“The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday tossed out two cases involving new redistricting ballot measures that would have favored Democrats. One ruling said the redistricting measure violated the state constitution’s ‘single subject’ requirement that calls for measures proposed by petition to focus on one issue for inclusion on the ballot. The Democratic aligned group, Coloradans for a Level Playing Field, were seeking ballot initiatives that approved mid-decade redistricting and new congressional district maps for the 2028 and 2030 election cycles.” (06/29/26)
“Martin Marietta Materials said on Monday it would merge with limestone supplier Lhoist North America in a cash-and-stock deal worth $13.5 billion, as the building materials firm looks to tap growing demand for lime products. Shares of the Raleigh, North Carolina-based company were down 5% in morning trade. … Lhoist North America makes hi-calcium lime, dolomitic lime and industrial mineral products used in domestic steel manufacturing, infrastructure and heavy non-residential construction across North America.” (06/29/26)
“Poland and Sweden on Monday signed a €4.2 billion ($4.8 billion) arms deal at a ceremony in the Polish seaport of Gdynia on the Baltic Sea. In the deal, Poland’s State Treasury Armaments Agency ordered the purchase of three new submarines from Swedish aerospace and defense contractor Saab. A Monday press release from Saab outlined the sale, saying the company would begin delivering the vessels in 2030, with the final sub delivered in 2038. … Currently, Poland only has one submarine, an aging Russian vessel. To bridge the gap between now and 2030, Warsaw’s navy will be given use of the Swedish submarine HMS Södermanland.” (06/29/26)
“The Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi law Monday that allows mailed ballots to be counted if they were postmarked by Election Day and received within five business days. The justices’ ruling could protect voting in states with similar laws this November and is sure to feed President Trump’s frequent criticism of voting by mail. The Trump administration backed the law’s challengers, arguing that allowing states to count ballots received after Election Day undermines the integrity of federal elections. The court ruled 5-4 to uphold Mississippi’s law, with Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh dissenting.” (06/29/26)
“The District of Columbia has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a resident who [correctly] accused police officers of illegally [abducting] him for following an Ohio National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s theme song from ‘Star Wars’ on his cellphone, according to a document released Monday. The plaintiff, Sam O’Hara, sued the district, four Metropolitan Police Department officers and a guard member from Ohio over what he says was his act of protest against President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in Washington, D.C. … O’Hara’s settlement with the district doesn’t resolve his related claims against an Ohio National Guard member, Sgt. Devon Beck, who has asked a judge to dismiss O’Hara’s claims against him.” (06/29/26)
“Spain’s unauthorized migrant population is rushing to apply for legal status under the country’s expansive regularization program before Tuesday’s deadline. Although the Spanish government originally expected around 500,000 people to apply for the program — which provides renewable residence permits to all applicants who have been living in Spain for at least five months and have a clean criminal record — over 900,000 had applied by mid-June, according to Spanish authorities.” (06/29/26)
“The Supreme Court on June 29 declined to revisit a landmark decision about press freedom that limited when a public figure can sue for libel or defamation. Alan Dershowitz, a professor emeritus at Harvard Law School who alleges he was defamed by CNN when he was defending President Donald Trump from impeachment, unsuccessfully asked the court to consider overturning or modifying that 1964 decision. In New York Times v. Sullivan, the court ruled that the newspaper couldn’t be sued for damages unless the journalists knew they were printing false information about a public official or were reckless about not checking it.” (06/29/26)
“Australia and Vanuatu have signed a economic and security deal that prevents foreign military bases from being built on the Pacific island. The Nakamal Agreement was signed by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Vanuatu counterpart, Jotham Napat, in Canberra on Monday. … Australia has committed to increased economic support for Vanuatu, which will bar the establishment of foreign military bases or infrastructure on the island and consult Australia on any third-party investment in critical infrastructure.” (06/29/26)
“The US Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire a governor of the US central bank, in a ruling seen as affirming the Federal Reserve’s independence. In a 5-4 decision, justices from the country’s top court said the administration had not provided Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook sufficient ‘due process’ for her to contest her removal. The decision sends the matter back to lower courts, where the administration will have to prove its allegations that Cook has committed mortgage fraud if it wishes to proceed with the firing and where Cook would have a chance to challenge the accusation. Cook has denied the allegations, which Fed defenders say are a pretext to allow Trump to assert more control over the bank.” (06/29/26)
“President Donald Trump disclosed buying between $1 million and $5 million in Axon Enterprise stock on Feb. 10. Two weeks later, ICE posted a notice seeking a five-year, $220 million Taser contract for about 17,800 devices, along with unlimited cartridges and training — enough to more than quadruple its current inventory. The ICE notice does not name Axon, but procurement reviewers and policing experts told CNBC the specifications appear to match only Axon products. The contract has so far not been awarded. There is no evidence Trump was involved in or had knowledge of the procurement process or that Axon knew about his stock purchase. But ethics experts said the timing alone raises red flags, even as the White House has said Trump’s assets are in a trust managed by his children, that a third party made the trades and that ‘there are no conflicts of interest.'” (06/29/26)
