The Special Skills an Innovation Team Leader Needs

Directing a city-government "i-team" demands distinctive traits that are unique to the process.

The Most Important Question in Government

While politicians easily offer policy prescriptions, they often fail to ask how they will be paid for.

Want to Help People in Poverty? Meet Them Where They Are

To be successful in reaching the poor, common-sense communication often prevails.

News in Numbers

4.6%

Percent of students (519 of them) in Madison, Wis., whose parents refused to let them take the state's standardized tests this year. That's up from 87 last year.

More Digits

Common Core Critics Are Loud But Losing

The nationwide pushback against the education standards hasn't been very successful.
Protesters rally against Common Core standards in Mississippi, where a repeal effort led to the creation of a commission to study the issue.

Hey, State Treasurers: Europe's Having a Sale on Money!

The fiscal troubles across the Atlantic could be an opportunity for America's governments.

The Week in Public Finance: Money, Pink Floyd and State Revenues

A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.

Can Government Learn to Live With the Sharing Economy?

It's a mistake to try to control or regulate innovation. Think about what happened to the music business.

Who said that?

My family is a consideration. Number two, the most important thing is, what does the Lord want me to do with my life?
More Quotes

Medicare Deal Delays But Deepens Hospital Cuts

The law Obama signed Thursday marks the third time in three years that cuts to safety-net hospitals have been pushed back but the first time the amount of cuts has increased.

The Payoffs of Financial Transparency

Most cities are failing to tell their fiscal stories well or at all. New York and Chicago, though, offer models of true transparency.

Where There's Smoke, There’s Data

New Orleans is using data analytics to get smoke alarms into the buildings that need them the most.

Aging Behind Bars

America's prison population has aged significantly, increasing the costs of incarceration. These four inmates show just some of the challenges older inmates bring.

What Not to Do When Asking Voters to Increase Their Taxes

Voters in a wealthy suburb of St. Louis rejected tax increases to fund schools last week.

Congress Extends Children’s Health Insurance for 2 Years

Democratic senators wanted a four-year extension but ultimately joined most Republicans in voting for a wider package that also reforms Medicare.

How Cities Lose Millions in Federal Funds

A new report examines the ways in which struggling cities mismanage federal grants and offers ideas for fixing it.

Public Projects and the Optimism Trap

Rosy, unrealistic scenarios just cause trouble down the road. It's far better for managers not to deceive their leaders -- or themselves.

Why Trauma-Informed Housing Is Key to Solving Homelessness

“Housing First” initiatives can fall short if other resources aren't in place for individuals suffering from complex problems.

New Apps May Make Giving and Getting Government Aid Easier

Mobile technology has made a belated but much needed debut in human services.

The ‘New Neutral’ Is Here

That’s bad news for those who manage public money.

Why Health Depends Partly on Where People Live

Poor people are unhealthier not only because of their lower incomes, but also as a result of where they live.

Have Non-Lethal Weapons Reduced Deadly Police Force?

Many departments have been using them for decades, and the technology for some recently improved.
A University of California student protester is stunned by police with a taser gun.

The Hard Pension Questions That Are Coming

New reporting requirements are going to make many pensions look worse off -- even if they're not. Public officials need to be ready to talk about that.

Ferguson, Fines and Fairness

We need to do a better job of collecting what's owed, but we need to keep the focus on public safety, not revenue.

'Oops!' Rick Perry Might Do It Again

After stumbling off the stage during his last presidential run and being indicted on criminal charges, Texas’ longest-serving and possibly most influential governor wants to redeem his political career.
Then-Texas Gov. Rick Perry applauds during a conservative rally in Smithfield, N.C.

5 of the Most Misunderstood Terms in Government

Government managers all appear to be speaking English, but the same words and phrases often have multiple, contradictory meanings.

The Battle for Alamo City

The San Antonio mayoral race is crowded.

Why Photo IDs Won't Stop Food Stamp Fraud

As more states consider photo requirements for food stamps, a new report finds Massachusetts' law to be ineffective in preventing fraud.
Two states currently require people to present photo identification to access food stamp benefits.

Not Your Grandfather’s Factories

It's not easy for manufacturing to attract the younger, skilled workers that it needs. We need to focus on both the educational pipeline and public perceptions.

How Cities Rank in the Well-Being of Their Residents

Metro areas earning top positions in the Gallup-Healthways survey are geographically diverse, but the Northeast continues to trail the rest of the country.

What We Can Learn From the Police That Pioneered Body Cameras

Police across the country are being outfitted with body cameras, but managing all the hours of footage comes at a price and poses unintended consequences.

Are States Still 'Labs of Democracy'?

The growing role of federal waivers suggest the answer isn't simple.

A Public Transit System That Works

Compared to most American systems, London's is a model of efficiency and fiscal prudence.

How Cities Are Trying to Combat Toll Traffic

Transit agencies and companies have tried raising toll prices at peak times, but even that's not keeping drivers away, so they're looking for new ways to reduce congestion.
Rush hour traffic before the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza.

Improving Public Services: The Secrets of Award-Winning Cities

Technology is important, but it doesn't work without the right governance structures and partnerships.

Working Around Polarization

National organizations that represent states and localities are finding ways to keep partisanship out of their ranks.

In Cities and Suburbs, Nearby Jobs Are Harder to Find

For most Americans, especially the poor and minorities, the number of jobs near home is declining.
Commuters in the Atlanta metro area live further from their job than anywhere else in the United States.

Setting Off a Race for Fiscal Transparency

As Ohio has shown, it's not that hard for states to give citizens the information they need on how public money is spent.

Weak Government Job Growth, in 4 Charts

See just how far state and local government employment lags behind other sectors of the economy.

Traveling Theater Helps Communities Revisit Their Histories

In partnership with a theater company, Minnesota towns are staging on-the-go plays to tell their history.
In this PlaceBase play from last fall, Fergus Falls, Minn., resident Rod Spidahl portrayed a prominent figure from the town’s past.

Government in Your Pocket

Denver is pioneering an innovative website that promises to save taxpayers money while improving the services they get.

The Future of Parking in an Era of Car-Sharing

Services like Uber and Zipcar could radically change city streets.