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South Carolina residents are seeing rates go down thanks to a law passed in 2022, but the state still charges a lot more than North Carolina and other southeastern neighbors.
A combined federal and state effort to redesign the boondoggle-prone economic development program could also provide the blueprint for rebuilding devastated communities.
Pregnant women who are incarcerated will move into the facility next week. For now, only women with 18 months or less to serve can participate but the program may expand over time.
Understaffed police departments and concerns over public safety are spurring greater use of private security guards. But they aren't a perfect substitute.
President Trump, who calls FEMA “not good,” has issued an executive order and established a commission to look at ending the agency. He favors having states respond to their own disasters, but they may not have adequate resources.
Last year, legislators approved funding to fill a coverage gap. The law, however, was overridden by a ballot measure involving pay increases for doctors.
The amount it would cost annually to clean up the dead zone off the coast of Louisiana. A vast dead zone is caused seasonally by nutrient runoff from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers that cause algae blooms and cut off oxygen. The Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal of reducing runoff by 45 percent, which would cost $7 billion per year, according to a new study. (Louisiana Illuminator)
Kate Bauer, executive director of the American Association of Birth Centers. She was referring to a new Florida law that allows C-sections to be performed outside of hospitals. The policy was pushed by a private equity group that owns birthing centers and argued this would expand access to care. Bauer warned that birth centers would not be able to provide the same level of care if interventions are necessary. (Stateline)
The Eaton Fire consumed a home and community I had loved for decades. I went from writing about homelessness to living it.
Gloria Sachdev has spent years taking on the health-care establishment in Indiana, working to pull down high hospital prices and make information public to patients. Now, in a newly created position in the governor’s Cabinet, she’s no longer fighting from the outside.
They split their tickets in last year’s elections more than they have in the past, and they were more likely to identify as moderates. It’s cause for optimism.
After a two-year investigation into a sprawling donor network, the Fair Political Practices Commission found it did not violate any rules. This finding will make it easier for groups to coordinate fundraising and donations.
Last month, the EPA issued a rule to step up monitoring and limit worker exposure to ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing molecule. But in his first term, Trump rolled back dozens of environmental rules, making residents of Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley” nervous.
The projected cost of a new school voucher plan in Tennessee over the next three years. Last week, legislators passed a bill making Tennessee the latest state to offer vouchers to all families, regardless of location or income. Critics said the cost will grow much higher. The bill was a top priority for GOP Gov. Bill Lee.
Idaho state Rep. Bruce Skaug. The Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow the governor to veto ballot initiatives approved by voters, arguing that they don’t always get the same amount of information that legislators receive before passing bills. Initiatives that pass with more than two-thirds of the vote could not be vetoed, but supporters of the initiative process called the proposal a slap in the face of voters. (Idaho Capital Sun)
Some programmers and engineers are willing to forego private-sector pay to find meaningful work. But governments need to be more nimble about hiring.
Cities across the country are committed to making it easier to build housing and are taking a variety of promising approaches, note the leaders of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. But they must be bolstered by federal investment and flexibility.
The Department of Education denied an application from a cyber charter school that would have been part of a multistate network. Classes would have been led by AI tutors with humans serving as “guides.”
Crystal River, Minn., is a freshly incorporated city that lacks money for services and infrastructure. A lobbyist would help secure state funds, but some local officials call the idea a “racket.”
Luz Ramos, whose donut shop was saved by selling Trump donuts. Ramos was on the verge of closing her shop in Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley, but the day after the election she began selling donuts covered in red frosting with the word "Trump" in white icing. After she announced the debut of the Trump donut on Instagram, customers flocked to the store and it’s been profitable ever since. (Texas Tribune)
Residents of red counties in blue states wish they had a new political home. Also, in Florida, the Legislature is starting to stand up to Ron DeSantis.
The administration rescinded its order for a spending review due to blowback. Republicans had not joined the chorus of critics, even though red states are heavily dependent on federal grants.
A 10-mile park running underneath a rail transit line in Miami-Dade County is expected to be complete next year. The county’s former transportation chief just signed on to lead a nonprofit supporting the project.
The education committees in both the House and Senate approved a $450 million bill, a top priority for Gov. Bill Lee. Legislators are expected to pass it quickly during a special session this week.
The legislation would block foreclosures and allow homeowners who’ve suffered financially due to the L.A. fires to freeze payments without penalty. Several major lenders have already reached agreement with Gov. Gavin Newsom to provide voluntary relief.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a bill overturning the state’s work requirements, which had previously been blocked in court. The bill passed in December while Democrats still controlled the Legislature, with Republicans complaining it sent the wrong message to recipients.
Homelessness rose last year by 18 percent, but much of the increase took place in a handful of states that had received lots of immigrants. Some experts say their increase during a HUD census inflated the actual numbers.
Former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota. He was referring to Gov. Tim Walz’ prospects at home after running as the Democratic candidate for vice president last year. Over the past couple of years, Walz’ profile was enhanced by a flurry of ambitious spending and policy bills. Following last fall’s elections, however, legislative control if Minnesota is divided, meaning many of the governor’s priorities have little chance to pass. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
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