FEATURES

• Can Green Technology Propel Economic Development?
• By: Chad Vander Veen

• With states looking to kick-start their economic engines, green technology is increasingly viewed as the piston helping drive it.

• Keeping Government Green
• By: Zach Patton

• While no longer a top priority, green technology is still a winning strategy.

• The Competition for Jobs
• By: Blake Harris

• Washington State's battle to save its aviation industry mirrors the larger competition among states to attract and keep jobs.

• Targeting Public-Sector Unions
• By: John Buntin

• Critics say it's time for cities and states to get tough with public-sector unions. They may be right - for all the wrong reasons.

• Local Governments Face Census Challenge
• By: Josh Goodman

• Localities want an accurate census count, but it's going to cost them money to make that happen.

DEPARTMENTS

• Shrinking State Government
• By: Paul W. Taylor
• Across the nation, governors are slashing and consolidating boards, commissions and agencies as part of a larger effort at reforming government.

POLITICS+ POLICY

• The Price of Moderate Politics
• By: Josh Goodman

• It hasn't been easy for Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter to govern from the center, especially in a moderate state.

• Growing Alaska's Legislature
• By: Josh Goodman

• As populations shift away from rural counties, power too, will shift away from rural lawmakers.

• Philadelphians Withhold Billions in Taxes
• By: Josh Goodman

• To recover the more than $1 billion in unpaid taxes, the city is taking it directly out of paychecks.

• The Price of Popularity
• By: Josh Goodman

• Why can't good governors get elected to the U.S. Senate?

• States, Localities Face a 'Lost Decade'
• By: Peter Harkness
• Economic recovery will be slow, subduing any ambitions state and local governments may harbor to play a role in shaping national policy.

• Agriculturists Vs. Animal Advocates
• By: Tina Trenkner

• Could agriculture be more proactive on farm animal welfare than animal advocates?

• New Smog Rules Target Rural Counties
• By: Elizabeth Daigneau

• Proposed EPA rules may throw rural counties into Clean Air Act violation overnight.

• Are Wind Farms a Health Risk?
• By: Jessica Mulholland

• A study of families living near wind farms found nature's energy might not be so healthy.

• Do Environmental Regulations Hurt the Economy?
• By: William Fulton
• Environmental regulations have transformed California's economy but it's not always clear if the result was positive.

• Free Light Rail Rides
• By: Tod Newcombe
• Portland, Ore., struggles to keep fare-free service alive.

PROBLEM SOLVER

• Using Performance to Deliver Promises
• By: Jonathan Walters

• Can the feds and states find an effective way to achieve the results everyone wants to see?

• New Revenue, New Concerns
• By: Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
• Contingency fee contracts are becoming hot, but have their limits.

• Michigan and the Feds Try Sharing Cyber-Security Tools
• By: Steve Towns
• The experiment could help states cut the cost of protecting sensitive government information.

• Fairy Tale Pension Projections
• By: John E. Petersen
• Assumptions about return rates and risky investments foreshadow big problems.

• Boston's Hip, New Chief of Staff
• By: John Buntin

• Can Mitchell Weiss spice up Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's old-school approach?

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