Good morning, it’s Monday, August 24, 2026. In today’s edition, California lawmakers enter frantic final week; feds set cuts for Colorado River water; new polls in New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Arizona, Michigan:

Top Stories

TECHNOLOGY: California lawmakers kick off their final week in session today with a host of prominent technology-related bills left to handle. Lawmakers will consider bills to impose penalties on social media companies that fail to exercise ordinary care for minors; bar social media companies from providing addictive feeds and features to minors under 16; impose a moratorium on chatbot-equipped toys; and ban wearable “smart glasses” in businesses where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. (Pluribus News)

WATER: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has issued a final plan to allocate water from the Colorado River that would impose cuts of 1.25 million acre-feet to Arizona, California and Nevada over the next two years. The Lower Basin states had feared steeper cuts. The final plan establishes a 10-year framework with reassessments every two years. (Pluribus News)

CHILDCARE: State laws making it easier for people who were abused as children to seek cash compensation are driving up liability insurance costs for childcare providers, driving some foster care agencies and daycare centers to close. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill earlier this year to shield foster care and adoption agencies from liabilities if they follow rules intended to protect kids, including background checks on staff and foster parents and reporting requirements. (Pluribus News)

PUBLIC SAFETY: The FBI has arrested an Albany woman accused of attempting to bomb the New York State Capitol building, after she allegedly discussed her plans with informants posing as ISIS representatives. The alleged attacker was arrested after purchasing materials necessary to build an explosive device. (Pluribus News)

MORE: Indiana Rep. Jim Pressel (R) is drafting legislation to set minimum standards for how law enforcement uses license plate readers. The bill will likely require law enforcement agencies to conduct regular audits of reader searches to identify misuse, after an Indianapolis police officer allegedly used a Flock system for personal purposes. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

LGBTQ RIGHTS: New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D) has signed legislation barring law enforcement agencies from aiding investigations launched by other states into healthcare workers who provide reproductive and transgender care. The bill bars the state from extraditing individuals facing out-of-state investigations. (New Jersey Monitor)

IMMIGRATION: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed legislation allowing working and volunteers at organizations that aid immigrants shield their home addresses from public records. The bill makes it illegal to post personal information about such workers with the intent to incite violence against them. (Los Angeles Times)

SNAP: Enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has dropped by more than 13% in the last year, a steeper decline than the government expected as new work requirements take effect. Arizona has experienced the steepest decline of more than 50%, while 20% of participants have dropped off in Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada and Florida. (Associated Press)

In Politics & Business

NEW HAMPSHIRE: A Saint Anselm College poll finds Gov. Kelly Ayotte (R) leading former executive councillor Cinde Warmington (D) 49% to 38%. The same poll had Ayotte leading Warmington by a slimmer 45%-37% margin in June. (St. Anselm)

WISCONSIN: A new TIPP poll conducted for the League of American Workers finds Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) leading U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R) 47% to 43% in the race for governor. Both candidates have consolidated their party’s voters, while independents back Crowley by a 44% to 34% margin. (TIPP)

ARIZONA: A Quantus Insights poll finds Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) leading U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R) 49% to 43%. Just 43% approve of President Trump’s job performance, while 53% strongly disapprove. (Quantus)

MICHIGAN: A new poll conducted by Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio and Democratic pollster John Anzalone on behalf of the AARP finds Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) leading U.S. Rep. John James (R) by a 49% to 44% margin in the race for governor. Benson leads by a 45%-40% margin among independents. (AARP)

By The Numbers

$229 million: The amount Pennsylvania has lost on unpaid tolls over a 12-month period ending in May 2025, according to the state Auditor. Most of the money comes from drivers who failed to respond to toll bills while traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. (State Affairs)

30: The number of human cases of West Nile virus reported in California this year, a five-year high. About half of those cases have been reported in Los Angeles County. (Los Angeles Times)

13.5%: The decline in violent crime in Wisconsin last year, a bigger decrease than the national average. Violent crime has been falling across the nation since a recent peak in 2021. (State Affairs)

Off The Wall

Colorado officials have an answer to Alaska’s Fat Bear Week: Today marks the beginning of Fat Marmot Week, spotlighting rodents that are bulking up before their winter hibernation. Scientists are using the promotion to solicit donations to make up for a loss of federal funding. (Colorado Public Radio)

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival will take the year off in 2027 while fair grounds in Manchester, Tenn., recover from back-to-back storms. This year’s festival was soaked by rain, even after workers installed a drainage system and 135 acres of new grass. (State Affairs)

Harvard Medical School will pay $53 million to settle class action lawsuits by relatives of body donors whose remains were sold on the black market by a former morgue manager. The former manager was sentenced to eight years in prison for stealing and selling the body parts. (Associated Press)

Quote of the Day

“No, I’ve never driven a race car, but it should be a lot of fun.”

— New Hampshire Gov. Ayotte, who drove a NASCAR simulator against Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin in a charity event on behalf of a local school district. Martin called Ayotte a “great sport.” (WMUR)