Abuse in New Hampshire’s disability care system and more news from the states

Good morning, readers. Thanks for stopping by.

Today, a Utah judge will issue a ruling on whether Tyler Robinson will stand trial for murder in the killing of prominent conservative political activist Charlie Kirk. This comes just days before the one-year anniversary of Kirk's death.

In Washington, hundreds of state workers walked off the job for an hour yesterday to demand wage hikes in their next two-year deal. The negotiations have led to rising friction between union workers and Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson, and marks the third consecutive session in which the governor and legislators will have to navigate a budget shortfall.

Voters in Massachusetts head to the polls today for primary elections. And later this week, the Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments in the appeals of two ballot measure cases.

Want to know how you can support Daybreak? Before you go, send this email to a friend or co-worker so they can sign up for free today.

National: Cuts to the nation’s largest food assistance program will likely spill over into schools, causing students to lose access to free breakfast and lunch. More than 1 million American children have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, following a recent federal law.

Ohio: Federal courts have blocked a voter registration provision that was part of the state’s two-year transportation budget. The change requires residents registering to vote at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to present proof of citizenship in order to register.

Alaska: Federal regulators have suspended a wetlands-fill permit allowing construction of a controversial road through a national wildlife refuge, but the on-the-ground result of that action is a subject of legal contention. State officials say they still intend to start the work in coming weeks.

Alabama: Republican Gov. Kay Ivey set a November execution date for Michael Shannon Taylor, a 54-year-old death row inmate convicted of murdering a Gadsden couple in 1991. It is one of two executions scheduled in the last quarter of the year, and could be the state’s third in 2026 if both are carried out.

Tennessee: More than 50 Memphis businesses have signed on to a public pledge to deny service to members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, citing a pattern of widespread intimidation by its agents that have kept workers and customers away.

Florida: At least four Florida sheriffs said in separate statements that they have ordered discontinuation of the Flock license plate reader system in their counties after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis said he wanted the state to remove the cameras from state right-of-ways.

See the rest of the news of the day from all 50 states, plus our D.C. Bureau and Stateline, on News From The States.

State records show that abuse and neglect have continued to plague New Hampshire’s disability system this year, roughly nine months after an investigation first identified rampant issues in the system, New Hampshire Bulletin reports.

Twenty-one people were sexually, physically or emotionally abused in New Hampshire’s state-run disability care system in the first half of 2026. During that time, 30 people died within the system. At least one choked to death, several died of cancer or other diseases, and 10 causes of death were listed in state records as “unknown at time of report.”

That’s according to new data obtained by the Bulletin through a public records request. The records, which are partially redacted to protect subjects’ privacy, detail deaths and malpractice reports from January through June 2026 within New Hampshire’s disability system. 

The system provides care services to residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism or cerebral palsy. To provide this care, the Department of Health and Human Services contracts with a network of private agencies throughout New Hampshire.

In a November series, the Bulletin told the stories of five people who suffered abuse and neglect at the hands of caregivers receiving taxpayer-funded paychecks. Two of those victims died as a result of the incidents. The Bulletin found evidence of hundreds more being victimized. These newly obtained records show that the harm has continued.

Michael Shepard will be the Democratic candidate for a Bellingham-area Washington state Senate seat in November, after a recount confirmed his narrow primary victory over a fellow Democrat by just four votes, Washington State Standard reports.

Shepard, a Bellingham port commissioner, came into the hand recount up four votes on teacher Eamonn Collins after this month’s primary. The recount, certified Monday morning, didn’t change a single vote. 

Shepard defeated Collins by a vote of 13,125 to 13,121, in a primary with nearly 50,000 votes tallied. At one point during the initial counting, Collins clawed to within two votes of Shepard, but couldn’t surpass him. 

Shepard and Collins were vying for a shot at an open seat in the 42nd Legislative District with Democratic Sen. Sharon Shewmake forgoing reelection. Shepard will face Republican Erika Creydt, a psychologist and Blaine school board member, in November. In Washington’s primaries, the top two finishers advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.