ATF Confirms Breach of Its Own Investigative Database | The States

Today on The States: Lancaster County Board Vice Chairman Josh Parsons disputes Pennsylvania's characterization of two "measles-associated deaths," a new poll shows most voters want data center approval left to local governments, the ATF confirms a ransomware breach of an investigative database while facing pressure from both gun-rights advocates and state attorneys general, The Center Square reporter Therese Boudreau breaks down new polling on the rise of democratic socialism within the Democratic Party, and America's Talking rounds up Ed Markey's primary win, a trucking-fraud crackdown, Wisconsin's move against license-plate cameras, and a Michigan voter-ID ballot fight now before the Supreme Court.

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Board Vice Chairman Josh Parsons says the county coroner and a forensic pathologist have found that measles was not the cause of death in the first of two cases Governor Josh Shapiro's administration labeled "measles-associated deaths," and that the state has provided no evidence for the second case. The CDC has said it will not include either case in its national count while it reviews additional information. Parsons says the state has not explained its decision-making process despite repeated requests.

A new Center Square Voters' Voice poll finds 50% of Americans want local governments to have the final say on data center approval, with only 11% favoring federal control. The debate is playing out unevenly by state: 57% of Arizona voters oppose new large data centers, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker paused state incentives for the projects in July while GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey criticizes them on farmland and grid concerns, and in Pennsylvania, a township approved a data center zoning measure days after a judge ruled the same body had violated the state's open-meetings law.

The ATF says a ransomware gang has published files claiming to come from a breach of its CALEA investigative database, though the agency says the affected system was not connected to its other operations. Separately, the agency faces pressure from both directions: a coalition of Democratic state attorneys general, led by California's Rob Bonta, is opposing ATF rule changes they say would weaken firearms regulations, while a Kansas congressman is pushing the agency for clearer guidance on suppressor rules following a recent federal court ruling.

The Center Square reporter Therese Boudreaux discusses new polling showing 59% of Democrats view the rise of democratic socialism within their party as positive change, while independents lean toward seeing it as a sign of extremism — a divide playing out on the House floor this week alongside a three-month government funding stopgap that passed without addressing any of the twelve annual appropriations bills.

America's Talking covers 80-year-old Senator Ed Markey's primary win over a primary challenger who argued he was too old to serve, a federal crackdown on fraudulent commercial driver's license schools, Wisconsin's consideration of banning license-plate reading cameras, and a Michigan citizen-only voting ballot initiative now before the U.S. Supreme Court after state officials deadlocked twice on certifying it.