State and Local Politics and Policy
It’s especially hard to get low-income Americans living in multifamily buildings across the digital divide. But states and nonprofits are finding ways to do it.
It has taken steps to give local policymakers more control over the allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations, while setting national policies to hasten the availability of vaccines.
As vaccines become more political and case numbers continue to rise, many expect Republican candidates to use the coronavirus pandemic as leverage for their campaigns in the upcoming midterm elections.
The county has started requiring its police officers to wear a body camera after launching training courses that began in early July. They expect all officers to finish by October.
A new report ranked which states have the best and worst K-12 public school systems in the nation; Massachusetts came in the top spot. On average, blue states ranked higher than red.
A special two-person team hopes to crack down on the most prolific and violent criminals. By the end of 2020, 305 people had been shot in Denver — a 51 percent increase from the year prior.
Compared to other forms of transit, public buses are cheap, flexible and plentiful. But policymakers aren’t that interested in buses, and ridership is declining. It’s a problem that needs fixing, argues Steven Higashide.
Judges shouldn’t hear cases involving their campaign donors. Though some lawmakers are addressing the issue, only a few states have ethics rules that require judges to avoid hearing such cases.
A $26 billion pharmaceutical settlement would resolve lawsuits by the state attorney general, counties and city governments across the state. But some officials don’t agree with the terms of the settlement and aren’t signing on.
An audit found the California Prison Industry Authority improperly provided nearly $1.3 million in gifts to other state agencies and encouraged the hiring and promotion of friends, relatives and other favored candidates.
Photojournalist David Kidd has traveled to nearly every state in the union while on assignment. His keen interest in American history has led to some interesting and unique discoveries about the nation’s past.
Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that all 300,000 municipal workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, will be required to either get vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID testing.
Dangerous policies and practices are sidelining public health evidence and authority. With COVID-19 cases and deaths surging, public leaders need to support the experts, tune out the anti-science chorus and encourage vaccinations.
Charlie Crist, a Democratic gubernatorial hopeful, criticized Gov. Ron DeSantis for his recent visit to the Texas border while the state’s COVID-19 test positivity rate has nearly tripled in the last three weeks.
With some of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation, state officials are hopeful that a new lead to the Department of Health and Senior Services will update the whole system and make it better, post-COVID.
After years of relative quiet, Republican lawmakers have successfully pushed abortion bans, voting restrictions, tax cuts, religious freedom and school choice.
When public officials use words like “black” and “white,” they need to keep in mind the color bias of language and do what they can to eliminate it.
As drought grips most of California, water thefts have increased to record levels. Thieves tap into hydrants, pump water from rivers and break into remote water stations and tanks.
New Yorkers relied on street vendors during the pandemic, but as the city reopens, those essential workers are once again being fined.
The Washington state Legislature passed more than 300 bills last session and many of them become laws this weekend. From drug possession to education, here’s a snapshot of what’s new in the state.
The Connecticut governor appointed the first third of the members of the new Social Equity Council, which will hold a major role in awarding cannabis licenses and distributing the industry revenue to impacted communities.
While the rest of the developed world has made progress in reducing the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles, America continues to move in the wrong direction. Author Angie Schmitt talks about root causes and solutions.
Over-reliance on fees, fines and forfeitures drives a wedge between police and the communities they serve. It's detrimental to both crime-solving and the profession of law enforcement.
Last month Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed the state Republicans’ election reform package, but now the Pennsylvania governor has changed his stance on voter ID requirements, so state lawmakers will reintroduce the voting package.
The number of daily coronavirus cases across the state has almost tripled in the past month, leading officials to consider reinstating mask mandates regardless of vaccination status. For now, Gov. Cuomo is instead urging residents to get vaccinated.
The mayor of St. Louis only has weak official powers. Tishaura Jones says she won't let that stop her from reshaping the city.
In deploying the National Guard to the southwest border and with other actions, several Republican governors are illustrating the impact states can have on federal policies.
Law enforcement agencies across Tampa Bay claim that they do not have an issue with racial profiling and yet six major police departments and sheriff’s offices in the area couldn’t offer any data when requested.
The state capital has a modest-sized transit system, so taking out the farebox during the pandemic was easy and so far everyone likes the outcome. But making free bus service financially sustainable could be harder.
Many tech companies across the state were able to adapt well to the pandemic-induced changes that allowed the industry to continue to grow. Montana’s tech sector generated $400 million more in 2020 than it did the year prior.
A recent Supreme Court ruling in a California case affirms that every American should have the right to make political donations without fearing violence or persecution.
