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Federal officials have given approval for Texas Central Railroad’s planned high-speed rail line that will run from Houston to Dallas. But many are opposed to the bullet train as analysis predicts that it could displace 235 homes.
The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners has passed a motion that aims to increase oversight of the department’s involvement in the 1033 Program. The goal: set boundaries because residents’ lives are at stake.
The Federal Communications Commission is ready to auction $20 billion for rural broadband development starting in October, but many lawmakers are nervous that they don’t have accurate enough data to do it correctly.
It’s the biggest city in South Dakota and when COVID-19 hit a local meat packing plant, Jill Franken had her hands full with a major public health crisis and the stress that goes with it.
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Government legal professionals in U.S. states, cities and counties are facing economic and political challenges like never before as they strive to protect consumers’ rights, safeguard public resources, and mitigate crime.
Our democratic experiment in self-governing is on trial. In government at all levels, we need to get back to the place envisioned by our Constitution's fathers, however flawed they might have been.
Judy Robinson, the 2020 Census manager for Sacramento County, Calif., commenting on the states’ financial dependence on residents’ participation in the 2020 Census to secure appropriate funding for the next 10 years. While the county has already surpassed its 2010 participation rate, it is now seeking an 80 percent response rate. (The Sacramento Bee - September 21, 2020)
The proportion of fraudulent unemployment benefits claims that could have been stopped by Washington state’s Employment Security Department fraud detection software. However, the software had a flaw that caused it to scan for fraud after the claims had already been processed and paid, resulting in the state’s loss of $576 million in fraudulent unemployment claims. The state has recovered $346 million of the loss.
At first, the transition to remote work was exciting. But as the distancing continues, many workers struggle with their mental health, job satisfaction and motivation. But some introverted workers are thriving.
In addition to occasionally poor connectivity, the state Legislature has held fewer meetings than normal, which has reduced lawmaking. Some legislators hope the COVID challenges encourage more time efficiency.
Gov. Newsom wants to increase the state’s climate change fight, which could mean increased costs for Californians. But, it’s unclear if they are willing to pay while California struggles with economic recovery.
A new article in Telecommunications Policy presents evidence that local areas generally fare better when states award broadband money to providers and allow municipalities to get into the broadband business.
Presidential appointments to the highest level of the judicial branch, even during lame-duck sessions, have a long history in American politics, dating back to Thomas Jefferson and John Adams in 1800.
State attorneys general are facing issues ranging from racism and sexual harassment to a fatal accident. Their scandals differ, but they have some underlying political dynamics in common.
Twitter, responding to a statement about its requirement for some political candidates, lawmakers and journalists to strengthen their account passwords ahead of Election Day to further protect against cyberattacks. (The Hill — September 17, 2020)
The amount that thousands of people with disabilities earn per hour for doing jobs like bagging newspapers or wrapping silverware in napkins. A 1938 labor law has made it possible for people with disabilities to earn less than minimum wage, but now many are trying to change that.
By joining with the county, Houston hopes to save resources by keeping low-level offenders out of jail. Reform advocates see it as a move against police brutality, but not everyone agrees it’s progress.
In 2021, there will be a new mayor, up to seven new commissioners and there won’t be a $1 billion boost to the Miami-Dade budget from the CARES Act. Many are worried about impending budget cuts.
Despite President Trump’s efforts to sow doubts about the election system, officials in Kansas and Missouri are clarifying the ways in which people may vote on or before Nov. 3. None of them include voting twice.
The state will launch its pilot program for contact tracing to 30,000 participants and, if it proves to be effective, will make it widely available by December or early 2021. The system will be voluntary and anonymous.
Government technology veteran Abhi Nemani, who has experience both inside government as well as with prominent civic tech organizations such as Code for America, is leading the new startup company.
It means different things to different people. In the end, it doesn't really mean much at all. And there's very little that politicians or government can do to uphold or restore it.
Rep. Brenda Lawrence, commenting on the expansion of artificial intelligence to help small businesses and schools keep up with global competition. However, before the technology is implemented, the built-in biases must be removed, according to Lawrence. (The Hill — September 16, 2020)
The number of COVID-19 tests that U.S. manufacturers are hoping to produce each month by the end of this year. However, some worry that increased production of these cheap tests will impact the accuracy of the results.
Georgia’s Cyber Crime Center helps protect against everything from ransomware attacks to cyberbullying. Last year Georgia lost $500 million to cybercrime, “and only one-seventh of cybercrime is reported.”
There is an unprecedented distrust of the federal government’s COVID-19 vaccine reviews and at least seven states plan to independently analyze the vaccine data before distributing it to the public.
Kevin Kiley, a 35-year-old Republican, left his budding law career to take on a career in the Democrat-dominant California state Legislature. He has since made his mark by becoming a fierce opponent of Gov. Newsom’s power.
In many ways, our digital infrastructure was unprepared for the pandemic's challenges. Now is the time for a longer-term cybersecurity vision.
A handful of recent protests have involved enough violence and property destruction for some to claim they are riots. Legislators have proposed penalties and protections for those who might be affected by future incidents.
Ohio Judge Richard Frye, writing in a verdict that declined to loosen restrictions on absentee-ballot drop boxes. The ruling means that there will continue to be only one ballot drop box per county, regardless of population differences. (Reuters — September 15, 2020)
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