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After 16 fare-free months due to the pandemic, the city’s public transportation system will once again start charging for bus fares. But many worry how this will impact homeless or vulnerable populations.
The massive bill has proposed funding to mitigate climate change and incentivize renewable energy. Many are wondering how these plans will impact the state, since it depends heavily on oil and gas production.
Joe Del Bosque, a farmer in California’s San Joaquin Valley, regarding the state’s extreme drought that has forced him to uproot his almond trees years earlier than planned due to the lack of water. California’s almond industry produces about 80 percent of the world’s almonds. (Associated Press — August 17, 2021)
The increase in food stamp assistance for needy families, the largest in the program’s history. The bump will start in October and will be available indefinitely for all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.
Labor market shortages and private-sector competition compel states and localities to get creative. Removing a major impediment to filling vacant jobs seems worth a look.
The pandemic has given frustrated solo commuters some relief, but history suggests that its effects may not last. Maybe Ebenezer Scrooge actually knew something.
Alamance and Randolph counties are nearly 5.5 percentage points behind the national average for broadband connectivity, making learning and working remotely very expensive, or impossible, for many.
As the nation’s second largest school district returns to in-person classes, officials are enforcing their district-wide testing plan that will cost $350 million, involve 1,000 health-care staff and two airplane trips every day.
As remote work continues to expand while the coronavirus persists and businesses are reconsidering their office needs, creating opportunities for coworking spaces allow workers to get an office-like feel without a true office.
The citywide network would cost $3.4 million plus $501,000 in annual upkeep fees. City officials believe the benefits outweigh the costs while many residents worry their taxes would foot the bill.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, regarding the drastic impact that the COVID-19 delta variant has had on the state, and the nation, causing a sharp spike in coronavirus-related hospitalizations and deaths especially among unvaccinated individuals. Oregon will send up to 1,500 National Guard troops to hospitals across the state to assist health-care workers. (Associated Press — August 13, 2021)
The number of federal firefighters that are on the ground working to combat wildfires, more than double the number of firefighters deployed this time last year.
Lawyers and judges have been mostly quiet during the current struggles over race, politics and diversity. Now, the legal profession is speaking out on how to bring the nation together.
Thomas Jefferson’s meaning has been up for grabs since he penned the phrase in 1776. The country has proven to be all too comfortable with the ambiguity. Depending how we answer the question, it could help redeem the reputation of the third president or leave us with a lesser Jefferson.
The lasting problems of infrastructure aren’t of need or construction, but of overbuilding, delayed costs and the challenges of thinking ahead.
In 1949, city officials desegregated a popular public swimming pool. The reactions of white citizens led to one of the largest race riots in the city’s history. The aftermath energized desegregation.
The government is putting real money toward a historic expansion of America’s broadband services, but pulling it off may require accountability measures, affordable services and higher standards for minimum speeds.
As midterm elections approach, Democrats and Republicans are having to change their campaign strategies as the growing number of coronavirus cases often overshadows other political issues.
The city’s program has provided housing and support to over 280 residents since 2016 and has saved the city millions in police, jail, ambulance and detox services. Now the city is looking to expand.
The state’s unemployment debt amounts to more than 43 percent of all that is owed to the federal government. As much as $11 billion of the state’s unemployment payments were fraudulent.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families was created in 1996 and was meant to create a system that no longer fostered dependency. While some believe that the overhaul did exactly that, others claim it may have made things worse.
Sherry Johnson, the education director with the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, regarding the Noem administration’s decision to remove lessons on Indigenous history and culture from the state’s K-12 education curriculum. Half of the references to Indigenous Native Americans, tribal, or Oceti Sakowin were removed from the plan. (Associated Press — August 10, 2021)
The approximate number of sex abuse cases that were filed in New York over the past two years within the state’s temporary lift of civil lawsuit time limits to allow victims of childhood sexual abuse to come forward and sue institutions and people they hold responsible. The window has been extended twice but, barring any further extensions, will end at midnight on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021.
The national passenger railroad needs to rebuild its ridership. Lower fares seem like a surefire way to lure old and new riders. But greater reliability and faster speeds are factors too.
Gov. John Bel Edwards agreed to a July 31 cutoff for the federally assisted unemployment benefits before the pandemic surged among the unvaccinated. Now the state’s economy is again closing, this time without financial help.
The policy had allowed some officers to earn tens of thousands of dollars in overtime pay and will no longer be allowed. The department was spending almost $50 million a year in overtime.
The city council has approved 20 locations for homeless shelters, tiny homes and sanctioned tent encampments to help serve 2,209 people at any given time. But no locations were in the city’s wealthier neighborhoods.
The new cryptocurrency, which just kicked off last week, has generated nearly $1 million for the city. The creator of the new coin has said that using MiamiCoin could help incentivize civic engagement.
Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican strategist in Texas, regarding the politicization of mask mandates and how many aren't tackling the pandemic from a place of cooperation. (Associated Press — August 12, 2021)
The number of anti-Asian incidents that have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic and up to June. There have been nearly as many incidents in the first half of this year as there were during the last nine months of last year. Many believe the pandemic has contributed to a rise in anti-Asian incidents because the coronavirus was first reported in China.
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