Low licensing fees, limited regulations, and no cap on the number of businesses helped create an enormous marijuana industry almost overnight in Oklahoma. But the market eventually became oversaturated, with prices crashing and businesses shuttering overnight. Now state lawmakers say thousands of abandoned marijuana growing facilities are scattered across Oklahoma—leaving behind equipment, waste, and environmental hazards.

Who should pay to clean up properties abandoned by private businesses? FOX25 reporter Paige Taylor has been following the consequences for rural communities and taxpayers.

What are they?

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The consequences of major policy decisions are most visible at the local level. That’s why The National Press brings together journalists reporting directly from the communities experiencing them. From abandoned marijuana farms in Oklahoma to changing laws across the country, we connect local developments to the bigger national picture. Subscribe for free and discover the stories that other national outlets may overlook, delivered to your inbox.

Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias, a lawful permanent resident and father of three, was found unconscious in his bed at the Rio Grande Processing Center on October 17. He had been detained since June after returning to Texas from Mexico. His death has raised questions about the medical care provided to people held in federal immigration custody.

Andrade-Covarrubias had diabetes, high blood pressure, and a heart condition. His family alleges that detention staff withheld medication and failed to respond adequately to his medical concerns. ICE disputes that account, saying he received appropriate medical care. The circumstances of his death remain under investigation, and a Texas congressman has requested additional information from the agency. His family’s questions are now part of a broader national discussion about immigration detention and government accountability.

Behind every national headline is a real person, a family, and a community. At The National Press, we believe these stories deserve careful reporting, not just political arguments. Our journalists connect the reporting happening in local communities to the decisions being made at the national level. Subscribe for free to get the stories that matter, and a clearer understanding of the issues shaping America.

CSX is temporarily furloughing approximately 1,000 workers and eliminating roughly 200 additional positions, including jobs associated with railroad maintenance and inspection. The company says the furloughs reflect seasonal maintenance needs, but union leaders worry some workers will never return. At the same time, a recent federal waiver allows railroads to increase the use of automated inspections.

The changes are raising questions about whether automated technology will permanently replace the safety inspectors who have historically performed these vital safety jobs—and if so, are they a viable replacement for their human counterparts?. Former CSX track inspector and union leader Brian Thompson warns that automated systems can miss problems that workers routinely discover in person—and that could be catastrophic:

“People need to understand that these trains haul very dangerous chemicals… My fear is that these defects are going to go unknown and a train is going to derail and cause massive damage to cities, people, first responders, and everybody involved—similar to what happened in East Palestine, Ohio.”

CSX says its safety commitments remain unchanged, and federal regulators say the company is complying with its inspection waiver. Lyndsay Keith speaks with Thompson and West Virginia reporter Joe Cadotte about what these changes mean for railroad workers, their communities and the future of rail safety.

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Who is asking these questions before something goes wrong? At The National Press, we believe the stories that affect your safety and community deserve more than a passing headline. Our network of local reporters brings firsthand knowledge and accountability to issues that affect the entire country. Subscribe for free and get the stories, interviews and perspectives that help you understand what’s happening beyond your own backyard.

Baltimore City Public Schools has approved a $1.95 billion operating budget for the 2026-27 school year, making it one of the highest-funded school systems in America. Yet only about 13% of its students are proficient in math, attendance is down, chronic absenteeism is higher, and average SAT scores have declined.

And with all of that, the city’s high school graduation rate is approximately 72%.

For nearly a decade, FOX45 investigative reporter Chris Papst has been looking into Baltimore’s public schools, and his reporting reveals how mishandled funds and poor incentives have created such bad outcomes for its students.

“The incentive structure that has been set up is one where the student doesn’t have to learn for the schools to get the money,” Papst explained.

Baltimore officials point to recent improvements in test scores, but Papst argues that the underlying problems deserve far greater scrutiny. In a conversation with Lyndsay Keith, he explains why what happens inside Baltimore’s classrooms should matter to communities everywhere.

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This is why The National Press exists. Some of the most consequential stories in America aren’t coming out of Washington. They’re unfolding in classrooms, neighborhoods, and communities that rarely make national headlines. We’re bringing the local reporters who know these stories best into the national conversation.

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