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Over-reliance on fees, fines and forfeitures drives a wedge between police and the communities they serve. It's detrimental to both crime-solving and the profession of law enforcement.
States like Arizona and Texas have positioned themselves as hubs for autonomous vehicle testing and deployments, in part, by creating regulatory landscapes that are easy for new companies to navigate.
Last month Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the state Republicans’ election reform package, but now the Pennsylvania governor has changed his stance on voter ID requirements, so state lawmakers will reintroduce the voting package.
A new report details the ideas, from gondolas to light rails to new affordable housing communities, that the New York City borough has proposed as ways to help stimulate the post-pandemic economy.
As Travis County, Texas, aims to reach herd immunity levels for COVID-19, local researchers express concern that many economically disadvantaged communities are about six weeks behind in vaccinations.
The amount that Ohio energy giant FirstEnergy Corp. will pay in settlement for its participation in a bribery conspiracy scandal involving former state House Speaker Larry Householder.
Executive director of The Utility Reform Network Mark Toney, regarding the increased electricity costs that PG&E customers could experience after the utility places 10,000 miles of its electricity lines underground. While the utility estimates the cost of the project to be $15 billion to $20 billion, others worry the cost may be closer to $40 billion, which could cause an increase in customer bills to offset the building costs. (Mercury News — July 21, 2021)
The technology is taking root in the region, with states like Wyoming and Colorado opening doors to developers and agencies. But potential technical and regulatory barriers need to be addressed.
Washington is sending cities a gigantic fiscal gift. They have to produce results. The danger is that the money will be squandered. Republicans are watching all that generosity with skepticism.
The number of daily coronavirus cases across the state has almost tripled in the past month, leading officials to consider reinstating mask mandates regardless of vaccination status. For now, Gov. Cuomo is instead urging residents to get vaccinated.
The state recently passed a clean energy package that will require the two largest utilities to provide 100 percent clean electricity by 2040. But the utilities don’t have a plan as to how they will achieve the ambitious goal.
In the early weeks of the pandemic, a software error, lowered security protocols and pressure to pay jobless residents quickly resulted in payments for thousands of fraudulent unemployment claims.
Ford, Lyft and Argo AI announced that they would begin deploying autonomous ‘robotaxis’ as early as this winter. But for now, the self-driving vehicles will have a safety driver and technology monitor in the front seats.
Sen. Mitch McConnell, urging Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 to avoid reinstating mask mandates and shutdowns as case numbers begin to rise. (Associated Press — July 21, 2021)
The decrease in U.S. life expectancy during 2020. Most experts hold the coronavirus pandemic mostly responsible for the decrease, but many are still concerned about the drop.
The mayor of St. Louis only has weak official powers. Tishaura Jones says she won't let that stop her from reshaping the city.
In deploying the National Guard to the southwest border and with other actions, several Republican governors are illustrating the impact states can have on federal policies.
Law enforcement agencies across Tampa Bay claim that they do not have an issue with racial profiling and yet six major police departments and sheriff’s offices in the area couldn’t offer any data when requested.
The state will use some of the funds from the multibillion-dollar settlement with Volkswagen to build 60 fast-charging electric vehicle stations to encourage residents to switch to EVs.
Employers across the nation are struggling to find workers to fill open positions, but some economists believe this problem could be solved by hiring foreign-born workers to fill gaps in both low-skill and high-skill positions.
Greg DiDonato, current mayor of Dennison, Ohio, and former state lawmaker, regarding the state’s increased carnival ride inspection requirements. The state tightened its regulations after a high school student was killed due to a ride’s corroded steel arm four years ago. But many believe the new inspection requirements are shutting down rides over minor issues that are not immediate safety concerns. (Associated Press — July 20, 2021)
The increase in daily COVID-19 cases nationwide; the states with the highest daily averages are Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, Louisiana and Nevada.
The state capital has a modest-sized transit system, so taking out the farebox during the pandemic was easy and so far everyone likes the outcome. But making free bus service financially sustainable could be harder.
The concept that everything should be within a short walk or bike ride keeps coming up, but making it a reality raises challenging questions.
America has had resounding success in telling the story of its birth and rise as a nation. So too has Israel during the 20th century. Now, Palestine must do the same if it wants to succeed, says Middle East scholar Rashid Khalidi.
Congress should rewrite the ground rules to minimize nuisance lawsuits that can cost local taxpayers millions, while focusing civil courts on bad cops and blind-eye departments.
The city’s Department of Violence Prevention will receive $17 million across the next two years in an effort to combat steeply rising rates of homicides and violent crimes. But making significant changes will take time.
The county is beginning to develop plans for a new $500 million jail, but it remains unclear how officials will pay for the project. The building will be the most expensive and consequential in county history.
Many tech companies across the state were able to adapt well to the pandemic-induced changes that allowed the industry to continue to grow. Montana’s tech sector generated $400 million more in 2020 than it did the year prior.
Erin Primer, director of food services for California’s San Luis Coastal Unified School District, regarding the statewide program to ensure all 6.2 million public school students will have access to free school meals, regardless of family income. The funding for the program comes from the state’s historic budget surplus. (Associated Press — July 19, 2021)
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