Cover Story
While Homeless Veterans Get Housing, Rest Are Left in the Cold
BY J.B. Wogan
Veteran homelessness has dropped sharply, thanks to cities’ efforts and new funds from the Obama administration. But most people living on the streets aren’t veterans.
FEATURES
Management & Labor
Can Government Hiring Get Out of the Stone Age?
As states and localities have tried to modernize the way they attract and retain public workers, some best practices have emerged.
BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
Finance
The Evolving Job Description (and Requirements) of a CFO
Chief financial officers used to be concerned with just balancing the books. But today’s CFOs have taken on a higher role.
BY Liz Farmer
Health & Human Services
Telemedicine Advances Faster Than States Can Keep Up
The explosion of online health-care apps and providers has forced states to face tough questions -- many of which they have yet to find an answer to.
BY Mattie Quinn
OBSERVER
Management & Labor
Too Many Chiefs? Chief Bike Officer Is the Latest Addition
Despite their important-sounding titles, many of the growing number of “chiefs” in government don't have much actual authority.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Politics & Elections
Black Women Remain Underrepresented in All Levels of Politics
But particularly in statewide executive office positions, which just 10 black women in nine states have ever held, according to a new report.
BY Liz Farmer
Education
New Library Tries a Novel Idea: Books
In Seattle, a new private library -- the first of its kind in a century -- is based on the throwback idea of having a quiet place to read.
BY Liz Farmer
Health & Human Services
A Proactive Approach to Keeping Kids Out of Jail
Instead of waiting to help until kids get in trouble, Los Angeles County is using data analytics to help them before. So far, it's proving successful.
BY J.B. Wogan
POLITICS + POLICY
Assessments
The Problem With the Second Phase of Gentrification
Unlike a generation ago, today’s urban renaissance often displaces people and businesses.
BY Alan Ehrenhalt
Washington Watch
Private-Market Misfires and Misconceptions
When government lets the market fix policy problems, it often fails.
BY Donald F. Kettl
Elections
What Would Happen If America Made Voting Mandatory?
Dozens of other countries force their citizens to participate in elections.
BY Alan Greenblatt
Health & Human Services
Battling the Blues in Rural America
Like most rural areas, Alaska suffers from high rates of mental illness and a deficiency of mental health providers. The state may have a solution.
BY Mattie Quinn
Infrastructure & Environment
Want to Impact Climate Change? One State Tells You How.
Massachusetts launched a website that details not just the effects of climate change but also how people can help.
BY Elizabeth Daigneau
Transportation & Infrastructure
When Height's Not Right for Urban Planning
We don't always have to build up to fit more people into a city. Vancouver and Seattle offer alternative solutions.
BY Alex Marshall
Urban Notebook
Why We Shouldn't Let the Sharing Economy Kill Zoning
The sharing economy is challenging the demand for land-use regulations, but they're still necessary.
BY William Fulton
PROBLEM SOLVER
Infrastructure & Environment
Why Are Traffic Deaths Rising?
After years of going down, road-related fatalities went up last year. There's two big reasons for that.
BY Mike Maciag
Smart Management
America's Jails Have an HR Problem
Employees are often overworked and undertrained, putting themselves and the inmates they're supposed to protect at risk.
BY Katherine Barrett & Richard Greene
On Leadership
Patriotism and the Power of Public Spaces
Parks and other shared spaces can strengthen the bonds of citizenship, so why are they so underused?
BY Mark Funkhouser
Tech Talk
As Water Utilities Move Online, Hackers Take Note
America's power grid has gotten a lot of attention, but water utilities are increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks.
BY Tod Newcombe
Public Money
How 'Philanthrocapitalism' Could Transform Government
Mark Zuckerberg has ushered in a new form of philanthropy that has the potential to bring about positive change
BY Justin Marlowe
Politics & Elections
The Henhouse at the Executive Mansion
To fulfill a campaign promise, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe stocked his new digs with egg-laying chickens.
BY David Kidd
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