GOVERNING: State government news on politics, management & financ 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. Thu, 20 Jun 0:55:56 PDT How Louisville, Ky., Is Using a 'Stat' Program to Transform the Culture of Government http://www.governing.com/blogs/bfc/col-efficiency-louisville-louiestat-performance-metrics-improvement-transform-government-culture.html Wed, 19 Jun 14:0:00 PDT Louisville, Ky., is showing how a performance metrics initiative can transform a government's operational culture. California Allows Local Governments to Opt Out of Public Records Laws 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. Some States Get to Delay Using Tests in Teacher Evaluations http://www.governing.com/news/state/Some-States-Get-to-Delay-Using-Tests-in-Teacher-Evaluations.html Wed, 19 Jun 8:8:00 PDT The U.S. Department of Education will allow some states that have gotten waivers from pieces of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to postpone using student growth on state tests as a factor in personnel decisions for up to one additional year —until the 2016-17 school year. Lawmakers Must Pay Fines for Walkout, Indiana Supreme Court Rules http://www.governing.com/news/state/Lawmakers-Must-Pay-Fines-for-Walkout-Indiana-Supreme-Court-Rules.html Wed, 19 Jun 8:5:00 PDT Indiana House Democrats won’t recoup any of the more than $233,000 in fines levied against them over their legislative walkouts in 2011 and 2012, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. The Rider and the Elephant: Making Organizational Change Happen http://www.governing.com/columns/mgmt-insights/col-switch-rider-elephant-making-organizational-change-happen.html Wed, 19 Jun 8:0:00 PDT A remarkable book provides leaders with a practical, simple framework, based on the latest brain research, for turning an organization to a new direction. Florida Blocks Local Votes on Mandatory Paid-Sick-Time Measures http://www.governing.com/news/state/mct-florida-blocks-local-votes-on-mandatory-paid-sick-time-measures.html Tue, 18 Jun 9:0:00 PDT Florida Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Friday that would block local governments from enacting mandatory paid-sick-time measures, such as the one pending in Orange County. The "Metropolitan Revolution" and the Changing Role of Cities http://www.governing.com/blogs/fedwatch/gov-examining-the-ongoing-metropolitan-revolution-power-of-cities-bruce-katz.html Tue, 18 Jun 8:0:00 PDT Why cities and their leaders could wind up mattering more than Washington. States Rush to Cash in on Cybersecurity Boom 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. Texas Enacts Unemployment Drug-Testing Law http://www.governing.com/news/state/tt-texas-enacts-unemployment-drug-testing-law.html Mon, 17 Jun 9:30:00 PDT Gov. Rick Perry has signed a bill that will subject Texans applying for unemployment benefits to a drug test if their responses to a screening questionnaire indicate possible drug use. Detroit, Chicago Propose Ending Retirees' Health Coverage http://www.governing.com/news/local/gov-detroit-emergency-manager-proposes-moving-retirees-to-health-exchanges.html Fri, 14 Jun 13:0:00 PDT Following in Chicago's footsteps, the city's emergency manager wants to send retired public employees to Obamacare’s health insurance marketplaces to buy coverage -- a plan that's likely to face lawsuits.