News
As cities step up their enforcement efforts in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling, they should consider both the financial costs and the public safety ramifications of treating homelessness as a crime.
Cook County, Ill., has launched an innovative dashboard mapping certain deaths by cause — gun violence, opioids and extreme weather — to reveal hidden patterns and direct resources where they're most needed.
Voting reform advocates say ranked-choice voting will give voters more voice in their elections. But clerks of small counties worry that any advantages will be undermined by more cost and confusion.
Many insurance companies in metro Atlanta are denying essential coverage to businesses in “high crime” areas, which are also predominantly areas of low-income residents of color.
Geoff Schumacher, historian and vice president of exhibits and programs at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas, regarding the elaborate implosion of the Tropicana hotel and casino to make space for the $1.5 billion baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics. The towers of the buildings are expected to crumble in just 22 seconds, but the event will include a fireworks display and a drone show. The city hasn’t blown up a Strip casino since 2016. (Associated Press — Oct. 8, 2024)
Voters in eight states will decide whether to bar municipalities from allowing noncitizens to vote. Few noncitizens cast illegal votes, leading critics to claim the issue is being hyped for political reasons.
Too many jobs that have nothing to do with driving require it. It’s an unnecessary employment barrier, and other states should follow the lead of two that have moved to prohibit it.
They’ve mostly benefited real-estate developers. Here’s how to redeploy these tax incentives to grow new businesses and boost employment while leveraging state and local expertise and attracting a broader investor base.
This fall, residents will vote on two major criminal justice ballot measures, one of which would increase the time some criminals serve in prison and the other would create a $350 million fund for police agencies.
Connecticut State Sen. James Maroney is leading efforts to establish a nationwide consortium to discuss policy measures in response to artificial intelligence technologies.
Baltimore has approximately 13,000 vacant homes across the city. State and local officials are aiming to transition at least 5,000 of those properties into updated homeownership or other positive developments in five years.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on the state's plan to decertify the housing plans of the city of Norwalk, a first-of-its-kind move that forces the southeast Los Angeles County suburb to approve many types of affordable housing projects and allows the state to withhold homelessness and housing funds. Norwalk angered Newsom when it passed an ordinance in August banning new homeless shelters and other low-income housing, an alleged violation of state housing law. (Politico — Oct. 3, 2024)
The rate of turnover among chief election officials has increased continuously since 2020. That doesn’t mean the workforce now in place lacks experience, according to a recent report.
The bipartisanship that Cecil Andrus, Dan Evans and Tom McCall practiced decades ago sets them apart from many of today’s political leaders. It helped that they had shared values — and that they liked each other.
Despite the postmaster general’s assurances, the mail agency’s operational statistics aren’t encouraging for the coming elections.
The Missouri County voted to boost the pay for some positions within the county’s highway department in an attempt to lure new workers. The county has more than 60 open positions.
The new law decreases the number of ballot drop boxes available, tightens the ballot application deadline, includes voter ID requirements and bans the handing out of water to voters.
Former L.A. County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, regarding his appointment by Mayor Karen Bass to lead the Los Angeles Police Department. McDonnell will replace Chief Michel Moore, who retired earlier this year. (Associated Press — Oct. 4, 2024)
Voters will weigh in on at least 18 ballot measures raising taxes to pay for transportation improvements. Transportation infrastructure is becoming more expensive to build.
The virus that could mutate into the next human pandemic has been found in herds in at least 14 states. Without sufficient testing, we need to be careful about moving cows from one location to another.
Struggling with addiction, PTSD and other service-related traumas, far too many of them run afoul of the law. States could do more to help those at risk.
Future in Context
A look at Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley’s innovative approach to tackling homelessness, budget challenges and systemic inequality. Crowley is among those recognized as this year's Public Officials of the Year.
Jane Newhouse, of Newhouse Wildlife Rescue in Chelmsford, Mass., regarding 2-year-old beaver Nibi. The fate of the beaver has ended up in court, with a hearing set for Friday, Oct. 4, to determine whether Nibi gets to stay with the rescuers or if she must be released into the wild as winter approaches. The case has garnered significant attention from the public and even lawmakers — Gov. Maura Healey even pledged to make sure Nibi is protected. (Associated Press — Oct. 3, 2024)
Several chamber leaders lost their seats in primaries this year, a sign of the difficulty they've had dealing with their own parties at the Capitol. Also, in a surprise, it looks like San Francisco Mayor London Breed will win another term.
Historic rainfall that devastated the Southeast was generated by conditions that still exist. What lessons can local governments in other parts of the country take from Helene?
By one estimate, only 10 percent of homeless citizens end up casting votes. There are many steps states can take to lower barriers to participation.
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