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The state received a warning from the federal government in May 2020 to avoid overly lenient qualifications for pandemic unemployment assistance. The state didn’t update its requirements until June 2021.
Analysts attribute the surge in background checks for firearm purchases to a fear of COVID-related closures, a summer of protests and a contentious presidential election in the fall. But the increase in purchases has created shortages.
Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, regarding the process to recall license plates with obscene language. A law that bans profanities on state license plates went into effect on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. (Associated Press — October 16, 2021)
The size of West Virginia’s broadband strategy that Gov. Jim Justice announced last week. The plan is expected to bring high-speed Internet to more than 200,000 homes and businesses across the state.
A collapsing rural economy and what to do about it has been a long-term policy problem. In the 1890s, states combined sentimentality and patriotism to woo young people back to their hometowns in New England and beyond.
The country’s political environment has left many wanting to live in communities of like-minded individuals or to be left alone. But as Jefferson made clear, turning away from the public arena will only make things worse.
A preliminary estimate shows that the Caldor Fire cost tens of millions in lost economic activity. Wildfires, and the economic disruption they cause, have a large economic impact. But right now, California has a mostly incomplete picture of how much fires cost the state each year.
Whether you pay tax on your Halloween treat supply depends on which state you live in and how it defines candy.
Cybersecurity insurance is becoming more expensive and harder to get, and some insurers are backing out of the market altogether. Where does that leave state and local government?
The Missouri governor has issued legal threats against the St. Louis Post-Dispatch after the paper found a state data risk that left 100,000 social security numbers vulnerable, despite the paper not being responsible.
Conspiracy theories are pushing Trump supporters across the state to call for an audit of the 2020 presidential election results to stamp out any risk of voter fraud; Trump won the state by more than 370,000 votes.
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)
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