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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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Does Business Know Best?

You can’t run public agencies like private companies, but you can borrow ideas from them.

WHO SAID THAT?

“I walk in the room and I peak in and I come back out and I said, ‘I thought this was a women’s leadership meeting.’ And so when I came back, they said, ‘Well, it is.’ I said, ‘But there’s a man speaking.’”

MORE QUOTES
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds at the National Governors Association's annual summer meeting.

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.

MOST READ

  1. 1

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

    Sessions' New Order Lets Police Circumvent State Laws on Civil Asset Forfeiture
  3. 3

    How a Cashless Society Would Harm the Poor
  4. 4

    For This Government Job, Being a Former Drug Addict Is a Requirement
  5. 5

    States Get Creative on Pension Funding
  6. 6

    Seattle Brings Emoji-Based Food Safety Ratings to America
  7. 7

    White House Lobbies Governors on Latest Health Bill, But They're Not Buying It
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.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

40,494

Complaints to New York City's 311 system last year about loud talking. Noise complaints in the city in general have more than doubled in five years.

MORE DIGITS
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.

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.

Two Environmental Buzzwords, Same Meaning?

“Zero waste” and “circular economy” are often used interchangeably.

COMMENTARY

The Need to Manage Mobility From the Ground Up

A top-down view of transportation is important, but it's crucial to focus on the needs of individuals and underserved communities.

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.

little girl sitting sadly on steps

For Opioids' Youngest Victims, Is Help Too Little, Too Late?

Drug abuse is overwhelming the child welfare system at unprecedented rates. Solutions are slowly emerging, but they aren't always adopted.

• Behind the Decision to Post That Infamous Facebook Photo of the Opioid Epidemic at Its Worst

Meet the Mayor Who Used Millennials to Revive Her Small Town

Erwin, Tenn., was struggling. Then its mayor did something many public officials usually don't: She listened to young people.

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.

Auto Manufacturing's Slowdown Could Trouble Some U.S. Regions

The industry has been a key driver of the sector's job gains. See which metro areas could suffer most from expected job losses.

The Tragic Struggle to Prevent Infant Mortality

Even in cities that have tried to address the problem, babies are still dying at high rates for a developed nation.