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Whatever communities can do to nurture “social infrastructure” — places like movie theaters, libraries and swimming pools where people gather to form social bonds — can have a profound impact on addiction and overdose death rates.
There’s much that state lawmakers can do to prevent it from undermining democracy. Some states are already putting stronger safeguards in place, and more should do the same.
State Sen. Lena Gonzalez has introduced legislation that would give workers at least five days of mandated sick pay every year. It is estimated that unscheduled absenteeism costs employers about $3,600 annually for each hourly employee.
Since April 2022, nearly 110,000 migrants have made their way into the city, with about 60,000 still in the city’s care. Without more support from the federal government, Mayor Eric Adams does not see a solution to the issue.
Superior Court Judge Rupal Shah dismissed a lawsuit against the state Police Union that attempted to stop the release of names of at least 130 troopers who potentially wrote more than 25,000 false or inaccurate traffic tickets.
Rand Hoch, president and founder of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, the group which spearheaded the effort to make Lake Worth Beach, Fla., the state’s first safe haven city for LGBTQ people and their families. The city commissioners voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a resolution that reiterates the city’s commitment to “protecting human rights for all individuals.” (The Hill — Sept. 7, 2023)
Forces around the country are employing civilian investigators and online reporting to address workforce shortages among armed personnel.
Greater investment is key, enabling smaller classes with better-paid teachers, and most state and local governments have the money. But our public schools also need leadership stability and more parental involvement.
A survey of more than 4,250 faculty across four states, including Florida, found that faculty are becoming increasingly discouraged by recent legislation impacting higher education and many are considering leaving.
At the end of the month, some $24 billion in government aid for child-care providers will run out, threatening the spots for 3.2 million children. The upheaval may force parents, especially women, to reduce work hours.
The state’s fourth carbon emissions allowances auction brought the program’s revenue to an all-time high in the first year, far outpacing early estimates. The state is still deciding how the money will be spent.
A review by the state attorney general found that safeguards to prevent double counting of votes were not in place, resulting in a miscount of Monmouth County’s ballots that declared the wrong winner for an Ocean Township school board seat.
Sheila Dixon, a former Baltimore mayor who resigned from the role as part of a 2010 plea agreement in a corruption case, regarding her announcement that she will be running, again, for the city’s 2024 mayoral race. In December 2009, Dixon was found guilty of embezzlement for misusing gift cards that had been donated to City Hall for charity, spending them at Target and Best Buy to purchase things for her family and staff instead of using them to serve the poor. (Associated Press — Sept. 7, 2023)
D.C.’s program illustrates the growing promise of "stat" programs, with data and analytics enabling a new era of processes and insights.
A new report identified thousands of properties nationwide as physically suitable buildings to be converted into apartments, including more than 50 in Dallas-Fort Worth. But the typical conversion is only financially feasible in six cities.
The department’s database violates the civil rights of Black and Hispanic young people by being too quick to add names and too slow to remove them, putting youth at risk of false arrest and wrongful deportation.
The state’s Labor and Employment Department moved its fraud detection tools to the “highest possible level” in the spring to prevent further fraud. However, the effort has caused significant slowdowns for legitimate claims.
A $25 million loan program was established in 2006 as a way to pay for maintenance and repairs of aging school buildings. But lawmakers made the program “difficult to use” and only two districts have been able to access the aid.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, regarding the fact that last month was the hottest August ever recorded by far with modern equipment and it was the second hottest month ever measured, behind only July 2023. The world’s oceans were nearly 69.8 degrees Fahrenheit and have set high temperature marks for three consecutive months. So far, this year is the second hottest year on record, behind 2016. (NPR — Sept. 6, 2023)
They are a key source of funding for transportation infrastructure, but have been shrinking for years. Two new reports explore possible alternatives.
Weakening licensing requirements for high-impact technical professions doesn’t help businesses. They value it in their hiring to maintain service quality and avoid liability and reputational damage.
City officials will disclose more information regarding the April data breach in which hackers accessed personal information of at least 30,000 people. Officials have waited until the report was finalized to share details of the cyber attack.
Second Judicial Circuit Judge J. Lee Marsh rebuffed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ claim that mandatory protections for Black voters violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which could pave the way for Democrats.
Labor organizer Jane McAlevey has advice for how workers can continue to demand more of employers and union leaders, but there are still obstacles to overcome before gains can be made.
In 1984, about 19,000 volunteer firefighters staffed stations across the state; today, the numbers have decreased to just around 10,000. For many parts of the state, the loss of volunteer teams could have devastating impacts.
Richard Howell, the executive director at Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa., regarding the fact that American, Delta and United Airlines have collectively dropped 74 regional airports from their service since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cessation of airline service is not only a problem for the airports where businesses rely on travelers, but it’s a big issue for site consultants looking to potentially bring their businesses to small towns, like Williamsport. (NPR — Sept. 4, 2023)
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