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Sean Scully

@seanibus.bsky.social

2.1K followers 240 following 2.8K posts

Western National Editor for States Newsroom. Former editor of the Napa Valley Register. Journalist. History fan. Lover of beer. Possibly not in that order.

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Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 25m

A federal judge has ordered Alaska’s prison system to reconsider a transgender woman’s request to undergo surgery after declaring a state policy on the issue is so restrictive that it violates the U.S. Constitution, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Federal judge says Alaska’s treatment of transgender inmate violates U.S. Constitution | Alaska Beacon

The ruling follows a precedent that gender-affirming surgery can be medically necessary for transgender people in Alaska prisons.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 55m

The new leader of the Oregon House Republicans said she’s focused on elevating the voice of Oregon’s political minority and small business owners like herself, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Oregon House Republicans elect McMinnville’s Rep. Lucetta Elmer to lead them • Oregon Capital Chronicle

Oregon House Republicans elected Rep. Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville to serve as their leader after former leader Christine Drazan stepped down.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1h

Nevada's most populous county is looking to extend inflation-adjusted gas taxes through the next decade in an effort to stave off budget shortfalls needed to fund Southern Nevada roadways, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Clark County looks to extend gas tax indexing to keep paying for roadwork • Nevada Current

Clark County is looking to extend inflation-adjusted gas taxes through the next decade in an effort to stave off budget shortfalls needed to fund Southern Nevada roadways. The fuel revenue index…

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1h

A group aiming to protect ballot initiatives in Montana has filed a Constitutional amendment to ensure Montanans can petition to enact laws in the state without interference, report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Constitutional amendment would protect ballot initiatives • Daily Montanan

A group aiming to protect ballot initiatives has filed a Constitutional amendment to ensure Montanans can petition without interference.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 2h

A former Idaho legislator turned independent U.S. Senate candidate has filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel about messages regarding the government shutdown that appear on U.S. Forest Service websites, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

U.S. Senate candidate in Idaho files complaint about government shutdown message on forest websites • Idaho Capital Sun

Former Idaho legislator turned independent U.S. Senate candidate Todd Achilles has filed a complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel about messages regarding the U.S. government shutdown that…

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 2h

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure campaign from President Donald Trump, reports @statesnewsroom.com via @azmirror.com

Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges demanded by Trump | Arizona Mirror

James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure campaign from President Donald Trump

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 3h

Plaintiffs in a redistricting lawsuit say Utah lawmakers continue to thwart the will of the voters and violate the state constitution despite court orders against them, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Anti-gerrymandering plaintiffs allege lawmakers have violated the Utah Constitution again • Utah News Dispatch

Anti-gerrymandering plaintiffs in a redistricting lawsuit allege Utah lawmakers have violated the Utah Constitution yet again.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 3h

Work to close educational achievement gaps for several minority groups in Washington state is being hindered by a lack of data, according to people involved in the yearslong effort, report @washingtonstatestandard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Data difficulties complicate WA’s effort to close educational achievement gaps • Washington State Standard

Work to close educational achievement gaps for several minority groups in Washington state is being hindered by a lack of data.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 4h

The FBI searched the cellphone records of Republican Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan and seven other U.S. senators and a member of the U.S. House as part of its investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

FBI searched Alaska Sen. Sullivan’s phone logs during Jan. 6 insurrection investigation | Alaska Beacon

The call logs cover several days before and after rioters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to support then-incumbent President Donald Trump

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 4h

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to Portland's ICE facility as court battles rage over Trump's plan to deploy federal troops in the city, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

DHS Secretary Noem visits Portland ICE facility as lawsuit over National Guard deployment continues • Oregon Capital Chronicle

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem traveled to Portland's Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Tuesday.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 5h

In Nevada, the majority of wildfires happen in the summer – but not all. And this year, dry conditions and strong winds have the potential to fuel destructive late-year fires, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

BLM warns about potential for fall fires in Nevada • Nevada Current

In Nevada, the majority of wildfires happen in the summer – but not all. And this year, dry conditions and strong winds have the potential to fuel destructive late-year fires.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 5h

Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public input on how state agencies collect and analyze greenhouse gas emissions during environmental reviews, report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Department of Environmental Quality seeks public input on greenhouse gas emissions guidelines • Daily Montanan

DEQ will host three listening sessions this month to enhance greenhouse gas emission framework for state agencies to use during MEPA evaluations

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 6h

Idaho legislators serving on the state’s budget committee took their first look Tuesday at a new online budget tool they say will help them drill deeper into budgets for all state agencies and departments, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Idaho Legislature unveils new online transparency tool to dig into state’s ‘base’ budgets • Idaho Capital Sun

The new budget base builder tool is free to the public by clicking on the base budget dashboards header on the Idaho Legislature's website.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 6h

President Trump says a law he signed in his first term may not obligate him to offer back pay to workers furloughed in the government shut down after all, reports @statesnewsroom.com via @azmirror.com

Trump considers stiffing federal workers furloughed in shutdown, despite 2019 law requiring back pay | Arizona Mirror

Trump administration may deny back pay to 750,000 furloughed federal workers despite law guaranteeing payment

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 23h

After an initial veto of a bill that would have allowed Gov. Spencer Cox to appoint the chief justice of the Utah Supreme Court, the Legislature voted to approve a compromise during a special session Monday, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

After veto, Cox is one step closer to being able to appoint chief justice • Utah News Dispatch

The Utah Legislature revived a bill that would give Gov. Spencer Cox the power to appoint the Utah Supreme Court chief justice.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 23h

In the face of federal cuts to nutrition programs, Washington state is trying to improve it's higher-than-average error rate as a way to conserve remaining funds, report @washingtonstatestandard and @statesnewsroom

With federal penalties looming, WA looks to curb food stamp payment errors • Washington State Standard

States that routinely overpay or underpay food stamp recipients could now lose hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration has tapped a former Oregon Senate Republican leader as an assistant labor secretary, bringing him into an agency headed by another Oregon Republican, report @oregoncapitalchronicle.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Trump picks former Oregon state senator for labor department role • Oregon Capital Chronicle

Speculation had been growing over whether Sen. Daniel Bonham, R-The Dalles, could be leaving to work for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

Snow crab stocks in Alaska’s Bering Sea, which crashed a few years ago, have recovered enough to allow a modest harvest starting in mid-October, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Gradual improvements in Bering Sea crab stocks allow for Alaska harvest increases | Alaska Beacon

Snow crab and red king crab stocks are recovering, while an abundance of snow-tanner crab hybrids adds a new twist to harvest rules.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

Gov. Joe Lombardo on Monday announced he plans to call the Nevada State Legislature into a special session “at some point over the next few months,” but he did not identify what topics would be considered during the special session, report @nevadacurrent.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Lombardo announces there will be a special legislative session… at some point • Nevada Current

Gov. Joe Lombardo on Monday announced he plans to call the Nevada State Legislature into a special session “at some point over the next few months.” His two-sentence statement did not include a…

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

Montana’s flagship institutions of higher education are both celebrating continued growth reflected in fall enrollment numbers, report @dailymontanan.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Montana’s largest universities see year-over-year enrollment growth • Daily Montanan

MSU’s all-time record numbers cement status as region’s largest university, UM continues upward trajectory

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

Premiums for plans on the individual market, where Idahoans buy insurance for themselves, are set to rise by 10%. And premiums for plans that employers commonly purchase, through the small group market, are set to rise by 11%, report @idahocapitalsun.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Idaho health insurance premiums set to rise by 10-11% next year • Idaho Capital Sun

The Idaho Department of Insurance published final premium rates for 2026 health insurance plans, which are set to increase by 10-11%.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

The Trump administration has been sending immigrants to African nations like Ghana as part of their deportation operations, often with those aboard not even being from the continent — and Arizona is at the heart of that operation, report @azmirror.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Trump's African deportation operation runs through a Phoenix airport

Arizona's Mesa Gateway Airport serves as hub for Trump's ICE Air deportation flights to Africa as ICE expands operations

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

A Utah judge is considering rival congressional maps she ordered after striking down the state's last redistricting process, report @utahnewsdispatch.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Plaintiffs submit 2 congressional maps to judge as Utah lawmakers vote on their own • Utah News Dispatch

Plaintiffs in a redistricting lawsuit have submitted two maps to a judge to pick from in the states' court-ordered redistricting process.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

A hammer-wielding 29-year-old Washington resident is facing felony charges after allegedly breaking into the Capitol building in Olympia, setting fires and toppling two iconic busts outside the historic state reception room, report @washingtonstatestadard.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Hammer-wielding vandal damages WA Capitol in late-night break-in, authorities say • Washington State Standard

A former minor league baseball player is accused of lighting fires, tipping over statues and breaking glass inside the building.

Sean Scully @seanibus.bsky.social · 1d

President Donald Trump has signed an order that overturns a decision by the Biden administration to cancel a 211-mile mining road through Alaska’s Brooks Range by denying a right-of-way permit, report @alaskabeacon.com and @statesnewsroom.com

Trump approves appeal for Ambler Road project, reversing Biden administration's rejection | Alaska Beacon

The proposed road, being developed by Alaska’s state-owned investment bank, would open access to a mining region in northwest Alaska.