http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=87483787 Anya Sostek was a GOVERNING correspondent http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/Vallejos-Fiscal-Freefall.html When the town of Vallejo, California, declared bankruptcy this spring, Mayor Osby Davis predicted -- and rightly so -- that he'd get an earful from... http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/Sending-Mixed-Messages.html When Pam Fischer sees motorists holding a cell phone while driving, she doesn't hesitate to pull up alongside, roll down her window and inform them... http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/Deed-Trouble.html With mortgage foreclosures at record levels, states are scrambling to regulate lending practices and products. http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/Terrified-Testify.html Increasingly, criminal cases are being stalled because intimidated witnesses don't show up or because they recant their statements. http://www.governing.com/topics/technology/Child-Proofing.html Georgia Automates Its Family Services System http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/Blind-Sighted.html Eyewitness identification doesn't always mesh with DNA evidence, and that's leading police departments to rethink their lineup procedures. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/Santa-in-Uniontown.html Joe Hardy ran for county office to revive his community--even if he had to pay for it himself. http://www.governing.com/topics/energy-env/Seattle-Clears-Inside-Air.html A public housing project is built for asthma relief http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/Big-Breakup.html In January of 2000, Governing's cover story highlighted the miraculous relationship that Mayor Jerry Brown and City Manager Robert Bobb had forged in an attempt to revitalize Oakland ["Mayor Brown and Mr. Bobb"]. http://www.governing.com/topics/finance/Click-Pay-and-Win.html When Amy Sinnwell, an elementary school teacher in Iowa, paid her property taxes, she wasn't expecting to get any money back. But she ended up getting $500 from the Iowa State County Treasurers Association's "Get Back" contest, which gave an award to one randomly chosen taxpayer who filed online. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/Clear-Eye-Transplant-Tie.html Wisconsin sees a way to give living organ donors a break http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/Setting-Limits-Server-Farms.html Nestled in the economic glow of the new economy are data centers-- massive warehouses filled with computers and other telecommunications networking equipment. Otherwise known as server farms or tech hotels, these structures are causing development headaches for local governments across the country. http://www.governing.com/topics/technology/Crime-Solvers-Clued-Spit.html Law enforcement officials now have a new category for drops of saliva, roots of hair or even flakes of dandruff: important clues. http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/Goodbye-Mr-Chad.html Experts have warned for years that antiquated voting procedures could lead to disaster. Now they have. Will that be enough to change the system? http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/Driving-Hard-Bargain.html During the 2003 legislative session, 16 states had to make a choice: join the rest of the country and comply with a federal requirement to set a .08 blood alcohol content standard for drunk driving or lose a substantial amount of federal highway money ["Slow to Toe the DUI Line," May 2003].