Caroline Cournoyer -- Senior Web Editor. Caroline covered federal policy and politics for CongressNow, the former legislative wire service for Roll Call, has written for Education Week's Teacher Magazine, and learned the ins and outs of state and local government while working as an assistant editor at WTOP Radio.
The United States spent nearly $18 billion on immigration enforcement in fiscal 2012, about 24 percent more than it spent collectively on the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Secret Service and all other criminal law enforcement agencies, according to a report.
As baby boomers age and more older Americans choose to live at home, governments face new challenges trying to plan for and respond to disasters.
In Virginia, where parents owe more than $2 billion, a program helps solve the underlying issues that keep them from paying up.
Older drivers are keeping their licenses for longer and getting behind the wheel more often than ever before. Should this worry all the other drivers?
Requiring freshman to “specialize” in particular subjects helped Florida significantly increase its graduation rate and decrease its dropout rate. Georgia is hoping for similar results.
Mental disorders are more common than heart disease and cancer combined -- one reason states and localities are teaching their employees how to recognize the signs of mental health problems and how to help.
At least seven governors are facing reelection this year.
A new law likely makes Indiana the only state where people are allowed to shoot cops under certain circumstances. The change, police officials say, not only puts officer’s safety at risk but the public’s too.
Meth labs are on the rise again and federal funding can’t keep up. Now states have to pick up the mess -- and the bill.
Five trustees voted to hire a lawyer to potentially sue the city if one of Mayor Francis Slay's pension overhaul bills to control and reduce pensions goes into effect.
Two black local representatives in Los Angeles have accused the city’s Redistricting Commission of violating the federal Voting Rights Act.
Incumbents and third-party candidates in California are going to have a tougher time getting re-elected this year thanks to new redistricting lines and new rules.
Fun-loving college students present some public safety challenges for local officials.
Over 120 cities use a Metropolitan Medical Response System to create plans for homeland security threats in their community. Their ability to respond, however, may be inhibited with the loss of direct federal funding.
Last month, IBM released two tools that give police, fire and emergency medical services an estimate of the direct and indirect savings that could come from upgrading their IT infrastructure.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unamimously ruled that municipalities don’t have to pay college educated police officers what the state owes them, reports the Boston Globe.
The bill overcame its last legislative hurdle when it passed the state Senate 19-10 -- mostly along party lines.
The computer hacker group Anonymous that’s compromised dozens of state and local government websites is no longer true to its name.
While former polygamy sect leader Warren Jeffs is serving his time in prison for marrying and sexually assaulting minors, lawmakers are trying to take down his town’s authority.
Pilot programs in the Pacific Northwest distinguish between emergency and nonemergency 911 calls.
Speaking at the annual AFCEA Homeland Security Conference, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier discussed the importance of information sharing in public safety and the improvements the region has made since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
This week, government and industry representatives are convening at the annual AFCEA Homeland Security Conference in Washington, D.C. to discuss among other issues, cybersecurity and how to protect the government from hacker groups like Anonymous.
David Bragdon is responsible for making sure the city meets more than 400 sustainability goals before next year.
Today marks day one of a six-week trial to settle a dispute between Indiana and technology mogul IBM.
Before the U.S. Supreme Court hears the arguments for and against Arizona’s controversial immigration law, the leader of a Senate immigration panel wants to hear the governor’s opinion on the issue.
Sitting on the governor’s desk is a bill that would limit the number of times people can appeal their serious criminal convictions.
The four Republican presidential candidates still standing will take the stage in Mesa, Ariz., tomorrow -- just under one week before the state's primary.
The state’s Republican party wants to chip away 3 percent from 11 agencies -- a cut that, according to Gov. Mike Beebe’s office, could send at least 76 state workers packing.
The process of replacing 900 shoulder microphones for firefighters in Montgomery County, Md., is underway, according to public information officer Scott Graham of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.
For years, the Michigan Supreme Court has urged communities to reduce the size of their courts -- and for years, most communities ignored this recommendation. So lawmakers took the matter into their own hands.
One of the bills would require people to show photo IDs to register to vote, another would make people who volunteer to help with voter registration drives complete training, and the other would require people applying to vote to prove their citizenship.
Antonio Villaraigosa is one of the nation’s most well-known Latino politicians, and the Latino vote is expected to be key in this election.
California Department of Justice employees argued that Gov. Brown only ordered the layoffs as political payback, but the judge disagreed. Now, 81 people will soon be out of a job.
Arizona and Washington state have both decided to seek waivers from the federal No Child Left Behind law, which mandates every student to be proficient in math and reading by 2014.
In the fiscal year 2013 federal budget proposal released Monday, the Obama administration proposed pouring $500 million more into state and local governments this fiscal year, but also wants to make sure they spend what has already given them.
The White House seeks $290 million for the Justice Department's COPS Program.
The Sacramento mayor’s chief fundraiser is planning to join the city council race, but before he can, he has a lot of packing to do.
The court's ruling likely sets the stage for a U.S. Supreme Court showdown.
Many police departments moved to 10- and 12-hour shifts to cope with the recession. A new study shows that 10-hour shifts are best to reduce expenses and preserve quality of life.
New York City artists can now earn health credits for doctor visits and more if they offer their time and talents to hospital patients.
Hoping to save money and the environment, a dozen colleges have stopped selling bottled water on campus.
Chris Osher has earned a journalism award, presented by Governing, for his investigative series of Colorado's poorly-managed state enterprise zone program that sparked proposed legislative change.
The U.S. Labor Department's Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Jane Oates said the places with the best job outlook are those that have direct communication with businesses.
Studies have found that SBHCs improve students’ health-care access and school success. Now, the Obama administration is helping more states finance them.
The idea of offering financial incentives to boost services in select areas is common for economic development -- but rarely used to improve health care.
They’re expected to improve the city’s finances and carbon footprint.
The justices unanimously struck down a state law that would have required slaughterhouses to euthanize animals that can't walk and kept the meat from being eaten.
The city aims to promote its services and programs with people who check-in around the city.
A Minn. courthouse shooting and a judge's decision to refuse cases in unsafe buildings sheds light on the increasingly unsafe conditions of many courtrooms around the country.
The “Financing Program Decision Tool” shows state and local governments their best options for paying for energy upgrades.
Commissioner of Political Practices Dave Gallik resigned after every member of his staff accused him of making the state pay for time he was working on private matters, which he denies.
The state will supply an electronic device for every student in one school, cutting down on heavy and easily outdated textbooks.
District Judge Laurie McKinnon, who was named judge of the year in 2010, has announced that she’s joining the race to take retiring Justice James Nelson’s seat.
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper touched on a host of divisive issues in his State of the State address today, including the budget, economy and civil unions.
The agency in Woodbridge Township, N.J., is using wind energy to save more than $6 million and keep greenhouse gases out of the air.
Mont. state Sen. Larry Jent, who's trailing behind his challenger in campaign fundraising, may be turning the tide of what's so far been a quiet gubernatorial race.
In Montana, a group of voters are trying to strike a measure from the June primary ballot and a group of Republican lawmakers want permission to stop them.
Several states may soon join California, which at the start of this year became the first state to make it illegal for teenagers to use cancer-causing tanning beds.
The “insurance capital of the world” is only the second state to assume the health program’s financial responsibility in the last decade.
The Bay State's highest court ruled that all eligible legal immigrants must get the option of low-cost subsidized health insurance.
A Utah state lawmaker wants to make Medicaid users who smoke pay higher co-payments. If enacted, it might be the first law of its kind.
This online Language Portal holds thousands of government documents designed to help people who speak limited to no English.
Some states are putting prisoners in isolation at increasing rates. A Mich. penitentiary program that has caught the attention of other states is looking to do the opposite.
These nine topics will shape debate in state legislatures in 2012.
Governing reviewed all its Idea Center entries throughout 2011 to share a select few for their unique approach to common problems.
A few resignations are passing through the Utah Legislature this month. The reason? State law bars lawmakers from fundraising for public office during the legislative session, which is just around the corner.
"Wyoming's Call of the Wild" aims to get more kids interested in hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits.
Just weeks after accepting Governing’s Public Officials of the Year award, Utah Sen. Dan Liljenquist has resigned -- a move that many speculate is because he plans to run for Congress.
A new system backed by 18 community groups gives parents and educators an easy-to-understand system to compare schools.
The camelina crop can be converted into renewable energy, possibly bringing new jobs to rural America. But until now, farmers lacked the incentive and insurance to grow it.
A recent change in federal law gives schools an alternative to throwing unused food in the trash.
Four years after the last horse slaughterhouse in the country closed, President Barack Obama paved the way for new plants to pop up.
An Oregon county will begin transferring 911 calls from people having mental-health crises to qualified professionals who can keep callers out of jail and danger.
Instead of waiting for students to go to the library, which can be difficult since most aren't of driving age, Nashville Public Library is bringing the books to them.
A proposal to transform an inoperative New York City trolley terminal into an underground park could bring in money for the city.
The Cuomo administration strives to make military experience transfer into college credit and job certifications.
Utah health officials are mulling over the idea of giving health insurance to cash-strapped people in exchange for community service.
Some students have sought every form of financial aid possible and still can't afford college. Some states are stepping up to help.
Federal inspectors have found hundreds of problematic pipelines in Montana and Wyoming that are at risk of causing another oil spill in the region.
Advocates want Congress to pass legislation to combat new state laws that they say will disenfranchise young, elderly, minority, disabled and low-income voters.
The nation's highest court will hear the case in March, but a ruling isn’t expected until June – in the midst of the 2012 presidential campaign.
More and more police officers are walking around with body cameras on their uniforms in hopes of increasing transparency and accountability.
State lawmaker Ken Sumsion will run on a campaign to reform public school spending and gain access to the state's federally controlled lands.
The technology helps people with disabilities cast their ballots easily and more privately.
The websites feature graphic images and chilling statistics about the risks associated with methamphetamines.
After two failed attempts to temporarily halt the hunting of wolves in Idaho and Montana, wildlife advocates are trying a third time today.
After Idaho became the first state to require high school students to take two online credits last week, state education officials are working on ways to keep as much of the taxpayers money in schools as possible.
The Massachusetts Gleaning Network will connect growers and volunteers in efforts to provide food in case of emergencies.
In New York courts, which face a swarm of liability lawsuits, medically trained judges and attorneys work together to reduce the money and time spent on such cases.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a request yesterday to revisit the constitutionality of religious symbols on government property.
Drug dealers and addicts often jump borders to beat the system. Several states are trying to keep that from happening.
Many of the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court cases may affect state courts.
IBM will give $50 million in grants and expert advice to cities that want to solve their problems using data-based solutions.
After the U.S. Supreme Court twice rejected requests from Michigan to close off Chicago area waterways to the invasive Asian carp species, the state is hoping there’s influence in numbers.
The site is for more than social networking now. It could be how someone lands their next job.
Indianapolis is among a few cities in the country making public housing a sustainable way to live.
People can't secure jobs without showing up to interviews. Sacramento County is making sure homeless people can.
The City of Houston has created a new tool to show taxpayers how their dollars are spent -- down to the very last cent.
There seems to be confusion about jobs and the workforce in Illinois, so let’s clear it up a bit.
At no cost and in under an hour, businesses in ten states can create a website with the help of a web marketing pro.
Waste and rundown buildings are helping the region improve its neighborhoods at an affordable rate.
While it's still uncertain whether the fate of the Affordable Care Act will be in the hands of the nation's top nine justices, a number of cases involving Medicaid and criminal justice could impact states.
A new state law requires apartment buildings to offer the option that many take for granted.
Tapping into young peoples’ creativity in search of green improvements has paid off for an Alaskan school district and its taxpayers.
The California Conservation Corps is the latest to offer returning military personnel training in wildfire prevention, making them attractive candidates for firefighting and forestry jobs.
Seven states are set to receive federal funding to create employment networks for people with disabilities.
Illinois wants to serve the invasive species as a healthy, cheap option in food banks. But first, people must be willing to eat it.
Following North Carolina's lead, both states will offer computer technology training and IT certifications to all public high school students.
Despite budget deficits, states reduced more taxes than they raised in 2011, a recent National Conference of State Legislatures report found.
A Washington, D.C., program could be a model for weaning people off welfare, reducing the homeless population and improving the look of cities.
A South Carolina prison is taking advantage of a new recycling law to save on IT spending.
MIT just released a program that shows city planners and policymakers how their decisions would affect urban growth.
People could pay more attention to energy data if it's displayed alongside personal photos in a digital frame.
A new program offers rookie elected officials a crash course in government, hoping they’ll avoid predecessors’ mistakes.
Unlike most shelters, this one offers a place for people with mental illness and substance use problems to avoid jail and better their situations.
The nation’s first beehive farm, located at O’Hare, is creating some buzz by providing ex-convicts jobs, increasing bee populations and keeping runways clear.
After years of serving factory-made food to students, Colorado schools have found an affordable way to offer healthy, freshly cooked meals.
For the first time in Texas, special-needs groups are being targeted for community emergency response training.
Hoping to improve public transit's reliability and encourage its use, Illinois will allow selected buses to drive in the shoulder during rush hour.
Facing extreme drought, municipalities in west Texas are beginning to recycle wastewater.
Courts in several states allow stress-detecting dogs to face the stand with child witnesses.
The "text-to-911" pilot will allow citizens who can't call 911 in Durham County, N.C., to connect with emergency operators.
Having crossing guards write parking tickets ends their paycheck-less summers and generates more money for the city.
With 1,500 charging stations already in place, San Diego was selected to be the first city with such a service.
A county in North Carolina created a community garden so the unemployed can work for benefits, training and food.
A new initiative educates customers about their rights and allows them to easily report any violations that may result in overcharges.
Nebraska's public employees reportedly ate healthier, smoked less, exercised more and experienced less stress since enrolling in the new plan.
The bikes enable paramedics to weave through traffic faster than ambulances.
Rhode Island has assembled a team to battle cyber disruptions that result from natural disasters, viruses or attacks.
Massachusetts is opening more “innovation schools” this fall to keep kids from transferring to charter schools and taking education dollars with them.
Connecticut lawmakers want to offer its graduates a homebuyer tax credit to keep them from fleeing the state.
International auditing expert and former Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Mark Funkhouser will lead The GOVERNING Institute, a new research and advisory institute for state and local leaders.
The Arizona Department of Transportation is using solar-powered technology to reduce its fuel consumption and save money.
In recent years, state legislators and school boards nationwide have been paving the way for people with little or no education experience to lead districts.
It is true that leaders of New York's Civil Service Employees Association agreed to a major pay and benefits contract. But this should not be mistaken as a victory for Gov. Cuomo or a concession from the union yet.
A new map calculates the potential, annual savings and environmental impact that solar panels would have on every building in New York City.
Marin County, Calif., launched a community court to void certain unpaid fines for homeless and low-income people.
New laws in the Midwest remove disincentives for retired dentists to volunteer their services to low-cost clinics.
In San Jose, homeless people who assist in cleaning local creeks can receive food, shelter and employment in return.
A new law in Kentucky gives police officers more power to judge offenders, hoping it will free up space in jails.
Several municipalities have found a quicker way to reduce the costs and traffic associated with road repairs.
Instead of urging residents to throw their used cooking oil away, Dallas converts it into bio-fuel for school buses.
The legality of texting while lawmaking has been cause for debate, but Texas may be the first state to ban the practice altogether.
Members of the Hollywood community banded together to find homes for the homeless – making those in the greatest danger their top priority.
Arkansas is the first state to allow citizens to text the government with questions.
MSU researchers are developing a way for conscious consumers to track their beef down to the individual animal.
Tennessee is reigniting the use of remote sensing technology to test emissions while vehicles are on the road.
A bill in the Minn. Legislature seeks to expand counties’ power so they can launch innovative programs without dealing with red tape.
A two-year, $1 million pilot will determine if this renewable source can be used for electricity.
From the facilitation of video chatting with inmates to planning for the next natural disaster, here’s a look at the nation's best problem-solving programs.
San Francisco’s one-of-a-kind program puts nonviolent criminals to work for clean records.
A pilot program that saved the Baltimore City Fire Department money and increased their efficiency has become a permanent fixture.
Newly released data show how the Great Recession exacerbated states' ability to fund pensions.
N.J. will retrofit construction equipment and impose stricter emissions standards to improve air quality.
School districts are teaming with credit unions to help students meet financial literacy requirements in a flexible way.
Tennessee will roll out three vehicles to rural areas, bringing job-search assistance to those who need it most.
With a few days left, iPhone and Android users can file their taxes with a few clicks.
A pilot project in Washington state aims to attract more youth to farming by making internships safer and more educational.
Notoriously gas-guzzling SUVs are being used in place of fire trucks to reduce fuel usage and costs.
A New Orleans initiative identifies those in contact with shooting victims and tries to keep the violence from spreading.
In several cities, buses alert pedestrians when they are making a turn.
Residents will have the option to pay their electricity usage similar to the way they pay for gas -- upfront.
A new state pilot program is using thermal imaging technology inside SUVs to evaluate and improve the energy performance of homes.
A new program in Hawaii high schools shows students what their life could be like if they don’t improve their grades.
One program has the potential to save municipal governments up to $10 per household in collection and landfill costs.
Citizens that upload vital information into online profiles allow emergency call centers to improve their speed and quality of assistance.
A program to treat, rather than jail, the mentally ill in Colorado has saved the county and state $600,000.