en-us GOVERNING magazine provides leading intelligence articles on management, policy and politics to help guide and inspire innovative leaders across state and local government. Wed, 19 Jun 18:44:38 PDT http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-ca-allows-localgov-opt-out-public-records-laws.html Wed, 19 Jun 9:35:00 PDT A budget bill awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature would make it optional for local governments to comply with several key provisions of the California Public Records Act. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Bill-to-Require-Notification-of-Spying-Operations-Advances-in-New-Jersey.html Wed, 19 Jun 8:4:00 PDT A state Senate panel advanced legislation that would require out-of-state law enforcement agencies to notify New Jersey authorities before conducting counterterrorism operations within its borders. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Localities-Offer-Amazon-Millions-in-Tax-Breaks-it-Doesnt-Need.html Wed, 19 Jun 8:3:00 PDT When Amazon expands, state and local governments practically line up to offer to pay the company to move. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-states-rush-to-cash-in-on-cybersecurity-boom.html Mon, 17 Jun 9:35:00 PDT As data dragnets and information breaches dominate the news, states are scrambling to cash in on a rapidly expanding business sector by offering tax incentives to firms that protect sensitive information from outside attacks. http://www.governing.com/news/state/New-England-States-Look-to-Increase-Hydropower.html Mon, 17 Jun 8:8:00 PDT Hydropower could play a larger role in New England’s energy mix as five of the region’s states, including Massachusetts, move to import more of it -- most likely from Canada -- and at least one has passed a law that could allow electricity from large-scale hydroelectric dams to be classified as green as wind or solar energy. http://www.governing.com/news/state/Police-Increasingly-Using-State-Photo-ID-Databases.html Mon, 17 Jun 8:5:00 PDT The faces of more than 120 million people are in searchable photo databases that state officials assembled to prevent driver’s-license fraud but that increasingly are used by police to identify suspects, accomplices and even innocent bystanders in a wide range of criminal investigations. http://www.governing.com/news/state/New-Jersey-Bill-Allows-Cops-to-Search-Cell-Phones-After-Car-Crashes.html Mon, 10 Jun 8:5:00 PDT The measure would allow cops — without a warrant — to thumb through a cell phone to determine if a driver was talking or texting when an accident occurred. http://www.governing.com/news/local/Iowa-Citys-Drone-Ban-Could-be-a-1st-in-the-Nation.html Thu, 6 Jun 8:8:00 PDT The Iowa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance to ban drones, automated traffic cameras and license-plate readers. That comes after thousands of local residents signed a petition calling for such a ban. http://www.governing.com/news/state/sl-wind-industry-expands-in-midwestern-states.html Tue, 4 Jun 9:45:00 PDT Despite the still uncertain long-term fate of the wind energy tax credit, the industry has plans to develop more turbines in states like Iowa and Nebraska. http://www.governing.com/news/state/gt-localgovs-participate-in-national-day-civic-hacking.html Fri, 31 May 9:45:00 PDT This weekend 95 affiliated events across the country will be a part of National Day of Civic Hacking, which is aimed at advancing the principles of transparency, participation and collaboration with regards to government and its use of technology.