The Unexpected Reason Panhandling Bans Are Being Struck Down Across the Country
A Supreme Court ruling about regulating church signs is spurring cities to repeal their anti-begging laws.
Jailhouses Experiment With Ways to Lock Less People Up
Among the places testing new ways to keep low-risk offenders out of jail, Charleston, S.C., stands out.
How One of America’s Hottest Cities Is Making Summer a Little More Bearable
Dangerous heat isn't new to Phoenix, but its efforts to keep people safe in triple-digit temperatures are.
In Navajo Nation, Bad Roads Can Mean Life or Death
Native Americans who live on the reservation in Utah are used to having to fight for basic government services. But they’d at least like roads that can reliably transfer patients to the ER and kids to school.
LATEST HEADLINES
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Trump Voter Commission Passes First Court Test
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Massachusetts' Highest Court: State Can't Arrest Immigrants on Behalf of Feds
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In Case of North Korean Attack, Hawaii Revives Cold War-Era Preparations
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New Jersey Becomes 3rd State to Raise Smoking Age to 21
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Psychological Tests Now Part of Police Interviews in South Carolina
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How 2 Hospital Giants Hope to Dodge Federal Laws and Create a State-Sanctioned Monopoly
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As NYC Subway Sits in Disrepair, Politicians Fight Over Whose Job It Is to Fix
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With School Funding Up in the Air, Illinois Governor Calls Lawmakers Back Into Session
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Talking Politics With an Expert on Women in Politics
Jennifer Lawless is optimistic about the wave of women thinking about running for office -- but only tepidly.
Advocating for the Environment When Your Rural Town Won't
Environmental advocacy is difficult in the Trump era. In rural areas, it's even harder. “To be personally attacked for speaking up, to be silenced, it was devastating to me," says one resident who tried to fight fracking in her rural Pennsylvania county.
COMMENTARY
Getting Public Benefits to the People Who Need Them
Low take-up is a problem at every level of government. As recent research shows, just keeping things simple can help a lot.
In Virginia, Government Workers Are Getting Job-Search Help (From Their Current Employer)
“As far as I know, we’re the only state doing this,” says Gov. Terry McAuliffe's chief of staff.
Sessions' New Order Lets Police Circumvent State Laws on Civil Asset Forfeiture
State politicians on both sides of the aisle have increasingly worked to curb the practice. Now, the attorney general may have made their efforts pointless.
States Get Creative on Pension Funding
The latest plans in California and New Jersey have observers asking: creative solution or accounting gimmick?
The City Where Retail and Residences Actually Mix Well
Unlike most places, Portland, Ore., offers easy living and shopping -- and it’s paying off for the city.
The Week in Public Finance: Alaska Downgraded, Low Income-Tax Revenues and Congress Meddles in Online Sales Taxes Again
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Seattle Brings Emoji-Based Food Safety Ratings to America
Some cities post letter grades on restaurants. King County opted for something more visual. The person who pushed for public ratings in the first place, though, isn't satisfied.
MOST READ
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Meet the Mayor Who Used Millennials to Revive Her Small Town
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Sessions' New Order Lets Police Circumvent State Laws on Civil Asset Forfeiture
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States Get Creative on Pension Funding
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Seattle Brings Emoji-Based Food Safety Ratings to America
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The Unexpected Reason Panhandling Bans Are Being Struck Down Across the Country
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How a Cashless Society Would Harm the Poor
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For This Government Job, Being a Former Drug Addict Is a Requirement
How a Cashless Society Would Harm the Poor
Businesses and governments are going cashless. Anti-poverty advocates say the change is problematic for low-income people, but they disagree on how to solve it.
NEWS IN NUMBERS
75,000
New Yorkers who applied for free college tuition next year under the state's first-in-nation program. About 23,000 people are projected to qualify. After graduation, students must live and work in the state for as many years as they receive the benefit.
MORE DIGITS
At Governors Meeting, Trudeau Pushes to Preserve NAFTA
As the first leader of a national government to ever address the National Governors Association, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for fewer trade barriers and promised to work directly with state leaders.
Why a Border Adjustment Tax Would Be a Bad Deal for States and Localities
It would slam the insurance industry, bringing downturns in the bond market and tax revenues.
A Better Way to Teach Civic Leadership
The programs we have are pretty good, but they need to keep graduates engaged and deepen their learning.
Looking Back at Trump's Win in Raw Numbers
The president's victory has been extensively explored. But a state- and county-level look at the data offers stunning evidence of just how large the shifts were in certain places.
Content from AARP
Creating a Fit and Healthy Community
As obesity rates rise, mayors are taking action to help citizens improve diets and get moving.
State Election Officials Fear Feds Are Making Security Worse
Secretaries of state are concerned about not just the federal government's request for voter information but also the information they're not getting about election security breaches.
How Much Can Cities Do About Walkability?
A lot of what fosters it is out of their control, but a little audacity goes a long way.
Back in the Black, Without the Feds to Thank
Cities that faced bankruptcy not long ago have made remarkable recoveries -- all on their own.
On Infrastructure, California Goes Back to Basics
The state's transportation chief calls a new $54 billion transportation package monumental. But the projects it funds will be more mundane than monumental.
