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.
Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger revealed that approximately 1,000 people voted twice during the state’s June primary, which is considered a felony. However, the fraud was still minimal, at only 0.09 percent.
It may not have always received the best word of mouth, but the space technology continues to advance with big names behind it and a market that has seen significant growth during COVID-19.
There have already been clashes, sometimes fatal, between protesters and self-styled militia. The public appears to be growing more tolerant of political violence, at least when perpetrated by partisans on their side.
Despite efforts across Maryland, thousands of students without Internet or computers will not be attending their school classes until campuses reopen. “If kids aren’t in class, nothing else about the education system matters.”
Political exploitation of pain and fear has diverted our attention from the goals of the Black Lives Matter movement. Public officials need to work to bring us back to the more important issues.
For large parts of rural California, the numbers forecast by health officials ended up completely wrong because they didn’t account for social distancing or mask mandates. Many found the data useless.
In addition to dealing with the cyberattack that is affecting thousands of teachers and students, County officials also must explain the missing signature on the $15 million contract for faulty school software.
Before he was our fifth president, Monroe was Virginia’s governor at a time when yellow fever was deadly and hard to control. Setting aside ideology, he prevented a health crisis despite his disdain for strong government.
The Trump administration's ban on evictions will prevent millions from losing their homes ahead of the election. Those who are already homeless, however, may find themselves disenfranchised.
States must begin establishing coronavirus plans for the November election, but some legislatures can’t agree on what’s best. For Louisiana, that means a federal court judge will decide.
They can't completely replace in-person meetings, but conducting more public business online reduces costs, gives more people a voice and cuts down on disruption. It also can lead to better policy.
Since 2016, at least nine states have restored voting rights to some people with felonies.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is warning Detroit voters of a fraudulent robocall that discourages voting by mail in the upcoming election. The actual source of the call remains unknown.
The Postal Service plays a critical role in the supply chains of small businesses and in keeping rural America connected. There's no reason it can't continue to do so despite its financial woes.
Carl Sedoryk, CEO of Monterey-Salinas Transit, explains how his agency went from moving not just people, but also food and medical services, while providing Internet service for families as the pandemic upended bus service.
Up to 4 million Californians risk eviction if the COVID-19 renter protections expire on Sept. 2. Some hope to extend relief for renters, but many are concerned that it’s just a temporary fix to a larger problem.
Congress is blocked from passing bills that impose unfunded mandates. The 25-year-old restriction isn't perfect but has saved states, cities and counties billions of dollars.
Certain school districts in Florida and Tennessee have formally classified school teachers as essential workers, which means that they must continue to work even if they’ve come in contact with COVID-19.
Officials aren’t worried about fraud. They’re worried about disqualified mail-in ballots because they weren’t postmarked on time, arrived beyond the 17-day eligibility period or were missing signatures.
State lawmakers have stalled a bill that would punish police officers who don’t physically intervene in situations of excessive force. Law enforcement groups opposed the legislation, which stalled without explanation.
Federal help is needed now to reopen schools safely and address educational gaps. But for the long term, K-12 education needs to become more financially efficient and prioritize equity.
A military surplus program has allowed Illinois to gather 1,139 items of military gear for their police officers. For many, the military gear is used to intimidate the public. Others don’t mind as long as it keeps people safe.
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Digital technology has changed how people live, move and do everyday tasks. The cities of Portland, Maine, Buffalo, New York and Omaha, Nebraska, share a common vision—a future where parking is no longer a burden for city leaders or the communities they serve.
The COVID-19 committee has asked for more data regarding positive cases from the Hawaii Department of Health so that citizens can better know which activities to avoid. The department is still considering the request.
The president’s re-election campaign accused New Jersey of a “brazen power grab” because of its plan to send ballots to all registered voters for this fall’s election. There still is no evidence of widespread voting fraud by mail.
More than a dozen incumbent legislators may have lost seats in Tuesday's primaries, including a state Senate president. The results continued a trend of insufficiently ardent partisans being unseated in both parties.
With millions of Americans seeking jobs, many formerly incarcerated people worry that ex-offender prejudice will prevent them from being rehired. Without a job, many can’t pay the fines and fees associated with probation.
Too little progress has been made to ensure that high-speed Internet is available to all. As the pandemic has demonstrated, far too many still don't have what they need to function in a virtual world.
Growth remains a bigger worry than unemployment in at least a few cities. They're scattered around the country, but their economies have a few qualities in common that have made them pandemic-proof.
Jurisdictions across the country are facing a shortage of poll workers for the November election. Local government workers should be deployed to augment the volunteers who do show up.
