The Week in Public Finance: Gambling Kansas, Detroit's Lessons and a Different Kind of School Spending

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

Violent Confrontations and the Psychology of a Cop

Every officer knows that things can quickly turn lethally dangerous. How can these situations be prevented?

Teaching Teachers: Big Costs, Little Payoff

We're wasting billions on professional development, as a new study documents. What can be done about a culture of low expectations?

News in Numbers

44,000

Approximate number of daily trips taken on Phoenix's light rail system, which beats the ridership estimates for 2020.

More Digits

A 'Glitch' Keeps Health Insurance From Former Foster Kids

But proposed legislation in Congress would fix the wording in the federal health-care law that's leaving some foster youth uninsured.

New York's Big Medicaid Gamble

Can rewarding doctors for taking risks lead to better outcomes and cheaper costs?

The (Hidden) Cost of Open Data

For all of its advantages, cost isn't always one of them. But there are ways to keep them down.

Public Leadership and the Collaboration Imperative

It's an approach that's critical for the public sector. A San Francisco project illustrates the qualities that are needed.

Who said that?

If that drone hits my tail rotor, for sure it’s going to be catastrophic.
More Quotes

How to Conserve Water Without Bankrupting Water Utilities

The more water people save, the more money utilities lose. But new pricing models could change that.

Mayors Come and Go, But Good Ideas Should Stick

Upcoming elections will test the sustainability of mayors’ innovation initiatives.

How Virginia Is Working to Build a Nuclear-Powered Future

A consortium of experts has the mandate to leverage the state's existing assets. It's a model that would work for other states.

Are Governments 'Paying for Failure'?

A social policy experiment is spreading across the country as a new way to finance, deliver, and improve public services and problems. But its merits are so far unproven.

The Counties Where Wealthier People Are Moving

Long-awaited migration data show where people are relocating to and the wealth that they're bringing. View data for your county.

The Long, Long Haul of Civic Progress

Projects that define cities are complex, difficult undertakings. We need a template for putting these efforts together.

The Elections No One Cares About

Turnout in local elections has gotten so low that some places might start practically paying people to vote. But there's a simpler, cheaper way to get more people to the polls.

Can Massachusetts Get Its Tax Giveaways Under Control?

Legislation to give the state's auditor better oversight would be a boon for taxpayers.

The City of No-Frills Innovation

Ten years after Katrina, New Orleans is solving municipal challenges and improving lives.

The 2015 Race That Could Turn the South a Deeper Red

Republicans want to make Kentucky the next Southern state with a GOP governor. It won't be easy.

2015-2016 Governors Races Give Democrats (a Little) Hope

A state-by-state breakdown of the 14 upcoming elections shows where Democrats can take a few seats from Republicans.

When Governors Travel, Who Pays?

With so many governors running for president, new attention is being given to how out-of-state political trips are funded.

Hypergentrification and the Disappearance of Local Businesses

Wealthier people often move to gentrifying neighborhoods for the mom-and-pop stores, but their presence is driving the shops away. Can cities save them?

How Millennials Are About to Change the Face of Public Service

As they move into leadership positions, we're going to hear less about "rowing" and "steering" and more about engaging the public.

How Government Employment Costs Are Growing

The latest federal data illustrates how benefits are becoming more costly for states and localities.

After a Few Years Afloat, Pension Plans Start Sinking Again

What's shaping up to be a bad year for pension plans could give ammunition to politicians who want to change how they work and cut employee benefits.

The Next Big Thing in Data Analytics

As the amount of data that governments accumulate grows, so does the need to disaggregate it.

One California Community's Power Switch

Lancaster's effort to build a seamless, integrated energy infrastructure points the way to long-term robustness and sustainability.

How Does a City Get to Zero Carbon Emissions?

Even before Obama released his rules to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, dozens of cities pledged to become carbon-free. But how they will achieve that isn't always known.

Obama Unveils Tougher Climate Rules Than Expected

If the rule survives the inevitable legal challenges, it will mark the first time the federal government limits air pollution from carbon dioxide.

Finding Answers to Housing Affordability Over Coffee

We have energetic citizens who want to help solve problems -- we just have to listen.

A Model for Decriminalizing Mental Illness in America

America’s jails are filled with people suffering from severe psychological problems. But largely thanks to one judge, Miami found ways to keep the mentally ill out of incarceration and in treatment.

States With Expanded Medicaid Can Better Treat Mental Illness

Almost 20 percent of the uninsured have a behavioral health condition, according to a new GAO report.

Government Aid and the Me Versus Them Mindset

We could do a lot to change the widespread perception that programs that help needy people are about winners and losers.

Jefferson Who? Democrats Are Disowning Their Founders

In several states, the Democratic party is dropping the name of slave-owning presidents from annual fundraising dinners.

Why Evidence-Based Policymaking Is Just the Beginning

In delivering social services and other programs, measuring effectiveness is critical.

Behavioral Science’s Growing Role in Making Government Work Better

A stronger focus on human factors can go a long way toward improving public services.

In Post-Detroit Bankruptcy Era, California Protects Investors Before Pensioners

Before Detroit, many thought general obligation bonds were ironclad. Now they know better.

Municipal Bankruptcy's New Rulemakers

The rules for a city’s return to solvency are no longer being crafted by lawmakers.

Good Ideas From Government's Front Lines

The people who deliver services directly to the public know a lot. Denver is setting the pace for tapping that resource.

If Congress Finally Overhauls Education, Are States Ready?

For the first time in more than a decade, the House and Senate have passed bills to rewrite the No Child Left Behind law and give states more freedom in education.

Go to Jail, Go to School

By running its own charter school for inmates, the San Francisco sheriff's office is making a big dent in recidivism.

The Ever-Vexed Town-Gown Relationship

It's been a difficult one since the days of Plato, but there are ways for colleges and universities to build synergy with their communities.