News
State transit officials look to invest in transportation infrastructure to assist economic development and a growing population, including more than $400 million for various transportation projects in Cobb County.
The state’s vote-by-mail number has climbed nearly 220,000 ahead of the November general election. Camden County has the state’s highest rate of participation and will be mailing ballots to all registered voters.
The current system does not service many jurisdictions in the area and isn’t capable of handling the growing demand for mental health response systems. The city will switch away from its current model in 2024.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, regarding New York City’s program for gifted and talented students which outgoing Mayor de Blasio has said that he would begin to phase out next year. Adams is likely to be the city’s next mayor and has said that he would preserve and expand the program. Critics say it favors white and Asian American children and enrolls disproportionately few Black and Latino students. (Associated Press — October 15, 2021)
The decrease in President Biden’s net approval rating among Black voters since Sept. 8, the day before he issued vaccine mandates.
The expanding legalization of marijuana sales is failing to give entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities a chance to get into the cannabis business. Policymakers should take a new look at licensing, tax and other policies.
A new report analyzes the home and auto energy use of each state and finds that Utah is the most efficient. Investing in energy efficiency can yield long-term savings for individuals, businesses and governments alike.
The nine-member panel was created a year ago to study reparations for Black residents but is still grappling with who should qualify and what the compensation will look like. The council has until 2022 to report their findings.
Gov. Charlie Baker has filed clean energy legislation that would remove the existing price cap on project proposals in hopes to attract greater investment into the state’s developing offshore wind industry.
A coalition of police officers, firefighters and other city employees have claimed that the city’s COVID-19 vaccine and testing rules are discriminatory. The city has a vaccination rate of approximately 78 percent.
Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, referring to his initial February proposal to pay employees and accept city payments in bitcoin, and the cryptocurrency’s increase in value since then. The city will request a proposal this month to move the resolution forward. (The Hill — October 14, 2021)
The proportion of American households that have had to delay care for serious illness because hospitals are filled with COVID-19 patients.
On Tuesday, Republicans picked up an Iowa House seat long held by Democrats. The GOP isn’t scoring tremendous gains but the party’s hold on power at the state level continues to frustrate Democrats.
Unlike some government jobs, public finance positions often pay better than private-sector competitors. But an aging workforce and departures at senior levels present challenges.
We’ve tried taxing drinkers, smokers and soda-guzzlers. Sometimes it helps, improving the public’s health, even if it doesn’t produce a lot of revenue. But it still raises equity and moral issues.
Approximately 44 percent of Texas workers will be required to get a COVID vaccine under the Biden administration’s federal mandate. But for the remainder of workers, the implications of the governor’s order are still unclear.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation and several other water agencies across the west have developed a $38 million program that will help preserve Colorado River water levels. But many worry about long-term solutions.
The state has proposed new greenhouse gas rules that would reduce carbon emissions by 1.5 million metric tons by 2030, the equivalent of removing 300,000 cars from the road. The vote on the proposal could happen as soon as Nov. 18.
Kirk Bangstad, owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company and the founder of a Super PAC, regarding his decision to fund lawsuits against school boards in Wisconsin that do not follow CDC COVID-19 guidelines. (Ars Technica — October 12, 2021)
The proportion of eligible Americans who have received at least one shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of 20 percentage points after the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate.
The Constitution meant for Congress to pass bills by a simple majority. But the process has changed over the decades, turning the Senate’s cautious view on legislation into a major obstacle that can only be fixed by reform.
Most state CIOs expect remote work to continue and for digital services to keep proliferating. That introduces a host of shifting priorities, including a renewed need for cybersecurity enhancements and identity tools.
With the prospect of major federal funding to expand the social safety net, communities need to plan for investing these resources effectively. Big funding alone doesn’t ensure good program outcomes.
Despite having less bike infrastructure than other neighborhoods, Chicago police issued citations for biking on the sidewalk eight and three times more often in Black and Latino neighborhoods, respectively.
Some say that Michigan is well suited to become the hub for next-gen technologies like semiconductors and electric vehicles, but will need more investment before it outpaces tech hubs in New England and the West.
Brian Castrucci, CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, commenting on America’s poor reaction to the pandemic, which he blames on years of underfunding and lack of political support for public health programs. (Governing — October 12, 2021)
The number of times Americans quit jobs in August, the highest amount on record since December 2000.
Years of budget cuts and lack of political support left public health officials without the resources to rapidly contain COVID-19. Brian Castrucci, CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, discusses what needs to happen now.
Facebook and its ilk bombard us with vitriolic content, and their algorithms help to divide Americans. Local-government leaders need to keep this in mind when they offer up incentives to attract their operations.
Going into next year, the Fed is likely to throttle back policies that have kept rates near zero. That presents opportunities — and risks. Nobody wants to repeat the local government fiscal disasters of not so long ago.
