Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Los Angeles is betting a massive rail tunnel beneath can ease congestion on the notoriously clogged 405 freeway.
The program intended to replace the property taxes counties can’t collect is unpredictable and relies on a complex, inefficient formula. Congress has the chance to address its flaws and redefine the federal-local relationship.
Author and security expert Nicole Perlroth explains why state and local infrastructure is in the crosshairs.
Fire seasons are becoming longer and more severe, affecting communities far from the fires themselves. There are steps that could mitigate the problem.
State and local governments are likelier to face a ransomware attack than they are almost any other major emergency. These attacks' true damage goes far beyond the price of the ransom.
AI poses a threat to Native sovereignty over cultural knowledge. Tribal nations should have the authority to govern how their data is collected, stored, interpreted, shared and used.
From AI and customer experience improvements to shared services and smarter IT, state and local governments are using modern tools to deliver faster, simpler and more cost-effective services for residents.
An array of non-traditional investment vehicles will likely be offered up to governments’ defined-contribution plans. Consultants, plan sponsors and overseers need to approach them with caution.
The cancellation of these funds has left communities scrambling to scale back long-planned infrastructure projects meant to reduce future disaster risks.
A new analysis from the Urban Institute finds only 10 percent of American homes are located within half a mile of frequent public transit service, with significant variation from place to place.
The laws that grant immunity to bystanders calling 911 when someone overdoses can save lives. But by drawing police presence, they also are disrupting the illicit drug trade. Policymakers can build on that.
A Housing and Urban Development report awaited since December shows homeless numbers went down for the first time since 2016.
Benefits that travel with workers from job to job give them stability, and they’re a recruitment and retention tool for businesses. State laws that provide legal clarity can make it work for everyone.
Votes aren’t fully counted, but the general-election duels for California governor, L.A. mayor and other offices are starting to take shape.
The design of political constituencies is an important element in the maintenance of community. The way we have manipulated voting districts has eroded a relationship that ought to be fundamental to public life.
Our system for dealing with these emergencies is weaker than it once was. Leaders closest to the people need to strengthen their communications, operations and community engagement before the next crisis arrives.
Seven states that rely on Colorado River water couldn’t agree on a plan to share a shrinking resource. What comes next could be especially fateful for Arizona.
It’s not just uncertainty coming from Washington. It’s a structural shift in who bears fiscal risk, and local governments are at the bottom of that ladder.
The state has become the first to ban personalized algorithmic pricing for food retailers and food delivery companies.
Electing legislatures under such a system would give minority-party voters more of a voice in their government and blunt the impact of gerrymandering. An effort in Wyoming could serve as a blueprint.
They’re crucial to local economies. As Congress debates a new surface transportation bill, it’s a time to set funding formulas that reflect needs on the ground.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become a touchstone in urban politics around the country for all kinds of reasons. One of them is a focus on executing basic government services.
A sharp decline in international migration slowed population growth in 48 states, underscoring how dependent many states have become on migration to sustain growth.
Too many end up homeless. Stability is critical, and far more can be done to create supportive environments.
A report from Trust for America’s Health examines state readiness to respond to disease outbreaks and disasters.
The race for California insurance commissioner is attracting new attention, new money, and a range of policy ideas as increasingly frequent disasters have shaken up the insurance industry.
The latest struggle over abortion rights is in disguise at the Supreme Court.
Median asking rent is down from a peak in 2022, according to a null report. Some cities are still seeing year-over-year rent increases.
In Arizona alone, the number of residents receiving nutrition aid fell 42 percent from July 2025 to January 2026.
Convenience stores, bodegas and other small food sellers will have to make difficult changes under new federal and state regulations. It could make it harder for low-income people to follow a balanced diet, and some may have to close.
