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Dissident counties are joining quixotic efforts to secede from their states in much of the country. They’re a manifestation of real political resentments and a way to attract some attention.
The program is for residents who struggled to provide documents for federal IDs, including homeless people, immigrants or victims of domestic abuse and was approved in 2016. A committee will discuss the issue on Wednesday.
Since fall 2020, West Coast inflation has risen nearly 18 percent, while Portland Public Schools’ funding has risen just 12 percent. About 70 school districts and teachers unions across the state will negotiate contracts this fall.
Police stations have long served as entry points for Chicagoans in need of social services. As the city tries to maneuver the influx of thousands of migrants, some homeless residents are also using the city’s police stations as shelters.
The state was among 25 states that received an “F” grade for gun safety from the Giffords Law Center; of the Northeastern states, Maine and New Hampshire were the only ones to receive a failing grade.
Lewis County, Ky., Clerk Leslie Collier, regarding the fact that the 500-square-mile county that serves 13,000 people will have only four centralized polling sites for the general election that ends Tuesday. The county allots just $50,000 annually. Lewis County isn’t the only Kentucky county that has had to reduce polling locations; in this year’s race, 64 of the state’s 120 counties have reduced their polling locations to just a few centralized voting centers. Voting rights activists are concerned that consolidating voting locations could disenfranchise voters. (NPR — Nov. 5, 2023)
Lack of human connection is bad for your health. Responding to an advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General that a loneliness epidemic is affecting half of all Americans, San Antonio has been pushing out resources to help build bonds between community members.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill on Wednesday, Nov. 1, that will require public schools across the state to teach media literacy as a way to combat misinformation. The law goes into effect immediately.
A federal judge excoriated two high-ranking officials within the state’s Department of Homeland Security for their roles in the state’s efforts to intentionally destroy evidence in a class-action lawsuit.
The state’s Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has partnered with CSU Dominguez Hills and has enrolled 33 students in a two-year master’s program in humanities. The program launched in September.
The results of an audit found a “high likelihood” that hundreds of state troopers falsified tens of thousands of traffic tickets and skewed racial profiling data. Now the department is working to restore public trust and legitimacy.
Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins, regarding the city’s approval of a new location for a police station, which will replace the one that was ransacked and burned in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. The city will spend $14 million to buy an existing building and parking lot and transform it into a new station. (Associated Press — Nov. 3, 2023)
Concerns about crime and homelessness have made urban voters more open to centrist appeals, even in liberal strongholds such as Seattle and Boston.
The technology has great potential in the future of data analysis and policymaking. But it will only happen if the right guardrails are in place and best practices are developed and followed early on.
There’s no sensible reason to keep doing it. States could opt out, but most do not. Congress should act, and there’s a 30-minute solution.
The city’s next mayor will have to face fiscal shortfalls, public safety worries, aging infrastructure and how to pay for it all. Former mayors and neighborhood leaders can offer guidance, but there’s no singular solution.
The City Council is considering implementation of a pilot program that would reinvest metered parking fees back into a neighborhood for transportation-related improvements. The program would be tested in Roslindale Village.
The city’s police reported using force against Black people 502 times from January through June of this year, which is more than against Hispanic (311), white (223) and Asian (80) people. Black people make up 5 percent of the city’s population.
Two county lawmakers have called for a 12-month moratorium on the construction and siting of battery energy storage systems, citing the fire risks of lithium-ion batteries. Battery energy storage systems have become a growing concern across the state.
Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, regarding the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that the state can execute an inmate with nitrogen gas, a method that has not previously been used to carry out a death sentence. Alabama, Oklahoma and Mississippi have authorized nitrogen hypoxia for executions but none have tried to use it. Opponents have likened the new procedure to human experimentation. (Associated Press — Nov. 2, 2023)
Many see next year's election as a historic test of American democracy. What does a national survey say about how “democratic” the attitudes of the voters themselves are?
Focusing on prevention doesn’t stop us from preparing for disasters, it just makes them less likely. We can and should do the same for mass shootings.
Governing alongside The NewDEAL spotlights 20 competitively selected policy proposals across four high-impact categories, aiming to demonstrate effective government problem-solving and results delivery. Leaders present diverse strategies spanning education, equity, economic opportunities and democracy protection.
Leaders spearhead groundbreaking programs in STEM, housing stability, economic growth, and justice system reintegration, marking a transformative era of social change and opportunity.
Innovative Initiatives Target Affordability, Education Access, and Emission Reduction, Highlighting Progressive Leadership.
Recent bills and strategic initiatives foster equity across education, housing, and employment, empowering underserved communities.
Finalists in this year’s Challenge include initiatives to enhance voting access and infrastructure, inclusive redistricting, boosting voter engagement, protecting election workers and promoting community healing.
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