Cover Story

Can America's Biggest Ports Go Green?

BY Daniel C. Vock

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have set an audacious goal: reducing their greenhouse gas emissions to zero.

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Small City, Big Goals: How an Unconventional Mayor Is Beating the System

West Sacramento, Calif.'s Christopher Cabaldon has revived his town and become a player on the national stage. BY Liz Farmer

Rising Funeral Costs Put Pressure on Local Governments

Funerals have become a luxury that many Americans can’t afford. Cities and counties are paying the price. BY Liz Farmer, Mattie Quinn

Human Composting, Liquid Cremation: States Search for Greener Funeral Options

Washington just became the first U.S. state to sanction "human composting," the latest eco-friendly alternative to traditional burial and cremation. BY J. Brian Charles

How Governments Are Transitioning Their Gender Policies to Nonbinary

A growing number of states and cities are letting residents identify as neither male nor female, setting up a cascade of tough policy questions. BY Candice Norwood

Right to an Attorney? Most Tenants Face Landlords Without One.

But a handful of cities are starting to provide counsel in civil court. BY J. Brian Charles

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Where’s the Beef? States Ban Veggie Burgers From Being Labeled 'Meat'

Lawmakers say they want to clear up confusion over plant-based meat substitutes. BY Alan Greenblatt

Want to Slash Your State’s Budget? This Woman Can Help.

Donna Arduin has made a career out of consulting with governors on budget cuts. BY Alan Greenblatt

Is 311 Fair?

A new study examines whether cities respond to complaints as quickly in poor neighborhoods as they do in rich ones. BY Alan Greenblatt

Nonprofits Don’t Have to Pay Taxes, But Boston Still Hopes They’ll Chip In

Half the city’s land mass is occupied by government entities and other tax-exempt institutions. Some city councilors say nonprofits are not paying their fair share. BY Alan Greenblatt

It's Been a Rough Year for Mass Transit

With falling ridership and scrapped expansion projects, urban transit faces an uncertain future. BY Alan Ehrenhalt

Natural Disasters and Distrust

In an emergency, government must convince people it knows best for them. That's easier said than done. BY Donald F. Kettl

Why Orlando Is a Teenager in the Life Cycle of Cities

Older metros don’t grow the same way younger ones do. Why don’t we acknowledge that? BY Pete Saunders

Areas With Most Local Governments Map

Maps shows where cities, towns and other local governments are most concentrated. BY Mike Maciag

BY Daniel C. Vock

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