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Negotiators from seven Western states are under mounting pressure to agree on how to share the Colorado River’s shrinking water supply ...
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois’ senior senator and the chamber’s No. 2 Democrat, defended his decision to join seven colleagues in backing a GOP plan to end the nation’s longest government shutdown. Durbin said he supported the temporary deal — which would reopen the government through Jan. 30 and restore pay to furloughed workers — despite progressive backlash because it offered a path to protect food and veterans’ assistance programs. The agreement, he said, came with an extraordinary pledge from Senate Republican leader John Thune to hold a December vote on Affordable Care Act subsidies, though it stops short of guaranteeing an extension. (Chicago Tribune)
A 13-page contract promising up to $5,000 for signature gatherers to quit has surfaced, deepening concerns about outside money, campaign finance violations and partisan maneuvering.
A Sacramento developer is using a $1.5 million 3D printer to build fire-resistant, low-waste homes that could reshape how California tackles its housing shortage.
Colorado has welcomed autonomous vehicles — but unlike Arizona or California, the state has no agency charged with regulating safety, privacy or accountability.
Forward-thinking leaders are reimagining democracy from the ground up — protecting voting rights, strengthening election systems, and expanding access to civic participation in communities nationwide.
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.
From college admissions to career readiness, these initiatives remove barriers and expand opportunity—helping more Americans access education, build skills, and achieve economic mobility.
From neighborhood-based EMS teams to trauma-informed policing and stronger protections for survivors, these initiatives are reshaping how communities build trust, safety, and justice.
From backyard cottages to state-level investment funds, leaders are rethinking how public policy and creative financing can expand housing access, revitalize neighborhoods, and strengthen communities.
These initiatives meet people where they are, transforming how local governments deliver prevention, treatment, and health support to those most in need.
From child care to career readiness, these initiatives invest early to build opportunity—supporting families, strengthening communities, and helping every child thrive.
People outside of government aren’t the only ones who could benefit from a better understanding of election processes.
Instead of across-the-board property tax cuts, targeted state and federal incentives for younger first-time home buyers and older would-be sellers could begin to break the logjam in the housing market.
The national unemployment rate for Black Americans rose to 7.5 percent in August, up 1.4 percentage points from a year earlier ...
Chicago Alderman David Moore countering Mayor Brandon Johnson’s push to reinstate the city’s corporate head tax during a heated town hall. Johnson argued the levy — a $21-per-employee tax on large corporations — would help fund services for working families, while Moore warned it could harm small franchise owners in his ward. (Chicago Tribune)
About 90 percent of federal lands are located in Western states. Dave Upthegrove, public lands commissioner of Washington state, discusses how changing federal priorities are affecting his job.
After a series of in-custody deaths, the Sheriff’s Office is piloting smartwatch-style biometric devices to alert staff when inmates show signs of medical distress. The move has been hailed as promising but fraught with privacy and technical challenges.
After polling close to Democrat Mikie Sherrill, the Republican’s 13-point loss stunned party insiders — who now blame Trump’s shutdown, mixed messaging and a campaign that failed to reach beyond its base.
How one organization in Pasadena, Calif., is mobilizing amid a shortage of federal food aid during the government shutdown.
Just about every jurisdiction measures them differently. The data should differentiate between life-and-death situations and less serious ones. Doing so could save lives — including those of first responders.
The amount Idaho has requested annually from the federal government to bolster rural health care through a new grant created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ...
Eric Schickler, political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s legacy following her announcement that she will not seek a 21st term in Congress. Pelosi, who made history as the first woman to serve as speaker, helped steer landmark legislation including the Affordable Care Act, post-financial crisis reforms, and President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Her nearly four-decade career reshaped Democratic politics and solidified her reputation as one of the most influential leaders in modern U.S. history. (Roll Call)
Voters in four suburban cities will decide next year whether to abandon Dallas Area Rapid Transit, a potential blow to the $850 million system that carries more than 50 million riders annually.
Residents in four industrial corridor towns can see real-time air quality data — a project environmental groups hope will prompt voluntary emissions fixes without relying on regulation.
Two investigator positions meant to tackle school discrimination cases went unfilled for over a year and a half, illustrating how bureaucracy can slow even urgent state priorities.
A new California law overrides local regulations to provide multifamily housing around transit corridors. Can it succeed in finally getting much-needed housing built? And is sprawl really such a bad thing?
The Trump administration plans to cut flight traffic by 10% in 40 major U.S. markets starting Friday ...
The issues that drove the winning campaigns reflected a mix of local and national concerns, and the results pointed to divergent, sometimes contradictory, priorities for big-city voters.
After generations in supporting roles, Black women are now leading some of America’s largest cities and reshaping how cities confront challenges from housing to public safety.
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