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Local taxes to fund public transit fared well on Election Day. But state and federal election results could alter the outlook for infrastructure investment long term.
Future in Context
The Gates Foundation’s Allan Golston outlines a vision for equitable opportunities and the future of the American dream. As the transformative power of generative AI becomes clear, equitable access to education and jobs remains crucial.
They’re good for our children’s health and for the environment, and transitioning away from diesel-powered buses is the fiscally conservative thing to do. Unsubstantiated claims about them only serve as political theater.
Other states, including Nevada, are deleting references to slavery in their constitutions and banning forced prison labor. California voters rejected that path when they turned down Prop. 6.
The pandemic prompted many downtowns to rethink their futures. Omaha’s evolution beyond a traditional business district was already underway.
The meat industry’s multimillion-dollar lobbying fight succeeded in stopping the city’s slaughterhouse ban, which will result in the continued operation of one of the nation’s largest lamb processing facilities.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, regarding the nearly 90,000 DACA recipients in Texas, and more than 500,000 across the nation, who are now eligible to sign up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act through Jan. 15. (Associated Press — Nov. 12, 2024)
Thanks to a celebrated book, we know all about Robert Moses’ dictatorial misdeeds in New York City. But the truth is that many of his worst visions were being realized in cities across the country.
State constitutional amendments that voters approved in seven states on Nov. 5 also are vulnerable to federal moves that could essentially override them.
It will be the leadership of our states and cities that will have the most direct impact on the issues that animated the presidential campaign.
Dallas voters narrowly passed a new city charter that mandates the Texas city maintain a police force of at least 4,000 cops, an increase of about 900 positions. It’s unclear when the city will complete the “monumental task.”
The city government will discuss a proposed state of emergency over pedestrian and cyclist safety just six days after the city’s 31st traffic death of 2024.
State air regulators voted last week to update the Low Carbon Fuel Standard to aim to reduce carbon emissions of transportation fuels by 30 percent by 2030.
The Yemassee, S.C., Police Department, regarding the escape of 43 monkeys from an Alpha Genesis Primate Research Center last Wednesday. Officials urged residents to lock their doors and windows until the primates were captured; as of Sunday evening, 25 of the monkeys have been recovered. The female rhesus macaque primates are very young and weigh between 6 and 7 pounds. (NPR — Nov. 11, 2024)
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, regarding the distribution of racist text messages to Black college and high school students on Thursday and Friday following the election. Jones’ 17-year old son, a high school student, was one of those who received the text on Wednesday night. The message, which said the recipient was “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation,” is from an unknown sender. (NPR — Nov. 7, 2024)
Having won a big victory, Donald Trump can claim a mandate. But recent history shows that voters punish politicians who change things too much.
Moderates have been largely squeezed out of political relevance. There is room for a new party, and it would have to start at the state level. It could bring pragmatic solutions to critical problems the major parties avoid.
An initiative to cut a carbon tax out of the Washington Climate Commitment Act was soundly rejected by voters. Gov. Jay Inslee sees the margin of defeat as an important message.
Less than 36 hours after Trump’s resounding victory, the California governor called to bolster the state’s legal resources with the aim of protecting reproductive health care, climate policies and immigrant communities in California.
The new boundary officially returns the pump station on one of the nation’s largest manmade lakes fully back into the Lone Star State.
Voting and election administration became contentious topics after 2020. This time, years of preparation, efforts to improve transparency and collaboration with law enforcement helped things run smoothly.
For decades, young people chose to move to cities and large metros for greater opportunity. Since the pandemic, that migration has reversed.
Local officials are sorting out the impacts from the approval of 16 propositions. Voters rejected salary increases for councilmembers, tightened term limits and streamlined pathways to sue officials.
The Texas city has just 4 percent of land left to develop, making future development above ground more appealing. The city is considering air taxis, Uber-like gondolas and other aerial solutions to further develop microtransit.
Republican Elijah Haahr, a former speaker of the Missouri House. He was explaining why state voters approved ballot measures to protect abortion rights, raise the minimum wage and guarantee paid sick leave for workers, while also voting by wide margins to elect Republicans who oppose those proposals. Haahr noted that out-of-state progressive groups spent millions of dollars to support the ballot measures. (Missouri Independent — Nov. 7, 2024)
The amount originally earmarked for positions and offices relating to...
If it moves on Taiwan, it’s likely that China would try to distract the United States by attacking our water, power and communications systems. It’s already demonstrated those capabilities here, and we need to be better prepared.
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