http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=91055499 Russell Nichols is a GOVERNING staff writer. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/governments-experiment-with-risk-free-financing.html Massachusetts may be the first state to use social impact bonds, a unique model that started in the U.K. for financing social programs. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/georgia-mental-health-deal.html Under the agreement with the Justice Department, Georgia will end new admissions to state mental hospitals and develop assertive community treatment, intensive care management, supported housing and supported employment programs to serve 9,000 people with mental illness over the next four years. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/A-Failing-National-Mental-Health-System.html In 2006, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) graded states' mental health-care systems. The national average was a D. In a follow-up three years later, that average didn't change. http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/following-patient-reentry-orders-georgia.html Georgia is the latest state to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to move mental health patients out of hospitals and into the community. http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/states-embark-space-race.html The successful landing of NASA’s rover Curiosity on the surface of Mars is a reminder that America’s space exploration program is in a state of transition. http://www.governing.com/topics/economic-dev/cambridge-mass-space-center-that-wasnt.html In the 1960s, Cambridge, Mass., was all set to launch NASA's electronics hub -- until the hub was relocated to Houston. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/California-Nonprofits-Target-Amazon-with-Boycott.html A coalition of social welfare groups urges Californians to cancel Amazon accounts until the online retailer starts collecting state sales taxes. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Can-California-Learn-from-Chinas-High-Speed-Rail-System.html California's high-speed rail project suffers another blow as federal cuts threaten its future. Can a trip to China help legislators put the project on the right track? http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/do-die-scenario-threatens-californias-redevelopment-agencies.html To save redevelopment agencies, cities and organizations have two bleak choices: sue or pony up $1.7 billion. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Could-South-California-Be-51st-State.html Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone believes that the state is “ungovernable” and proposes that 13 conservative counties split from California. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Attack-on-No-Child-Left-Behind-Underway.html In opposing the strict federal education law, state education leaders seek to take control by defying requirements. http://www.governing.com/topics/technology/cloud-computing-no-easy-fix.html Companies have been pitching the cloud as a virtual field of dreams that can help make storage issues and server problems disappear. But is that true? http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/In-California-Violent-Video-Game-Law-Goes-Down.html In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court shot down a California law, which bans the sale of violent video games to minors. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Should-California-Kill-the-Death-Penalty-to-Save-Billions.html On the heels of a comprehensive study about the huge price tag on California's death row, one state senator proposes to abolish the death penalty once and for all. http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Is-Californias-Three-Strikes-Law-Due-for-a-Change-Up.html Stanford University lawyers gear up with a political consultant to pitch a reform initiative for one of the harshest sentencing laws in the nation.