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Don Willett’s Lone Star Legal Show

The Texas Supreme Court justice is witty and approachable, and he's huge on Twitter. He's also one of the most influential conservative jurists in the country right now.

Drowning in Data, Cities Turn to 'Citizen Scientists'

Governments have more data than they have the manpower to handle. Some recruit volunteers to help analyze it all, but they're far from being experts in data.

What If Government Just Gave Everyone Cash, No Strings Attached?

The radical idea of a universal basic income is far from new, but it's finally being tested around the world -- even in America.

Rural America Gets Creative to Attract Much-Needed Doctors

"Training in 'the sticks,' sticks," says one medical professional. But first, rural areas have to get doctors there.

These Governors Are Rich, But Are They Effective?

The wealthy are increasingly seeking their state's highest office. Winning has been the easy part.

Ebola safety suits COMMENTARY

A Better Way to Manage the Next Public Health Emergency

The typical approach can result in the wrong people — or not enough of the right people — being engaged in the response.

Activists dressed as characters from "The Handmaid's Tale" outside the Texas Capitol.

For the Future of Anti-Abortion Laws, Look to Missouri

Health policy experts say other conservative states often follow Missouri's lead on abortion measures. This year, the state passed several never-before-seen regulations.

COMMENTARY

Infrastructure Lessons From One of the Nation’s First P3s

A 75-year-old highway project offers clues to solving a critical present-day problem.

Ron Richard, president pro tempore of the Missouri Senate

Term Limits Could Hurt Republicans in 2018

Twice as many Republicans can't run again for state legislative office. That could help Democrats, but how much?

The Week in Public Finance: A Hockey Brawl in St. Louis, New Jersey's Pension Plan and Another Illinois Impasse

A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.

States Add a Human (Services) Touch to 'Stat'

Colorado is one of the few governments to employ the data-driven approach in human services. It's helping the state tackle major problems.

Speeding Plays an Even Bigger Role in Traffic Deaths Than We Thought, Say Feds

The National Transportation Safety Board wants governments to crack down on speeding, which claims as many traffic deaths as drunk driving. But the hard question is: How?

WHO SAID THAT?

“It is ingrained in people that you should be able to make ends meet if you’re working. But we’re seeing a shift to the idea that being able to meet your basic needs is a right.”

MORE QUOTES

Work for Us – Or Else: The Rise of Noncompete Contracts

It's now common, even for lower-paying jobs, to make employees pledge their loyalty to companies. Some states are stepping in to stop the corporate abuse.

MOST READ

  1. 1

    Cities Nationwide Brace for More Alt-Right Protests This Weekend
  2. 2

    What Does the National Opioid Emergency Mean for States and Cities?
  3. 3

    What If Government Just Gave Everyone Cash, No Strings Attached?
  4. 4

    The Rise of the 'Night Mayor' in America
  5. 5

    For the Future of Anti-Abortion Laws, Look to Missouri
  6. 6

    Speeding Plays an Even Bigger Role in Traffic Deaths Than We Thought, Say Feds
  7. 7

    These Governors Are Rich, But Are They Effective?
The first meeting of the president's opioid commission. From left: Dr. Bertha K. Madras, a Harvard Medical School professor who specializes in addiction biology, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Carolina Gov. Roy Coo

What Does the National Opioid Emergency Mean for States and Cities?

There are still some major unanswered questions about Trump's declaration.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

$2,000

Fine for parents in Michigan who listen to their children's landline phone call. If a state representative gets his way, parents will soon be exempt from the eavesdropping law, which could also land them in prison for up to two years.

MORE DIGITS

Legal or Not, States Forge Ahead With 401(k)-for-Everyone Plans

Congress jeopardized the future of state plans to help private employees save for retirement. States don't seem to care.

Hackers' Little Helpers: Employees With Bad 'Cyber-Hygiene'

Governments are starting to realize that cybersecurity isn't just the responsibility of the IT department.

COMMENTARY

Throwing Money at Businesses Has Been a Bad Idea Since the Start

It's time to abandon corporate tax breaks. Just look at their history.

COMMENTARY

Transportation Innovation’s Crucial Ingredient

For the revolution to succeed, smart regulators and thoughtful entrepreneurs will need to work together.

Content from AARP

Thriving Environment, Thriving Community

Fresh air, clean water and open spaces are fundamental pillars of a healthy community.

The Rise of the 'Night Mayor' in America

The concept caught fire in Europe and is gaining relevance in large and small cities across the Atlantic.

COMMENTARY

Promoting the Good That Public Institutions Do

A code of ethics should be about more than preventing abuses. It should also promote positive contributions.

COMMENTARY

Why Are Government Websites So Bad?

Broken links, outdated information and mysterious abbreviations are just a few of the problems.

What Happens When the Attorney General Refuses to Defend a Law?

In lawsuits involving high-profile partisan issues, some state AGs choose to sit out.

How Driverless Cars Could Be a Big Problem for Cities

The technology could signal the beginning of the end of parking tickets and other revenue sources. Some cities' budgets could take a big hit.