• Whatever Happened to the Office of Urban Affairs?
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   March 29, 2013
• Created four years ago, the federal office was supposed to engage cities and metro areas in all major policy decisions. Today, the Obama administration has “little to show for its efforts.”
• 2 Comments

• The Most Important Moment in the Supreme Court's DOMA Hearing
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   March 28, 2013
• When Chief Justice John Roberts implied overturning DOMA could hurt states' rights, it was likely a plea to one of his colleagues.
• 2 Comments

• Should States, Cities Invest in Gun Manufacturers?
• BY: Penelope Lemov   |   March 28, 2013
• It might make sense financially, but some argue it isn't ethical.
• 6 Comments

• What Makes Grand Rapids So Grand?
• BY: Tod Newcombe   |   March 28, 2013
• The Michigan city is rebounding, and its secret to success includes partnerships and a regional agenda.
• 1 Comments

• The Trouble with GASB
• BY: Liz Farmer   |   March 28, 2013
• In the world of public finance, a long-running debate over what’s included in state and local financial statements is reaching new heights.
• 4 Comments

• How Four Students Solved a Difficult Mental-Health Service Problem
• BY: Mark Funkhouser   |   March 28, 2013
• The winners of this year's National Public Policy Challenge had a guiding principle: Think big, start small.
• 1 Comments

• A Few Hundred Innovative Ideas for Urban Governance
• BY: Ben Weinryb Grohsgal   |   March 27, 2013
• The five winners of the Mayors Challenge are the cream of a bounteous crop.

• Building an Election System that Works
• BY: Susan K. Urahn   |   March 27, 2013
• A new tool gives administrators and policymakers crucial benchmarking data they need to make the voting process fair, accurate and convenient.

• Should Private Citizens Defend State Laws in Court?
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   March 26, 2013
• The U.S. Supreme Court's answer will determine whether the justices rule on California's gay marriage ban at all.

• NYC Social Service Nonprofits Compete for Prize Money
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   March 26, 2013
• To win, they'll need to prove they have the most novel and effective way to help low-income New Yorkers.
• 1 Comments

• The Very Busy Process of Delivering Innovation
• BY: Neil Kleiman   |   March 26, 2013
• From brainstorming to "ideation" to troubleshooting, a city's Innovation Delivery Team has to cover a lot of ground--and do it quickly.
• 1 Comments

• Mississippi Dems Weigh 'Nuclear Option' to Force Medicaid Debate
• BY: Dylan Scott   |   March 26, 2013
• House Democrats say they're willing to let the state's entire Medicaid program expire to force a debate on Obamacare's expansion.
• 3 Comments

• Immigrant Population Growing Faster Than Natives in Many Metro Areas
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   March 26, 2013
• New census estimates find international migration surpassed domestic population growth in 135 metro areas. View data showing which metro areas are welcoming the most immigrants.

• New Transparency Grades Issued for States
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   March 26, 2013
• A new report finds all 50 states now maintain online spending transparency websites. View grades issued for each state.

• Liquor Prohibition Ending in Parts of the South
• BY: J.B. Wogan   |   March 26, 2013
• Eighty years after Congress repealed prohibition, some cities in Mississippi have decided to permit the sale of hard alcohol.
• 1 Comments