Housing affordability squeeze: New data keeps showing home prices racing ahead of paychecks—U.S. values are up more than 81% since 2016 while earnings rose about 47%, and several states posted huge decade jumps (including Iowa, Wisconsin, and New Mexico). Voter privacy fight: A federal court tossed the Trump administration’s bid to force Wisconsin to hand over unredacted voter registration data, including sensitive identifiers—another win for election privacy. OSHA and worker safety: OSHA’s top official warned lawmakers that proposed cuts could weaken enforcement and the research workers rely on. Maine education policy: Maine DOE updates focus on implementing the “bell-to-bell” personal device ban by Aug. 1, 2026, plus new educator support programs. Public health recall: Whole Foods Market Kitchen Minestrone Soup is being recalled in Maine and many other states due to possible undeclared shrimp. Endangered whales: North Atlantic right whales saw 23 calving births this season—more than double last year—though the population remains critically low.