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Does Raising the Minimum Wage Save Money on Social Services?

Yes, experts say, but an extra dollar or two an hour won't free low-income people from poverty altogether.

Woman working cashier at McDonald's

Police Body Cameras Aren't Having the Effects Many Expected

What’s likely the most comprehensive review of research on body cameras shows that they're most often used to prosecute citizens, not police. And while they've led to fewer citizen complaints, their impact on other aspects of policing, such as use of force, is less certain.

Openings for State Jobs Are Up, So Why Are Applications Down?

A new study shows the depth -- and the root causes -- of the public sector's workforce problem.

Momentum for Fixing the Marijuana Industry's Banking Problem Is Higher Than Ever

As several more states consider legalizing the drug, Congress is considering a solution to a growing issue for businesses and governments.

8 Ways to Improve State DOTs, According to Smart Growth Advocates

State transportation departments are often criticized for being too highway-centric. Here are some suggestions for changing that.

After GAO Abortion Report, States Dispute Findings and Defend Violations

The report found 14 states to be in violation of federal Medicaid law as it pertains to abortion coverage.

• For a Glimpse Into Trump's New Era of Title X, Look at Texas

Suburban Atlanta Voters Block Transit Expansion

This marks the third time Gwinnett County has rejected a plan to expand the city's public transit. But advocates hope the defeat is only temporary.

Workers walk next to a Boeing 737 MAX 8 airplane parked.

Do Corporate Tax Incentives Work? 20 States, and Most Cities, Don't Know.

Washington state, which gave Boeing $1 billion over the past four years, has a well-established system to evaluate tax deals. Many governments don't.

• Corporate Tax Deals May Be Public, But What Happens Next Is Often Secret

Mortgage No More: Baby Boomers Who Rent Are On the Rise

In the past decade, there was a 43 percent increase in renters over the age of 60. The trend brings with it new challenges -- and benefits -- for cities.

COMMENTARY

How Cities Can Help Entrepreneurs of Color Scale Up

Our efforts are mostly focused on small businesses. We need to target high-growth sectors.

COMMENTARY

The Art of Governing Through Questions

Socrates had it right: Dealing with the problems public leaders face requires knowing how and what to ask.

COMMENTARY

Are Dockless Bikes Doomed to Fail?

Many of the startups have pulled out of cities in the past year.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

11%

Increase in state job postings from 2013 to 2017. At the same time, the number of applicants for state jobs fell by 24 percent.

MORE DIGITS

As China Builds U.S. Transit Cars, Congress Seeks to Ban Them

The state-owned China Railway Rolling Stock Corp is building rail cars for some of America's biggest cities, prompting cybersecurity concerns and bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate.

MOST READ

  1. 1

    Police Body Cameras Aren't Having the Effects Many Expected
  2. 2

    Openings for State Jobs Are Up, So Why Are Applications Down?
  3. 3

    Momentum for Fixing the Marijuana Industry's Banking Problem Is Higher Than Ever
  4. 4

    Do Corporate Tax Incentives Work? 20 States, and Most Cities, Don't Know.
  5. 5

    The Biggest Issues for States to Watch in 2019
  6. 6

    The Growing Importance of the Arts to Rural America
  7. 7

    8 Ways to Improve State DOTs, According to Smart Growth Advocates
Anti-vaccine protesters hold signs in front of a government building.

Vaccine Bills Make a Comeback Amid Measles Outbreak

As once-eradicated diseases return, more and more states are debating legislation that would make it harder, or easier, for parents to not vaccinate their kids.

WHO SAID THAT?

“This is the Holy Grail ruling we've been after, especially with oil and gas. It calls into question the legality of oil and gas leasing that's happening everywhere.”

MORE QUOTES
A House staffer holding a copy of President Trump's budget request for fiscal year 2020.

Inside Trump's Budget: 6 Things State and Local Governments Should Know

The president's 2020 proposal would slash domestic spending by nearly 10 percent and increase defense spending by 5 percent.

America Has a Sewage Problem

Faulty septic systems are making pollution and health problems worse in much of the country. What we don’t know is how much worse.

Where 'Bring Your Baby to Work Day' Can Be Every Day

A growing number of state agencies -- mostly in places with no paid family leave -- are letting public employees bring their infants to the office.

Why California Is Suing Its Own Cities

In one of his first moves as governor, Gavin Newsom is taking some cities to court for failing to address the affordable housing crisis.

After Years of New Voting Restrictions, Momentum Swings the Other Way

Some states are still purging voter rolls and requiring IDs. But most are now looking to expand access to the ballot box.

What Linda Darling-Hammond's Appointment Means for Education

Democrats once fought to keep her from becoming Obama's education secretary. Now she's set to lead California's State Board of Education, where she could influence the national party's education stances.

North Dakota's Massive Effort to Avoid Floods

Fargo, North Dakota’s most populous city, faces the threat of flooding nearly every spring. It’s taken a lot of creativity and cooperation to agree on a solution.

Building Booms and Busts: Where Housing Construction Is Up, and Where It's Slowing Down

In many cities, new homes are popping up twice as fast as normal.

Despite Teachers' Strike Success, Their Schools Are Still Funded Less Than a Decade Ago

For the first time since the Great Recession, most states have restored their education cuts. But the places where protests have erupted still have a long way to go.