Financial Literacy Is Becoming a Requirement in Schools
As most Americans struggle with money management, some states are making schools teach kids about personal finance. What's the best age to start?
In Seattle, Minimum Wage Hike Comes at a Cost to Some Workers
Advocates say higher incomes help low-wage employees, but one new report suggests the reality is more complicated.
Speeding Kills, and Safety Group Says States Should Take It More Seriously
America has seen little progress in reducing speeding deaths for decades.
Criminal Justice Reform Paves the Way for Welfare Reform
Bipartisan support for reducing recidivism is driving most states to relax or lift the federal ban on drug felons receiving food stamps or cash assistance. Pennsylvania went the other way.
LATEST HEADLINES
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Supreme Court Agrees to Hear First Gun Case in Nearly a Decade
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L.A. Teachers' Strike Ends, Teachers Return to Classrooms
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New York Codifies Roe v. Wade and Expands Reproductive Health Rights
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Iowa 'Fetal Heartbeat' Abortion Law Blocked by Judge
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Governors: Let States Give Unemployment Benefits to Federal Workers
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To Help Unpaid Workers During Shutdown, D.C. Mayor to Issue Emergecy Legislation
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In Quest for Federal Money, States Debunk Mobile Providers’ Coverage Claims
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Doctors Call California’s Probe of Opioid Deaths a ‘Witch Hunt’
4 hours ago
Does the Obamacare Case Represent a New Norm for States?
Historically, attorneys general rarely weigh in on health policy or go up against each other in the courtroom over it. Then came the Affordable Care Act.
• From Obamacare to Opioids, Cities Step Up Their Legal Game
A State-Run Bank for Marijuana Money? Not So Fast.
The idea is gaining popularity as a way to get around federal laws that ban banks from handling cannabis businesses' money. But a new report pans the idea.
Not Just L.A.: Where Teachers Might Strike in 2019
Unrest over education funding and policy is brewing in several cities and states across the country.
• Why the L.A. Teacher Strike Is Different From Last Year's Protests
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.
Lawmakers 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.
The Bus System of the Future
Indianapolis is rethinking its approach, seeking new efficiencies that will better serve those from disadvantaged communities.
Government and the Predictive Power of Language
From preventing terrorism to spotting restaurant heath violations, a form of artificial intelligence called natural language processing can help connect the dots.
Infrastructure Investments Won’t Matter Until We Lower Retiree Costs
Congress should use new money to prod states and cities into addressing the growing expenses of public employees.
NEWS IN NUMBERS
26%
Proportion of traffic deaths related to speeding, which has remained steady since 2000. Meanwhile, many states have been raising speed limits.
MORE DIGITS
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 StateMOST READ
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If Shutdown Persists, Can States Fund Food Stamps and Welfare on Their Own?
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To Reduce Fatal Pregnancies, Some States Look to Doulas
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Not Just L.A.: Where Teachers Might Strike in 2019
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How the Shutdown Affects Federal Employment in Each State
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As Shutdown Stretches On, Transportation Officials Worry About Long-Term Effects
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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
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
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.
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.
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.
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?
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