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To work around the state’s immigration enforcement laws, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has worked with private data brokers to receive real-time alerts about when people are being released from jail.
Despite the national push towards electric vehicles, the Massachusetts regional transit authority has no immediate plans to transition its 69 buses to electric alternatives. One EV bus is almost double the price of a diesel bus.
State lawmakers discussed the possibility of curbing property taxes by using surplus state funds and restricting the annual growth of a home’s taxable value. But some worry it would shift the burden onto taxpayers.
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A cooperative contract is an agreement between a local, state, regional, or federal government and businesses. The contract secures affordable rates and establishes delivery terms on goods that many agencies or offices need to have.
A spokesperson for the Philadelphia Board of Health, regarding the city’s decision to end its indoor mask mandate just days after reimposing the order. (Reuters — April 21, 2022)
The number of tons of carbon emissions that Gov. Tom Wolf predicts Pennsylvania will emit by 2030, a reduction of 97 million tons. The state will join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a multistate consortium that sets a price and declining limits on power plant emissions. The cap-and-trade program requires owners of fossil-fuel power plants with a capacity of 25 or more megawatts must buy a credit for every ton of CO2 they emit.
A number of states are seeing dozens of lawmakers retire all at once. Reasons differ, but there’s wide agreement partisanship has poisoned the atmosphere.
Failing to invest in the emergency response communication workforce and infrastructure is taking a toll. One important way to bolster call center employee morale and retention is to reclassify these professionals as first responders.
From regulation to restoration, the work of environmental stewardship falls largely on the shoulders of those in government. For Earth Day 2022, Governing asked public-sector leaders how they see the path forward.
The bottom half of Americans saw their wealth grow by 301 percent in 2020, in part boosted by unemployment benefits and stimulus payments. Despite that growth, the wealth gap also increased.
Nuclear industry giant Westinghouse believes that their micro-reactors could dramatically change Alaska’s relationship with energy, but not everyone is so certain of the systems’ economic and environmental benefits.
The state announced it would use federal pandemic funds to give one-time bonuses to health-care workers but it omitted the largest group of health attendants, who provide services to about 130,000 low-income Texans.
Nicole Polit, a civilian social worker, regarding vulnerable people’s increased trust in Philadelphia’s SEPTA police officers. In a pilot project called Serving a Vulnerable Entity, police and “outreach specialists,” or social workers, work together to patrol the transit system and look for people who may be in need of services, such as temporary shelter, food or drug treatment. (NPR — April 21, 2022)
The proportion of Americans, or more than 137 million people, who live in areas with poor air quality, according to a new report. Only one of the top 25 worst cities with particulate matter pollution was east of the Rocky Mountains and California had 11 of the top 25 polluted cities. Fresno, Calif., had the worst short-term particulate matter pollution and Los Angeles had the worst ozone levels. People of color were almost four times more likely to live in a county with poor air quality compared to white people.
Population growth is slowing or reversing just about everywhere in the country. That has enormous implications for our future economy and prosperity.
The AARP Livability Index, which relaunched this week, scores towns, cities and counties for the services they provide based on several metrics, including housing, transportation, environment and health.
A federal appeals court ruled that California’s local governments can proceed with lawsuits against major oil companies for their sale of fossil fuel products and allegedly deceiving the public about the products’ effects.
New Jersey became the 14th state to legalize recreational marijuana use on Thursday, though public smoking is still banned. Now local police, who will provide security for the dispensaries, must adjust for the new law.
The city’s Department of Transportation found that, during the 13-month pilot program, 22 percent of riders used scooters for commuting and 12 percent used them for running errands. The average trip was 15 minutes and cost $6.63.
Tim Burney, of Wasilla, Alaska, regarding his support for Sarah Palin in her bid for the U.S. House seat of the late Rep. Don Young. Some voters still see Palin as the “only anti-establishment, truly conservative” candidate while others, though skeptical of Palin’s personal life, believe she could be a good political candidate. (Associated Press — April 20, 2022)
The proportion of Americans who favor requiring people to wear masks on planes, trains and public transportation, while just 24 percent are opposed.
The Twin Cities have always been alike in some ways, very different in others. Their mayors reflect the differences and similar monumental challenges.
Private geographic information companies, rich with useful data, have transportation solutions that governments need to start using.
Earlier this month, the California city launched its Mobile Assistance Community Responders program, which sends trained civilians to respond to emergency mental health crises, allowing police to focus on violent crime response.
Jocelyn Benson’s office retracted its previous statement about no longer releasing driving records of “victims of violence,” like that of Patrick Lyoya, to the media after the policy sparked transparency concerns.
The utility’s commitment to entirely renewable fuel sources marks a significant step forward in complying with New York’s climate change law. Currently, most upstate homes are heated in the winter exclusively by fossil fuels.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, asking the Legislature to repeal a 1967 law that allows Walt Disney World to operate a private government over its properties. The statement comes after Disney announced that it would suspend political donations in the state after the commonly called “Don’t Say Gay” bill that bars teachings about sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. Disney is one of the state’s biggest private employers. (Associated Press — April 19, 2022)
The estimated amount that Texas lost per day as a result of the week-long increased border security policy, which caused longer wait times and delayed shipments of products.
Our system is too open to frivolous lawsuits intended to squelch free speech. There’s a lot that state lawmakers could do to protect Americans’ First Amendment rights.
Federal lawmakers are asking how to better help the critical infrastructure sector defend against cyber threats. The answer may involve tailored, actionable intelligence and minimum cybersecurity requirements.
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