News From The States
This Week In Commentary
The best opinion pieces of the week: a wide range of perspectives and ideas from across the States Newsroom network.
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A Thanksgiving wish for free speech in Kansas and this nation, no matter our differences
Commentary on free speech in Kansas, carcinogens in type 4 hair products in Virginia, the Lewiston shooting in Maine, Thanksgiving history in Rhode Island, anti-trans laws in Ohio, child care funding in Kentucky, public access records in Arkansas, the international fall of conservatism in Florida.
Opinion you don’t want to miss
Commentary on the will of the people in Ohio, a new statehouse in Alabama, democracy in Montana, voter turnout in South Carolina, the Trump trial in Colorado, Landry's crime proposals in Louisiana, Pat McCarran in Nevada, and Joe Manchin in West Virginia.
Gerrymandered Ohio Republican lawmakers are already scheming to attack voters over election results
Commentary on gerrymandering in Ohio, Election Day results in Colorado, an update on the newsroom raid in Kansas, Tommy Tuberville in Alabama, state GOP in Wisconsin, state-tribal relations in Oklahoma, ballot initiatives in Indiana, and incivility in Tennessee.
Rebuilding our mental health system takes money and time. Gun reforms can happen now.
Commentary on gun reform in Maine, open records law in Minnesota, campus carry laws in West Virginia, policymaking in Alabama, voter suppression in Kansas, child care in Indiana, businesses in Oklahoma, and the music industry in Louisiana.
One thing was missing from the speaker madness: a woman
Commentary on women in position of Speaker of the House in Indiana, Issue 1 in Ohio, the COVID booster in Kansas, the Republican U.S House delegation in Alabama, voter suppression in Wisconsin, GOP attorney Randy Corporon in Colorado, book bans in West Virginia, and higher education policy in Florida.
Rejecting Issue 1 would bring back Ohio’s 6-week abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest
Commentary on Issue 1 in Ohio, women in politics in Tennessee, protecting trans kids in Kansas, historical context behind restricted voting rights in Alabama, absenteeism in Indiana, school vouchers in Wisconsin, caucus-primaries in Nevada, and child mistreatment in West Virginia.
Hammering Alabama elections in search of a nail
Commentary on voting in Alabama, the U.S. House speaker race in Louisiana, test scores in Wisconsin, the governor's lectern in Arkansas, anti-gender affirming care in Oklahoma, Nazis in Tennessee, public schools in Rhode Island, and conservatism in Kentucky.
Steve Marshall doesn’t know what Jim Crow was
Commentary on redistricting maps in Alabama, the newspaper raid in Kansas, military recruitment in Georgia, the state GOP in Montana, Colorado, and Ohio, spending in Oklahoma, and school district funding in Minnesota.
Sen. Menendez flips New Jersey the bird
Commentary on Senator Bob Menendez's refusal to step down in both New Jersey and Montana, Senator John Fetterman's attire in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia, public access to legislative information in Arkansas, book bans in Alabama, state tax structure in Nevada, and Trump supporting GOP in Colorado.
I knew Kansas officials would overstep after Marion raid. I didn’t expect it to be in Lawrence.
Commentary on the Marion raid in Kansas, low taxes in Alabama, school vouchers in Ohio, abortion exceptions in Idaho, long COVID in New Mexico, an introduction to the Maine Morning Star, a metaphor between college football and America in Florida, and gun safety laws in Georgia.
We are facing a sustained, historic assault on democracy in Ohio and across America
Commentary on Democracy Day in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, and Kansas, redistricting in Alabama, WVU misinformation in West Virginia, Governor Cameron in Kentucky, and the Freedom of Information Act in Arkansas.
How anti-government ideologues targeted Wisconsin public schools
Commentary on public schools in Wisconsin, suicide prevention in Colorado, Attorney General Austin Knudsen in Montana, voter map redistricting in Ohio, the Marion County newspaper raid in Kansas, education meeting wait times in Oklahoma, Jimmy Buffet in Florida, and the death penalty in Alabama.