Rising Electricity Costs Emerge as Key Campaign Issue in New Jersey, Virginia Races

John Haughey

Reporter

11/2/2025|Updated: 11/2/2025

Power bills may be among the factors that determine what party is in power in statehouses and governors’ mansions in 2026. 

The Nov. 4 New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races are being closely watched, as they spotlight issues that could determine how campaigns nationwide approach the 2026 midterm elections.

In both mid-Atlantic states’ elections, voters’ chief concerns include taxes, health care, job generation, and inflation in the context of affordability, with spiking grocery prices, rising housing costs, and skyrocketing utility bills among their sources of anxiety.

With New Jersey customers paying on average 19 percent more for electricity in August 2025 than in August 2024, and Virginia utilities—after imposing 30 percent hikes from 2020 to 2023—receiving approval for 15 percent to 21 percent rate increases in the next two years, power bills may be among the factors that determine what party is in power in statehouses and governors’ mansions in 2026.

New Jersey and Virginia voters are demanding that candidates address electricity rates, a potential harbinger of elections to come, with an Oct. 20 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs poll showing that 36 percent of U.S. adults are stressed over utility costs.

Walker Larson: Revenge of the Dumbphone. Why Minimalist Phones Are Making a Comeback

https://www.theepochtimes.com/author/walker-larson 

Not so long ago, the ability to carry a pocket-sized phone with you everywhere and call anyone in the world with it seemed like a stunning technological breakthrough, the realization of the most fanciful sci-fi daydreams. We’d finally made a real-life version of the impossibly advanced communicator gadget in the old Star Trek TV show. Everyone rushed to get one and step into a new, futuristic age.

But soon, this wonder machine itself became obsolete, as flip phones were quickly outpaced by smartphones—which we really ought to call miniature computers instead of phones, since calling is used far less than their social media apps, web browsing, games, and texting features. By the mid-2010s, anyone still using a flip phone was seen as frightfully out-of-date. People still lugging around those antiques were either hopeless Luddites or criminals using them as burner phones.

But now, cell phones are following the cycle of hairstyles and fashion: What was once cool, then uncool, has become cool again. The “dumbphone” may have been knocked down, but it never left the fight. Today, it’s coming back with a vengeance.

About 80 Missing Children Rescued, 1,700 People Arrested in Memphis

Jack Phillips

Breaking News Reporter

10/30/2025|Updated: 10/30/2025

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Oct. 29 that federal efforts in Memphis, Tennessee, over the past month have led to the rescue of about 80 missing children and the arrests of 1,700 people, including 126 gang members.

Last month, the federal government said it would send National Guard troops and federal agents to Memphis, which has long been ranked among U.S. cities as having the highest rates of violent crime and homicides.

Bondi confirmed the operation’s figures in a post on X, saying that “tolerating crime is a choice.”

“With 1700 arrests—including 126 gang members—in just one month, our Memphis surge is proving that it’s possible to make American cities safe again,” Bondi said.

SNAP Payments

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston [pictured here]  ... ruled that the "suspension of SNAP payments was based on the erroneous conclusion that the contingency funds could not be used to ensure continuation of SNAP payments."

Both Talwani and McConnell and were appointed by former President Joe Biden....

The president [Trump] responded to the rulings in a post on Truth Social....

"I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT," he added. "Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible." 

Eastern Oregon Attempting to Breakaway from Oregon

Epoch Times 

Unbeknownst to most Americans, the eastern part of Oregon is in the process of attempting to break away from the state.

After many years of being fed up with the policies coming out of Portland, over a third of the counties in Oregon have voted to secede. Specifically, they voted to leave Oregon and join the state of Idaho. This is part of a growing regional shift known as the “Greater Idaho” movement.

What’s truly interesting about this particular movement is that it might actually succeed.

Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide on Its Way to the Governor

Dear Advocates, 

In a surprise move in the early hours of Friday morning, the Illinois State Senate quietly took up and passed a bill to legalize assisted suicide, by a one vote margin. SB 1950 came up on the floor after 2 am during a veto session, with Senators voting 30-27 (with two not voting). The House passed SB 1950 in the spring, so the bill now goes to Governor JB Pritzker (pictured here). 

You  may recall that the House vote came after proponents gutted an unrelated food safety bill, which had previously passed the Senate, and replaced the language with the assisted suicide legislation. 

Milei Vows to 'Make Argentina Great Again'

by: Roberto Wakerell-Cruz 10/28/2025

President Javier Milei declared that his government had reached a “tipping point” after his libertarian party scored a decisive victory in the nation’s midterm elections, a result he said would kick off the building “a great Argentina.”

Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, captured just over 40 percent of the nationwide vote, far exceeding expectations. Supporters packed the streets of Buenos Aires late Sunday as the president took the stage, proclaiming, "Today we passed the tipping point, the construction of a great Argentina begins."

He went on to promise reforms aimed at turning the country’s economy around and reaffirmed his campaign slogan, according to GB News, “We must consolidate the path of reform … to make Argentina great again.”

McCullough Foundation Autism Report

Autism arises from a combination of genetic, environmental and medical factors — but multiple vaccines given during the early years of life is the most significant modifiable risk factor for the onset of autism spectrum disorder or ASD, according to a new report by the McCullough Foundation.*

The 82-page report, published Monday, reviewed over 300 autism studies that examined possible causes of autism, including genetic, environmental, toxicological and vaccine-related causes.

Of the studies, 136 focused on routine childhood vaccines or vaccine ingredients, and 107 (79%) of those identified links between vaccination and autism or other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Twelve of the studies compared fully vaccinated and completely unvaccinated children. All found better health outcomes among the unvaccinated group.  [See link below].

Medical Students Have Spring Semester Tuition Fully Covered

(NewsNation) — Medical students from the Class of 2026 at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University will have their spring semester tuition fully covered.

According to a TCU news release, an anonymous family donated $1.8 million to cover the cost of the students’ last semester of medical school.

The announcement was made to students via Zoom call by Stuart D. Flynn, founding dean of the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU.

“The donors hope that this alleviates some of the financial stress of being a medical student and allows you to make the best choices possible as you head into residency,” Flynn said.

4 Family Members of Illinois Governor Candidate killed in Montana Helicopter Crash, Campaign Says

Four family members of a Republican running for governor in Illinois were killed in a Montana helicopter crash, his campaign said Thursday.

The son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren of former state lawmaker Darren Bailey, who lost the 2022 gubernatorial election in Illinois and is seeking his party’s nomination again in next year’s race, were killed in the crash Wednesday. Bailey previously served in both the Illinois House and Senate.

Bailey’s son, Zachary, his wife, Kelsey, and their two young children, Vada Rose, 12, and Samuel, 7, died in the crash in a remote area of eastern Montana, his campaign said in a statement. The couple’s third child was not on the helicopter.

“Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. They are finding comfort in their faith, their family, and the prayers of so many who love and care for them,” the statement said.

Louisiana v. Callais

By Matthew Vadum

The Supreme Court seems poised to strike down race-based redistricting as unconstitutional, or at least rein in the practice, court experts told The Epoch Times.

The outcome of the high-profile racial gerrymandering case of Louisiana v. Callais could have an impact on the balance of power in the federal legislative branch. Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular party or constituency.

Currently, Republicans maintain a razor-thin majority over Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The congressional seat at the heart of the litigation is currently held by Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.). [pictured right]

Sheriff: EZ Pass-Style Buggy Alert System Could Save Amish Lives

By Erik Wesner

Following numerous serious car-buggy crashes in his state, a Virginia sheriff is proposing that a new light system – triggered by passing Amish buggies – could warn drivers of horse-drawn travelers on the roads ahead of them.

Similarly to how flashing lights draw attention to upcoming stop signs on secondary highways, a flashing light system could tell drivers to expect to see horse-drawn vehicles just ahead.

Cumberland County, Virginia Sheriff Darrell Hodges explains in the Farmville Herald: