A new report ranked which states have the best and worst K-12 public school systems in the nation; Massachusetts came in the top spot. On average, blue states ranked higher than red.
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“We’re saying we cannot negotiate with you. It’s not legal for us to pay anything.” -
Water may be among the least cyber-defended critical infrastructure sectors. Keeping it safe may include channeling more funds and training to tiny agencies and establishing voluntary guidelines.
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Intentional or not, untrue information propagating on the Internet threatens democratic institutions and the public good. Emerging tech tools aim to help government combat the threat.
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After years of relative quiet, Republican lawmakers have successfully pushed abortion bans, voting restrictions, tax cuts, religious freedom and school choice.
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As vaccines become more political and case numbers continue to rise, many expect Republican candidates to use the coronavirus pandemic as leverage for their campaigns in the upcoming midterm elections.
The state continues to struggle against unemployment benefits fraud as hackers’ methods evolve. State officials are calling for an audit to determine how to better protect the system.
As businesses begin the return to working in an office building, some aren’t requiring their employees to get vaccinated for fear that they will leave. Many companies are still looking for guidance from state officials.
The county has started requiring its police officers to wear a body camera after launching training courses that began in early July. They expect all officers to finish by October.
The city wants to offer $100 million in pension obligation bonds, a move that both lowers pension debt and increases the funds’ earning power by providing more money to invest. But the sale is considered risky.
A special two-person team hopes to crack down on the most prolific and violent criminals. By the end of 2020, 305 people had been shot in Denver — a 51 percent increase from the year prior.
As other states introduce legislation restricting educators from teaching about race, Virginia has incorporated more Black history in all history classes, making it an integral part of the American experience.
A survey has found that one out of three renters nationally want to “upsize” their apartments for business reasons or family growth. In South Florida, that has increased the demand for larger rental units.
The average ride-share trip in June cost a little more than the average trip by taxi, which is regulated by the city. That was a reversal from two years earlier when passengers paid nearly $2 more to travel by cab.
A $26 billion pharmaceutical settlement would resolve lawsuits by the state attorney general, counties and city governments across the state. But some officials don’t agree with the terms of the settlement and aren’t signing on.
An audit found the California Prison Industry Authority improperly provided nearly $1.3 million in gifts to other state agencies and encouraged the hiring and promotion of friends, relatives and other favored candidates.
The Michigan governor has proposed using $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to build 2,000 affordable housing units across the state. The development would create housing for 6,000 residents and 1,600 jobs.
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South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster in a Tweet regarding the state’s decision to not overturn previously enacted legislation and require masks in schools, going against the latest CDC recommendations. (Associated Press — July 27, 2021)
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Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all 300,000 municipal workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, will be required to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID testing.
Job-based visas are in such a high demand that the government has resorted to a lottery-based system to award the documents. Still, only 28 percent of applicants will get a visa in 2022 as compared to 2014.
Due to high state tax collections and large amounts of federal aid, many state legislatures are experiencing massive budget surpluses. But some lawmakers want to start planning for the inevitable downturn now.
Charlie Crist, a Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for his recent visit to the Texas border while the state’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has nearly tripled in the last three weeks.
With some of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, state officials are hopeful that a new lead to the Department of Health and Senior Services will update the whole system and make it better, post-COVID.
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News in Numbers
The proportion of Democrats who are optimistic about their party’s future, while just 14 percent are pessimistic. Ninety-eight percent of Democrats approve of the way President Biden is doing his job, though Biden has favorable reviews on both sides of the aisle.
The number of lives that could be saved if greenhouse gas emissions are cut to zero by 2050, according to a new study. Without drastically reducing emissions, experts expect the planet to warm by 7 more degrees on average by the end of the century.
The estimated settlement that Remington has offered to the nine families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims who are suing the rifle-manufacturing company, amounting to nearly $3.7 million apiece. Remington’s Bushmaster AR-15-style rifle was used to kill 20 first graders and six educators at the elementary school on Dec. 14, 2012.
The amount of COVID-19 relief funds that the Shiawassee County, Mich., Board of Commissioners used to give seven county commissioners bonuses during the pandemic. The commissioners have apologized for the decision and have promised to return the funds to the county.
The estimated number of homes that would have been powered by Nevada’s Battle Born Solar Project, which was scrapped this week by its developers after backlash from residents. The project would have been the nation’s largest array of solar panels and would have provided approximately 10 percent of Nevada’s total energy capacity.
The proportion of unvaccinated Americans who have little to no confidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are effective against variants despite evidence that they do offer strong protection. Nationally, 56.4 percent of all Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The amount that Ohio energy giant FirstEnergy Corp. will pay in settlement for its participation in a bribery conspiracy scandal involving former state House Speaker Larry Householder.
The decrease in U.S. life expectancy during 2020. Most experts hold the coronavirus pandemic mostly responsible for the decrease, but many are still concerned about the drop.
The increase in daily COVID-19 cases nationwide; the states with the highest daily averages are Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, Louisiana and Nevada.
The amount of dead marine life that has been removed from the waters near St. Petersburg, Fla., in the last 25 days due to the red tide crisis. The situation has put many commercial fishermen out of business and the cleanup effort has put a severe financial strain on nearby counties and cities.
The amount in new federal spending Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has set for a vote this week.
The amount that Amazon is donating to Arlington County, Va., for 550 affordable housing units to be built near the site of a planned Amazon headquarters.
View demographic data showing representation of racial and ethnic minorities in each police department.
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.
Governing is building a 50-state map to visualize the changes underway to declare states “Open for Business” even as the coronavirus remains at large across the country.
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 population density and land area data for U.S. cities.
State totals on active duty, reserve forces and civilian employees for each branch of the military.
Connecticut tops the list of states whose taxpayers receive the least bang for their buck from the feds.
Voters made Texas the 19th state to add legal protections for hunting and fishing, which are now also the preferred methods for controlling wildlife.
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.
Data shows total law enforcement staff and per capita rates.
Thirty-seven states had legalized same-sex marriage prior to the Supreme Court ruling.
Updated medical and recreational-purpose marijuana laws by state
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Government organizations around the world are experiencing the consequences of plagiarism firsthand. A simple mistake can lead to loss of reputation, loss of trust and even lawsuits. It’s important to avoid plagiarism at all costs, and government organizations are held to a particularly high standard. Fortunately, technological solutions such as iThenticate allow government organizations to avoid instances of text plagiarism in an efficient manner.
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As more state and local jurisdictions have placed a priority on creating sustainable and resilient communities, many have set strong targets to reduce the energy use and greenhouse gases (GHGs) associated with commercial and residential buildings.
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As more people get vaccinated and states begin to roll back some of the restrictions put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic — schools, agencies and workplaces are working on a plan on how to safely return to normal.
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