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Gov. Newsom announced the formation of a team that will focus on resolving nearly 1 million backlogged unemployment benefit claims and then will work to streamline the process for future claim processing.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise, and citizens can't shelter in place if they're evicted. Legislators in some states are proposing moratoriums on evictions for as long as a year after the end of the health emergency.
Europe is heading in that direction. If the idea begins to catch on here, states and localities will need to be at the federalism policymaking table to share in the revenues.
Federal money and innovative housing-first programs have provided much needed support for the nation’s half-million homeless. But with the pandemic continuing, helping this vulnerable population will remain a challenge.
Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, commenting on a plan that DHS has made with Oregon Governor Kate Brown to begin a phased withdrawal of federal troops from downtown Portland. (Reuters — July 29, 2020)
The number that the U.S. coronavirus death toll surpassed on Wednesday, the highest number of COVID-19-related deaths in the world, amounting to 23 percent of the virus deaths, globally. The U.S. also ranks sixth in deaths per capita, with 4.5 deaths per 10,000 people.
Some states have put millions of relief dollars into unemployment insurance trust funds to keep business taxes as bay. But some think the money would be better spent directly assisting workers and local governments.
Voter-mobilization groups are utilizing the pandemic and the protests following the death of George Floyd to encourage voter registration, and it’s working. In June, one nonprofit registered nearly 15,000 new voters.
The U.S. lacks a uniform response to COVID-19, resulting in incomplete and patch-worked data reporting. For many states, deciding what to do next is even harder when they only have bits and pieces of the nation’s data.
Phillip Yellow makes the treacherous drive every day, carrying 500 gallons of water up the mountain to a plot of land that’s been in the family for years. “We’ve been here quite a while.”
We're stuck in a 19th-century model that costs too much and doesn't serve anybody well. Rather than cut, cut, cut, we need to redefine the way we deliver services to bring them into the 21st century.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top American infectious disease expert, speaking after President Trump retweeted a post that accused Fauci and the Democrats of misleading the American people. The post suggested that the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine was a “cure” for COVID-19 and that masks were unnecessary for virus protection. Facebook and Twitter have removed the post for violating their policies of misinformation. (Reuters — July 28, 2020)
The amount of California’s proposed economic stimulus plan which would rely on what lawmakers call “future tax vouchers.” The state is developing its own plan because of the uncertainty of whether or not more federal stimulus money will get approved.
In New Mexico’s deaf schools, e-learning loses the immersive environment that helps students learn American Sign Language. But even for in-person lessons, masks hide many of the facial expressions that ASL relies on.
As workers are asked to return to their physical workplaces, many are nervous about COVID-19 risks. Some workplaces don’t enforce masks or social distancing and won’t pay for sick leave or COVID-19 tests.
For many health officials, the percentage of positive tests reveals a lot about how the pandemic is being managed. But others prefer to look at all of the available data to determine the efficacy of the response.
Private investors want to build bullet trains across America, but in too many cases they're having trouble finding right-of-way. There's a lot that state and local governments could do to help them along.
Created in 1892 by the state of New York, the park was preserved just when it was on the brink of widespread deforestation. Today, its 6 million acres encompass 105 towns and villages, making it a unique mix of conservation and civilization.
It shouldn't be surprising to see legislative leaders being accused of corruption. The iron-fisted control many of them have over the legislative process makes for a system ripe for ethical abuse.
During the pandemic, a vehicle breakdown in the middle of Montana becomes a teaching moment on how a good Samaritan is seldom a person of one’s own stamp, which is the point of Luke 10: 25-37.
The House Ways and Means Committee, tweeting in reply to Elon Musk, after the Tesla CEO critiqued the possibility of another coronavirus stimulus package. (The Hill — July 24, 2020)
The number of Americans who will receive a shot, either placebo or an experimental COVID-19 vaccine that was created by the U.S. government, for the largest COVID-19 vaccine trial yet.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is offering financial assistance to schools and businesses to install ultraviolet lighting that could minimize the spread of COVID-19. The utility will budget $500,000 for the installations.
SEPTA has required face coverings since June, but many riders aren’t adhering to the rule. Many are discouraged by the lack of masks and are opting for other forms of transportation. “I’m not jumping back on there for a while.”
As schools prepare to reopen and as officials predict a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the fall, Connecticut looks to bolster its contact tracing program. But there’s still a long way to go before the program is ready.
Reforms that address police violence against communities of color won't be effective unless we reduce governments' over-reliance on revenue from fines and court fees for minor offenses.
The week in cybersecurity includes news about a surge in COVID-related hacking attacks on government and colleges and how facial recognition technology is losing ground as demands rise for police reform.
How the city advanced equitable economic growth as a policy, practice, and culture
Gov. Chris Sununu has signed a bill making the Granite State the first in the U.S. to allow flying cars onto its public roads. Pilots will be allowed to drive from airports to their final terrestrial destination.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, speaking of additional funding needed this year to ensure that the general elections are safe and accessible to everyone even amidst coronavirus concerns. (NPR — July 24, 2020)
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