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Trump has vowed to eliminate the Department of Education in his second term. Even if he stops short, the administration will bring policy changes to colleges and universities and new scrutiny to diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
The Trump administration is likely to reverse some climate policies but local officials are determined to continue addressing impacts on their communities.
Last month, Massachusetts voters approved a measure ending the requirement that students pass a test to graduate. In 2012, half the states required such tests, but the number will soon drop to a half-dozen.
Cities in California and other states offer unhoused people transportation to somewhere else. But the number of people who can benefit is small, and it’s hard to tell what happens to them where they end up.
A judge has ruled unconstitutional the core of Act 10, the state’s famous 2011 law that ended collective bargaining for most public employees. Republican legislators vowed to appeal the decision.
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, announcing he will run as an independent for governor of Michigan in 2026. He’s served as a Democrat as mayor. Like other swing states, Michigan tilted to the right in November, with Donald Trump carrying the state and Democrats losing their state House majority. Other prominent Democrats might have been tough for him to beat for the nomination, but Duggan argues an independent can govern more effectively and detoxify the political environment in Lansing. (AP – Dec. 4, 2024)
The city’s finances were already in poor shape but suffered a blow last month when voters rejected a $400 million-per-year sales tax hike.
Fearing political backlash, governors use their clemency powers far less than they once did. But it’s a powerful tool for addressing injustice.
Critics of liberalizing housing construction are concerned that looser zoning rules could make existing houses more expensive. Fortunately, this worry is somewhat overblown.
Mitchell Rutherford, a high school biology teacher in Tucson, Ariz. Rutherford explained that students’ cellphone use in his class was so pervasive that it distracted him to the point of being a bad husband and suffering mental health challenges. Numerous states and school districts have implemented policies to restrict or ban cellphone use during the school day due to concerns about students becoming distracted, anxious or depressed. (NPR – Dec. 3, 2024)
In Connecticut, 40 percent say they’re either struggling or just getting by financially.
With a fifth of the nation’s office space sitting empty, cities from Atlanta and Seattle are easing or ending regulations to make conversions more affordable and therefore more likely.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on Wednesday in a case contending the ban violates the Equal Protection clause. If the Court upholds the law, Congress could pass a national ban.
’Tis the season: State politicians love to proclaim temporary tax respites, but they rarely achieve their stated objective of boosting economic activity. Poor timing, poor design — or just a bad idea?
Public health experts emphasize the importance of clear and consistent messaging. They may not get that with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as federal health secretary.
Thanks to new funding from the state, county diversion programs for juveniles have increased dramatically. A new report finds that they’re successful more than 80 percent of the time.
Far more seniors live by themselves and can only leave their homes with difficulty than live in nursing homes, yet they receive less policy attention. That can lead to bad health outcomes.
Evidence is growing that participation in art has public health benefits. Rhinelander, Wis., is using it as a remedy for social isolation.
Jared Polis, the Democratic governor of Colorado, reacting to President Biden’s Sunday night pardon of his son Hunter. Polis said that he could understand Biden’s desire as a father to protect his son, but argued that this decision could be used as precedent by future presidents and will tarnish Biden’s legacy. (X – Dec. 1, 2024)
Solar farms are being shut off, losing more than twice as much potential power than in 2021. The surplus would be worse if utilities weren’t paying other states to take some of the excess.
After tearing down high-rises and building more townhomes, the city is trying a mixed-used approach that blends towers with other amenities.
Trump will take a largely deregulatory approach to tech, while aiming to aggressively pursue foreign cyber threat actors.
Wildfires will continue to rage out of control unless federal forest managers learn from Western states how to properly steward public lands and contain their fires.
Democrat Andy Kim. The New Jersey congressman won a Senate seat last month. He argues that for his party to regain power, it must convince voters it’s working for their interests. Kim twice carried a district that voted for Donald Trump and was able to present himself as an anti-establishment candidate this year, running for a seat vacated by Democrat Bob Menendez, who was convicted on corruption charges. (Philadelphia Inquirer – Nov. 26, 2024)
Gov. Kim Reynolds praises districts that have already restricted phones but says a statewide ban will be a 2025 priority. Such policies around the country have run into problems with courts.
Big city transit systems receive more than half their operational funds from the state. That’s a far higher percentage than Boston, Chicago or New York.
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