FEATURES

• The New Black South
• By: Alan Greenblatt
• After nearly a century of moving north, African-Americans are reshaping cities and suburbs in the South.

• Public Universities Reach a Tipping Point
• By: Peter Harkness
• Severe funding cuts and the record-high numbers of people going to college are forcing state university systems to make tough decisions about financial aid, curriculums, research and more.

• Can Universal Health Care Work Without a Mandate?
• By: John Buntin
• President Barack Obama and the 26 states trying to overturn his federal health reform law say no, but some states have some real-world experience that could answer that question.

• Walmart Makes Its Urban Debut
• By: Ryan Holeywell
• In the past, cities have resisted big-box stores. But now, government leaders from New York to New Orleans are actively courting places like Walmart and Home Depot to move in.

• Parklets: The Next Big Tiny Idea in Urban Planning
• By: Zach Patton
• Cities from coast to coast are giving up parking spaces (and the revenue that comes from them) to create green public places for people to sit.

POLITICS + POLICY

• New Indiana Law Gives Residents Right to Resist Police
• By: Caroline Cournoyer

• Debit Cards Replace Paper Tax Refunds in Some States
• By: Ryan Holeywell
• At least six states this year issued their tax refunds on debit cards, in a move they say will save money for both the taxpayer and the government.

• Judge Tosses Controversial Florida Election Law
• By: Ryan Holeywell

• California’s Gavin Newsom Gets His Own TV Show
• By: Ryan Holeywell
• Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is likely the only public official who’s currently hosting a national television program while still in office.

• Texas School District Pays $20M for iPads
• By: Ryan Holeywell
• The McAllen school district is within the nation’s poorest metro area, and the investment in tablet computers has come at a time of reduced education spending overall.

• Legislative Organization Brings Political Parties Together
• By: Paul W. Taylor
• The State Legislative Leaders Foundation strives to provide “serious learning experiences” for its core constituency of about 500 legislative officials -- regardless of what party they belong to.

• States Have 20th-Century Revenue Systems
• By: Donald F. Kettl
• States can no longer rely on federal bailouts or taxes. For the latest on state revenues, click here.

• Another REAL ID Deadline Bites the Dust
• By: Ryan Holeywell
• Several federal deadlines to overhaul states’ driver's licenses systems have come and gone in the past seven years. As another one approaches, should states be concerned about complying?

• On-Site Health Centers Save Local Governments Money
• By: David Levine
• Several Florida cities have on-site clinics that are free for public employees and result in fewer long-term health problems and lower costs for everyone.

• The Price of Greening Stormwater
• By: Tom Arrandale
• Philadelphia officials hope the city’s redesigned stormwater fees will lead to imaginative private financing that will help rehabilitate watersheds.

• America Must Invest in Bigger and Better Infrastructure Projects
• By: Alex Marshall
• Have we lost our capacity to think big? Asia and Western Europe are building a series of infrastructure mega-projects that dwarf our efforts.

• With Americans Driving Less, What Will Happen to the Parking Lot?
• By: Tod Newcombe
• Cities are finding creative uses for these environmentally unfriendly spaces.

PROBLEM SOLVER

• Governments Discover Need for Mental Health First Aid
• By: Caroline Cournoyer
• Mental disorders are more common than heart disease and cancer combined -- one reason states and localities are teaching their employees how to recognize the signs of mental health problems and how to help.

• Performance Measurement Improves the Quality of Health Care
• By: Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
• Quality measures are transforming everything from billing practices to patient behavior.

• Illinois Helps Fund New Chicago Tech Center for Startups
• By: Brian Peteritas
• By creating a collaborative community of entrepreneurs in Chicago's Merchandise Mart, the state of Illinois aims to increase innovation and job-growth in the region.

• Michigan Businesses to Sell Exports on Chinese E-Commerce Site
• By: Brian Peteritas
• The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and an export services company want to help the state's businesses with unique opportunity to access on one of China's e-commerce sites.

• Michigan Shows What Can Be Achieved if CIOs and Budget Directors Get Along
• By: Steve Towns
• In too many instances, they aren’t on the same page -- or even speaking the same language.

• Insolvency, Bankruptcy and Doublespeak
• By: Girard Miller
• Don't plead poverty while soft-selling your bonds.

• How Philly’s Streets Commissioner Saves the Green
• By: Daniel Lippman
• Carlton Williams has made Philadelphia’s streets cleaner while reducing the frequency of collection and the cost of garbage pickup. How did he do it?

Training Opportunities

• Health Care Reform After the Decision
• In this Mercer Report, you’ll learn how different organizations plan to tackle the new requirements of ACA and discover where most employer concerns are focused, who expects to be hardest hit, and how different health plans and Medicaid may impact overall costs.
• Crime Prediction and Prevention


• Accelerating Economic Growth and Vitality