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A new report found that the state’s methane output last year continued its decadelong downward trend, confirming that Permian Basin oil and natural gas producers are successfully lowering emissions.
Robert Earl Council, a prisoner at the Limestone Correctional Facility in Harvest, Ala., and one of the founders of the Free Alabama Movement. A lawsuit has been filed against the state, claiming that its prison practices amount to a “modern-day form of slavery.” The prisoners who brought the case are joined by three labor unions and a nonprofit that monitors prison conditions in the state. (NPR — Dec. 14, 2023)
The approximate number of birds, including bald eagles and golden eagles, that...
Metro Transit in Minneapolis-St. Paul is using new methods of fare enforcement, as well as partnering with social service nonprofits, in an effort to combat open drug use and generally make trains feel safer.
Government centers can be more than simply places where official business is conducted. They can be places for residents to meet, interact and celebrate each other.
Republican-led states that withdrew from the Electronic Registration Information Center are now struggling to find new ways to adequately update their voter rolls. Prior to 2022, more than half the states participated in the program.
The Dallas native was the state’s first Black district attorney and used DNA testing in cases, leading to about two dozen exonerations. His Conviction Integrity Unit has been nationally and internationally recognized.
Arlington has been using May Mobility to run its Rideshare, Automation and Payment Integration Demonstration program since 2021, which utilizes a fleet of four self-driving vehicles to transport 150 to 200 riders daily.
Wait times to speak to customer service representatives have risen to an average of more than 52 minutes, and as many as 1,500 people are experiencing delays due to the identity verification process.
John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, regarding a critical structural failure in the Washington Bridge that resulted in a closure of Interstate 195 from Providence to East Providence. The roadway normally carries close to 100,000 vehicles a day, but repair could take months. (Associated Press — Dec. 13, 2023)
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The approximate number of American voting jurisdictions that have...
A successful lawsuit based on 19th-century laws to combat the Ku Klux Klan has renewed attention on how police officers can help protect voters. It's part of a broader effort to crack down on intimidation.
The state's projected $68 billion shortfall for the coming fiscal year represents a big challenge. Still, California’s deep reserves can reduce the burden.
The proposed bill would charge electric vehicle owners $290 a year to supplement decreased revenue lost from the state’s gas tax. It is estimated the fee would generate as much as $20 million annually for the state.
Proposed legislation that has garnered support from a public employees union would provide greater protection to state workers who file complaints of bullying, which is mostly not illegal in the state.
The new unit will be composed mostly of civilian employees. It will publish an annual accountability report that evaluates the department on its policies and training, compared to best practices nationwide.
Effingham County, Ill., has seen a decrease in the number of inmates and a reduction in caseloads just three months after the state ended cash bail. However, the long-term impacts of the end of cash bail remains to be seen.
Peter Park, after passing the California Bar exam at the age of 17, making him possibly the youngest person to do so. (Associated Press — Dec. 8, 2023)
The approximate number of people who were killed in...
Legislative veteran John Whitmire should be able to improve Houston's relations with the state, while pledging to crack down on crime and deficit spending.
States and localities may have hidden treasure in their data that can be profitably unearthed by commercial interests. Governments need to be able to realize the value of their data while still protecting the public.
Its sprawling size is one reason. But there are other factors at work, including discouraged Democrats and Republicans’ success at courting Hispanic voters.
The federal government promised $23 million to assist with recovery efforts after Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc on 49 schools and nine colleges and universities across the state. Many are still waiting for those funds.
The Program for International Student Assessment found that about 54 percent of students got distracted by others using digital devices. Those who were distracted scored 15 points lower in math.
A group of state lawmakers, advocates and parents are working to change a Medicaid rule that limits psychiatric hospital stays to 15 days a month, but the change would need $7.2 million annually and federal approval.
The California governor and his administration are moving forward with a plan to build a 45-mile water tunnel between the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, even as the project has received heavy pushback from environmental groups.
How much 46 percent of teens said they used the Internet last year, nearly double the share a decade ago. Nearly all teens said they have access to a smartphone regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity or economic background. (The Hill — Dec. 11, 2023)
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The age of John Whitmire. Elected Saturday as...
The company controls millions of square feet of offices, so its struggles will surely cause more headaches for landlords. But the model it pioneered remains attractive.
The primary is often the only real contest in choosing those who will represent us. Closed party primaries are unrepresentative and undemocratic, and they disenfranchise more than half of the voting public: independents.