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American farmers are the quintessential do-it-yourself businesspeople. Yet tractor manufacturer John Deere forbids them from attempting to repair their agricultural machinery when it breaks down. But change could be coming.
The CHP, one of California’s largest police agencies, does not provide body cameras for 97 percent of its officers.
Unprecedented federal investment from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will soon land in state broadband offices. Maryland, Maine and Utah share their plans for putting those resources to use.
Los Angeles gasoline prices are reaching record highs and the Metro has reduced costs to encourage riders, yet many still aren’t riding public transit for safety concerns. Violent crimes on the system rose 36 percent last year.
Gov. Jay Inslee proposed spending $100 million to subsidize the purchase of electric vehicles, but only $25 million was earmarked for EV incentives in the budget that was passed on Thursday.
The California city was victim to a larger scheme that targeted several municipalities across the nation, but some wonder why city officials waited two years to provide information on the scam.
A California-based startup company will invest $254 million in the state, partly to establish a manufacturing plant for its hydrogen-powered passenger capsules in Albuquerque that is expected to open in 2024.
Virginia Sen. Scott Surovell, regarding the state’s decision to lift its ban on facial recognition technology for surveillance or monitoring just eight months after passing one of the most restrictive bans in the nation. The new legislation will allow police agencies to use the technology in certain circumstances, such as identifying crime victims or witnesses, sex trafficking victims and unidentified bodies in morgues. (Associated Press — March 10, 2022)
The proportion of U.S. adults who expect to spend less on meals out if gasoline prices continue to rise; 49 percent said they would reduce spending on movies and other entertainment while 60 percent reported they wouldn’t drive as far for leisure activities.
A California case involving local sugary-drink taxes demonstrates the value of taking to the courts to push against industry-backed laws that block city and county policies that promote health and equity.
The federal funds provide an opportunity for cities to address and make tangible progress toward addressing the systemic inequities that have lingered for far too long.
The idea was first included in a campaign pledge during the 2000 election and has been debated ever since. The state will abolish the county’s office and transfer its duties to the county commission, effective in 2024.
Obscure court fees are disproportionately issued to low-income residents of color, who often cannot afford to pay the fines; 86 percent reported that paying for the ticket would impact their ability to pay for food.
Residents across the Maryland county are reporting instances in which they are forced to wait several minutes before they’re connected with a 911 operator. Improving call center retention and efficiency could help alleviate the issue.
Amber Briggle, a Texas resident and the mother of a transgender son. Briggle is under investigation after Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a legal opinion this year claiming that gender-affirming treatments for transgender children constitutes child abuse. In 2016, Briggle invited Paxton to dinner to “put a human face” to the struggle for transgender rights and has felt that she has been a target ever since. (Texas Standard — March 9, 2022)
The rate of local election officials who say that they’re planning on leaving their position before 2024. The most common reasons cited included job stress and that too many politicians were attacking “a system that they know is fair and honest.”
California got the ball rolling, working to keep organic materials out of landfills by issuing regulations and using technologies that can turn them into an energy source and carbon sink. Now, other states are joining in.
The war in Ukraine has triggered an outpouring of sympathy for the plight of the people under attack, but also a surprising amount of isolationist sentiment. It’s not the first time this has happened.
A public service academy at Arizona State University is helping students consider a career in the public sector. As other universities offer similar programs, will they succeed in expanding the talent pool for government?
After months of changing map boundaries, the state’s primary field is finally ready and a new district could become one of the nation’s most competitive races. The primary is May 17.
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that the border arrest program will be extended into Webb, Brooks and Jim Hogg counties, all three of which are controlled by Democrats. Two of the counties are not on the state’s border.
Sensors embedded into road pavement can help detect when a truck’s tires have become unsafe, which could cause blowouts at high speeds and result in serious injury or death. More than 5,000 people died in large-truck crashes in 2019.
Senior program director Kailin See at OnPoint, New York City’s new, privately run “overdose prevention center.” While critics say that the aim of the centers should be to stop the use of drugs, others, like See, argue that simply keeping users alive is the first step in getting them help. OnPoint NYC is the first site in operation in the U.S., though several other cities and the state of Rhode Island have approved the concept. (Associated Press — March 9, 2022)
The increase in metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2021, the highest increase ever recorded in human history.
We used to allow homeowners to operate commercial businesses on their property. By and large, it worked. We can do it again. Say hello to “accessory commercial units.”
Federal aid won’t be enough to help ailing rural communities and urban neighborhoods. It's time for state policymakers to target them with cost-effective job creation policies.
The state House passed the bill by just two votes; it was opposed by 21 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Those in favor of the legislation claim that the boxes create risk for fraud because they’re unattended.
The state House passed legislation that would allow digital license plates for consumer and fleet vehicles. The technology is already available in California, Arizona and Michigan.
A recent study found that in 2019, women earned 80.8 percent of what a man earned in a similar position, though some jobs, like financial managers, judges and chief executives, make well below that mark.
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Lapado, announcing the state’s decision to break from the CDC’s guidance on COVID-19 vaccines based on a report that found few COVID-related deaths among healthy children and elevated risk of side effects such as myocarditis among young boys after receiving the vaccine. (Reuters — March 7, 2022)
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