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Dev Wakeley, a policy analyst with Alabama Arise, regarding the state’s consideration of using $400 million in pandemic relief funds to build new prisons. Some argue that while it may be legal, building prisons with American Rescue Plan Act funds was not how Congress intended the money be spent. (Associated Press — September 26, 2021)
The date on which the United States will reach its debt ceiling if Congress does not act immediately to change the trajectory, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Edward Glaeser got a lot of attention with his argument that cities succeed in a deregulated environment. His new book embraces a broader role for government.
With billions in grants about to start flowing from Washington, they will need comprehensive, timely information on what’s available. They shouldn’t have to wait for the feds to supply it.
Months of bipartisan talks in Congress aimed at reaching consensus over policing reforms have ended with no agreement. Two policing scholars argue that federal efforts are better placed focusing on supporting local measures.
Democrats say the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a regional cap and trade plan to reduce vehicle emissions, will help fight climate change. But Republicans are calling the plan just another gas tax.
The state consistently ranks in the top 10 states for workers with H-1B visa, but there’s a limited number of work permits available each year and political battles have delayed meaningful reform to increase the visas.
The Ellsworth Correctional Facility will begin a pilot program that will photocopy incoming mail, aimed at cutting off the transport of synthetic drugs soaked in sheets of paper. But critics say the move is dehumanizing.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ efforts to keep Florida open have led many state employees to publicly voice concerns that departments are not taking the coronavirus pandemic seriously.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, regarding his state’s audit of the 2020 presidential election results in four counties. The audit comes after former President Donald Trump demanded an investigation in an open letter addressed to Abbott last week. (Reuters — September 26, 2021)
The number of attorneys working for the St. Louis prosecutor’s office, half as many as five years ago.
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In recent years, local governments have been forced to adapt to a wildly changing world, especially as it pertains to sending bills and collecting payments.
Many contests this year feature old-guard politicians opposing younger progressives. The debates turn on public safety and how to best build post-pandemic economies.
State, local, territorial and tribal entities have used $150 billion from the Coronavirus Relief Fund — part of the CARES Act — for many things. But with the Dec. 31 deadline approaching, some still have a lot left.
The country is long on problems but short on levers that might help lift it out of a quagmire of its own making.
If you see the Tesla Bot as a joke or a harbinger of a dystopian future, you could be missing the real threat, which has more to do with Elon Musk’s power than robots run amok.
But improving healthy and affordable food access goes beyond what’s in the name.
A growing number of countries and companies have pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. But there’s a catch – they still plan to keep emitting greenhouse gases.
Mandating vaccines for children attending California public schools is not new but COVID-19 puts state health officials in a uniquely challenging situation that could require them to override more than 100 years of history.
Leaders of several state agencies are seeing large pay increases compared to their predecessors, some getting boosts in the tens of thousands. Officials say they’re trying to achieve parity as compared to other states.
The statewide power outages last February were caused by a lack of weatherization of electrical equipment and issues with natural gas supplies at power plants, according to a new report.
The city has proposed bills that would require landlords to notify tenants of rent increases 180 days in advance and provide relocation assistance for low-income renters. Some worry this could devastate small landlords.
Diane Yentel, CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, regarding states’ disbursement of $46.5 billion allotted for federal rental assistance. Distribution in August increased to 16.5 percent of the available funds, or $2.3 billion, an increase of 4.4 percent from July. (Associated Press — September 24, 2021)
The amount of Pennsylvania turnpike fees that went unpaid in 2020. A report found that as the turnpike transitioned into a “toll-by-plate” license plate camera system, some 11 million rides, approximately 7 percent of the total, generated no revenue for the agency.
Five cities are leading the way with programs to nurture these homegrown entrepreneurs and fill storefronts emptied by the pandemic.
While private employers add workers, multiple factors hold back return of public noneducation jobs.
Medi-Cal covers more than one-third of the state’s population, but many say it has failed to hold managed care plans accountable. The state now hopes to provide better health care thanks to updated and better-enforced contracts.
Thousands of Connecticut residents were overpaid in unemployment insurance, meaning they now owe millions. But some lawmakers want the state to waive repayment and reimburse the unemployment fund.
The city will visit 20,000 households that experienced backups and flooding in June to provide temporary fixes while the water department develops a plan to rebuild aged infrastructure.
Florida state Representative Anna V. Eskamani, tweeting in regard to an abortion bill that is similar to the new Texas law. The Florida bill, however, makes exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies that are life-threatening to the woman. (Reuters — September 22, 2021)
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