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Voters in three states enshrined Medicaid expansions in their state constitutions. Those states could be on the hook if Congress cuts program funding significantly.
The number of state jobs in Pennsylvania that are fully or partially funded by federal dollars. That’s created a conundrum. Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order to encourage the hiring of federal workers who’ve been fired or laid off, but his administration put a hiring freeze in place earlier this month due to uncertainty about federal funding.
Iowa Republican state Rep. John Wills. He was floor manager for a bill that passed the House on Monday that would legalize psilocybin, or magic mushrooms, for medical purposes. Although he has no personal interest in the drug, Wills said he’s learned that it can be effective for treating individuals prone to post-traumatic stress disorder, including veterans. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Salem, Ore., is in budget straits, in part because untaxed state buildings make up 8 percent of the property in the city. Tina Kotek is backing a local property tax increase as lawmakers consider ways to help the city directly.
The change is most dramatic in Silicon Valley, which is seeing more highly educated immigrants arrive from India and China.
More than 1.1 million college students from other countries inject billions of dollars into local economies and support hundreds of thousands of jobs. Losing them over fears of federal immigration policies would be a blow for cities and towns across the country.
Several governors and legislatures are looking to ban SNAP recipients from using their food stamps to pay for candy and soda.
The share of federal workers looking to take a job working in state or local government. That’s according to a survey by Civic Match, a nonprofit that helps federal employees and contractors whose jobs are threatened find other roles in public service. The survey found that 13.4 percent of federal workers are “almost certain” to take jobs with states or localities, with 39 percent “very likely” to do so.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener. Wiener, a Democrat, said that one of the lessons of last year’s elections is that Democrats have to demonstrate effectiveness rather than constantly worrying about process. As a case in point, he’s looking to amend a law that has blocked a good deal of housing construction in the state. (Bay Area News Group)
The federal Department of Education maintains an open access database of more than 2 million documents dating back to the 1960s. It will cease operating Wednesday due to DOGE cuts.
The post-pandemic pattern of rural growth continues, following years of decline. Two-thirds of the nation's rural growth is taking place in the South.
An environmental law has been a powerful tool for people seeking to block construction. Lawmakers may be poised to change it.
With federal cuts coming, states, cities and counties need to step up their understanding of the programs they run and the priorities they hope to preserve.
Only 22 states meet recommended security standards. But some states have come up with new approaches on their own.
Its electoral system, bolstered by strong economic and social institutions, enables lawmakers to vote their consciences in bipartisan coalitions.
Republican Spencer Cox said he hopes the president’s gamble on tariffs will pay off but acknowledged they’re causing short-term pain.
A hundred days into the job, Daniel Lurie has been aggressive about stepping up services and addressing downtown woes. He’s won over some critics but the city faces major challenges including a billion-dollar budget shortfall.
The share of Kentucky’s economy that is made up of imports. That’s the highest percentage of any state...
Missouri state Sen. Rick Brattin. The Republican was speaking in favor of a measure that would overturn a ballot initiative approved by voters to create a paid sick leave mandate. The measure passed with 57 percent support, but Brattin said “the problem with direct democracy” is that most voters don’t run small businesses so don’t understand how the mandate would hurt employers. (Missouri Independent)
The Texas House has approved a $1 billion school voucher program. It’s the latest victory for a school choice movement that’s been on a roll in state legislatures.
With bipartisan support, the legislature has passed one of the nation's most expansive bills offering protection to abuse survivors convicted or accused of a crime connected to their abuse. Other states may follow.
As momentum builds in Washington to refresh the program, attention needs to be paid to key leverage points. Along with public officials, philanthropy, investors and coalitions have important roles to play.
The drop in U.S.-bound ocean freight bookings. Bookings for U.S. imports collapsed by nearly two-thirds the week of April 1-8, when the U.S. imposed a new tariff regime...
Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, referring to Andrew Cuomo. De Blasio was once an aide to Cuomo but the two Democrats feuded openly while de Blasio was mayor and Cuomo was governor of New York. Cuomo is leading in the polls in this year’s race for mayor, ahead of the June Democratic primary. (NY1)
Legislators have agreed to a plan to lift the cap and want to spend $870 million more on special education programs.
Rather than limiting curfews to downtown, police could give teens a half-hour to disperse from any part of the city at any time.
A working group of mayors believes climate resilience and economic security go hand in hand.
It’s appealing to say that disaster relief should be left to states and localities. The less appealing reality is that they aren’t up to the job.
The number of vacant state jobs that would be eliminated under a budget proposal from the North Carolina Senate...
Andrea Jakious, a teacher at Seven Oaks Elementary School in Eagle, Idaho. Idaho’s West Ada School District has been mired in controversy in recent weeks for firing a teacher who displayed a sign that said, “everyone is welcome here.” The district claimed it was contentious because it displayed hands with different skin tones. At its first public meeting since the controversy broke out, the school board heard plenty of complaints, but members said they were trying to keep politics out of classrooms. (Idaho Statesman)
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