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Early returns in Inglewood's election show Mayor James T. Butts Jr. trailing City Council member Gloria D. Gray, putting the race on track for a March runoff. Two closely contested ballot measures tied to the city's dispute with Hollywood Park, owned by Rams owner Stan Kroenke, were also running narrowly behind. Measure AT, backed by the city, would remove a cap on admission taxes at SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome and the Forum. Measure BB, backed by the venues, would ban new billboard advertising on public property. The measures stem from a fight over a 20-year digital billboard deal and a court ruling voiding the 2015 development agreement enabling SoFi Stadium.

The Ohio Domestic Violence Network reported 134 intimate partner-related deaths from July 2025 through June 2026, the second-highest total in the 11 years it has tracked such fatalities. The figure is down from a record 157 deaths the prior year, but the two years combined mark the deadliest period on record. Nearly half of victims were killed while attempting to leave their relationships, almost double the 2024 rate. Guns caused 75% of deaths; 53 children witnessed a parent's murder, a 47% increase. Shelter capacity has not kept pace with demand, with more than half of emergency shelter requests going unmet last year. Lawmakers were honored for sponsoring related protective legislation.

With early voting underway in Texas ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, several Austin restaurants, bars, cafes and other local businesses are rewarding voters who show their "I Voted" sticker. Offers include a free cookie at Boni's Bar Next Door, a free glass at Flo's Wine Bar, a free cheese item at Spread & Co., a free drink at Far Out Lounge, a discounted drink at Later Gator Coffee, a free class pass at Black Swan Yoga, and discounted drinks and food at other local spots. Most promotions run through Election Day, though some end earlier. The initiative reflects a broader tradition of local businesses incentivizing civic participation during election periods.

Boyle Heights and Arts District residents are uniting to push Los Angeles officials to designate an anti-camping zone around Sixth Street PARC, the park under construction beneath the 6th Street Bridge that is slated to open next year. The Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council voted 13-1 to back a petition started by Arts District residents, joining the Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council and the downtown LA Residents Association in urging Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, Mayor Karen Bass, and city staff to establish the zone and a security plan.

Anti-camping zones, created under Los Angeles Municipal Code 41.18, prohibit sitting, lying, or sleeping in designated public areas and require council approval. Supporters note the city already approved a 41.18 zone for the bridge itself in 2024 and want it extended to the park below. Jurado said her office is reviewing the boundaries and called for broader dialogue on homelessness and safety. The push contrasts with recent moves elsewhere in LA, including Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez's repeal of 12 anti-camping zones in his district over concerns the ordinance hampers housing efforts.

Republican Mike Rogers, locked in a tight Michigan Senate race against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, called this week for an immediate end to the US-Canada tariff dispute, marking a reversal from his earlier support for President Trump's trade policy. In a social media ad filmed in a bar, Rogers drinks a Labatt beer and says "Canada is not our enemy," pledging to work across party lines to lower prices for Michigan consumers.

The shift contrasts with Rogers' comments as recently as last month, when he called the tariffs "necessary," and with a post from nearly a year ago crediting Trump's tariffs with restoring "fairness for Michigan workers." El-Sayed accused Rogers of flip-flopping only because his poll numbers have slipped. The tariffs, imposed on Canadian imports in July, have strained Michigan's auto industry, which relies on cross-border supply chains.

In a subsequent debate, Rogers attacked El-Sayed's foreign financing ties and record, while El-Sayed drew criticism for calling a question about whether Iran or Israel poses a greater threat to the US "ridiculous." Rogers made a similar reversal on Iran policy two weeks earlier, part of a broader trend of Republicans in competitive races distancing themselves from Trump.

California's Legislature closed its session this week by sending Gov. Gavin Newsom a wave of bills spanning data centers, artificial intelligence, immigration enforcement, wildfires and local news. Newsom signed measures requiring tracking of data centers' energy and water use and protecting consumers from rising electricity costs, alongside more than 10 bills restricting how social media, AI and autoplay features can target young users.

More than 20 new laws curb immigration enforcement, banning electric shock gloves and face coverings for law enforcement while easing lawsuits against federal officials. Other legislation sets first-in-the-nation standards for testing and remediating wildfire-smoke-damaged homes and requiring insurers to cover related costs, two years after the Los Angeles firestorms. New AI-related employment rules bar employers from relying solely on automated systems for discipline or firing and mandate 60-day notice before AI-driven layoffs. California also created the nation's largest journalism relief program, offering tax credits to local news outlets based on journalist headcount. The laws test whether California still sets the national policy agenda.

St. Paul Police Chief Axel Henry has sued Mayor Kaohly Her, alleging sexual harassment, reprisal and violations of the Minnesota Whistleblower Act. The 73-page complaint describes tensions dating to Her's election, including a remark that Henry needed to "be extra nice" to her since the fire union, unlike the police union, endorsed her campaign. It also alleges disputes over backpay processing for police leadership, claims by Her and an assistant mayor that they could override Henry's personnel decisions, and allegations that Her improperly received confidential law enforcement information through her police-assigned driver. The lawsuit further claims the mayor's administration ran a paid media campaign to discredit Henry's motives.

An independent investigation released Sept. 18 found Her did not engage in sexual harassment or retaliation but did engage in "offensive and inappropriate behavior." Her apologized for crossing lines but said she was pleased the harassment claims were unsubstantiated. The city has declined to comment on active litigation. The St. Paul City Council plans a closed-door session to discuss the case and is expected to retain outside legal counsel.

St. Paul, Minn., Police Chief Axel Henry has filed a 73-page lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court against Mayor Kaohly Her and the city, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation and unprofessional conduct. The complaint claims Her repeatedly touched Henry's thigh, made sexual innuendos including calling herself a "MILF," surprised him at a golf simulator during his vacation, and told him at a bar meeting that he needed to be her "friend" or "colleague" or "go" — which he understood as a demand to resign. It also alleges she hung sexualized altered images of Henry and other officers in his office, made orgasm-like sounds at the department gym, and referenced a separate incident where she suggested she'd falsely claim a city official groped her. Henry further claims Her hired a PR firm to discredit him and retaliated in violation of the Minnesota Whistleblower Act. He seeks a jury trial and damages exceeding $50,000 across six counts.

An independent investigation found no legal violations but concluded Her engaged in offensive and inappropriate behavior, including creating and sharing offensive material, prompting two apologies and a coaching recommendation. Only a two-page summary, prepared by an office Her oversees, has been released; the full report remains undisclosed, and Henry says he was never given a complete copy. City council members Molly Coleman and Saura Jost have publicly called for the full report's release, with Coleman calling the allegations "deeply troubling" and Jost citing eroded public confidence. The mayor's office says it will follow the report's recommendations but won't comment further on active litigation. Her, elected last year as St. Paul's first female mayor, previously shifted her security detail to the county sheriff's office, citing threats.