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Forty million Americans live in food deserts. Can government-owned grocery stores fix this?
Five years after the murder of George Floyd and just ahead of the Trump administration, Minneapolis agreed to enter into a consent decree with the Department of Justice. DOJ cited five others as models for success.
Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine now often come laced with deadly amounts of fentanyl. The current wave is driving up mortality among Black and Hispanic Americans particularly.
Hot, strong desert air is contributing to the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area. The current winds are much less predictable than previous patterns.
Capt. Erik Scott, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson. The fires in L.A. have spread rapidly due to embers carried by the Santa Ana winds — dry air that blows in from the desert toward the coast. (L.A. Times – Jan. 9, 2025)
The Yes In My Backyard movement is barely a decade old. But it has set the terms of the debate over state and local housing policy.
The state’s 988 service has a $7 million shortfall and the nation’s fifth highest rate of abandoned calls. The suicide rate in Texas has risen dramatically during this century.
Democrats outperformed Kamala Harris’ showing in three legislative districts but fell short of President Biden’s showing back in 2020.
As Georgia governor, he was a pioneer in efforts to attract foreign investment and promote exports, setting the stage for how U.S. states would help shape the global economy.
Doug Moore. He’s a founding partner of a firm that helps colleges manage logistics when they’re shutting down. Colleges and universities experienced a 15 percent decline in enrollment between 2010 and 2021, with numbers continuing to slow due to a “demographic cliff,” with fewer babies born after the recession that started in 2007. The outlook is not bright, with the number of college-age Americans projected to drop another 15 percent by 2039. (NPR – Jan. 8, 2025)
Last year, about a quarter of all health insurance claims were denied in California. A new law blocks coverage denials made solely through artificial intelligence.
There's turnover in Washington with each new administration. Departing federal workers can bring valuable skills and experience to state and local governments.
Recent laws to improve pension financing should save states tens of billions of dollars over the long term.
Human services officials say more treatment options are needed to place children, but lawmakers are concerned lighter regulations will create more problems.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom. This week, the Democrat is presenting a budget with a small surplus, which he attributed to fiscal discipline in the face of a massive shortfall last year, along with revenues coming in $16.5 billion above projections. California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office paints a less rosy picture, saying the state’s shortfall will be $2 billion next year, followed by about $20 billion the following year. (Associated Press – Jan. 6, 2025)
The city’s planning office won’t approve conversion of single-family properties into multiple units in six neighborhoods. The desire to protect Latino neighborhoods from gentrification runs counter to the city’s housing goals.
Governors, mayors and finance officers are treading water, awaiting the outcome and impact of a new Washington regime’s vows to slash federal spending and taxes. Meanwhile, state and municipal budgeters and debt managers will need to make intelligent guesses and pay more attention to their rainy-day funds.
Arrests connected to the home-built weapons are growing rapidly in the U.S. and around the world. It’s likely to prove harder for governments and police to keep them out of the hands of criminals and extremists.
With 13 states offering coverage, it’s already a $3.9 billion cost. Some state officials say reducing obesity will save programs money in the long run.
The personnel cost has doubled over the last three years. Employees have been granted more sick leave but they seem to be using more due to in-person work requirements.
After years of cuts, the agency’s budget has doubled since 2020. But its new director will face challenges due to policy differences with the incoming Trump administration.
Georgia state Rep. David Wilkerson. The state has an $11 billion surplus, on top of $5.5 billion in rainy-day reserve funds. Wilkerson would like to see the state spend more on programs such as free meals for schoolchildren. GOP Gov. Brian Kemp has made clear that relief for victims of Hurricane Helene will be a priority this session. The GOP majority is contemplating $1 billion in tax relief. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jan. 6, 2025)
Iowa leads the nation in the percentage of its electricity it generates from wind and solar, showing that the transition doesn’t have to be expensive or scary or even constrained by politics.
State officials face challenges from shrinking revenue and major changes from Washington in shared programs such as education and Medicaid.
With the state facing its worst budget gap in two decades, everything from education and juvenile justice to transportation spending is on the line.
Black drivers, in particular, are stopped at disproportionate rates, a study of 5 million traffic stops found. Police officers say the analysis was flawed.
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