Wine

Ohio's long-running wine-shipping lawsuit returns to district court after the Supreme Court declined on Oct. 13 to review a 6th Circuit ruling that struck down rules letting in-state retailers ship wine to Ohio consumers while largely barring out-of-state retailers. The appeals court left remedies to the lower court but affirmed Ohio's authority to tax out-of-state retailers, meaning any future shipping system won't make sales tax-free. Separately, Ohio's existing use-tax law already requires buyers to pay tax on out-of-state wine purchases when a seller doesn't collect it, with registered sellers obligated to collect and remit use tax based on their Ohio sales volume or connections, and buyers able to report unpaid amounts via state income tax filings.

Arizona election officials and local media have published guidance for the Nov. 3, 2026 midterm election, outlining voter eligibility requirements: U.S. citizenship, Arizona residency, and being at least 18 years old by Election Day. The guide covers congressional races on the ballot and points voters to further resources for navigating the statewide election.

The release is part of broader local coverage in Arizona, including unrelated items on Maricopa County property tax bills arriving later than usual (though payments remain due Oct. 1), a feature on the world's first food bank, which originated in Phoenix, and local real estate and sports updates. The voting guide is the most relevant item for residents preparing to participate in the midterm cycle, as Arizona's congressional races are expected to draw national attention given the state's competitive political landscape.

A Phoenix coffee and wine shop owner says soaring electric bills from Arizona Public Service are threatening her business's future. Koral Casillas, co-owner of Strip Mall and Monsoon Market on 7th Street, said her August APS bill hit $1,500, equal to about 33% of her monthly rent, and her most recent bill rose further to $1,700. She said other small business owners in the same plaza are seeing similar spikes, and residential customers face comparable increases.

The rising costs have drawn attention to a race for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates utility rates. Republican incumbent Kevin Thompson defended APS's ability to recover service costs, while Democratic challengers Clara Pratte and Jonathan Hill criticized the commission's recent record of approving repeated rate hikes. A proposed APS increase of nearly 14% could take effect after the November election. Casillas is expanding her menu and running a gift card promotion to offset costs, while urging residents to support local businesses.

Krista Perez, the Democratic candidate for Washington state's 29th Legislative District, Position 1, was arrested for DUI early on August 11 after police say her vehicle struck a parked car in Tacoma, triggering a chain-reaction collision that damaged five vehicles.

Body camera footage released by the Tacoma Police Department shows Perez telling officers she had "one glass of wine" before the crash and could not recall details of the accident or provide her insurance information. When asked to rate her sobriety on a scale of zero to ten, she said "four." She declined field sobriety tests and became visibly distressed after being handcuffed, crying and praying in the back of the patrol car while repeatedly saying she did not understand what was happening. She was booked into Pierce County Corrections on the DUI charge that morning.

Perez had previously won her party's primary for the state House seat.

A new Detroit News/WDIV-TV poll of 600 likely Michigan voters, conducted by the Glengariff Group Aug. 31-Sept. 3, found only 29% approve of President Trump's 50% tariffs on $20 billion of Canadian goods, including cement, wine, dairy and hockey sticks, while 64% disapprove. Opposition was strong among Democrats (93%) and independents (73%), with even a quarter of Republicans disapproving. About 62% said the tariffs hurt Michigan's economy, and 72% expect higher prices. Trump's approval among Michigan voters fell to 35%, the lowest recorded in either of his terms by this pollster.

The findings carry political weight ahead of November elections, with Republicans like Rep. Tom Barrett and Senate nominee Mike Rogers treading carefully—criticizing aspects of the trade dispute while avoiding direct attacks on Trump—as Democrats including Sen. Elissa Slotkin and gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson use the tariffs' costs to attack GOP opponents. Business groups and voters interviewed cited rising consumer costs and strain on Michigan's auto, dairy, agriculture and tourism sectors tied to trade with Canada.

A California Post article on Gov. Gavin Newsom and wife Jennifer Siebel Newsom listing their $7.5 million Sacramento-area home originally claimed Newsom "didn't even know" about a 5,000-bottle wine cellar in the house. In fact, at a press conference Newsom said he was unaware only of the cellar's specific 5,000-bottle capacity, not the cellar's existence, and said he had filled it largely with books. The story and headline were quietly edited days later to reflect that distinction, with no correction notice explaining the change.

Newsom communications director Izzy Gardon publicized an email from reporter Titus Wu acknowledging that an editor had "fudged" the story to imply Newsom was unaware of the cellar itself. Gardon called the piece "FALSE" and demanded the New York Post and California Post delete related social media posts, which by publication had not been removed. Conservative commentators had circulated the original framing as evidence of Newsom being "out of touch."

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and his partner, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, have listed their Fair Oaks mansion near Sacramento for $7.5 million, roughly double the $3.7 million they paid for the property in December 2018, shortly before Newsom took office. The 12,700-square-foot, seven-bedroom estate sits on 8.2 acres along the American River bluffs and features a resort-style pool, hot tub, cold plunge, tennis court, private casita and a 5,000-bottle wine cellar. It is being marketed by Sotheby's International Realty.

The Newsoms briefly lived in the state's official governor's mansion before relocating to Fair Oaks, and in 2024 they also bought a $9.1 million home in Kentfield in the Bay Area. As his second and final term nears its end, Newsom has spent less time in Sacramento, a city he once called "so dull." In July, the couple disclosed tax returns showing at least $11 million in income since 2019. The sale effectively closes out his time in the capital region and comes as Newsom is widely viewed as a potential frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.