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U.S. prisons are dangerous for corrections staff and incarcerated people alike and recidivism rates are high. Can a Scandinavian-inspired culture shift help?
PowerSchool, which has 16,000 customers, is used by more than 50 million students. Hackers gained access to information about them and their parents, receiving ransom to prevent leaks of the stolen data.
It’s just too hard to start a new business. These offices can do a lot to eliminate governmental red tape and remove other barriers to our engines of job creation and economic growth.
A resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. Last November’s city council election resulted in a tie between incumbent Everett Roy and former councilmember Billy Lerma. Both received 1,916 votes in a runoff election, as verified by a recount. To determine the winner, the two candidates drew numbered beads from a box, with Roy drawing a 3 to Lerma's 2. (Texas Tribune – Jan. 10, 2025)
Maryland’s Democratic governor has quickly gained a national profile and enjoys strong support at home. But a $3 billion budget shortfall is going to force him to make some unpopular choices.
Before the Goodmans (Oscar and Carolyn) served as mayor, the biggest game in town was college basketball. Thanks to the personal relationships they built, the city now has the NFL and hockey, with baseball soon to follow.
The nation's largest health insurance program is likely to be cut in Congress this year to pay for other priorities. That could have profound ramifications for state budgets and the health-care system.
Voters in several states, including deeply red ones, chose to make significant boosts. While the federal minimum remains stuck at $7.25, 10 states now have a wage of $15 or higher and more are headed in that direction.
As a legislator, governor, president and ex-president, he confronted the prejudices that were so much a part of where and when he grew up. His life and deeds hold many lessons for today’s public officials.
Artificial intelligence systems require consistent monitoring and staffing to put in place and to keep them working well. The need for people and more machines to make sure new tools don’t mess up is leading to increased costs for hospitals.
The state’s troubled home insurance market is certain to command legislative attention this year. The fires in Los Angeles may end up being one of the nation’s most expensive disasters.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf. Although hospitals are increasing their use of artificial intelligence in directing treatment decisions, early indications are that AI does an inadequate job of predicting outcomes. The need for human oversight means that AI can increase costs rather than lowering them. (KFF Health News – Jan. 10, 2025)
A state Supreme Court justice won a narrow victory in November. Her challenger argues tens of thousands of votes should be thrown out.
Forty million Americans live in food deserts. Can government-owned grocery stores fix this?
Five years after the murder of George Floyd and just ahead of the Trump administration, Minneapolis agreed to enter into a consent decree with the Department of Justice. DOJ cited five others as models for success.
Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine now often come laced with deadly amounts of fentanyl. The current wave is driving up mortality among Black and Hispanic Americans particularly.
Hot, strong desert air is contributing to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area. The current winds are much less predictable than previous patterns.
Capt. Erik Scott, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson. The fires in L.A. have spread rapidly due to embers carried by the Santa Ana winds — dry air that blows in from the desert toward the coast. (L.A. Times – Jan. 9, 2025)
The Yes In My Backyard movement is barely a decade old. But it has set the terms of the debate over state and local housing policy.
The state’s 988 service has a $7 million shortfall and the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls. The suicide rate in Texas has risen dramatically during this century.
Democrats outperformed Kamala Harris’ showing in three legislative districts but fell short of President Biden’s showing back in 2020.
As Georgia governor, he was a pioneer in efforts to attract foreign investment and promote exports, setting the stage for how U.S. states would help shape the global economy.
Doug Moore. He’s a founding partner of a firm that helps colleges manage logistics when they’re shutting down. Colleges and universities experienced a 15 percent decline in enrollment between 2010 and 2021, with numbers continuing to slow due to a “demographic cliff,” with fewer babies born after the recession that started in 2007. The outlook is not bright, with the number of college-age Americans projected to drop another 15 percent by 2039. (NPR – Jan. 8, 2025)
Last year, about a quarter of all health insurance claims were denied in California. A new law blocks coverage denials made solely through artificial intelligence.
There's turnover in Washington with each new administration. Departing federal workers can bring valuable skills and experience to state and local governments.
Recent laws to improve pension financing should save states tens of billions of dollars over the long term.
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