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The percentage of “highly religious” Americans who strongly lean toward the Republican Party. Thirty-two percent of the same group identify as Democrats. The figure is higher among white Americans – 77 percent – because Black Americans are likely to identify as Democrats regardless of their level of religious engagement. Among White Americans with low levels of religious engagement, 68 percent lean toward the Democratic Party.
Since 2021, the number of states offering universal eligibility for vouchers has grown from zero to 14.
Over the last decade, Wisconsin's largest county has made dramatic progress in reducing its homeless population.
With strong reserves, states have made billions through interest and other investments. This recent windfall is at risk as interest rates and other investment returns become shakier.
Mississippi state Sen. Angela Burks Hill. She was one of four Republicans who voted against a bill that would cut taxes by $326 million, mainly by reducing the state’s flat income tax rate from 4 percent to 2.99 percent. Although the bill would cut income and grocery taxes, it would increase the tax on gasoline to pay for infrastructure. The Mississippi Senate will have to reconcile its version with a deeper income tax passed by the House. (Mississippi Today — Feb. 24, 2025)
The amount states would lose in funding if Congress eliminates enhanced Medicaid funding for the expanded program population created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The House is considering a budget proposal that would shrink Medicaid spending in various ways. If the extra ACA money went away, states would have to come up with $44.3 billion to make up the loss. Otherwise, the uninsured population would increase by 10.8 million people.
Third-party services have bought and sold lottery tickets by the millions, raising concerns about lack of oversight and guardrails.
Idaho lawmakers have introduced legislation requiring counties to get voter approval for wind farms. If they’re rejected, counties must charge an excise tax that could exceed $2.5 million per turbine.
The city owns more than 1,000 works of art. It hasn’t inventoried them for decades and doesn’t know where at least 85 of them are.
A proposal to set a per-enrollee limit on federal money for the program is gaining traction. But states know how to game Medicaid rules and federal oversight is woefully inadequate.
President Trump signed an executive order to increase federal support for school choice programs, causing debate about the impact on public schools and student outcomes.
Virginia Democratic state Rep. Alfonso H. Lopez. He sponsored a bill allowing the state to buy Oak Hill, which was President James Monroe's 1,240-acre estate in Loudoun County. The estate's woners want to sell the landmark to the state to become a park. The state Senate rejected Lopez's proposal however. He warns the valuable property could be turned into housing in the outer D.C. suburb. (Washington Post — Feb. 21, 2025)
California wildfires are causing long-term damage to ecosystems, water systems, and the economy — costs that are often overlooked.
The amount college tuition could go up for so-called Dreamers in Florida. Dreamers, who are undocumented immigrants brought to this country as children, have been able to pay in-state rates but the Legislature plans to repeal that policy. That would raise their annual tuition costs from $6,300 to $22,000.
State bills aim to impose limits on transactions and fees, require consumer warnings and tackle the rise in cryptocurrency scams.
Seven individuals received approval to open psilocybin-related businesses as Colorado moves toward a legal psychedelic-assisted therapy industry.
A legal loophole in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program is allowing developers to remove rent restrictions from affordable housing, leading to rising rents and worsening the housing crisis.
The consequences of sanctuary policies extend far beyond the ideological debate surrounding immigration enforcement. These policies enable criminal networks to make communities more dangerous.
As Iowa's math scores decline, the state should use public funds to provide private tutoring for families in need and give students extra support without switching schools.
The amount that rates of sepsis increased for Texas women hospitalized when they lost their pregnancies in the second trimester, according to a new investigation from ProPublica. The increase occurred after Texas banned abortion in 2021.null
Bellflower, Calif., City Manager Ryan Smoot, on proposals in the wake of the Los Angeles fires to allow architects and engineers working on small residential construction projects to "self-certify" their plans and start construction immediately, as Smoot’s city in southeast Los Angeles County has been allowing for a decade. A proposal before the Los Angeles City Council would allow self-certification, though the city would still inspect the projects during and after construction. (CalMatters — Feb. 14, 2025)
Once a symbol of paradise, palm trees have become synonymous with Los Angeles. But with aging trees and changing cityscape, is it time for a new chapter?
Nebraska’s highest court will decide if the governor can force state workers back to the office, as unions argue for remote work rights. This echoes a broader national debate, with GOP leaders pushing return-to-office mandates.
Reported plans to cut staff in the Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with proposed budget cuts and the Trump administration’s funding freeze, have worried administrators of state and local housing programs.
If there's going to be a “Black mecca” for this rapidly growing sport, there's a good chance it will be Atlanta. But cities everywhere can benefit from this one small way to bring us together.
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections is seeking a private vendor to provide meals for nearly 20,000 prisoners, citing rising food costs and inefficiencies. But critics warn privatization may worsen food quality.
Despite sanctuary policies aimed at limiting local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, ICE continues to make arrests, highlighting the limits of these policies in protecting immigrants from deportation.
Federal biologist Ben Vizzachero, who recently found out he is among the roughly 3,400 U.S. Forest Service workers who were laid off by the Trump Administration. Vizzachero warns that as a result of the firings, national forests and the areas around them will be more vulnerable to fires, landslides and other natural disasters. (Los Angeles Times — Feb. 16, 2025)
Nevada lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require cities to update master plans with strategies to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, as Las Vegas and Reno experience rapid temperature increases.
The number of people who have tested positive in West Texas for the measles. Four patients who contracted measles said they were vaccinated against the disease. Thirteen patients have been hospitalized. The outbreak is the state’s largest in more than 30 years.
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