Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Utah is a solid-red state, but that doesn’t shield Weber County’s Ricky Hatch from election controversy.
They provide essential services, employ millions and are drivers of local economies. State and local governments can help their constituents by supporting a healthy and vibrant nonprofit sector.
A new study looks at what it takes for people to be truly economically secure — not just scraping by. The insights could help policymakers target their interventions.
States’ overall fiscal cushions are quickly eroding, leaving states with fewer resources to address widespread current and projected budget imbalances.
We’ve been trying for half a century to bring simple language to government communications, without much success. Speaking to people in language they understand is a high-return, low-cost investment.
States have been watching a digital advertising tax in Maryland that has been tied up in litigation for years. Utah thinks its new approach will work.
Complying with the new federal rules will be a challenge for states and contractors alike.
Left-leaning mayoral winners are getting a lot of attention, but in a few cities business-friendly moderates are showing strength.
If abruptly changing federal policy becomes a recurring feature, state and local governments will need to adjust how they govern, not just how they budget.
Over 10,000 kids voted in Connecticut’s Kid Governor election.
What state legislatures do is important, but process matters just as much. Local governments determine whether reforms unlock housing or quietly stall.
Innovative programs make them safer while enhancing opportunities for success after release. Some states are showing the way.
Household electricity bills were going up in almost every state long before gas prices became a worry.
The first Republican to lead the North Carolina Senate in over a century is seeking a recount in a primary where he trails by 23 votes. And a Chicago institution beats back a primary challenge.
A little-used state program is enabling landowners to set aside water for ecosystems in a system built on strong private property rights.
An overwhelming levy vote is helping the city move closer to ensuring every resident lives within a short walk of green space.
Oregon has one of the highest SNAP enrollment rates of any state. The One Big Beautiful Bill is likely to introduce new issues for administrators.
It’s more important than ever for state and local governments to get strategic about managing federal grants. Without better capacity and coordination, they risk missing opportunities.
The most powerful climate policy in America isn’t in Washington. It’s buried in your town’s zoning code.
Proponents say California's major AI legislation offers essential guardrails on a quickly developing technology. But detractors — including the president — say it's burdensome, unnecessary and unfair.
xAI will keep its Colossus supercomputer cool with wastewater, leaving the drinking supply to support human intelligence.
The nationwide shortage is leading to hundreds of criminal cases being dismissed while harming defendants. Better pay would help, but efforts to expand the pipeline are needed.
With oil prices spiking at a time when voters are focused on affordability, states could find it even harder to pay for transportation needs.
Sweeping state limits — or eliminating the tax altogether — are politically appealing. But cuts in property tax rates combined with targeted state tax relief are less disruptive to local finances.
Girmay Zahilay is the first new executive of King County, Wash., in 16 years. His restructure of the executive office sprouted rumors he "fired everyone" — but Zahilay says he's just organizing his office around his campaign promises.
The notion that we can assume people suffering from substance use disorders will freely choose what is best for them and their children is regularly undermined by reality. Too many children have paid the price.
In many states, it’s too easy for malicious actors to gain access to EBT cards. Officials in California, and now several other states, are trying to change that.
A lot of cities have tried doing away with the fare box. Most of them have run into problems of one kind or another.
Some people fear self-driving vehicles, but experts say their potential to save lives might be their biggest benefit.
As long as Congress disregards the collateral damage that AI and other new technologies are already bringing to our economy, states and municipalities will need to move quickly to capture new revenues to support workers left behind.
