
Cover Story
In the Elusive Search for Affordable Housing, Clues Emerge
BY John Buntin
Economists, sociologists and political scientists have recently identified single-family zoning as a major obstacle to building more of it. Could that change soon?
FEATURES
Education
U.S. Universities Fear Losing International Students
Students from abroad have become a rich revenue source for many state colleges and their towns. What happens if the Trump administration's anti-immigration sentiment and policies drive them away?
BY Alan Greenblatt
Management & Labor
The City Managers on a Constant Quest for New Places to Fix
Their discontent with the status quo and attraction to a big challenge has led to some unexpected moves from city to city.
BY Liz Farmer
Infrastructure & Environment
New P3s May Finally Bridge the Digital Divide
Many municipalities are forming public-private partnerships to bring high-speed Internet to long-neglected places. Their approaches, however, vary widely.
BY Daniel C. Vock
Health & Human Services
Why Texas Is the Most Dangerous U.S. State to Have a Baby
Maternal mortality rates have been increasing throughout the nation. But if Texas was a country, it would have the highest in the developed world.
BY Mattie Quinn
OBSERVER
Politics
How the Rapper Pitbull Has Divided Florida's Top Politicians
The recent feud between the governor and the state's House speaker began over a tourism ad. But it goes much deeper than that.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Infrastructure & Environment
Is Jail a Fair Punishment for Skipping Bus Fare?
In Portland, Ore., people were being locked up for the offense often -- African-Americans disproportionately so.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Finance
No Help From Noah: The County That Banked on a Religious Theme Park to Solve Its Money Problems
Facing bankruptcy, Grant County, Ky., invested in the park hoping for a new revenue source. But cash has yet to start flooding in.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Education
In Indiana, Governors Push for More Control Over Education
Mike Pence tried first. Now Gov. Eric Holcomb is attempting to make the superintendent a gubernatorial appointment, leaving voters with little say over schools.
BY Alan Greenblatt
POLITICS + POLICY
Assessments
Is Syracuse Necessary?
Some want to save the fiscally challenged city in New York by effectively abolishing it.
BY Alan Ehrenhalt
Washington Watch
Trump-Watching From City Hall
His policy choices will challenge places from Manhattan to Mobile, Ala.
BY Peter Harkness
Elections
A New Way to Spot Partisan Gerrymandering
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on racial gerrymandering Monday, but judges still can't agree on what partisan gerrymandering looks like. Social scientists may be able to help.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Health & Human Services
On Rx Drug Monitoring, States Take Doctors' Recommendations
Every state but one has a tracking system to combat the opioid epidemic. They have long been criticized as difficult to use, but upgrades are on their way.
BY Mattie Quinn
Infrastructure & Environment
The Key to San Jose's Speedy Disaster Recovery: Garbage
After a natural disaster hits the California city, the environmental department is among the first on the ground.
BY Elizabeth Daigneau
Transportation & Infrastructure
The Downside of Pragmatism
It served our ‘maker’ cities well for a long time. Now it holds them back.
BY Aaron M. Renn
Urban Notebook
'What About Traffic?'
Debates about how to address housing shortages in already dense cities raise important points about managing chaos.
BY Scott Beyer
PROBLEM SOLVER
Education
Fewer People Are Getting Degrees in Public Service
It's hard to say, though, whether this is a temporary adjustment or a long-term trend.
BY Mike Maciag
Smart Management
10 Ways Public Officials Lie, Kind of
They fool some of the people most of the time.
BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
On Leadership
Managing the Evil That Institutions Do
Guarding against evil poses a dilemma for government managers, but it can be done.
BY Mark Funkhouser
Tech Talk
Are State Ethics Rules Keeping Up With Social Media?
One state legislator's legal battle showcases how outdated laws can hamper citizen engagement -- and get officials in trouble.
BY Tod Newcombe
Public Money
Where a Shopping Mall Used to Be, an Opportunity Arises
The decline of malls in America can mean lost jobs and lower tax revenues for states and municipalities -- but not always.
BY Frank Shafroth
Infrastructure & Environment
In Houston's New Park, Art Goes Green
Smither Park celebrates folk art -- but only if it's recycled or reused.
BY David Kidd
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