http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=89402662 Paul W. Taylor is the editor-at-large of GOVERNING, Chief Content Officer for e.Republic, Inc. and senior advisor to the Center for Digital Government. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-blurred-lines-between-social-media-censorship.html Indiana’s governor and D.C.’s transit agency got caught up in controversies after removing comments off their social media accounts. The takeaway? Public officials need to learn to keep their fingers off the delete button. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-public-officials-beware-media-will-uncover-lies.html A little lie the Seattle mayor told his constituents about a gun buyback program may now cost him his re-election. It’s a lesson for all public officials about dealing with reporters. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-state-shield-laws-double-edged-sword.html Shield laws provide predictability, say media advocates. But some worry that championing such laws puts journalists in the same arena with those they cover. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-changing-demographics-may-end-culture-wars.html From same-sex marriage to marijuana, millennials are changing our culture as their proportion of the population increases. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-supreme-court-looks-at-state-public-records-rules.html A case before the nation’s highest court could change the way citizens, journalists and entrepreneurs access government-held information. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-manufacturing-in-3d.html Three-dimensional printing could be the next big economic engine. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-commercial-advertising-in-public-places.html Public transit systems have accepted advertising for a long time. But it’s not always without controversy. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-what-privacy-means-americans-vs-europeans.html Experts are worried that disparate privacy rules between the two could pose a threat to future growth. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-universal-phone-service-sleeper-issue.html There are conflicting pressures on the universal service fee to maintain “plain old telephone service” on one hand and help pay for a broadband future on the other. http://www.governing.com/columns/col-santa-claus-future-of-civics.html A 115-year-old editorial on the existence of Santa Claus sheds light on the future of civics in America. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-ga-attracts-unlikely-students-to-govt-jobs.html An internship program in Georgia is hoping to open young minds to a career in public service. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-electric-vehicles-role-in-new-efficiency-rules.html One man’s test of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure along the West Coast highlights the hurdles ahead for states and localities in meeting the Obama administration’s new fuel efficiency rules. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-rethinking-parking-lot.html Everything we know about the automobile is under scrutiny, and so is everything we know about the parking lot. Should they be made of concrete or grass? Is their greatest purpose to generate revenue, store cars or act as a public space for people? http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-social-media-place-in-finance.html Public finance departments are significantly less likely than government in general to use social media or see its value in engaging with constituents. It might be time for this to change. http://www.governing.com/columns/dispatch/col-north-carolina-politics-governing.html Gov. Bev Perdue and at least 30 state lawmakers have decided not to run for reelection this fall, many of them citing the loss of civility and willingness to compromise when it comes to doing the public’s business.