6 Innovative Ways States and Localities Are Preparing for the 2020 Census
The decennial count is plagued by uncertainties and fears of undercounting immigrants, minorities and low-income people.
• Judge Blocks Census Citizenship Question as Case Heads to Supreme Court
If Shutdown Persists, Can States Fund Food Stamps and Welfare on Their Own?
States are scrambling to figure out how to fund the $4-billion-a-month food stamps program -- and whether to keep cash welfare going. Some say it's "probably not possible."
• How the Shutdown Affects Federal Employment in Each StateLawmakers Eye Changes to Ballot Measures -- Passed and Future
Legislators are seeking to roll back some of the high-profile ballot measures that voters approved in November. They also want to make it harder for initiatives to pass in the future.
Why the L.A. Teacher Strike Is Different From Last Year's Protests
Educators in the nation's second-largest school district are set to strike on Monday. The dispute could impact education policy across the country.
LATEST HEADLINES
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As States Lag on Cyber Training, Agencies Are Fertile Phishing Grounds
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Cities' Appeal for More Vigilant Pentagon Gun Checks Rejected by Court
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Hurricane Harvey Aid Should Be Off-Limits for Border Wall, Texas Governor Says
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Microsoft Pledges $500M to Tackle Housing Crisis in Seattle
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Conversion Therapy Ban: NY Legislature Passes LGBTQ Protection Bills
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After Comments on Sex Abuse Victims, Michigan State Interim President Resigns
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Florida Governor Warns Airbnb to Reverse West Bank Policy or Face State Sanctions
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$7 Million Payout: Firing Football Coaches Proves Costly for 3 Texas Universities
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As Shutdown Stretches On, Transportation Officials Worry About Long-Term Effects
Local transit agencies are being hit harder than state highway departments. But the shutdown is only part of the problem for transportation funding.
• The Shutdown's Impact on States and Localities
Do School Vouchers Only Benefit the Wealthy?
Most of the students using Arizona’s vouchers are already in top-performing schools.
#MeToo Elicits More Harassment Conversations, But Not Necessarily Complaints
To address sexual harassment, it needs to be reported. State employees have been hesitant to do that.
Can California and NYC Afford Their Near-Universal Health-Care Plans?
Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Bill de Blasio initiated ambitious plans this week to cover drastically more residents, including undocumented immigrants who are not currently eligible for subsidized insurance.
The 10 States That Give More to the Feds Than They Get Back
Connecticut tops the list of states whose taxpayers receive the least bang for their buck from the feds.
Why ‘Nudge’ Policies Should Be Used Gently
Behavioral economics is a powerful tool to encourage people to make certain decisions, but governments need to use it with caution.
Why This Is the Year to Begin Addressing the Infrastructure Deficit
With signs pointing to a weakening economy, we need to get ready now, and we need to do it right.
The Rise of Do-Gooder Corporations
Doing good pays dividends for both corporations and governments. Just ask Philadelphia.
NEWS IN NUMBERS
$5,000
Amount that the city of Denver will pay toward a person's mortgage if they have "experienced an income reduction due to involuntary employment change" and were making below 120 percent of the area's median income. Federal workers who are not receiving paychecks because of the shutdown can apply for this new offer.
MORE DIGITS
Lead in School Water: Less Than Half the States Test for It, and Fewer Require It
Federal regulations neither require schools to test their water nor have a single health standard for drinking water. The resulting patchwork of state policies can have a big impact on how -- and whether -- they respond to lead found in water.
MOST READ
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How the Shutdown Affects Federal Employment in Each State
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The 10 States That Give More to the Feds Than They Get Back
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As Shutdown Stretches On, Transportation Officials Worry About Long-Term Effects
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4
If Shutdown Persists, Can States Fund Food Stamps and Welfare on Their Own?
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5
Why the L.A. Teacher Strike Is Different From Last Year's Protests
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The Biggest Issues for States to Watch in 2018
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The Federal Shutdown's Impact on States and Localities
Nighttime Traffic Deaths on the Rise
From 2010 to 2017, nighttime pedestrian and cyclist fatalities rose 46 percent while daytime deaths rose 15 percent.
• What's the 'Dutch Reach'? 2 U.S. States Adopt It to Save Cyclists' Lives
As Retiree Health-Care Costs Soar, Public Employers Turn to Private Insurers
Retiree health care is one of the fastest-growing line items in government budgets and, in response, some governments are scrapping their traditional health plans.
Doctors Don't Have to Tell Patients They're on Probation, Except in One State
California is the first state to require physicians to inform patients about their history of sexual misconduct, overprescribing medications, criminal convictions or substance abuse. Will others follow?
Why Don't Alaska Governors Last Longer Than One Term?
Incoming Gov. Mike Dunleavy is the sixth person to win the office in as many elections. The constant turnover has made it difficult for the state to solve its biggest problems.
All or Nothing: How State Politics Became a Winner-Take-All World
In practically every state, one party now holds all the legislative power. And once they get it, they’re keeping it.
Young People Power Into Statehouses and City Halls
This year will see the largest class yet of millennials entering legislatures. How will they shape politics and policies?
The Biggest Issues for States to Watch in 2019
18 of the policies and proposals that will dominate state legislatures this year.
Master of the Middle: How America’s Longest-Serving Senate Leader Stays in Power
Maryland’s Mike Miller has been in charge for more than 30 years.
To Reduce Fatal Pregnancies, Some States Look to Doulas
New York is set to become the third state Medicaid program to cover pregnancy and birth coaches for low-income women as a way of lowering the maternal mortality rate.
