The Power and Danger of Setting Extreme Goals

As many as 20 million Americans are supposed to enroll in the online marketplaces and purchase health insurance this year. But many people still aren't aware that the exchanges even exist. BY Dylan Scott

The programs were found to be ineffective in reducing violent crime, but cities are revisiting -- and in some cases, revamping -- them in the wake of last year's mass shootings. BY J.B. Wogan

Four state legislatures meet every other year instead of annually. Lawmakers in North Dakota and Texas want to leave biennial budgeting in the past. BY J.B. Wogan

A new report examines 30 cities' online transparency efforts. View scores for each local government. BY Mike Maciag

Ed Koch, the lively, contentious mayor of New York City who died at the age of 88 on Feb. 1, left an indelible mark on the city where he lived and worked for most of his life. BY Tod Newcombe

Public transit systems have accepted advertising for a long time. But it’s not always without controversy. BY Paul W. Taylor

More than ever, the feds need states and local regions to take the lead in crafting promising new programs. BY Peter Harkness

The fiscal cliff deal seems to have made it all but impossible for about 25 states to collect estate taxes, barring new laws. BY Ryan Holeywell

Rather than wait for lawmakers and insurers to provide adequate coverage, some dentists and public health advocates have taken it upon themselves to try to reduce the number of ER visits for dental problems. BY David Levine

The city has a bold plan to make every vehicle in its fleet, including police cars, run on alternative fuels. BY Ryan Holeywell

Elected officials and experts aren’t sure if tax breaks actually create jobs. So why do they keep offering millions of dollars worth of subsidies to companies? BY William Fulton

People love parks, but building a new urban park is expensive. It’s why so many cities rely heavily on public-private partnerships to build today’s urban parks. BY Tod Newcombe

An analysis shows fatality rates vary by state, with most deaths in the South. BY Mike Maciag

When management meets politics, management is generally the loser. What can policymakers do to heighten the chances that a reform will, at least, be given the opportunity to succeed or fail? BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene

States are moving into the void left by Washington’s paralysis. BY Mark Funkhouser

If there was any doubt about citizen desire to register online, California’s one-month experience with it running up to the November general election erased it. BY Steve Towns

For most states, the new government accountability rules eliminate the main substantive barrier to moving toward less costly defined-contribution plans. BY Charles Chieppo