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Why smarter cities build citizen-centered social programs backed by big data analytics.
See maps of neighborhoods with among the most pedestrian deaths.kd
View maps of a few of the nation's deadliest places for pedestrians.
Our state and local governments vary greatly in their capacity to address urgent public needs. Shouldn't we be talking about this issue?
Most state and local governments in the U.S. are stuck in a desktop world with websites and services that don't work on smartphones and tablets. But not Utah.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
More than a handful of states cut unemployment benefits in recent years.
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
Voters narrowly approved a ballot measure that makes farming a constitutional right -- an idea that opponents say will make future agriculture regulations like GMO bans harder to enact and enforce.
The state would have been the fifth to put part of their lottery proceeds toward veterans programs.
More than six in 10 voters approved a constitutional amendment pertaining to the right to bear arms and own ammunition and gun-related accessories.
Full results and data for Governing's report on pedestrian safety in poorer neighborhoods
A new study of Illinois' efforts to boost math and science graduation requirements casts doubt on the effectiveness of the policy.
Ballot measures in Missouri and Washington state ask voters to weigh in on government's role in regulating firearms.
See a map of where all fatal pedestrian accidents occurred.
See a map of where all fatal pedestrian accidents occurred.
Last week marked the seventh anniversary of the fatal Minneapolis bridge collapse. Check out 20 years of bridge data for each state...
Right now, the state's lottery proceeds exclusively go toward education. But voters could change that Tuesday.
Efforts to raise the legal smoking age to 21 have been limited to the local level so far, but New Jersey could be the first state to change that.
The idea of shifting the risk of failed initiatives from taxpayers to investors is catching on.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Opponents say a ballot question asking Missouri voters Tuesday whether they support the right to farm is a misleading attempt to exempt agribusiness from future regulations.
House and Senate budget writers reached agreement Tuesday on a $21.3 billion state spending plan that averts significant cuts to Medicaid but leaves unresolved a major overhaul of the health insurance program for the poor.
See detailed pedestrian fatality data for larger counties.
A new report shows how states could have weathered the recession better.
See a map of where the most pedestrian fatalities are occurring in poorer neighborhoods.
In at least five gubernatorial races this fall, the outcome may depend on how well a third-party candidate fares.
There's a reason the public sector is increasingly turning to competitions for innovative solutions. They work.
An appeals court says Virginia’s ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, and says it looks like is a new form of “segregation.”
Millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers' different needs and wants lead them to flock to different places.
New survey data shows the gap between policy wonks and finance geeks could be shrinking.
Missourians will decide Tuesday whether to raise the state's sales tax to boost transportation funding.
While Detroit used unpaid bills to cut off water service to thousands of people, five other cities are using those same outstanding payments to identify and help people in need.
This week's roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Data shows the year of construction for each city's housing stock.
As a new book illustrates, the promised benefits rarely materialize.
It's up to voters in November to decide whether the state will change the way it funds public college scholarships.
After years of underinvesting in IT, the state is seeking to transform from one of the worst to one of the best digitally run in the country.
The recent discovery that the state has 96% less recoverable oil than previously thought may have helped the case for regulating instead of banning fracking.
The state's Tea Party-backed superintendent created an intraparty rift over schools. Now, she's taking the fight to the next level and trying to unseat the incumbent governor from her own party.
Old homes can pose a unique set of challenges for local governments. View detailed housing data for hundreds of cities.
A handful of communities are putting CRA funds toward more than just housing projects.
It will be technology that will enable "Cities 3.0" -- the transformation of metropolitan centers into hubs of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Last year, Phil Scott became the first acting governor to drive a stock car professionally.
Wastewater treatment plants are often the biggest consumers of electricity in their areas. Gresham, Ore., and Washington, D.C., are making moves to change that.
Many cities have made pedestrian safety a priority, but their efforts rarely focus on poorer areas, which have approximately double the fatality rates of wealthier communities.
Can the geologist-turned-brewpub owner-turned-governor of Colorado lead as a centrist when there’s no political center?
In breaking with his predecessors, the mayor isn’t focused on one or two big priorities. Instead, he’s sweating the small stuff -- at least for now.
Pennsylvania is saving $1 million a year and getting rid of the lag time when people start new jobs.
Senior public officials in state and local government say graduate school prepared them for their current careers, according to a new survey.
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
Two courts issued contradictory rulings Tuesday about whether the federal government can offer insurance subsidies to people in states not running their own online marketplaces.
As New York tries to lure Floridians up north, the Sunshine State's CFO wrote Gov. Andrew Cuomo to dispute New York's ad campaign claims.
There's a push for local governments to establish independent audit committees.
Only 100 emergency call centers out of more than 6,000 across the country are capable of receiving and responding to text messages.
From guns to backhoes to vehicles, many municipalities struggle to keep track of their inventories.
Are Jane Jacobs’ lively streets disappearing for good?
Measuring performance is hard to do. But it's even harder to do when you're measuring it from hundreds of miles away -- as is the case for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
America's fourth-largest city has never had a zoning code.
All eyes may be on the gubernatorial seats up for election this fall, but there are a handful of competitive LG contests in the works.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Missouri is likely the first state to pass a law that lets medical school graduates practice primary care in underserved areas without completing a residency.
By investing in customer service and innovation, D.C. Water has done far more than simply rebrand an essential public service.
Turning a governmental organization around requires a combination of partnership and trust. That can't happen as long as everybody is pointing fingers.
After years of planning, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act is finally in effect. How will it affect your state?
The Obama administration is taking action to help state and local governments prepare for climate change and natural disasters.
After court rulings muddied up the law, new federal rules seek to clarify which bodies of water have to abide by the Clean Water Act.
As the confrontation over a new contract for New York-area commuter-rail employees reminds us, it's hard to beat the pay and benefits that transit workers enjoy.
One analyst says the new way the credit rating agency scores local governments downplays the risk investors are taking and could encourage ratings shopping.
Republican Pat McCrory gave his strongest approval yet of the possibility of expansion, but two major obstacles stand in the way.
The new federal fund provides money for states to reform how they deliver and pay for Medicaid, but it isn't given directly to the states.
A new study finds a link between how much families spend on housing and children's intellectual ability.
Cloud computing is a cheaper, more reliable way to manage electronic records than hard drives or paper -- yet a recent IRS scandal shows how governments at every level are slow to change their ways.
Scandals over falsified performance data compromise efforts for greater accountability. But there are lessons to be learned.
Enrollment may be closed in the Affordable Care Act's private insurance marketplaces, but Medicaid continues adding patients.
A special smartphone app lets citizens help fix problems by photographing derelict properties and texting them to a public database.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
While newspapers continue to cut their coverage of state capitols, a new study shows students and nonprofits are picking up some of the slack.
Making it easier to get rid of bad teachers is worthwhile. But it's equally important to reward the good ones.
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
Ray Nagin received a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted on corruption charges.
Some governments, particularly those with money problems, borrow to quickly pay down their pension obligations. But a new study shows it can leave them more financially vulnerable.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors has launched a new campaign to save energy and cut down on air pollution. But, due to GOP opposition, they're no longer urging Congress to pass cap and trade.
Garbage trucks get as little as 3 miles per gallon, making them prime targets in cities’ efforts to trim costs and curb greenhouse gas pollution.
The nation's largest election jurisdiction is designing a voting system unlike any around the country. The administrator in charge of county elections explains why.
Job totals have returned to pre-recession levels, but the public sector lags far behind. View data for every state.
Through a combination of coordinated care and performance pay, the state's unique Medicaid program has lowered ER visits and hospitalizations while expanding its population covered.
A new survey shows many counties don't think the law has affected them yet, but even more find the complexity from delays and changes daunting.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Credit markets view the move as a positive for the state but negative for municipalities.
A record number of Americans live in high-poverty areas -- but they aren't necessarily poor themselves. View a map and estimates for each state.
Further delays and low participation among insurers are likely to dampen enrollment in a part of the Affordable Care Act that's long been overshadowed: the Small Business Health Options Program.
The ruling creates a new class of "partial public employees" who can choose not to pay membership dues to unions representing them, laying the groundwork for overruling other precedents.
A new rule about who can give governments financial advice went into effect, but how to apply it is far from resolved.
Cities across the nation have teamed up with professional and minor league soccer teams to host public viewing parties to cheer on the United States.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Echoing the format of reality TV shows, the city hopes to address not just safety hazards but the mental illnesses that drive people to hoard.
A bill in the legislature would end the policy requiring special county boards to review concealed gun applications. Critics worry the approval process will become too easy.
The nation’s voting equipment is quickly becoming obsolete. But even if local governments could afford upgrades, no new machines exist to buy.
Museums in several cities are hanging art on walls throughout the streets.
Some say the federal government will grant states’ requests, while others say it now sees an upside to shifting more states to the federal exchange.
A bridge-monitoring system used in South Carolina and other states is helping to hold down the costs of maintenance.
Competition from the private sector is stiff. Governments have much to offer, but they need do a better job of getting the message out.
The more water people save, the more money utilities lose. They're looking far afield for a solution.
Younger workers can bring a new energy to organized labor. But if unions want to attract millennials, they’ll have to change some of their ways.
Social media is the ultimate government transparency, which is why public officials need to not only get used to it but also get good at it. Here’s how.
Until Republicans took control, the state had long been known as an outpost of Southern progressivism. This year’s elections may indicate whether the state’s shift to the hard right is in step with most voters.
Instead of trying to lure big companies with tax incentives, more and more places are trying to increase the number of local businesses to boost their economies.
That’s what a growing number of cities are asking themselves -- Syracuse being the latest that may tear down its elevated urban expressway.
Oregon’s workers’ compensation reform shows benchmarking (when done right) can lead to big gains in efficiency.
It’s not that governments don’t want to give the public the services they demand, it’s that they increasingly can’t afford to -- even by raising taxes.
As the SEC steps up enforcement against states and municipalities, it's now investigating one suburban town for allegedly diverting at least $1.7 million in bond proceeds.
According to a new report, states are passing more laws that make teacher colleges more selective and require educators to demonstrate mastery of their subject areas.
Scaffolding, closed roads, hidden store signs, you name it. Public works projects annoy customers and hurt businesses. But there’s a lot cities can do to soften the blow.
A poor economy and all the problems that come with it actually benefit some people, giving powerful players less incentive to improve the status quo for the rest.
Local governments are using mesh networks to stay connected during outages, offer high-speed Wi-Fi and breach the digital divide. But it’s not perfect.
In the past, pension funds have pulled their investments as a way of spurring change. But they’re changing their strategy when it comes to oil, coal and gas companies.
Governors like Mitt Romney have typically lost popularity at home when they made a run for the presidency. Will the current governors being talked about as potential 2016 candidates suffer the same fate?
With far too little water in some places and far too much in others, U.S. governments can no longer ignore climate change.
Education Secretary Arne Duncan announced a new grading system to evaluate whether states are meeting the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act -- and the first year's results aren't good.
As suburban poverty rises, cities aren’t as enthusiastic about annexing the suburbs anymore.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors backed resolutions aimed at preserving equal access to the Internet, reducing income inequality and slowing climate change at the group's annual conference in Dallas.
With elections looming, state lawmakers mostly left transportation funding alone.
Having a digital warehouse to hold foster kids' health and education records eases their many transitions from one home to another and makes it easier to apply for jobs and college. But few places have them.
This week's roundup of money (and other) news that governments can use.
A decade-long revenue decline is about to get worse.
Democrats hold fewer chambers but have more at risk this year than Republicans. Here's a breakdown of what to expect in every state legislature's elections.
D.C. Water and Sewer Authority is contemplating being the nation's first public utility to issue a bond that's paid off over 100 years.
All the public-sector management news you need to know.
Trying to retain its most talented employees in a competitive job market, North Carolina gave thousands of them a pay raise.
Arizona residents won't be toking up in public anytime soon. At least, not legally.
After years of cutting public workers' retirement benefits, states are slowly adopting common private-sector practices that automatically enroll employees in savings plans and automatically increase how much people put away each month.
Women, minorities and community college students have more interest in government internships than the general student population, a survey finds.
California is well along in an effort to transition to a environmentally friendly economy. Will the rest of America follow?
A recent report seeks to help states and school districts updating their policies to avoid suspending students for bad behavior -- a practice studies show makes them more vulnerable to dropping out and getting in trouble with the law.
A new report claims there's an historic shift in suburbs from being car-dependent to walkable places, blurring the lines between "urban" and "suburban."
Michigan is seeing its first major funding increase for higher education in more than a decade, and it's thanks in part to a plan by businesses to improve the state's workforce.
By making all of its data easily and quickly available across agencies, the state stands to save money and improve services.
But it's unclear whether the savings will be enough to help hospitals offset cuts from the Affordable Care Act.
Two years ago, Congress cut local leaders' role in deciding how federal money should be spent.
A roundup of money (and other) news governments can use.
Federally funded projects in several states and localities are testing ways to use convenience and peer pressure to get prison inmates and people who owe child support to make better decisions.
A new survey finds that 42 states plan on spending more next fiscal year than they did this fiscal year, but most increases will be relatively small.
Cloud sales are expected to generate billions in revenue this year, but state and local governments are unsure whether they can (and how they would) tax them.
The Kentucky Retirement System -- the worst-funded in the nation -- is appealing a ruling that allowed a nonprofit to leave the state with its unfunded pension liabilities.
Citizen participation in local government is abysmally low, but a national survey shows what types of people are most and least likely people to speak up.
A recent survey shows most people think state and local governments aren't doing enough to ensure a sufficient supply of affordable housing. Several cities are trying to help.
Their debt challenges may not be as bad overall as has been portrayed, but some of them are in serious trouble.
Instead of isolated corporate campuses like Silicon Valley, some places are trying to promote "innovation districts" to bring industry back. Can it work?
Without any thought to unintended consequences, Ohio legislators have created a damaging pay-for-performance welfare-to-work program.
