Los Angeles mayor investigation: California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is reviewing three complaints about donations solicited by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass after The Center Square’s reporting.
Georgia unemployment claims: More than $1 billion in pandemic claims remained unchecked as of June 30, 2025, and the state has not said whether it has since verified them.
Alaska Senate race: Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into an alleged effort to put a second Sullivan on the ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan.
California daycare grant: A nonprofit awarded $18.2 million removed its claim of more than 40 daycare locations after The Center Square found just one.
Education savings penalty: A report says families in 16 states could face state taxes or penalties for education savings withdrawals that qualify for federal tax benefits.
California ethics commission reviews three complaints against Bass after Center Square investigation
What we found: Documents obtained by The Center Square show Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass solicited corporate donations without disclosing donors’ pending city business in multiple instances. Some involved multimillion-dollar contract decisions made within days or weeks of the payments. California’s Fair Political Practices Commission is reviewing three complaints and has asked Bass’s attorneys for information and documentation.
The stakes: California allows elected officials to solicit donations for third parties, but requires those payments to be disclosed properly and on time. Those filings let residents see which companies are giving while asking City Hall for contracts, leases, and rule changes.
The backstory: The complaints concern $225,000 from health care provider AltaMed and its foundation, $1 million from Airbnb, and $2 million from Lineage Logistics Services. Two AltaMed-related donations went to the Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, where Bass serves as an advisor to the board. Bass’s proposed budget, which favored easing short-term rental restrictions, was held in committee about three months before Airbnb’s $1 million payment.
Where it stands: The commission said in one case that it needs more time to decide whether additional investigation is appropriate, and neither Bass nor her attorneys have responded to The Center Square.
3 States
Georgia: More than $1 billion in pandemic unemployment claims had not been reviewed for eligibility as of June 30, 2025, according to the state’s Single Audit Report. The Department of Labor has not told The Center Square whether those claims have since been verified. Sheila Weinberg of Truth in Accounting said the federal government could claw back the money if it finds problems. Three Georgia lawmakers have pleaded guilty to making false statements to collect pandemic unemployment benefits.
Alaska: Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the Department of Public Safety to investigate whether an alleged effort to place a second candidate named Sullivan on the U.S. Senate ballot broke state law. The order follows a New York Times investigation alleging Democratic operatives influenced Daniel J. Sullivan, a schoolteacher from Petersburg, to run against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. Mary Peltola’s campaign denied involvement. President Donald Trump said he ordered the Justice Department to sue to block certification of the race if the second Sullivan stays on the ballot.
California: The William Law Foundation advertised more than 40 daycare locations across 10 California counties. The Center Square found one center in Bakersfield, with six children enrolled; the state confirmed it was the nonprofit’s only licensed facility. California awarded the group $18.2 million more than three years before that center opened, and Executive Director William Edwards paid himself at least $540,000 in 2024, when government grants were the organization’s only revenue. The Department of Social Services has released about $2.2 million and has not explained why the group qualified for an award of that size.
2 Issues
Midterm elections: Voters in 36 states will choose a governor on Nov. 3, with 31 lieutenant governor seats, 30 attorney general seats, and 26 secretary of state seats also on the ballot. Another 296 state executive offices across 43 states are in play, including school superintendents and insurance and agriculture commissioners, according to Ballotpedia. In 2024, the comparable figures were 11 governorships and 167 state executive seats in 30 states. Fifteen sitting governors are term-limited, and Arizona will elect a lieutenant governor for the first time. Voters will also weigh property-tax proposals ranging from larger homestead exemptions to limits on tax increases.
Education: Families in 16 states could face state taxes or penalties on 529 education savings withdrawals that qualify for federal tax benefits, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council. The 2025 federal tax law doubled the annual limit for qualified kindergarten through 12th grade expenses to $20,000, but the report identifies 11 states, including California, New York and Illinois, that do not recognize any K–12 expenses as qualified under their state rules. California may also impose a 2.5% tax penalty.
1 Number
$5.9 million
The Center Square found that Mitre Corp., a federally funded research nonprofit that received $2.2 billion in federal funding last year, paid departing President and Chief Executive Officer Jason Providakes $5.9 million in total compensation in 2024, including a $2.4 million bonus.
Connecticut and Illinois defend their gun bans before the Supreme Court
The justices will hear arguments Dec. 2 on whether states can ban semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15. Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois, say their bans fit a historical tradition of regulating unusually dangerous weapons. The challengers say the rifles are commonly used for lawful purposes, including self-defense.
Kyle Ruckert, former chief of staff to Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry
Ruckert registered as a lobbyist for SpaceX, which is preparing to build a $100 billion rocket launch complex in coastal Louisiana backed by an incentive package estimated at $27.5 billion. He left the administration in February to chair Protect Louisiana Values, a nonprofit closely aligned with the governor. His lobbying pay is listed at between $100,000 and $249,000.
The measures include expanding homestead exemptions, capping how fast taxable values can rise, and barring a legislature from imposing a state property tax. Louisiana alone has four property tax propositions on its ballot.
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