Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Transit agencies are still sorting out the financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In some areas the decline in ridership could be permanent.
As Atlanta’s mayor puts it, a strategy for everything “means you have a strategy of nothing.”
The World Cup is expected to draw huge crowds, and it’s up to cities to figure out how to get them to the matches before kickoff.
Teams are worth a lot of money that public universities could use to fund academic priorities. It’s also an opportunity to abandon the myth of the “student-athlete.”
Allen, Texas, put a few videos on its new YouTube channel in 2007 just to see what would happen. Today the channel has a subscriber base few local governments could match.
State policies that can unlock the affordability of home electrification, rooftop solar and battery storage could save families significant money while giving them a direct stake in the next energy economy.
People’s perceptions of whether crime is rising and how safe they feel may be influenced by their financial outlook, neighborhood demographics and other factors, according to a recent report.
There are efforts at the state level to curtail it, but it’s not going away.
They say they’re tightening their belts. But survey optimism and budget balance tell you little about longer-term structural fiscal health.
The streetcar initially played an economic-development role downtown. As it expands, it’s doing more heavy lifting for the city’s transportation needs.
Salaries and local cost of living are generally intertwined, but no state pays enough for teachers to live comfortably.
State zoning reforms to remove barriers to factory-built homes have done little to close the housing gap. There are steps state and federal policymakers should take to boost this affordable option.
Despite failing to cover the costs of infrastructure, state and federal motor fuel taxes have been an elegant solution to funding transportation. More user fees are likely, but they will be kludgier and more intrusive.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is viewed unfavorably by a majority of residents. She still has an edge over her challengers in her campaign for a second term.
The report from the FEMA Review Council affirms the need for the agency, but urges changes in federal and state responsibilities.
A KFF survey finds that states want more guidance on implementing new Medicaid work requirements from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.
Its success reflects a combination of consistent public investment and cultural seriousness about the obligation to care for people.
The new law targets AI used to make important decisions about who gets access to jobs, education, healthcare, housing and other key areas, and could set a precedent for other states.
They’re a crucial public resource, but cities don’t manage or maintain them well. There is plenty they could be doing.
The federal Maritime Administration is distributing $774 million for port infrastructure projects around the country.
Police departments across the country are setting different thresholds for when their officers can and should pursue a fleeing driver. Experts say car chases should be treated with caution.
States and communities should welcome this digital infrastructure, but only on terms that protect ratepayers, workers, water and public trust.
Families can receive state-funded child care at no cost in the Land of Enchantment, regardless of income. The state managed to fund the endeavor in part via surplus gas and oil tax revenues.
Vendors offer “solutions,” but it’s critical to think carefully about what the problem is before starting to invest in software or hardware that may or may not address the real issue.
After record-high opioid deaths in 2021, the state has managed to turn the tide for several years running.
The median rent has dropped in Austin over the last few years following a boom in housing construction. But the city also had a substantial spike in evictions last year.
As auto racing disappears from small and rural communities, “right to race” bills target nuisance lawsuits. But land value is the real threat to the tracks.
Massachusetts is one of the latest states to suggest that social media platforms should either bar, or provide special protection to, young users. But some experts are raising privacy alarms.
A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling threatens scores of legislative and congressional seats now held by minorities. Public officials committed to fair representation can and should fight back.
At present, a fifth of the country is facing drought conditions of historic significance.
