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    How cities learn from previous efforts and build lasting safety programs.
        
    
        
    A month after she was sworn in, Cara Spencer had to deal with a devastating tornado.
        
    
        
    Washington wants to prune federal regulations. The feds should pay attention to what the Old Dominion is doing. And AI can help.
        
    
        
    The city’s movement toward free care for kids up to age 2 could be a gamechanger with national implications. And it’s a sign of the growing political strength of working parents.
        
    
        
    Missouri state Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin. The Republican president pro tem said Gov. Mike Kehoe is weighing a redistricting plan aimed at aligning the state’s congressional map with its conservative majority, following similar moves debated in Texas. (Bloomberg)
        
    
        
    Democrats face financial and political risk in their bid to block the GOP plan.
        
    
        
    Providers report denial rates up to 17.5 percent. To cope with the mounting financial pressure, some small clinics have stopped accepting Medicaid altogether.
        
    
        
    Hurricane season begins in earnest in August. The devastating floods in Texas earlier this summer underscored the importance of state and local readiness as the federal government rethinks its role in disaster response.
        
    
        
    The park in Portland, Ore., takes up little space but has a whimsical history.
        
    
        
    The new tax and spending law’s requirements for food assistance and Medicaid impose costly administrative burdens on states and localities. Widely misunderstood rules for taxing overtime will intensify the administrative pain. Public employers should start preparing their workers for the confusion to come.
        
    
        
    The Trump administration is trying to stop wind projects, but the Great Lakes states have a powerful say in what happens on the lakes, where turbines could power the entire region and beyond. They should lay the groundwork now.
        
    
        
    Value of transportation projects expected to break ground in the next 30 to 60 days, up 20 percent ...
        
    
        
    New Hampshire state Rep. Ellen Read. The Democrat sponsored the nation’s first law requiring doctors to perform sterilization procedures for patients who request them, regardless of age, marital status or personal views on fertility. Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed the bipartisan measure on July 15. (New Hampshire Bulletin)
        
    
        
    The mayor is facing a more than $1 billion budget deficit and has already disavowed a property tax hike.
        
    
        
    With little public detail about its methods or goals, the governor’s new investigative unit raises questions about transparency, political intent and the future of local oversight.
        
    
        
    Monique Limón, a Santa Barbara Democrat, was chosen to serve as the next president pro tem of the California state Senate. A former educator, she’s the first woman of color to serve in the role.
        
    
        
    Cities that depend heavily on federal research dollars will necessarily take a hit. But a look at two different cities suggests two possible futures.
        
    
        
    Montana’s law empowers residents with control over sensitive neural data, building on Colorado and California's legislation amid growing concerns over consumer neurotechnology.
        
    
        
    Funding cuts eliminate nearly half the grants, forcing nonprofits to downsize and cancel internships, leaving thousands adrift.
        
    
        
    Labor and delivery units have closed and recruitment has collapsed, with physician leaders warning the workforce loss could take decades to recover.
        
    
        
    Pinellas County Commission Chairperson Brian Scott. Florida’s new Department of Government Efficiency is launching audits of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, citing concerns over alleged excessive spending. Scott pushed back on the tone but said the county will comply with the sweeping records request, which includes documents on diversity, equity and inclusion and climate initiatives. (Tampa Bay Times)
        
    
        
    Portion of U.S. job growth over the past year driven by the healthcare and social assistance sector ...
        
    
        
    Groups focused on food security are scrambling following the cancellation of federal programs supporting purchases from local farmers.
        
    
        
    Pension funds enjoyed enormous stock market returns during the pandemic but slower gains and underfunding has increased their liabilities.
        
    
        
    Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson. The council voted to ban the use of certain slurs during public comment after repeated disruptions involving racist and offensive language. Violators will now face removal or bans from future meetings. (Los Angeles Times)
        
    
        
    Gross customs duties collected in June, helping push total tariff revenue past $100 billion for the first time ...
        
    
        
    A decade of noncompliance with federal rules has left districts scrambling to meet student mental health needs without adequate support.
        
    
        
    An agreement with federal agencies shields early-childhood programs from immigration status screening, avoiding potential closures and preserving services for more than 4,700 vulnerable children.
        
    
        
    Many voters are switching party allegiances during the Trump era, but the parties aren't changing in ways that reflect their preferences.
        
    
        
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