“Otero County Commission is flaunting that process by appeasing unfounded conspiracy theories and potentially nullifying the votes of every Otero County voter who participated in the primary.”

Carlo Capua, chair of the board for Sister Cities International, warning about rising skepticism toward international partnerships as states move to restrict ties with certain countries. He pointed to a recent Texas law that prohibits local governments from establishing or maintaining sister-city agreements with “foreign adversaries” such as China, Iran, North Korea and Russia.A similar proposal in Florida would go further, terminating existing sister-city programs with countries of concern — including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria and Venezuela — as soon as July 1. Capua said these policies reflect growing fears about foreign influence, even as sister-city programs have historically been used to promote cultural exchange and international cooperation. (Orlando Sentinel)

Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins, highlighting her limited authority in a key election debate. Higgins made the remark as Miami considers shifting to even-year elections — a change she supported on the campaign trail, even pledging to shorten her own four-year term to three years to help the city transition. But despite that commitment, she cannot act unilaterally and must rely on the City Commission to approve any changes, leaving her political promise dependent on a vote she doesn’t control. (Miami Herald)

Shuyi Chen, University of Washington professor of atmospheric and climate science, reflecting on navigating turbulence in both science and politics. Chen made the remarks as the Trump administration moves to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a federally supported hub that provides aircraft, supercomputing power and data used by scientists nationwide. Officials have criticized the center as promoting “climate alarmism,” but Chen and other researchers say it is critical for forecasting hurricanes, wildfires and atmospheric rivers, and for helping governments and businesses prepare for increasingly extreme weather events. (The Seattle Times)

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, calling for nationwide action on Medicaid oversight. Oz made the remark while announcing that the federal government will require all 50 states to submit plans to revalidate Medicaid providers within 30 days, expanding anti-fraud efforts beyond previously targeted states. He emphasized that both Republican- and Democratic-led states will be held accountable, with the possibility of stricter federal audits for those that fail to comply. (Stateline)