School districts feel the pinch at the fuel pump, await news on Clean School Bus Program funding, and deal with extreme weather events threatening operations. Plus, the TSD Conference presents advice on leveraging AI as a tool.
Prosper Independent School District in Texas is hosting the hands-on evacuation training as well as The Roadeo Competition at the TSD Conference in a few weeks. Director of Transportation Teri Mapengo talks operational teamwork to better serve student with special needs, as well as meeting school bus fueling and staffing challenges.
As pheasant hunting season begins this weekend, hunters may struggle to bag a bird as Wisconsin wildlife regulators stock fewer pheasants this year due budget constraints.
Analysis on safety conversations revived by a fatal Florida crash that killed a student and motorist, School Bus Safety Month, and discussion at the recent National Association for Pupil Transportation (NAPT) Conference & Trade Show.
Consultant Sue Shutrump is a retired occupational and physical therapy supervisor for Trumbull County ESC in Ohio, co-chair of NAPT’s Special Needs Advisory Committee, and member of the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs (TSD) Conference Tenured Faculty. She discusses her eventful career including receipt of the NAPT Distinguished Service Award, plus nuances of student safety and the importance of federal guidelines.
This striking hatchback may preview the next-generation DS 3.
The concept has a two-tone blue paint scheme and dramatic LEDs.
DS has imagined the concept as using an advanced electric powertrain.
Nobody likes catching a fever, but that’s exactly the feeling DS Automobiles hopes to achieve with its new concept, albeit a positive fever. Dubbed the DS F3VER and presented at the Paris Motor Show, it provides a look into the company’s future and its “uncompromising vision of mobility.”
The DS F3VER is a bold hatchback that looks very different to any of DS’s current production models. The front-end is based around what the brand describes as a totem; a central element with a darker blue finish than the rest of the front that houses an illuminated DS badge. Wild Y-shaped headlights and LED daytime running lights also scream for attention, as does the silver element at the base of the bumper.
A silver ring of paint wraps around the concept’s roof, and there are even dramatic blue side windows. The entire rear end wears a darker shade of blue than the front and sides, and while combining two blues might seem odd, it actually works. Helping to bring the design together are the geometric wheels. The car also rocks a ‘totem’ section at the rear, similar to the front.
At 164.8 inches (4.19 meters) long, the DS F3VER is roughly the same length as a new Renault Clio, but it’s much wider at 72.4 inches (1.84 meters). It has a very muscular stance, which isn’t common on modern hatchbacks.
While the F3VER is a concept, DS says it’s quite practical. It rocks a 106.2-inch (2.7-meter) wheelbase and has a 14.1 cubic-foot (400-liter) trunk, so it could work well on a road trip. Of course, practicalities are rather irrelevant on a concept, but it’s nice to know the carmaker is committed to making its future models look good without adversely impacting their usability.
A Look At The Next-Gen DS 3?
According to DS, the F3VER delivers “powerful desirability, extensive ultra-customization and freedom of use suited to every moment in life.” While DS has only described the F3VER as a preview of its future, it’s possible the next-generation DS 3 will take inspiration from it, offering high levels of personalization while blending the practicality and style expected of one of the brand’s models.
Sadly, DS hasn’t shown the concept’s cabin, so we don’t know if it’s also gearing up to modernize the cabins of its future models. Nonetheless, if it can produce a car that looks as striking as this from the outside, it could win over plenty of customers, regardless of what the cabin may look like.
Adding metrics to your Illinois Sustainability Award application allows evaluators to truly see the quantitative or qualitative impacts that your organization, program or technology have achieved. Plus, metrics are important for your own use—to tell your story to stakeholders, to evaluate next steps in your sustainability efforts, and to determine the effectiveness of what you’ve done thus […]
A pair of environmental recognition programs have joined together to honor Illinois organizations that have accomplished significant achievements in protecting the environment and helping to sustain the future. Winners of the Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Awards and the Illinois Campus Sustainability Compact Awards Program were presented during a luncheon in Oak Brook, IL. Twenty-one Illinois companies and […]
Devin Remiker, chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, speaks at the state party convention in June. On Friday, Oct. 9, the state party sued President Donald Trump and three Trump administration agencies over political ads that the federal government posted in September using taxpayer dollars. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)
The Wisconsin Democratic Party sued President Donald Trump and a group of federal agencies Friday for using federal funds onpartisan campaign ads ahead of the November midterm elections.
“Weeks before a midterm election that will largely serve as a referendum on the President’s policies, the Trump Administration has turned the federal treasury into a campaign war chest,” the lawsuit charges.
“Over the past three weeks, the Administration has transferred millions of taxpayer funds to run thousands of illegal campaign ads that promote the Administration and attack the President’s opponents — all aimed at improving the chances of Republican Party candidates in the upcoming election.”
The lawsuit was filed in federal court in the District of Columbia.
“To pay for this campaign, the Administration took money Congress appropriated for two very different purposes: securing the Nation’s borders, and honoring Department of Homeland Security employees, including those who died in the line of duty,” the lawsuit states.
Democracy Defenders Action and the law firm Hecker Fink filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin as well as Yee Leng Xiong, the Democratic candidate for state treasurer.
“The Trump administration has effectively looted the federal treasury, taking funds meant to protect our borders and honor fallen officers to finance their own election propaganda,” said Norm Eisen, co-founder and board member of Democracy Defenders Action. “This is an insult to every taxpayer in our country and an assault on our democracy, an attempt to tip the scales that is as desperate as it is offensive and illegal.”
“When Wisconsinites turn on the TV, we want to watch the Brewers and Packers keep winning, not be insulted with our own tax dollars being wasted on ads to prop up a failing President,” said Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker.
The lawsuit says the federally funded ads that the Trump administration began running Sept. 23, featuring Trump, aired on broadcast, cable and streaming platforms, including Sunday political talk shows and college and professional football broadcasts.
“The timing, content, and context of these ads demonstrate that they have no legal non-electoral basis and were instead directed toward supporting the Republican Party and Republican candidates for partisan political offices in the upcoming election,” the lawsuit charges.
The ads ran between Sept. 23 and Sept. 29, airing at least 2,766 times, with one ad airing more than 1,300 times, the lawsuit states. It cites a New York Times articlepublished Oct. 2 that reported the ads were produced under a $20 million contract using Homeland Security funds, as well as other reports by ABC, NBC and the Washington Post about the movement of funds to a Customs and Border Patrol account for commemorative events and the money’s subsequent use for the ads.
“The ads do none of the things for which this money was appropriated. None of the ads have any relation to ‘Line-of-Duty death memorials,’ ‘Department or agency anniversaries,’ or ‘commendation ceremonies.’ Nor do any of the ads relate to enhancing border security,” the lawsuit states.
While Trump announced Oct. 5 that his super PAC MAGA Inc. would pay for the ads, the White House said the super PAC would not reimburse more than $10 million that had been spent on the ads. In addition, the suit charges, on Oct. 6 the administration aired another taxpayer-funded ad praising the administration for its removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The ad campaign “strikes at the heart of our constitutional order,” the lawsuit declares. “The Constitution forbids the government from tipping the electoral scales. By deliberately launching these illegal ads in contemplation of, and with a view towards influencing, the 2026 federal and state mid-term elections, Defendants have interfered with the electoral process.”
In addition to Trump, the lawsuit names the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection office, the Office of Management & Budget, and the heads of those agencies: Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott and OMB Director Russell Vought.
The ad campaign violates several federal laws, the suit charges. Those include a blanket ban on using federal appropriations “for publicity or propaganda purposes” in the U.S. as well as bans on “purely partisan activities” and “self-aggrandizement” by federal agencies.
The Trump ads “are ‘designed to aid’ Republican candidates and the Republican Party, and the ‘aggrandizement’ of President Trump,” the lawsuit charges.
In addition, the ads violate the federal Hatch Act, which prohibits political advocacy by federal officials, the suit charges. They also violate a federal law that blocks agencies from spending federal funds Congress hasn’t appropriated and blocks using appropriate funds “to pay a publicity expert unless the funds are specifically appropriated for that purpose,” the suit states.
Besides violating the U.S. Constitution by putting “the government’s thumb on the electoral scale,” the suit says the administration spent taxpayer funds on partisan ads without legal authority and in violation of federal laws, violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded the administration’s authority under federal laws.
“It is particularly egregious that Defendants have funded their illegal propaganda campaign by converting funds Congress appropriated to keep the citizens of this country safe and to commemorate Department of Homeland Security (‘DHS’) employees, including those who have died in the line of duty,” the lawsuit charges.
Misappropriating and misusing taxpayer funds for “partisan, self-aggrandizing, political propaganda inflicts real harm” on political candidates, the lawsuit charges, and the campaign further harms the plaintiffs because “it requires them to expend more financial and other resources to counter Defendants’ taxpayer-funded ads.”
Leon County Schools shared how stronger Medicaid reimbursement, better ridership documentation and teamwork across departments can help districts recover the cost of transporting students with disabilities.
Karen Thomas, Medicaid coordinator at Leon County Schools in Florida, shared how her district secured a higher reimbursement rate through collaboration among transportation, finance and Medicaid staff during a Thursday webinar sponsored by Zonar.
Leon County receives about $18 per eligible ride, compared to approximately $2.50 in Florida’s larger Volusia County Schools, Thomas said.
“If you know one Medicaid program, you know one Medicaid program,” she explained, emphasizing that reimbursement rules and rates vary widely.
Thomas said Leon County pursued a district-specific rate rather than relying on the reimbursement amount established when Florida’s program began in the late 1990s. The process took three school years of coordinating information among departments before the superintendent brought everyone together.
“It was not a super simple process, but it paid off tremendously,” she said.
Finding the Funding
Tim Ammon, consultant and owner of Ammon Consulting Group, said transportation directors need to understand their state’s funding formula before identifying additional reimbursement opportunities.
“We’ve got a whole variety of expectations that are different state to state,” he explained.
A September survey conducted by Zonar and School Transportation News found that 72 percent of transportation professionals did not know how much their districts recovered annually through disability transportation funding programs. Zonar Chief Revenue Officer Rob Consoli shared during the webinar that only 47 percent of the survey respondents reported using Medicaid reimbursements, despite 58 percent knowing they are available.
“There are six sources that districts can pull from today. That includes the IDEA funds, state transportation funding, vocational rehabilitation, Medicaid reimbursement, and the McKinney-Vento [Homeless Assistance] Act funds which are not well known but are available – and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Program,” Consoli explained. “Districts rarely tap the full stack, and funding most often goes unclaimed on Medicaid.”
Ammon said the complexity can overwhelm transportation departments already managing staff shortages and daily operations.
“It’s really hard for transportation folks to try to navigate this on their own,” he said.
His recommendation was straightforward: Find a district or state Medicaid specialist who understands the requirements.
“And honestly, my expert opinion would be, find somebody like Karen,” Ammon said.
The Paperwork Problem
Thomas illustrated the documentation burden with her own summer routine, since Leon County still records specialized transportation ridership on paper logs.
“I actually physically get in my car and drive over to the bus barn, and I pick up boxes, legal boxes,” she quipped. “We see a lot of coffee stains and shoe print marks and things like that.”
She then matches those records with students’ individualized education programs, Medicaid eligibility and documented medical aids to determine which rides qualify for reimbursement.
The Zonar-STN survey found that 48 percent of respondents similarly relied on paper ridership logs, while 13 percent did not document daily ridership at all.
Thomas stressed that accurate documentation matters even when states change their reimbursement methods.
“At the end of the day, you’re still going to need that ridership data to back up that claim,” she said.
Ammon noted that electronic ridership tracking can support multiple funding opportunities, particularly in states where transportation aid depends on student ridership.
Thomas said Leon County dedicates its Medicaid reimbursement revenue to student health services, including school nurses. Additional funding could allow the district to hire a licensed practical nurse or vocational nurse instead of a clinic aide. It could also free-up other district funds for transportation needs, such as child safety restraint systems.
The panel also emphasized that reimbursement requires more than recording a school bus ride. Depending on applicable rules, claims must connect Medicaid eligibility, IEP requirements, medical services or equipment, and appropriate vehicle adaptations.
Consoli presented Zonar’s Z Pass digital ridership system as a way for transportation, special education and finance departments to share records.
Ammon encouraged districts to begin by determining whether they qualify for reimbursement and identifying the information needed to support a claim.
“I think the first thing that we would want to try to fix is awareness,” he said.
The TSD Conference and Trade Show brings together transportation professionals from around the country to learn and discuss the latest in transportation for students with special needs. Register online now.
Written with the assistance of AI and a live session transcript.
Security stands outside ICE headquarters during a Congressional Hispanic Caucus rally on Feb. 3, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)
The Department of Homeland Security obtained tens of millions of unspecified records as part of a sweeping nationwide effort to find voter fraud, according to internal DHS reports, and weighed using undercover agents to investigate voter registration efforts by nonprofit groups.
The reports from May and June by Homeland Security Investigations, a sub-agency of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, provide updates on its “election integrity” investigations. They are included in a trove of documents obtained by the pro-democracy group Democracy Forward through a records request and released Wednesday.
The HSI reports detail an expansive review of nonprofit organizations involved in voter registration. A June 1 report says 82 “NGOs” — nongovernmental organizations — had been reviewed in Pennsylvania alone. Groups in Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey and Ohio also came under scrutiny.
The June 1 report describes the potential for undercover operations, and refers to efforts across Homeland Security to identify organizations that “may be predatory in nature, particularly those suspected of illegal alien registration and voter encouragement.” Organizations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania remained areas of focus, the report says.
“The objective is to determine potential opportunities to leverage UC (undercover) resources, including the possible deployment of undercover agents (UCAs), to support investigative efforts in the field,” the report says.
Overall, the records offer a window into the Trump administration’s push to root out voter fraud, and especially noncitizen voting, ahead of the midterm elections. While a few months old, they suggest that finding noncitizen voters was an active focus within Homeland Security Investigations, along with identifying any organizations suspected of registering noncitizens to vote.
Noncitizen voting
Noncitizen voting is a rare occurrence, studies have consistently found.
The Justice Department has brought a few dozen cases this year, and U.S Attorney General Todd Blanche in late September announced indictments against 10 noncitizens over allegations of unlawfully voting. But the census reports 154 million people voted in the 2024 election.
With early voting beginning across many states, Trump’s bid to assert authority over voting has largely failed. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked his plans to use the U.S. Postal Service to restrict mail ballots and the SAVE America Act, which would require voters to show proof of citizenship, stalled in Congress.
But Democrats, voting rights groups and some election officials are concerned Trump may take more extreme action in the coming weeks. They have braced for possible federal interference, including the prospect of ICE or other federal agents deploying to the polls (Homeland Security denies any plans to target polling places).
“This trove of ICE documents provides chilling new insights into the breadth and depth of the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to pursue baseless claims of widespread election fraud and assert greater federal control over elections ahead of the 2026 midterms,” Hart Wood, senior oversight counsel at Democracy Forward, said in a statement.
Asked for comment, Homeland Security didn’t address specific questions from States Newsroom. In an unsigned statement, DHS said the agency is “laser focused” on identifying and removing noncitizens who vote.
“HSI investigates allegations of criminal activity, including unlawful voter registration or voting by noncitizens in federal elections,” the DHS statement says. “While we do not comment on active investigations, investigative methods, or internal deliberations, HSI is actively rooting out and investigating election fraud wherever it can be found.
“We have repeatedly demonstrated that aliens can and do vote in our elections,” the statement says. “Under President Trump, HSI is committed to restoring integrity to our election systems and ensuring that only American citizens are electing American leaders.”
At a news conference last week to announce indictments against alleged noncitizen voters in Minnesota, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the Trump administration would never allow the votes of noncitizens to cancel out the votes of American citizens. He said that only citizens should be electing the country’s leaders.
“Our message to aliens who vote in American elections is clear: We will find you, arrest you, and you will face the consequences, including criminal charges and deportation,” Mullin said.
Nonprofits reviewed, researched
The reports in the records obtained by Democracy Forward describe efforts by HSI to research and review an array of nonprofit groups. In some instances, HSI appeared satisfied after its examination.
The June 1 report notes that research was completed on approximately 41 non-governmental organizations in New Jersey, with “no derogatory information” found. Research on 20 nonprofit funds linked to a Washington, D.C.-based charitable foundation also turned up nothing, the report notes.
But the report also says the Pennsylvania chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations was “flagged for further investigation.” CAIR is one of the country’s leading Muslim civil rights groups.
Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu, CAIR Pennsylvania executive director, in a statement said the organization’s civic engagement programs have expanded over the years and include voter registration efforts that seek to ensure Muslim Americans are empowered to vote and fully engaged in the civic process.
“Our voter registration program follows all applicable voter registration rules and requirements,” Tekelioglu said.
Education Minnesota, an educators union, is named in the June 1 report as one of 22 organizations that HSI was beginning to research at the time. Monica Byron, Education Minnesota’s president, said the organization learned of the investigation on Tuesday because of Democracy Forward.
Byron said the group shares Democracy Forward’s concerns about potential government surveillance of lawful voter registration activities.
“We do not know the details of any investigation into our union, but we will not be deterred in encouraging all eligible members to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming election,” Byron said in a statement.
Tens of millions of records
The HSI reports show that Heather Honey, a DHS official who came to prominence denying President Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss, obtained 48.4 million records through “independent sources of information.” Additionally, HSI drew upon some 50.6 million records from the Department of Justice.
The exact nature of the records isn’t described, but the DOJ has sued dozens of states for voter records, including sensitive personal information such as driver’s license and Social Security numbers. The department hasn’t won any of the lawsuits, but at least 16 states have voluntarily provided the data.
The Supreme Court ruled in September that states can use a powerful Homeland Security program called SAVE to help identify possible noncitizen voters after voting rights groups sued to block its use, alleging that it often relies on inaccurate data and has a track record of wrongly flagging U.S. citizens. The decision’s impact on the midterms is expected to be minimal because most states are already too close to a federal election to conduct mass purges of voters.
But the HSI reports suggest that while the legal fight over SAVE was playing out in the courts, Homeland Security was nevertheless analyzing a vast collection of records for signs of voter fraud.
HSI’s June 1 report says 26,563 records derived from ICE had been prioritized for “downstream vetting,” with a focus on Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Priority states for HSI’s review of Justice Department records included those states, as well as Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia and Texas.
The report notes that records were sent to iLab — an apparent reference to HSI’s Innovation Lab — for “secondary enrichment and identification of high-value targets.”
Jacob Fischler contributed to this report.
October 8, 20269:52 amUpdated to include response from Department of Homeland Security.
Under its current guidelines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require in-person visits, waiting periods or ultrasounds for women seeking abortion pills. Nevertheless, 10 states without total abortion bans still require them. (Photo by Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)
As they await a federal decision on a potential nationwide ban on telehealth abortions, anti-abortion activists plan to push more states to require women to visit a doctor’s office, get an ultrasound or wait before they can get abortion pills.
Under its current guidelines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require in-person visits, ultrasounds or waiting periods for women seeking abortion pills. Nevertheless, 10 states without total abortion bans still require them.
One of those states is Florida. The state only allows abortion up to six weeks — which is before many women discover they are pregnant. Under state law, women must first get an ultrasound and then wait at least 24 hours before receiving pills or a procedure. By that time, they might be beyond the six weeks threshold.
“Floridians are already under a time clock,” said Lana’e Hernandez, a case manager for the Florida Access Network, an abortion fund that helps women pay for their abortions and travel to other states if they fall outside Florida’s narrow window.
“I see a lot of clients having to then travel out of state and take even more time off of work, adding another barrier to accessing care because of those laws combined.”
Medication abortion typically involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol. The FDA approved the two-drug regimen in 2000 and gradually loosened restrictions as safety reviews showed a low risk of serious and life-threatening conditions. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, the Biden administration suspended enforcement of the rule that patients had to take the medication in person, and the FDA officially removed that requirement in 2023.
But anti-abortion organizations and attorneys general have challenged these changes in ongoing federal lawsuits. And in 2025, activist groups successfully pressured the Trump administration’s FDA to review the safety data again.
On Wednesday, the FDA is expected to update the public on the progress of this review, though the agency is not expected to issue a final ruling on telehealth access to the pills. The Washington Sun recently reported that the Trump administration wants to delay any potentially controversial actions around abortion until after the midterm elections. The administration has also delayed multiple ongoing federal lawsuits until after the review.
Abortion rights advocates say reversing telehealth access to medication abortion would have a huge impact across the country. Medication abortions now account for about 65% of all abortions, and roughly 28% of all abortions are through telehealth, according to KFF, a health research group.
Critical elections
In statehouses, the midterm elections could determine whether more states will seek to restrict medication abortion.
Meanwhile, Democratic control of Congress could doom President Donald Trump’s nominee for FDA commissioner. During her confirmation hearing last month, nominee Heidi Overton would not say whether she would recommend changes to mifepristone regulation, but in the past she has expressed anti-abortion views and written that the medication is dangerous.
National anti-abortion leaders told Stateline they will not be satisfied if the FDA determines that mifepristone is safe and can be administered via telehealth.
“There are comorbidities that come with mifepristone, like ectopic pregnancies that need to be diagnosed prior to the actual provision of mifepristone, and right now under the FDA system, that’s not working,” said Bradley Kehr, vice president of legal affairs of Americans United for Life. “So states are stepping in to say that they have serious concerns, and they’re taking action for the safety of their citizens.”
Peer-reviewed studies overwhelmingly show a low risk of serious adverse events for medication abortions up to 10 weeks’ gestation, including via telehealth. But national anti-abortion groups have pointed to examples of coercion and non-peer-reviewed white papers to argue the risks are more significant than what the FDA has reported, and that ultrasounds should be required before the pills are administered.
Hernandez of the Florida Access Network said ultrasounds might be appropriate for women who have irregular periods or are at risk for an ectopic pregnancy, but that they should not be universally mandated by lawmakers. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, for patients with regular menstrual cycles and no risk factors for ectopic pregnancy, a clinical examination or ultrasound is not necessary before taking abortion pills.
“These are conversations that you should be having with your medical professional and not the government mandating you to do one thing or another,” Hernandez said. “You should be able to trust your physician to tell you whether you need an ultrasound or not to have an abortion.”
Abortion rights advocates say abortion is being singled out even as more medical care is being delivered via telehealth.
“When it comes to telehealth for abortion care specifically, a lot of those concerns, I think are coming from a place that’s really informed by abortion stigma,” said Kimya Forouzan, the principal state policy advisor of the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization that supports abortion rights. “Receiving medication abortion via telehealth is not different than any other form of telehealth care.”
Existing restrictions
In addition to Florida, Alaska, Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin require ultrasounds or other in-person requirements before medication abortions. In-person requirements can include an initial in-person exam, in-person counseling, a requirement that the pills be dispensed in person or a requirement that the first dose be taken in person.
Thirteen other states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia) ban all abortions.
In Alaska, Missouri and Wisconsin, plaintiffs have challenged the laws on state constitutional grounds. Wyoming last year enacted a law requiring ultrasounds and a 48-hour waiting period before medication abortions. But a state district judge overturned the law in June, ruling that it violated a constitutional amendment protecting healthcare decisions, and that the state “offered no cogent evidence illustrating that a waiting period is necessary for any purpose.”
At the federal level, plaintiffs have argued that state regulations on abortion pills should not supersede the federal guidelines.
“The FDA sets the bar, and states don’t get to impede access to an FDA-approved medication,” said Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access (EMMA) Project, which tracks litigation related to medication abortion.
In an ongoing federal lawsuit over North Carolina’s restrictions, the plaintiffs argue that the state law conflicts with the FDA’s regulatory authority. A federal judge in 2024 ruled that the state could not ban the mailing of abortion pills, since federal rules allow it. But the judge upheld the state’s ultrasound requirement and its waiting period.
The case is pending appeal, with oral arguments scheduled for later this month at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which last year upheld medication abortion restrictions in West Virginia, which bans all abortions and explicitly telehealth abortions. In that case, plaintiff generic mifepristone manufacturer GenBioPro argued the state’s ban violated the federal regulation of abortion pills, but the appeals court affirmed the lower court’s decision that FDA regulations did not preempt the state’s abortion ban.
Earlier this year, Iowa also enacted a law requiring abortion-inducing medication to be prescribed in person and dispensed in a medical setting.
Beaufield Berry, executive director of the Iowa Abortion Access Fund, said that since the law went into effect, her group has gotten more calls from people asking for financial help to travel out of state. She said there are two abortion clinics left in the state, both in central Iowa, making it especially difficult on people in rural areas.
“It’s really hard for some people to be able to make an appointment to go get an ultrasound, and then if they do that, then they’re running up against that six-week clock,” Berry said.
“For an in-person visit, that’s transportation, missing work, finding childcare. And in many cases, the act of having an abortion, you may not have support,” she said. “They may be underage, and so that creates even more barriers to getting an in-person meeting.”
Different strategies
Kehr of Americans United for Life said anti-abortion state lawmakers are still figuring out their individual strategies for restricting access to abortion medication. He cited the 10th Amendment, which gives states the authority through their police power to protect their citizens, as a legal justification for mandating ultrasounds or in-clinic visits before abortion pills are dispensed.
“Other states are taking different approaches, whether it’s the ultrasound provision to check for ectopic pregnancies and things like that, or the actual consideration of abuse that’s occurring,” Kehr said.
“We’ve had multiple stories of men forcing their pregnant girlfriends or wives to take mifepristone. So looking at it from an abusive perspective or a coercive perspective, states are really looking at the gamut of options under the 10th Amendment powers.”
Model legislation developed by the National Right to Life Committee, known as the Abortion Pill Provider Liability Education (APPLE) Act, and introduced this year in New Jersey and Ohio, would require abortion-pill prescribers to inform patients about the risks of the drugs, as well as her right to sue the provider if she faces complications.
The National Right to Life Committee also supports in-person visits and mandatory ultrasounds.
“Requiring a healthcare provider to confirm, locate, and date a pregnancy before prescribing a dangerous mixture of abortion-inducing drugs is a bare-minimum safety standard, and we believe it should apply in every state,” Ingrid Duran, director of state legislation for the National Right to Life Committee, wrote in an email.
Also looming in the background are interstate fights over so-called shield law providers prescribing medication virtually. Attorneys general in Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana filed lawsuits last week targeting shield laws and in California, Massachusetts and New York, and individual doctors prescribing abortion pills to women in states with abortion bans.
“A woman can’t possibly receive fully informed consent specific to her when the dispensing provider doesn’t even know how far along she is in her pregnancy because the risk is different depending on how far along she is,” said Dr. Christina Francis, an OB-GYN based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who is CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which has opposed abortion pills since they were first approved in 2000.
“We believe that women deserve fully informed consent, and that necessarily involves an ultrasound when we’re talking about pregnancy.”
This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Wisconsin Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
A 15-year-old student with autism was hospitalized for severe dehydration after reportedly spending extended periods of heat exposure on board a school bus without air conditioning, reported New York Post.
Temperatures in Chula Vista, California near San Diego reached 97 degrees during the recent heat wave.
Marisol Wojciechowski told local news reporters that her son, Gabriel, is a freshman at Hilltop High School. He released from school about 30 minutes before other students because he receives special education services. She said he was required to wait on the school bus until the other students arrived.
Wojciechowski added that her son’s autism makes it difficult for him to communicate when he is becoming overheated or feeling ill. She first noticed symptoms in early September, when Gabriel began experiencing nosebleeds, severe headaches and lightheadedness after riding the school bus.
“Right away, I would put ice pack on him on his neck and gave him water,” Wojciechowski told local news reporters.
After Gabriel repeatedly displayed the symptoms, his mother took him to an emergency room. She said medical personnel determined that he was severely dehydrated and administered intravenous fluids.
Wojciechowski later boarded the school bus herself and experienced the conditions inside. She said the bus driver told her that Gabriel could not leave the bus after he had been released into the driver’s supervision.
She said that she instructed her son to get off the bus and wait in her air-conditioned vehicle. According to Wojciechowski, the driver told her it was normal for students to remain on the bus during high temperatures.
The mother is now calling on Sweetwater Union High School District officials to implement additional precautions to protect students during periods of extreme heat.
“I want them to put the kids first,” she told local news reporters. “Leaving them on the bus is not safe, not even for five minutes during the heat.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Association of Pupil Transportation announced several winners and its latest inductee to the NAPT Hall of Fame during its annual conference this weekend.
The event in Louisville, Kentucky recognized Keith Henry, a longtime student transportation leader whose career has been marked by service, mentorship and advocacy for the profession, as this year’s solo inductee into the NAPT Hall of Fame. Henry is a past president of NAPT and currently serves as president of the NAPT Foundation. He is also the executive director of the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation.
Henry started in the student transportation industry in 1994 as director transportation for Windsor School District in Imperial, Missouri following six years of service as an aviation electrician in the U.S. Coast Guard. He moved to Mehlville School District in 1997 as director of transportation and support services and then to Independence School District as director of transportation in 2010. He joined Lee’s Summit R-7 School District as director of transportation in July 2016 and four months later began his two-year term as NAPT president. He retired from Lee’s Summit at the end of June 2021.
NAPT describes its Hall of Fame as the association’s highest individual honor, recognizing professionals whose contributions, influence and leadership have had a lasting impact on both NAPT and the school transportation industry.
“I’m not up here, I don’t think, by accident but by design. And it wasn’t not my design, it was all your design,” Henry said during his acceptance speech Oct. 4. “You all have put so much into me and that’s the why. And my why is simple. I like to help others. I like to serve others. .. I went into the Coast Guard because I wanted to help others. When I got out of the Coast Guard in 1994, I took a temporary job in a transportation department that I didn’t seem to be able to kick. Here I am.”
The 2026 NAPT Distinguished Service Award was presented to Sue Shutrump, recognizing her exemplary leadership, service and “unwavering desire to make things safer for all children on the school bus” over the past 41 years, said nominator, NAPT past-president and NAPT Foundation board member Alexandra Robinson. A retired occupational and physical therapy supervisor for Trumbull County ESC in Ohio, Shutrump is the owner of Sue Shutrump Consulting and serves as co-chair of NAPT’s Special Needs Advisory Committee alongside Robinson. She is a member of the Transporting Students with Disabilities and Special Needs Tenured Faculty and long-time supporter of those who transport students with disabilities and preschoolers.
Shutrump recounted how she first became involved in school transportation in 1991, after her supervisor at the time received a phone call from a parent who expressed concern that her son was being transported unsafely to school in his wheelchair.
“I learned that she was right and I have never stopped learning since then,” Shutrump said during her acceptance speech. “And that is thanks to this incredible transportation community, full of people who are so willing to share their expertise in support of getting kids to school safer.”
Meanwhile, Jeff Hall, a school bus driver for Dickson County Schools in Tennessee, was posthumously awarded the NAPT Heroism Award sponsored by Blue Bird, for his selfless and decisive actions while evacuating students during a December 2025 school bus fire emergency, despite only being a school bus driver for four months. He died unexpectedly Feb. 10. Melissa Garton, director of transportation for Dickson County Schools, accepted the award on Hall’s behalf Sunday.
The School Bus Driver Training & Safety Award, sponsored by IC Bus, was presented to Dennis Murphy, training and safety officer for Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. Murphy was recognized for his commitment to school bus driver training and for helping advance student transportation safety. He was ill and unable to attend NAPT, so his colleague Shane Mitchell accepted the award on his behalf. IC Bus created the award to recognize school districts, companies and transportation professionals with exemplary driver-training programs and includes a $500 grant to further enhance driver training within the recipient’s operation.
The Continuing Education Award, sponsored by Thomas Built Buses, was presented to Angela Renz, the Northeast and Southeast Quadrant Manager for Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee. The award recognizes Renz’s commitment to continued learning and to advancing the student transportation profession through education.
The NAPT Special Needs Transportation Award, sponsored by Q’Straint/Sure-Lok, was presented to Pamela Kelley, transportation administrative assistant at Spartanburg School District Six in South Carolina. Kelley was honored for her dedication to providing safe, compassionate and exceptional transportation for students with disabilities and special needs.
Mazda confirms a next-gen BT-50 pickup is under development.
It could feature sharper styling based on shared underpinnings.
The new midsize truck is expected to hit the road around 2028.
The Mazda BT-50 might not be as popular as its Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger rivals, but it remains an important model for the Japanese automaker. The increased competition in the midsize pickup segment has prompted Mazda to consider a new generation, set to arrive over the next couple of years.
The third generation of the Mazda BT-50 was introduced in 2020, with a mid-lifecycle update following in late 2024. The model is based on the ladder-frame underpinnings of the Isuzu D-Max, with Mazda-specific styling inside-out and is currently offered with non-electrified turbodiesel powertrain options.
Our colleagues at CarsGuide spoke to Vinesh Bhindi, Mazda Australia’s managing director, who confirmed that a new generation of the BT-50 is under development. The high-ranking official didn’t get into details about the specifications, but confirmed it will likely hit the road around 2028.
The same publication spoke to Eiji Kimoto, Mazda’s chief designer, who was responsible for the styling of the current BT-50. When asked about the upcoming pickup, Kimoto said: “I am not allowed to speak much about the future product, but I can tell you, please look forward to it”.
Since Mazda doesn’t have enough R&D resources to develop a pickup on its own, the next BT-50 will likely be the result of a partnership. After all, the first two generations were paired with the Ford Ranger, while the third one migrated to the Isuzu platform.
Collaborative Effort
Illustrations: Thanos Pappas / CarScoops
Mazda could continue the partnership with Isuzu, developing the new model alongside the new generation of the D-Max. Another option would be to broaden its collaboration with Chinese automaker Changan, following the 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV projects.
Changan already offers a pickup in the form of the Hunter K50 with a revolutionary range-extender powertrain. However, this one is based on the ladder-frame chassis of the diesel-powered Changan Hunter which has already spawned several siblings from Stellantis brands in South America including the Peugeot Landtrek, the Fiat Titano, the Ram 1200, and Ram Dakota.
Sharp Looks And Upmarket Interior
Illustrations: Thanos Pappas / CarScoops
In any case, the next Mazda BT-50 is expected to adopt the brand’s updated styling language with sharp LEDs and sculpted details. In our speculative rendering we used the proportions of the Isuzu D-Max as a base, infusing elements from the Mazda CX-6e alongside wide fender extensions and a rear canopy.
We also expect Mazda to give its truck a more premium interior, in line with the upmarket move of its entire lineup. This could help the next BT-50 stand out in a crowded segment, targeting a specific kind of buyer. As with most midsize pickups in Australia, the model could continue offering rugged trims like the Thunder alongside a selection of optional accessories for off-road enthusiasts.
What About The Powertrain?
Back in 2025, the Mazda Australia boss said there won’t be a fully electric variant of the BT-50 in the foreseeable future, despite the availability of the closely-related Isuzu D-Max EV. He also didn’t perceive PHEV pickups as a threat, adding that diesel powertrains will probably stick around. Still, the local Managing Director admitted they will let the market pinpoint if there’s demand for electrified trucks and consider the options.
Reading between the lines, Mazda could offer some sort of electrified powertrain options for the next BT-50. If it sticks to the partnership with Isuzu they will likely use a mild-hybrid diesel, while the Changan route would probably result in a range-extender option. That would allow the pickup to fulfil market demand while complying with tightening emission regulations and potentially expanding its scope to markets outside Australia.
Pakistan’s Nora EV reveals the Metro, a small Toyota-styled MPV.
It combines Alphard and Vellfire design with a tiny 5 hp motor.
Available in EV and EREV versions, it will start from under $11k
The Toyota Alphard and Vellfire are the best selling full-size minivans in the Japanese market, but their popularity expands to other regions. Pakistani automaker Nora EV has unveiled a new zero-emission model with Toyota-inspired styling and a subcompact footprint.
The Nora EV Metro might not bear the Toyota emblem, but it incorporates a mixture of Alphard and Vellfire styling cues. At the front, the headlights might be simpler, but the massive grille and vertical intakes with chrome accents send strong Toyota vibes.
The same applies to the surfacing on the profile and the rear end with a vertical tailgate, a roof spoiler, and triangular taillights. However, unlike the Alphard and Vellfire which rely on power-sliding side doors, the Metro uses conventional hinged doors for rear-seat access.
The Nora EV Metro (left) compared to the Toyota Alphard (right).
Despite the similarities with the Japanese full-size minivans, Metro’s proportions are far more modest. The vehicle measures 3,900 mm (153.5 inches) long, which makes it shorter than European subcompact hatchbacks. It also rides on 14-inch alloy wheels that would be more suitable for a kei car.
Inside, the Metro tries hard to hide its budget-friendly nature. The five-seater cabin adopts styling cues and color combinations inspired by premium vehicles. The dashboard might look like a Mercedes Hyperscreen, but is actually a big piece of plastic with a modest infotainment display in the center. Equipment includes Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, push-button start, AC, power windows, and a reverse camera.
Surprises continue under the skin. The underlying chassis originates from China, but the company claims it has been re-engineered to better suit the road conditions of South Asia and improve ergonomics for taller passengers.
Nora EV Metro
Power comes from a single rear-mounted electric motor producing 4,000 Watts, which translates to a mere 5 hp (4 kW). The company offers various options for the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack with capacities of 9 kWh, 15 kWh, and 23.1 kWh. The larger battery promises a driving range between 250-300 km (155-186 miles).
For those with range anxiety issues who don’t like to wait for charging, Nora EV plans to roll out a network of battery swapping stations in Pakistan. More importantly, the Metro will be optionally available with a range-extender setup featuring a 3 lt (0.8 gallon) gasoline tank and a small generator which is said to add an extra 150-180 km (93-112 miles) of range.
Other Models And Pricing
Nora EV was founded in 2025 by Nousheen Azhar and Ali Raza. Unlike other firms that assemble imported knockdown kits, the Pakistani company is establishing local manufacturing for bodywork stampings, lighting assemblies etc.
Besides the Toyota minivan impersonator, the automaker also offers the Nora E30 small electric SUV copying the design of the previous-gen Range Rover, and the Nora Neo urban hatchback. The only one currently on sale is the baby Range Rover, priced from 1,889,000 Pakistani Rupee ($6,800) before GST. The brand has promised that the upcoming Metro will launch soon with a starting price under 3,000,000 Pakistani Rupee ($10,800).
Requesting public records in Wisconsin can sometimes mean waiting weeks, months and even longer for government officials and agencies to respond. What could help speed things along?
At the state Department of Justice, which has recently comeunderscrutiny for its own delays in releasing records, Attorney General Josh Kaul says the agency he leads needs more money.
“Additional resources could help the DOJ reduce response times to public records requests,” Kaul told the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, in advance of the Nov. 3 election for attorney general. The council sent questionnaires about government transparency to Kaul, the Democratic incumbent seeking a third term, and his Republican challenger, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, who narrowly lost his previous bid to unseat Kaul in 2022.
Kaul answered our questions; Toney did not, despite multiple emails and a call to his campaign.
Jonathan Anderson (Provided photo)
In addition to responding to requests for its own records, the DOJ is empowered to interpret and enforce the public records and open meetings laws. Both Kaul and Toney said in 2022 that one of the biggest challenges to enforcing these laws was a lack of funding. This time around, we asked both candidates what has been done to close this gap and what more needs to be done.
Kaul, in his reply, said his administration sought 2.6 positions in the 2025-27 state budget for DOJ public records staffing, but these positions were ultimately cut from that budget. “The addition of those positions would have resulted in more DOJ staff time being available to promote and obtain compliance with the public records and open meetings laws,” Kaul said.
He added that his administration has made the same funding request for the 2027-29 state budget.
Toney told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel earlier this year that he would prioritize staffing in the DOJ.
We further asked the candidates whether the DOJ should take a more active role in enforcement of the public records and open meetings law.
Kaul said the DOJ should address enforcement on a case-by-case basis to balance compliance efforts with the agency’s limited resources. He said the DOJ should continue to offer guidance and training and to seek volunteer compliance for unintentional violations. “In a case involving an egregious, intentional violation, an enforcement action should be considered,” Kaul wrote.
Although Toney did not respond to the council’s questionnaire this year, he said in 2022 that he would, as attorney general, “apply sufficient resources and prioritize the proper administration and enforcement” of the public records and open meetings laws. Toney added that because the laws also allow for private enforcement, he would emphasize the DOJ’s role in issuing legal opinions, informal guidance and training.
“When elected, openness and transparency will be a priority for my office,” Toney said in 2022.
Asked what changes should be made to the state’s sunshine laws, Kaul said they “should be modernized to account for technological developments that have occurred since the laws were enacted.” He also said members of the state Legislature should no longer be exempt from record retention rules. (The removal of this exception has also drawn support from the two candidates for governor, Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany. That race will be the subject of an upcoming Your Right to Know column.)
Finally, Kaul said agencies should follow the DOJ’s practice of proactively releasing information about public records responses. The DOJ posts on its website a “snapshot” of pending records requests and reports detailing response times and other activities by the Office of Open Government.
The election is Nov. 3.
Read Kaul’s full response to WISFOIC’s questionnaire here.
Your Right to Know is a monthly column distributed by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council (wisfoic.org), a group dedicated to open government. Jonathan Anderson is the organization’s treasurer.
A Polk County school bus driver and attendant were arrested after onboard video allegedly showed them repeatedly spraying a 15-year-old student with disabilities with disinfectant cleaner to “teach him a lesson.”
According to arrest affidavits provided to School Transportation News, Jeffrey Larson, 65, and William “Cody” Roberts, 32, were each charged with one count of aggravated child abuse, a first-degree felony. Both were taken to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Processing Center without incident.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Sept. 22. Maggie Reynolds, the Karen M. Siegel Academy principal, noticed an increase in student behavior referrals involving bus No. 1611 and requested video footage from the Polk County School Board, the affidavits state.
The school bus transported three students and was staffed by Larson and Roberts. Authorities described the 15-year-old student, who was not identified at this writing, as having an intellectual disability, functioning at a toddler-level mental capacity, and being unable to speak for himself.
Affidavit Provides Scope of Child Abuse Allegations
Video from Aug. 31 allegedly showed Larson spraying liquid directly in front of the student before spraying his face, torso and legs. A second clip allegedly showed Larson leave the driver’s seat, approach the student, and spray his face and the front of his body while saying, “Stop spitting.” The student then rubbed his face after Larson walked away, according to the affidavit.
During a second incident recorded on Sept. 2, Roberts allegedly looked toward an onboard camera, pulled a spray bottle from beside his body, and sprayed a stream of liquid onto the student’s back while the teenager was secured in his seat.
Investigators said they also heard someone say, “I’ll put a gag in your mouth if you don’t knock it off,” and “You’re gonna regret this.” Authorities could not determine who made the statements.
Roberts told investigators his first day working as the attendant on bus No. 1611 was Aug. 11. He admitted spraying the student in the face with a disinfectant cleaner “no more than five times” and said it was done to “teach him a lesson,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit alleges that Roberts said he witnessed Larson spray the student in the face twice for the same reason. He acknowledged that their actions were wrong because the disinfectant was an irritant that could adversely affect the student’s health and because the student did not understand their commands due to his disability and could not speak for himself.
Larson told investigators there were no spray bottles containing water aboard the bus but that it carried three bottles containing different cleaning products. He then invoked his right to an attorney.
Deputies obtained a search warrant and recovered a bottle labeled “Morning Fresh, Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.” Its warning label said the product should be kept away from children and could cause eye and skin irritation.
Polk County Public Schools told School Transportation News that Larson and Roberts also served Boswell Elementary and Tenoroc High School.
“PCPS does not tolerate this kind of behavior from our employees, and these two individuals will no longer have any involvement with our district,” the district stated. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement.”
The district did not clarify whether the men were terminated or resigned. The affidavits did not state whether the student received medical treatment or whether investigators had identified other alleged victims.
The October issue explores how school transportation leaders are using technology, training and strong leadership to improve safety and operations. Learn how collision-avoidance systems and video technology are helping prevent crashes. Hear from this year’s Top Transportation Team award winners at STN EXPO West on the role of communication and leadership. Discover how districts are navigating CDL testing and certification bottlenecks. Plus, get insights into the future of student transportation following changes at the U.S. Department of Education. Finally, preview what’s ahead at the Transporting Students With Disabilities & Special Needs Conference next month in Frisco, Texas.
Cover design by Kimber Horne. Photo courtesy of Thomas Built Buses.
Cover Story
Training for a Safer Start
School districts are finding ways to navigate CDL testing and certification bottlenecks to keep qualified drivers behind the wheel.
Features
Avoiding Collisions
Collision-avoidance systems and video camera technology are giving school transportation teams new tools to identify hazards and improve safety, while districts weigh the costs of adopting these technologies.
Leadership Strategies
Communication and strong leadership continue to play a key role in effective transportation operations, as this year’s Top Transportation Team award winners share the strategies behind their success.
Gearing Up for TSD Conference
Get a preview of the sessions, networking opportunities and other events planned for the Transporting Students With Disabilities & Special Needs Conference in Frisco, Texas.
What Happens Now?
Experts examine the operational and funding considerations school districts need to understand as the U.S. Department of Education undergoes major restructuring.
Independent renderings preview the next 3-Series Touring.
The M350 xDrive version is like a baby M3, producing 437 hp.
The automaker has also confirmed a fully electric i3 Touring.
BMW has just launched the G50 generation of the 3-Series, serving as the ICE-powered equivalent of the NA0 i3. While the lineup is currently limited to sedans, the automaker has confirmed that Touring variants are under development, inspiring digital artist Theophilus Chin to create realistic illustrations.
The fresh renderings depict the upcoming wagon in the sporty M350 xDrive trim. This is the flagship version of the G50 3-Series until a new M3 arrives closer to the end of the decade. Naturally, the front end is shared with the sedan, as with the sheet metal up to the B-pillars. The Touring gets a longer roof, redesigned greenhouse and quarter panels, and a proper tailgate providing access to a larger boot.
Despite the big changes at the back, the wagon could retain the slim LED taillights and rear bumper of the sedan. The M350 features quad tailpipes and sportier black trim, looking like an M3 minus the wide fenders. Theottle has also added a black spoiler and matching roof rails, to complete the wagon transformation.
BMW 3-Series Touring Renderings by Theottle
Despite adopting the latest Neue Klasse design and technology, the G50 generation of the 3-Series rides on an upgraded version of the CLAR underpinnings, also used by its G20 predecessor.
The pictured M350 is fitted with a mild-hybrid turbo 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 437 hp (326 kW / 443 PS). This allows the AWD-capable M350 xDrive sedan to accelerate from 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 4.1 seconds, meaning that the slightly heavier wagon would probably need 4.2 seconds.
Interestingly, the long-roof variant won’t be getting a diesel powertrain option, as BMW discontinued those from the 3-Series lineup.
The big question is whether BMW will bring the 3-Series Touring in North America, or if we’ll be stuck with the sedan. Hopefully, the growing interest for wagons among BMW fans might convince them to import both – at least in select trims.
What About The i3 Touring?
BMW i3 Touring Renderings by Theottle
The 3-Series Touring won’t be the only compact wagon in the Bavarian lineup. The automaker is also working on a fully electric i3 Touring that will be sold in parallel with the combustion model. Camouflaged prototypes have been spotted at the Nurburging, while Theottle has created speculative renderings based on the sedan.
Despite adopting the same design language, the i3 has different proportions from the 3-Series, due to the packaging of the EV-dedicated Neue Klasse architecture.
In terms of performance, the i3 50 xDrive has dual electric motors producing 463 hp (345 kW / 469 PS) which is 25 hp (19 kW / 26 PS) more than the ICE-powered M350i xDrive. Furthermore, the larger108.7 kWh battery pack allows up to 912 km (567 miles) of WLTP range for the sedan which should be similar for the upcoming wagon.
Another difference between the two models is the production location. The i3 is manufactured in Munich, while the 3-Series is built in Dingolfing. This currently stands for the sedans, but the wagons will also come out of the same facilities.
Sleek Opel STX Concept teased ahead of the Paris Motor Show.
It has wide fenders, a vented hood, aero wheels, and an LED grille.
The sporty estate is rumored to preview the next-gen Opel Astra.
Stellantis has shared more teasers and information about the upcoming Opel Sports Tourer eXperimental (STX) Concept ahead of its premiere at the Paris Motor Show on October 12. The model communicates the brand’s vision for the future of wagons, most likely previewing the next generation of the Opel Astra.
The new teasers are more revealing than the first one, giving us a good idea of what to expect. Overall, the STX Concept is not your typical wagon, as it adopts a sporty stance with futuristic details.
The front end features an evolution of the Opel Vizor grille, which is now body colored with an LED pattern and an illuminated Opel Blitz emblem. This is joined by the vertical LEDs forming the Opel Compass, and a sculpted bumper with horizontal cooling intakes.
Still, the coolest detail is the view of the profile, with the wide fenders on the rear axle making it look more like a performance model than a family-focused offering.
Opel
Opel said that aerodynamic efficiency played a crucial role in the development of the concept. One example is the design of the three-section alloy wheels, which is said to reduce consumption while offering improved “directional stability and driving pleasure at high speeds on the German Autobahn”.
In a similar context, an earlier press release confirmed that the concept features an “active aerodynamic system that continuously adapts to the driving situation, using moving elements at the rear to optimize airflow, reduce drag and improve stability.”
Sister brand Vauxhall – which also announced a redesigned Griffin logo – has shared an additional image of the STX Concept taken from above. This reveals a pair of vents that create a V shape on the hood and form front spoiler, similar in theory to the fully electric Dodge Charger Daytona. The windshield extends on the hood, with the “TECHHUE” lettering on its base hinting at a new technology.
Vauxhall
Stellantis didn’t reveal the powertrain type of the STX Concept, but judging from their product portfolio it will be either fully electric or hybrid.
Opel doesn’t openly admit it, but the sporty wagon is expected to evolve into the next generation of the Astra, which is rumored to abandon the traditional hatchback bodystyle. The compact model has been confirmed to be renewed before 2030 alongside the smaller Corsa. Both will ride on the multi-energy STLA One architecture with an EV-first strategy. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if they eventually adopt range-extender tech from Leapmotor.
A potential rival of the future estate from Opel is the next generation of the Skoda Octavia. This one was previewed by the Vision O concept and is expected to hit the road in 2028 with a wagon bodystyle and a electric/range-extender powertrains.
President Donald Trump appears in a taxpayer-funded public service announcement that critics say is indistinguishable from a 2024 campaign ad. (Screenshot from video posted to Truth Social)
President Donald Trump is tapping $20 million in Homeland Security funding to pay for TV ads that heavily feature him ahead of the midterm elections, Democrats said Tuesday as the promos critics call propaganda come under bipartisan attack.
The Trump administration recently moved the funds into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection budget line intended for “commemorative events” related to border security, according to federal records. Congressional Democrats said the dollars appear to be funding the ad campaign.
The ads face mounting criticism as Republicans confront an angry electorate that, according to polling, appears likely to place Democrats in control of the House and possibly the Senate. Yet the messaging reflects Trump’s strategy of centering the election on himself and telling supporters to vote as if he was on the ballot, as he urged during the GOP midterm convention.
The three ads released so far feature stylized imagery of Trump and include “Paid for by the U.S. Government” disclosures. One is nearly identical to a 2024 Trump campaign ad. Some $2 million in ads have aired on cable and broadcast stations over the past week.
“This is the final battle,” Trump says in a voiceover in one black-and-white ad that shows him walking silently toward the camera. Another ad uses the song “Love Me” by the artist JMSN. Attorneys for the performer have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the administration demanding the ad be taken down.
Both Dems and Republicans object
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, slammed the ads as indistinguishable from Trump’s 2024 campaign ads, yet funded by taxpayers. “It’s an absolute violation of what democracy is supposed to look like. Americans sat down to watch football, not to be force fed Trump’s propaganda on their own dime,” Schumer said Monday on the Senate floor.
Some GOP senators have also split with the Trump administration over the ads. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, told reporters that while he liked the ads’ message, tax dollars shouldn’t pay for them. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana and Sen. John Cornyn of Texas have also pushed back, among others.
“I don’t think any public official, including President Trump or (former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi) Noem or John Kennedy, should spend public money on private ads for themselves,” Kennedy told “Face the Nation” on CBS.
$20 million materializes
On Tuesday, Sens. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, in a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said his department appeared to have dedicated $20 million to the ads that had been provided to Customs and Border Protection, a sub-agency of DHS, in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act last year.
House Democratic Reps. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and Henry Cuellar of Texas in their own statement also cited federal apportionment changes by the Office of Management and Budget recorded by OpenOMB, a non-governmental database that tracks apportionments.
OpenOMB shows that on Sept. 19, $20 million was moved into a fund that pays for border security commemorative events and that previously held just $500,000.
The following day, Homeland Security awarded a $20 million contract to LMD Agency, Inc., a Maryland-based marketing firm, for a “national media campaign,” according to federal contract data.
Republican blocks resolution on ads
Sen. Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat, sought unanimous consent in the Senate on Tuesday to pass a resolution stating that the federal government shouldn’t pay for the ads.
“The Department of Homeland Security should be working to tackle the enormous national security threats we face like stopping fentanyl, not bankrolling a vanity project for the president,” Hassan said.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, a Wyoming Republican, objected, saying the heart of the ads is about defending American values from communism and socialism. Lummis said if that message has Hassan concerned, it says “more about her side of the aisle than it does about” the ads. The action by Lummis halted action on the resolution.
Administration defends ads
The White House and Homeland Security didn’t deny that the government fund was being used to pay for the ads, in response to questions from States Newsroom.
The White House said in an unsigned statement that the ads — which it calls public service announcements — are educational and intended to remind Americans “to love their country and understand what makes it worth defending, at home, at our borders, and abroad.”
Homeland Security referred States Newsroom to a White House webpage that also defends the ads. The page says they aren’t campaign ads, noting that Trump isn’t on the ballot and that the messages include no call to action.
Government ethics and legal experts say that explanation misses the point.
“There’s a distinction between providing people with information about government programs and engaging in communication that merely aggrandizes government officials. And what we have here is purely aggrandizing Donald Trump,” Samuel Bagenstos, who served as general counsel to the Office of Management and Budget during the first year and a half of President Joe Biden’s administration, said in an interview.
Bagenstos, who is now a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, said that if the issue was simply whether the ads violate the Hatch Act, a federal law that limits federal employees — but not the president – from engaging in partisan politics on the job, the question of the ads’ legality could be more complicated.
But the most important legal issue with the ads, he said, isn’t the Hatch Act but whether the messages violate prohibitions on using government funds for propaganda.
During his time in government service, which also included a stint as general counsel to the Department of Health and Human Services during the Biden administration, Bagenstos said agencies were constantly communicating with the public, and there’s always a question of how far officials can go. But he said these kind of issues were reviewed carefully, often in ways that annoyed communications staff who wanted to put out messages immediately.
“But if something like this had crossed my desk, I would have said, ‘You can’t pay for this ad. It is clearly illegal,’” Bagenstos said, adding that the ads are the kind of thing he would have considered resigning over. “It’s that clear a violation of law and it’s really corrosive to democracy,” he said.
Similarity to franking?
Members of Congress and state-level officials regularly release slick official communications that sometimes echo campaign messaging. But that practice, known as “franking,” comes with clear restrictions, including a U.S. House prohibition on mass mailings 60 days before an election.
In sending franked mail, members of Congress are barred from sending mail that “solicits political support” for the lawmaker or any person or political party, Margaret Dylus-Yukins, senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, wrote in an email.
The Trump ads, by contrast, don’t pertain to any policymaking process or function of government, and while the White House has said the messages remind Americans to love their country, there’s no apparent connection to any federal program or service, Dylus-Yukins wrote.
Instead, she wrote that their inflammatory language, widespread distribution and touting of Trump’s term in office, as well as their close proximity to the midterms, “all suggest that these advertisements were produced with the intent to solicit political support for President Trump’s political allies ahead of the midterm election.”
“These advertisements therefore appear to be in violation of the Hatch Act and raise serious concerns about the use of taxpayer funds to possibly sway the upcoming election’s outcome,” Dylus-Yukins wrote.
No lawsuit yet
As of Tuesday afternoon the ads didn’t appear to face a legal challenge.
The watchdog group Democracy Forward said Monday it was launching an investigation into the ads and had filed records requests for communications regarding the ads and financial paperwork related to them.
Bagenstos suggested the courts may not be the best avenue to fight the ads. Instead, he said, Congress needs to assert itself and retaliate against inappropriate spending.
“In our separation of powers system, what our framers expected was that Congress would stand up for its power first,” Bagenstos said.
Login
