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California Poised to Be a 'Sanctuary State.' Will Others Follow?

A couple of other states are considering similar bills. It was an uphill battle -- even in one of the most pro-immigrant states.

• New York Governor Restricts What State Workers Can Say About Immigration

5 Obamacare Changes States Want, Ranked From Most to Least Likely to Pass

How will the last-minute repeal bill impact the bipartisan push to repeal the law?

To Wipe Out Corruption, Look to Philadelphia

The city went almost a decade without a single corruption scandal. What's its secret?

Attica Scott Is Tired of Being the 'Angry Black Woman'

The first black woman elected to the Kentucky state House in almost 20 years says she gets the label sometimes for simply speaking her mind.

Buses, Yes Buses, Are 'the Hottest Trend in Transit'

Technology, declining ridership and changing demographics have spurred cities across the country to redesign bus systems that are more convenient. It's no easy task.

Drinking Water Isn't Safe for Millions of Americans. It's Up to States to Fix.

A new report documents what environmental advocates say has been happening for decades: The federal government fails to protect Americans from potentially cancer-causing chemicals. And they have little hope that will change anytime soon.

Food Deserts and the Policy Power of Maps

It's hard to fix a problem you can't see. So Maryland made its lack of healthy food options very visible.

(In)Justice From the Inside: Tales From a Woman Embedded in America's Largest Court

"It clearly shows that something is going wrong in that system when a grandmother is raising her hands like she might be shot," says author and professor Nicole Gonzalez Van Cleve.

Incomes Are Rising in Most States, Yet Inequality Isn't Improving

The nation's median household income rose 2.4 percent last year, with significant increases in 30 states.

The Week in Public Finance: Troubling Economic Update, Major Online Tax Ruling and More

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

What’s ‘Proportional Voting,’ and Why Is It Making a Comeback?

Most U.S. cities abandoned it in the mid-20th century.

COMMENTARY

America’s New Front Porches: Public Spaces

They bring people together. We need more of them.

WHO SAID THAT?

“Whose streets? Our streets!”

MORE QUOTES
An empty Sears store.

As U.S. Economy Improves, Cities May Be Headed for Another Downturn

Cities still haven't recovered from the recession, and a new report concludes that they might instead be sliding into another fiscal contraction.

MOST READ

  1. 1

    Why Obamacare's Much-Criticized Individual Mandate Is Likely to Endure (for Now)
  2. 2

    Drinking Water Isn't Safe for Millions of Americans. It's Up to States to Fix.
  3. 3

    5 Obamacare Changes States Want, Ranked From Most to Least Likely to Pass
  4. 4

    Buses, Yes Buses, Are 'the Hottest Trend in Transit'
  5. 5

    Incomes Are Rising in Most States, Yet Inequality Isn't Improving
  6. 6

    Food Deserts and the Policy Power of Maps
  7. 7

    How Did America's Richest State Become Such a Fiscal Mess?

Will the U.S. Supreme Court Take a Stand Against Partisan Gerrymandering?

Past rulings have "made politicians think there are no boundaries around what they can do." A Wisconsin case may lead to some limits.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

Oct. 15

Day that Baltimore's bike-share service will reopen. It shut down this weekend because so many bikes were stolen that the company is installing additional locking devices.

MORE DIGITS

After 2016 Election Hacks, Some States Return to Paper Ballots

It's one of the ways states are trying to address growing concerns about the cybersecurity of voting.

• Top State Officials Join Bipartisan Fight Against Election Hacking
COMMENTARY

Why Government Watchdogs Are Worried

Budget cuts and political retaliation, they say, are endangering their jobs and their ability to uncover information.

States With the Highest and Lowest Uninsured Rates

Obamacare's fate remains unknown, but at least one thing is certain: The law has led to a record number of people having health insurance.

COMMENTARY

What Today's Democratic Party Can Learn From Yesterday's GOP

In 1977, the GOP faced an identity crisis. It eventually found a winning formula and returned to power.

Content from AARP

Thriving Environment, Thriving Community

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

'The Aftermath of the Aftermath': Hurricanes Stretch Safety Net and Providers

History suggests that social services will be in high demand for months. Are caseworkers in Texas and Florida prepared?

Is 'Going Local' the Secret to Economic Development?

Newark, N.J., Mayor Ras Baraka hopes so. Right now, the major employers there mostly hire people and buy business supplies and services outside city limits.

Why a Record Number of States Passed Budgets Late This Year (If at All)

Politics and finances are largely to blame. But some say it's a trend not worth worrying about.

Can New Perks Make Up for Smaller Pensions?

Many governments hope so, as they add benefits like napping pods and kid-friendly workplaces to keep employees happy.

As a 9/11-Inspired Emergency Network Nears, Some States May Go Rogue

The government is building a nationwide network that helps first responders communicate better during emergencies. To succeed, most states must opt in.

• Alaska Agrees to Join National Emergency Communications Network