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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.
A local developer rescued his hometown in Ohio from decades of stagnation. Now he is taking his approach to other struggling communities around the Midwest.
The new infrastructure bill could make buses and trains faster, cleaner and more reliable. But it will take bold local policies to fill them with passengers.
State spending on key public health activities has been flat or in decline since 2008 and salaries lag behind the private sector. Stakeholders are exploring strategies to meet the need for these essential workers.
A campaign in the states to make public workers “at-will” employees and undo civil service protections has gained traction at the federal level. But there are early signs of a counter-trend in local government.
New York officials across the state are eager to begin their work with Kathy Hochul once Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns in two weeks in the wake of a series of sexual harassment allegations.
The California county’s Board of Supervisors has authorized a lawsuit against the governor for the state’s denial of fracking permits, claiming the permit ban has violated the state constitution.
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services notified the state that it cannot proceed with plans to require people to work to keep their medical coverage, which would likely result in thousands losing health care.
Joe Kanter, Louisiana’s chief public health officer, regarding the shortage of hospital staff and how hospitals are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients and not enough staff to assist them. (Associated Press — August 10, 2021)
The proportioned increase of miles traveled in June by American motorists, up 35.7 billion miles from a year prior, bringing the numbers nearly back to pre-pandemic levels.
Governments can’t seem to stop offering huge incentives to corporations, even though it's clear they don't have much effect on companies’ decisions. Does paying $288,000 for one job really make sense?
New technology is helping automate and expand U.S. ports at a time of severe congestion. Governments shouldn’t let union interests thwart that.
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Service delivery and the individual experience within health and human services (HHS) is often very siloed and fragmented.
When Gov. Andrew Cuomo resigns later this month, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will assume the position, becoming the state’s first female governor. The Buffalo native will serve out the remainder of the term.
Las Cruces and Santa Fe are moving forward with targeted guaranteed basic income programs and, if those pilot programs go well, lawmakers could move forward with a similar statewide program.
In a 5-5 tie, a proposal to ban urban camping as a means to manage homelessness in the city failed. Mayor Mike Coffman, who pushed the idea, said he will retry the measure in six months.
Dr. Rania Awaad, regarding the uptick in suicides and suicide attempts among U.S. Muslims. A recent study found that Muslims in the U.S. are two times more likely to commit suicide compared to any other religious group. (NPR — August 10, 2021)
The number of people who have registered for health insurance during the coronavirus pandemic after the enrollment window was extended by the Biden administration.
In the past 20 years, most governors who have resigned got caught in sex scandals of one sort or another.
Cities like New York and Columbus, Ohio, have made significant headway in converting their fleets to electric vehicles, helping to push along the industry toward electrifying more than just cars and trucks.
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