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Big money is flowing to cities and states from infrastructure laws backed by the Biden-Harris administration. This barely rates mention, even from Democrats.
As billions flow from Washington to extend fast and reliable Internet to underserved areas, policymakers should rely on the experienced, established providers that already know how to get this difficult job done.
Last year’s Lahaina wildfire killed 102 people and forced thousands to flee. But more than 90 percent of 1,478 residential lots have been cleared of fire-related debris and a historic settlement will resolve 450 lawsuits.
JusticeText aims to improve the efficiency of legal defense by using automated transcription services and case management tools to streamline case evidence organization. The software is only available to public defenders.
The state’s “exceptional” drought has caused historically low water levels this year, risking pasture loss, severe crop damage and depleting water resources.
The three-year contract closes pay and working condition disparities within the 12-school university system by increasing pay, minimum wage and annual leave accrual.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a post on X responding to Chevron's announcement that it will move its headquarters from San Ramon, Calif., to Houston. The relocation comes after California sued Chevron and other oil companies last year for downplaying the effects of climate change for decades. (Texas Tribune — Aug. 2, 2024)
Something positive does seem to be happening in many of the places that have been losing jobs and people for a long time. The gains may be modest, but they’re worth paying attention to.
Fire authorities wish people would stop doing stupid stuff like burning toilet paper, igniting smoke bombs or tossing cigarette butts out of cars. People, not nature, are responsible for most wildfires.
A June 2023 audit found tens of thousands of potentially fraudulent or inaccurate ticket records within the state police system. Federal investigators found most mistakes were unintentional, though some officers may face discipline.
The report identified issues of physical and sexual abuse, extended periods of isolation for the children, lack of mental health treatment and failure to provide adequate services for students with disabilities.
A study found that Chicago’s white families have the highest median net wealth ($210,000), while typical Black families report no wealth and U.S.-born Mexican families have just 19 percent of a typical white family’s wealth.
California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, who thanked Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas for sending fire engines to California to help battle the state’s wildfires. Newsom has made fighting wildfires a top priority and welcomes help from all quarters, even from leaders he’s fought on hot-button issues. In addition to Abbott, Newsom notes that the state had a cooperative relationship with the Trump White House on disaster response. (Politico — Aug. 1, 2024)
A ballot measure that would have let voters decide the fate of a massive land development project in California has been called off.
In the 1970s, Black students organized protests and a boycott that cost local white businesses money. Today, many families who could afford private school still choose Thomasville’s public schools.
In the typical state, personnel costs represent 40 percent less of the overall budget than was true 30 years ago.
Long Beach, Calif., has launched a digital rights platform that consists of data privacy notices for city-deployed technologies. Residents can find out what personal data is taken, how long it’s stored and whether it's shared or encrypted.
Approximately 8,500 fewer students were evaluated for a disability than during an earlier two-year period. That means thousands of students may not be getting the accommodations they need.
Gov. Mike DeWine announced that businesses can now download the Ohio Mobile ID Check app, which enables them to accept ID cards via iPhones. However, physical cards are still needed for driving and interactions with police.
Marissa Suski, a resident of Polk County, Texas, who found text messages more reliable than news reports and social media as Hurricane Beryl approached her area. The texts were from AlertMePolkCounty, the county's messaging system. Suski said she didn't know their source but that the account's earlier texts about boil water notices and emergency food supplies had been helpful and accurate. (Texas Tribune — July 31, 2024)
Philadelphia's mayor has ordered city workers back to the office. Unfortunately for them, the state is not providing the amount of funding that local transit needs.
Federal aid helped states and localities cope with the biggest costs of the pandemic. But good things don’t last forever, and this one didn’t.
There are 898 inmates per 100,000 Alabama residents, a higher rate than any nation other than El Salvador. Five other southern states incarcerate more people, however, and Alabama is sending less people to prison than it was 10 years ago.
Legislators enacted more than a dozen new laws related to education, including changes to testing curriculum and classroom behavior.
CrowdStrike’s botched cybersecurity update affected airlines and other entities all over the world. Here’s how police and fire departments coped in the Arizona city.
The state’s largest law enforcement organization found that police staffing in the state is at a 30-year low and is especially bad in rural counties.
Kentucky state Rep. Daniel Grossberg, who is under official investigation for inappropriate interactions with women. Women have been contacted by the Legislative Research Commission regarding questionable behavior and texts from the freshman Democratic lawmaker. Some women shared text messages with the Lexington Herald-Leader that they called “weird” or “creepy,” which included comments about their looks. (Lexington Herald-Leader — July 31, 2024)
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