27 -- FFRF Action Fund, an organization that says it develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, posted the following news: * * * Pending Vermont bill would guarantee students' rights to a secular public education The FFRF Action Fund is gathering support for pioneering legislation in Vermont to preserve the secular nature of the state's public schools.  more PR

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 26 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds signs bill increasing state aid to public schools by $82 million * Today, Governor Kim Reynolds issued the following statement after signing Senate File 2201 into law, a bill relating to school funding and the state cost per student: "Education is the best investment in Iowa's future, and one our most important responsibilities. As Governor, I've increased the state's public schoo more PR

LANSING, Michigan, Feb. 25 -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Michigan, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Whitmer Delivers 2026 State of the State: Building A Michigan for All * February 25, 2026 Contact: press@michigan.gov Focused on literacy, housing, health care in final year, Governor highlights strong record of bipartisan progress on kitchen-table issues amid national economic uncertainty and political division LANSING, Mich. - Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer delivered her 2 more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 26 -- The West Virginia Department of Education issued the following news release: * * * Hampshire County School Bus Driver Dresses for the Occasion * Charleston, W.Va. \- When Hampshire County School Bus Operator John Sitar completes his daily safety check before heading on his route, he makes sure one last item is complete - his tie is straight. He wears a tie and jacket every day on the job because it is part of his self-imposed uniform, and a way of showin more PR

BOSTON, Massachusetts, Feb. 27 -- The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education issued the following news release on Feb. 26, 2026: * * * Healey-Driscoll Administration Expands Early Literacy Training for Educators through Additional Literacy Launch Institutes Summer opportunities open now for registration to serve up to 1,000 educators * EVERETT - The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the opening of registration for the Summer 2026 Literacy Launch Inst more PR

LOS ANGELES, California, Feb. 27 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Feb. 26, 2026, by senior education policy analyst Jude Schwalbach: * * * Missouri Senate Bills 906 and 971 would improve open enrollment If signed into law, these bills would allow Missouri's students to transfer to public schools outside of their assigned school district. * Since 2021, six of Missouri's neighbors have improved public school transfer opportunities for their students through open enr more PR

NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Feb. 26 -- Vanderbilt University posted the following news release: * * * Vanderbilt Peabody experts explain what district leaders need to know about principal pipelines, school choice and improvement science * By Jenna Somers In February, faculty members from Vanderbilt Peabody College of education and human development participated in the National Conference on Education, presented by AASA, the School Superintendents Association, held in Nashville, Tennessee. This a more PR

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, Feb. 27 -- West Virginia State Treasurer Larry Pack issued the following statement on Feb. 26, 2026: * * * Treasurer Pack Releases Statement on House Originating Bill Regarding Hope Scholarship Program State Treasurer Larry Pack today released the following statement after passage of a House Originating Bill relating to the Hope Scholarship Program from the House Finance Committee. The bill will change payments to Hope participants from bi-annual to quarterly. "We more PR