News
Last year, the city gave a lease to a homeless encampment. Although that created some autonomy, it certainly didn't solve the problems faced by its residents.
Hawaii already had a recount law in place, but now recounts are mandatory whenever the margin is as little as 100 votes.
House Majority Leader Jamie Long is lead author of a Minnesota bill aimed at preventing the practice of majority parties drawing favorable district maps and prohibiting lawmakers from becoming lobbyists within one year of leaving office. (Minnesota Reformer — March 11, 2024)
State efforts to restrict kids' social media use have been held up in court. But lawmakers remain concerned about apps and the Internet contributing to mental health challenges.
As the national debt continues to climb past $34 trillion, lawmakers are considering extending a broadband program that would drive inflation higher and deepen deficits, all while providing already-connected residents with Internet service.
Future in Context
Work is well underway in jurisdictions across the country to prepare for the next generation of doing the public’s business.
Americans with the fewest resources, those with disabilities and the marginalized suffer the most after a hurricane, tornado or wildfire. We need to provide more support to our most vulnerable residents.
Lawmakers are pushing legislation to overhaul public records law for the first time in more than two decades. Some are worried the changes would reduce transparency.
The city police department faced criticism for failing to publish detailed reports for such a lengthy period.
Ohio state Rep. Sean Brennan, regarding the replacement of police dogs as an unintended consequence of legalizing recreational marijuana. Nearly 400 dogs in the state who were trained to detect marijuana will need to be retired because they cannot reliably be retrained. Proposed legislation would provide each agency with up to $20,000 per dog to offset the cost of acquiring, training and equipping narcotics dogs. (Associated Press — March 7, 2024)
In a sweeping State of the Union address before Congress, the president spotlighted the economic comeback under his administration and offered his plans for the future.
Voters in Los Angeles approved a ballot measure to add hundreds of miles of bike lanes and bus lanes. It will force implementation of a plan the city agreed to years ago.
Local governments face a year-end deadline for obligating American Rescue Plan Act funds. To keep funds earmarked for housing from being plundered, they need to make some decisions now.
Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that provides legal immunity to doctors and patients undergoing IVF treatment. However, the new law does not address the state Supreme Court’s recent ruling that frozen embryos are considered people.
The Delta Conveyance Project is a 45-mile tunnel that would run beneath the delta and move more water from Northern California to cities further south. Opponents worry about the tunnel’s impact on the delta’s fragile ecosystem.
Iowa state Sen. Jason Schultz, regarding his proposed legislation that would remove a mandate that state, county and local decision-making bodies are balanced by gender. (Associated Press — March 7, 2024)
Tuesday's election results demonstrate voter antipathy towards crime. Meanwhile, the field is set in the year's most competitive race for governor and Texas has gotten redder.
The pilot release of a first-of-its-kind mapping tool is a step toward understanding carbon storage in Oregon estuaries, supporting long-term goals to preserve them.
The number of nonprofit news outlets is holding steady but 203 counties are news deserts, leaving thousands of communities without access to local news.
Lawmakers hope grant and loan programs can help small towns keep their markets open.
Lawmakers in several states, mostly conservative and largely rural, have rejoined the debate over whether transgender people may use bathrooms and other facilities that do not match their sex assigned at birth.
Miami-Dade introduced a first-of-its-kind policy that would require employers to provide water, rest and shade to outdoor workers on hot days. The Legislature quickly sought to pre-empt such rules.
State lawmakers considered legislation that calls any federal order to confiscate firearms, gun accessories or ammunition a violation of a law-abiding citizen’s Second Amendment rights.
Dawn Ramsey, mayor of South Jordan, Utah, regarding the scores of dried tumbleweeds that bounced into the city after several days of high winds. Crews were able to remove about 13 dumpster loads of tumbleweeds. (Associated Press — March 5, 2024)
A new $1 billion fund will help Texas communities fix crumbling water infrastructure. Advocates say much more will be needed due to population growth and climate change.
Not only are they trying to rob voters of their voice, but what they’re doing highlights the state’s broken recall process.
