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Massachusetts is showing the way by going to the end users of the products and services governments buy. It’s good for suppliers as well, and produces better results for everyone.
Legislators have introduced a bill that would effectively prohibit mail-ballot drop boxes to determine a winner more quickly. But Gov. Wolf is fiercely against anything that inhibits Pennsylvanians’ ability to vote.
There is no national data network that allows quick and effective responses to disasters or disease outbreaks. Many doctors still have to fax documents to public health agencies, a problem many want to change.
Election officials worry the inactive status will further confuse an already complicated general election, but they want to emphasize that dormant voters can still vote; they just have to change their voting status first.
Massachusetts, Nebraska and Minnesota are among numerous states where legislation has recently been introduced to address the affordable housing deficit. Some bills are more concrete than others.
California’s backlog means some people wait two or more weeks before receiving their COVID-19 test results, long past the point of efficiency. To improve, the state needs a balance of policy, technology and behavioral changes.
The AI-driven technology helped states and localities deal with overloaded hotlines during the pandemic. But it will have to do more than answer simple questions if it's going to be truly effective.
Berkeley, Calif., city leaders, advocates and experts imagine the future with police reform. The results are some practical steps that might, one day, result in new futures for the East Bay city. Here are some scenarios.
In the midst of a health and economic crisis, the 2020 election is going to be completely unprecedented. While Wisconsin officials attempt to prepare as best they can, “We have literally never seen an election like this before.”
It’s never been more apparent that schools don’t just educate; they also buoy the stability and emotional health of communities. Since July, state legislatures have introduced numerous bills to keep things afloat.
Miami-Dade public schools will be virtual until at least Oct. 5, but many teachers and parents are uncertain about what comes next. “If we could have some standard precautions, I’m not afraid of being in the classroom.”
Voting by mail may have started during the Civil War, but the template for the 2020 general election is being created in real time. Legislators are working to bring clarity to vital details.
In responding to COVID-19, governments have been forced to move far more quickly and flexibly. What they've learned will prove invaluable as they prepare for the crises of the future.
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, California proposed a law that would punish police who fail to intervene while witnessing a situation possibly involving excessive force. Law enforcement thinks the bill is unfair.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise, and citizens can't shelter in place if they're evicted. Legislators in some states are proposing moratoriums on evictions for as long as a year after the end of the health emergency.
As schools prepare to reopen and as officials predict a second wave of COVID-19 cases in the fall, Connecticut looks to bolster its contact tracing program. But there’s still a long way to go before the program is ready.
Gov. Chris Sununu has signed a bill making the Granite State the first in the U.S. to allow flying cars onto its public roads. Pilots will be allowed to drive from airports to their final terrestrial destination.
In a time of crisis, behavioral science offers insights into how to reduce the paperwork and other administrative burdens that prevent people from taking advantage of crucial support services.
Sonja Diaz, a lawyer and scholar, talks about immigrants, who are disproportionately represented among essential workers but have received little in the way of COVID-19 aid. The pandemic has left them in limbo.
COVID-19 has already hit state and local government hard, and it’s still spreading at a time when it had been predicted to recede. Legislators are trying to keep up with the consequences with a range of new bills.
Peniel Joseph, one of the nation’s leading civil rights scholars, has studied and written about the history of race and democracy. He has some ideas on how cities and urban areas can begin to dismantle racism.
The new mitigation plan continues to encourage hand-washing and social distancing but also involves localized efforts and increased testing and tracing. The state has said the plan will move backwards if cases spike.
With its one customer — a huge coal-fired plant — shut down, the freight railroad has gone out of business and its tracks lie unused. But some on the reservation hope to revive train service for tourists.
It's a health risk at any time and one that disproportionately affects Black individuals and families. During a pandemic, it's an unacceptable burden. Legislators are looking at ways to better cope with the problem.
Less than 10 percent of police responses involve a violent crime. Rethinking policing involves more than how police behave on the job. Often, they may not be the right people to answer calls of distress.
Many Massachusetts police departments would use body cameras for transparency, but the technology is too expensive. Even when they can afford the tech, there are additional costs, like storage and privacy, that add up.
California has rolled out its high-speed commuter train plan that will connect San Jose and San Francisco in less than 45 minutes. Work on the project will begin even though the rail authority only has a quarter of the funds.
Outside consultants detailed seven major areas that the Georgia County needed to improve in its election process. But as officials continue to bicker, it is unclear if the county will be ready come November.
The national conversation about racism isn't about individual acts of violence or harassment, but about systems that perpetuate injustice. In the wake of recent protests, legislators have responded.
The Los Angeles County primary in March left voters waiting in line for hours and battling broken voting machines. With the presidential elections fast approaching, officials must work quickly to regain voter confidence.
Four state lawmakers will draft a bipartisan police accountability bill that will be up for consideration in a special session. Uncertain is whether it will address broader social and economic justice issues.
