Border Experts Say $46.5 Billion in New Funding Could Reshape Security If Spent Wisely
With a massive influx of new border funding now on the table, policy experts and frontline agents are urging Washington to take a more targeted, informed approach to securing the southern border. The latest Homeland Security funding includes $46.55 billion earmarked for walls, access roads, and supporting technology. While often referred to simply as “wall money,” experts […]
States Brace for Rising Medicaid Pressure as Policy Experts Call for Reform
As states confront the growing cost of caring for an aging population, one question is looming large: how will they afford the rising number of residents relying on Medicaid for long-term care? It’s a challenge that has policymakers searching for answers. One expert says it’s time to rethink how the program works. Brian Blase, president of the Paragon Health Institute, has spent much […]
Illinois Lawmaker’s Political Journey Began With One Frustrating Sandwich Board
What starts as a small-town annoyance doesn’t usually end in statehouse leadership, but for Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, that’s exactly how it happened. Raised in the rural Mississippi River town of Savanna, Illinois, McCombie grew up with a simple motto from her mother: don’t complain; do something about it. That mindset followed her into adulthood. After leaving the corporate world when she was passed […]
Donor Privacy Debate Heats Up as States Revisit Longstanding Protections
At a time when political tensions are already running high, a renewed fight is emerging over something many Americans rarely think about: donor privacy. According to Lawson Bader, president and CEO of DonorsTrust, the issue is quickly becoming one of the most important battles for free expression and civil society. He emphasizes that protecting donor […]
Families Turn to Micro-Schools and Homeschool Collaboratives as Education Options Expand
A growing number of families across the country are rethinking how and where their children learn. As education options continue to diversify, parents are increasingly looking beyond the traditional classroom to microschools, learning centers, and flexible homeschool collaboratives that promise customization, community, and a more personal approach to learning. These new models, once considered niche alternatives, have […]
Louisiana’s Reform Wave: How One Leader’s Unusual Path Helped Spark a Policy Turnaround
Louisiana is in the midst of a political and economic turnaround, and one of the people helping drive that momentum is Scott Simon, though his path to public leadership was anything but traditional. Simon grew up in south Louisiana hunting, fishing, and eventually shrimping on a trawl boat out of Empire, a small community about an hour south of New Orleans. […]
Montana Charts Bold Path for Growth With Energy Expansion and Workforce Innovation
Montana leaders and industry experts gathered in Big Sky Country with a clear goal in mind: charting a bold economic future powered by affordable energy, expanded opportunity, and a growing workforce. Governor Greg Gianforte welcomed attendees by highlighting Montana’s long history as an energy powerhouse. For decades, he noted, the state has kept the lights on across the […]
A New Model of Charity: Restoring Dignity Through Opportunity
Across the country, a growing number of charities are rethinking the traditional handout model and embracing a new approach centered on empowerment, dignity, and personal responsibility. One of the leaders behind this shift is James Whitford, co-founder of Watered Garden Ministry in Missouri and president of the True Charity Initiative. Whitford and his wife launched Watered Garden Ministry years ago with a […]
As AI Booms, Energy Demands Surge and Communities Race to Keep Up
Communities across the country are being thrust into one of the biggest technology shifts in decades as artificial intelligence rapidly expands and drags America’s strained energy grid along with it. Data centers, once seen as quiet background infrastructure, are suddenly becoming the central players in a new economic and energy reality. These massive facilities store everything from […]
Louisiana’s Reform Wave: How One Leader’s Unusual Path Helped Spark a Policy Turnaround
Louisiana is in the midst of a political and economic turnaround, and one of the people helping drive that momentum is Scott Simon, though his path to public leadership was anything but traditional. Simon grew up in south Louisiana hunting, fishing, and eventually shrimping on a trawl boat out of Empire, a small community about an hour south of New Orleans. […]
