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Pass. Repeal. Repeat: The GOP Cycle of Defying Voters on Medicaid Expansion

In almost every state where ballot measures to expand Medicaid have passed, Republicans have tried to change the voter-approved laws.

Supreme Court Will Wade Into Clean Water Dispute

A case over a Hawaii wastewater treatment plant could redefine the scope of the federal law that regulates pollution in lakes, rivers, streams and oceans.

The Growing Need for Opposition Research -- on Yourself -- in Today's Political World

After the blackface scandals involving Virginia politicians, expect more candidates to dig up dirt on themselves while keeping in mind the changing culture of America and the power of the internet.

With Amazon Out of New York, Some Lawmakers Seek Multistate Ban on Corporate Tax Breaks

Lawmakers in at least a half-dozen states are considering forming a compact in which they would agree to end efforts to lure companies with tax incentives.

Anti-Drug Smuggling Policies Are Increasingly Isolating Prisoners

Jails and prisons around the country are replacing in-person visits with video calls, enacting strict mail policies and other regulations that limit inmates' communication with family, friends and lawyers.

Bus ad seen through a car.

'Choose Purpose': Cities Launch Ad Campaigns to Attract More Job Applicants

Are they working?

Affordable Housing Crisis Reaches a Tipping Point in Charlotte, N.C.

After experiencing explosive growth in recent years, the city is tripling its spending to address the shortage of lower-income units.

California’s New Air Pollution Solution

In an unprecedented move that will cut costs for low-income households and cut emissions for everyone, the state is paying for some homes to install energy-efficient appliances.

To Build Support for the Green New Deal, Activists Turn to States

Some states have already adopted their own version of a plan to address climate change while creating jobs. Others are being urged to.

COMMENTARY

Want to Attract Talented Workers? Find a Better Way to Tell Your City's Story.

If your community really has a lot to offer, you need to think beyond the press release.

COMMENTARY

The Fairest Tax During a Recession May Be the Least Popular

What's "fair" changes along with the economy.

COMMENTARY

Why Rebuilding 'Bigger and Better' After Disasters Is a Mistake

Communities destroyed by natural disaster all want to start over. Somebody has to pay for it.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

7 to 11%

Pay raise that Denver teachers negotiated after they went on strike for three days, according to the union. The district, by contrast, said the average raise will be 11.7 percent.

MORE DIGITS

Despite Scandals, Virginia Politicians Refuse to Resign. Now What?

If history is any indication, the current controversies will likely change how Ralph Northam governs. He's already made racial reconciliation a new priority.

• Scandals Threaten Democrats' High Election Hopes for November

MOST READ

  1. 1

    The Growing Need for Opposition Research -- on Yourself -- in Today's Political World
  2. 2

    With Amazon Out of New York, Some Lawmakers Seek Multistate Ban on Corporate Tax Breaks
  3. 3

    The Biggest Issues for States to Watch in 2018
  4. 4

    ‘Lock Your Doors, Load Your Guns’: Kentucky Sheriff Suspends Law Enforcement Services
  5. 5

    Anti-Drug Smuggling Policies Are Increasingly Isolating Prisoners
  6. 6

    'Choose Purpose': Cities Launch Ad Campaigns to Attract More Job Applicants
  7. 7

    Think Federal Workers Have It Bad? It's Worse for State and Local Employees.
People waiting in a line.

Think Federal Workers Have It Bad? It's Worse for State and Local Employees.

The government shutdown exposed the financial insecurity and stress of many public servants.

• States With Substantial Numbers of Lower-Wage Federal Workers

WHO SAID THAT?

“I am not going to stand for bureaucratic ineptitude.”

MORE QUOTES

How Housing Policies Keep White Neighborhoods So White (and Black Neighborhoods So Black)

Decades of local zoning regulations and land-use policies have kept racial segregation firmly rooted in place.

• Segregated in the Heartland: An Investigative Series

The Inequality of Urban Investments

A new study of Baltimore shows that private capital is more often spent in low-poverty places that don't need it as much.

How Nurses Prove the Power of Unions

In an anti-union era, nurses may have found a model for effectively organizing labor.

These Pension Funds Invest Millions in Private Prisons

The American Federation of Teachers wants public pensions to dump their holdings in private prison companies. But some argue politics shouldn't guide investment decisions.

How Bad Is America's Infrastructure Crisis? Maybe Not As Bad As It Seems.

While the transportation industry is pushing Congress to pass a new infrastructure plan, a Brown University economist warns that new construction might not get the bang-for-the-buck that proponents claim.

• State, Local Leaders Take Infrastructure Pleas to Congress

The Criminal Justice Reforms Trump Didn't Mention in His State of the Union

The president touted a bipartisan bill he signed to reduce sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. But he's been quiet about his support for a new juvenile justice law that could impact more people.

• Criminal Justice Reform Paves the Way for Welfare Reform

States Push the Limits of Abortion Rights and Restrictions

While conservative lawmakers push "heartbeat" bills that could challenge Roe v. Wade in court, liberals are pushing legislation that allows late-term abortions during pregnancies with severe health complications.

What Polarized Government Means for Tax Policy in 2019

A total of 37 states are under one-party control. While that usually means legislation moves quickly, it doesn't always equate to better fiscal policies.

Planning for Detention: How 2 States Help Immigrant Children Stay Out of Foster Care

The parents of at least a quarter of a million kids are at risk of deportation. In case that happens, lawmakers are adding protections -- with bipartisan support -- for the children left behind.

• Mayors: Immigration Reform Would Take a Day If We Were in Charge