http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=111463464 Ryan Holeywell is a staff writer at GOVERNING. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/With-Deadline-Approaching-States-Must-Help-Fund-Amtrak-or-Lose-Service.html California, Illinois and Indiana are quickly approaching a federal deadline that will require them to help fund Amtrak operations or lose service in their states. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-ridiculously-simple-sign-may-have-prevented-collissions-In-virginia.html Arlington County, Va., police went back to the basics and to everyone's surprise, a sign that says "Don't Hit the Car in Front of You" seems to be reducing accidents. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-shutdown-republican-governors-tricky-spot.html Many GOP governors oppose Obamacare, but they don't want their own states to suffer from a shutdown. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-more-questions-than-answers-federal-shutdown-states-localities.html If the shutdown lasts more than a couple weeks, the states may start paying for federal programs. But it's unclear whether they would ever be reimbursed. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-what-a-federal-shutdown-means-for-state-and-local-governments.html States and localities aren't too concerned about the immediate impacts of the federal shutdown that began at midnight, but a prolonged one is another matter. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-takoma-gives-teens-voting-rights.html Like many places, Takoma Park, Md., suffers from low turnout for local elections -- part of the reason it’s lowering the voting age to 16 starting next month. http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-october-2013-last-look.html The site of the now-demolished Detroit Tigers baseball stadium is now home to “pop-up dog parties.” http://www.governing.com/topics/urban/gov-houston-urban-revival.html Even the country’s most sprawling, least dense, most automobile-dependent city in America is trying to adapt to people’s preference for urban living. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-new-york-unveils-texting-zones.html New York officials believe they're the first to use signs to encourage drivers to use cellphones in safe, designated places like rest stops. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-new-study-could-help-make-driving-vastly-safer.html Researchers are studying how motorists interact with their cars in the moments before a crash. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-house-passes-water-bill.html The legislation, which will cut red tape and ensure critical port projects are completed more quickly, got unanimous passage. Its next stop is the full House of Representatives. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-house-judiciary-releases-online-sales-tax-plan.html The legislation to allow states and localities to collect online sales taxes has been stuck in the U.S. House, but the issue may gain momentum back. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/gov-nebraska-governor-pushes-tax-reform.html Gov. Dave Heineman, who tried to eliminate the state income tax earlier this year, wants to replace the lost revenue by ending some sales tax exemptions. But legislators still aren't sold. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-how-to-toll-every-interstate-highway-in-america.html The Reason Foundation -- one of the early champions of public-private partnerships -- outlines a plan for lifting the federal ban on interstate tolling to fund roads. http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-house-unveils-bill-for-critical-water-infrastructure-projects.html Backers say the Water Resources Reform and Development Act will cut approval time for much-needed upgrades to ports, inland waterways and flood control projects.