Some legislatures have been banning reporters from their lawmaking chambers. But given how statehouse coverage has changed in recent decades, the reality is that we've simply traded one flawed system for another.
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All city technology agencies will now operate under the Office of Technology and Innovation, overseen by Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. Fraser took over the CTO position earlier this month. -
Irrigation organizations play a crucial behind-the-scenes role in delivering water to farmers. But only one out of every five has an official strategy for responding to drought.
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States and localities have been slow to spend federal emergency money.
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The practice has become a focus of housing reform but eliminating it might not make much difference if other regulations aren’t considered.
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Though the state has been experimenting with smart meters since 2008, utilities have once again refocused on the technology as a way for electric vehicle owners to manage their electricity use.
An Indiana bill would pave the way for the state to set guidelines for nuclear power usage. While the energy is touted as clean and reliable, many worry that it will increase costs for customers.
The bill will provide the Department of Finance and Administration $50,000 for state agencies to assess if they need language access plans so those with limited English skills can access their services.
Blue Cross Blue Shield terminated 250 employees earlier this month for not complying with the company’s vaccination deadline. But some employees felt they were wrongfully fired after being denied a religious exemption.
Omicron has hit MARTA, the region’s transit system, hard as drivers get sick or have to quarantine, which can sometimes cause last-minute trip cancellations. Passengers are suffering from the reduced service.
The California governor last year poured $12 billion into homeless housing and services and wants to invest another $1.5 billion next year. But advocates want long-term investments instead of one-time grants.
A report from the state’s Department of Environmental Protection found that 27,886 miles of streams were impaired in one or more ways, a 9 percent increase from 2020. Philadelphia’s water is among the state’s worst.
Prior to the pandemic, the state had more people working from home and better Internet access than average, but as remote work becomes increasingly permanent, workers continue to migrate and impact local communities.
Deputies from the Alabama county’s sheriff’s office often fasten monitors on about 25 people weekly and many of those haven’t been convicted of anything. Some say the monitors are financially and emotionally burdensome.
The bill would require private companies to allow medical, religious and “natural immunity” exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine and it would allow unvaccinated employees to instead get weekly testing.
Public health, social work and public works employees under SEIU Local 521 will walk off the job on Jan. 25 in response to poor-faith bargaining. Council officials expect the strike to delay or entirely shut down some departmental operations.
Experts worry that social media apps that have positioned themselves as right-winged alternatives, like Parler and Gab, may promote disinformation about the upcoming midterm elections, which could incite violence.
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Mississippi state Sen. Barbara Blackmon, who is Black, regarding a Republican-sponsored bill that would ban schools from teaching critical race theory. Republicans argue the theory teaches “victimhood” while Democrats argue that the ban could quieten discussion of Mississippi’s racist past. Black senators walked out of the state Senate chamber before the bill’s vote on Friday, Jan. 21; it passed the Senate 32-2 and will move to the House. (NPR — Jan. 22, 2022)
Citizen volunteers rescue a stormwater project gone awry in the historic town of Frederick.
Mayor London Breed’s two-part proposed ballot measure would ask residents to vote on broadened police access to live feeds and allowing police camera access in “public safety crisis areas,” which would include privately owned cameras.
Governments are desperate to recoup lost revenue as people cut the cable cord.
A proposed bill would amend the state constitution to include privacy as a natural right and would require that law enforcement obtain a warrant before searching or seizing electronic data or communications.
The state will receive millions in federal aid over the next five years to invest in its bridges, 21.2 percent of which have been deemed structurally deficient, more than 14 percent higher than the national average.
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The number of people who died in avalanches across the nation last year, the most in at least 70 years, with 12 of those deaths occurring in Colorado, the most the state has seen since the 1915-1916 season.
The national median sale price for an existing home in 2021, a 17 percent increase from the year prior. The typical American home gained $50,200 in value last year.
President Joe Biden’s approval rating after one year in office. Only 28 percent of Americans, just 48 percent of Democrats, want Biden to run for re-election in 2024.
The amount that the Biden administration will use to improve the country’s ports and waterways to increase climate resilience, improve drinking water and bolster the nation’s supply chain. The funds will assist more than 500 projects.
The cost of the Biden administration’s plan to significantly expand wildfire fighting efforts, by doubling the use of controlled fires and logging to reduce catastrophic fire risk.
The number of acres for the proposed construction of a lake in Nebraska. State lawmakers made the proposal for the reservoir to be placed between Omaha and Lincoln. The $200 million project would improve the water supply in the area and boost economic development.
The number of Americans who have signed up for health insurance since the beginning of the 2022 open enrollment period in November, including 10 million people across 33 states who have utilized the federal marketplace exchange. The number reflects a 21 percent increase compared to the year prior.
The amount that the Biden administration will award, in grants, to nonprofit groups and state and local governments to better protect low-income families from household health risks, such as lead-based paint, mold and carbon monoxide.
The number of patients who were hospitalized this week, a new pandemic high driven by the omicron surge. Across the nation, approximately 30 percent of ICU beds are filled with COVID-19 patients.
The increase in the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2021 compared to the year prior. The use of coal-fired electricity increased 17 percent last year.
The increase in first-year Black medical students in 2021 as compared to the year prior, an unprecedented growth. Nationally, only 5 percent of the nation’s doctors are Black.
The number of inches of snow that Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass had received since the beginning of the season as of Jan. 3, the most snowfall since 2007.
The federal government is sending billions to cities and counties to overcome pandemic setbacks. Plans from 150 local governments offer a preview of how these dollars might be spent.
Newly released data shows an increasingly diverse American population. About 30 percent identify as racial or ethnic minorities, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates.
A comprehensive view of the states’ marijuana laws regarding medical use, workplace accommodations and driving under the influence. Today, 36 states and the District of Columbia allow medical use of marijuana.
Billions of dollars available to state and local governments might be enough to bring affordable broadband to all Americans. But some states have yet to produce plans for these funds.
Recent data shows that while overall spending has increased, there is great variation among states on public education expenditures per student. The average is $12,612, but New York spends nearly double that amount.
View demographic data showing representation of racial and ethnic minorities in each police department.
A new report reveals the great variation of federal dependency across the states. But drawing the line between federal and state responsibility is not easy.
State totals on active duty, reserve forces and civilian employees for each branch of the military.
The American Society of Civil Engineers gave our airports, roads, bridges and drinking water a C- in its latest report card, calling it a modest improvement. But the bill on progress is a long way from being paid off.
In hopes of reducing the city's high crime rate, Camden, N.J., made a controversial and unprecedented move a year ago to replace its police force.
A new report analyzes which states have the most eco-friendly behavior, good environmental quality and contribute the most to reduce climate change. Rankings are split between blue and red states.
Data shows total law enforcement staff and per capita rates.
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