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Why Are Local Governments Using a Russian Software the Feds Won't?

The reasons spotlight cities' funding and workforce struggles that cybersecurity experts have warned about for years.

• IT Department? In Small-Town Governments, They Rarely Exist.

Trump Administration Pulls 18 Cities' Funding for Obamacare Enrollment

Health policy experts say the decision could further destabilize the marketplace.

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.

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.

Downtown Phoenix

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.

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.

Jennifer Lawless sitting in a chair.

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.

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.

COMMENTARY

How Government Data Can Supercharge the Nudge

Jurisdictions are tapping the latest in behavioral science to steer people toward better choices. Emerging technologies can increase its impact.

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.

WHO SAID THAT?

“That K-9s could be exposed to opioids is a reflection of the epidemic we’re seeing.”

MORE QUOTES
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

States Get Creative on Pension Funding

The latest plans in California and New Jersey have observers asking: creative solution or accounting gimmick?

MOST READ

  1. 1

    Meet the Mayor Who Used Millennials to Revive Her Small Town
  2. 2

    The Unexpected Reason Panhandling Bans Are Being Struck Down Across the Country
  3. 3

    Sessions' New Order Lets Police Circumvent State Laws on Civil Asset Forfeiture
  4. 4

    Why Are Local Governments Using a Russian Software the Feds Won't?
  5. 5

    States Get Creative on Pension Funding
  6. 6

    Advocating for the Environment When Your Rural Town Won't
  7. 7

    How One of America’s Hottest Cities Is Making Summer a Little More Bearable

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.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

12 to 15 minutes

Time that Hawaii would have to warn the public about a North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile attack on the island. In November, the state will start running monthly tests with air raid warning sirens as part of a larger preparedness plan.

MORE DIGITS

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.

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.

COMMENTARY

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.

COMMENTARY

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.

Content from Veolia

4 Key Stages of the Circular Economy

The Circular Economy, Part 4/4: The circular economy isn't synonymous with "reduce, reuse, recycle," but it's also more inclusive of this lifestyle than a community might think. We've told three stories of circular infrastructure, and the benefits it offers to their respective communities, but what do they have in common? They all follow the same four steps.

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos speaks during the National Association of Secretaries of State conference.

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.

COMMENTARY

Back in the Black, Without the Feds to Thank

Cities that faced bankruptcy not long ago have made remarkable recoveries -- all on their own.

COMMENTARY

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.

COMMENTARY

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.

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.