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.
Currently, the country has hired just a fraction of the contact tracers needed to contain the spread of the coronavirus and help the economy return to life. Experts say a national workforce is needed.
The state only has about 300 tracers currently and has plans to begin the first phase of reopening on May 15. Some are upset that the search for contract tracers didn’t begin months ago, “We wasted two months.”
Researchers have employed a supercomputer to help with faster development of a treatment for the coronavirus. “Instead of doing the tests in the test tube, we replicate that process in the computer.”
The newly released document reveals that the 300 million N-95 masks that California had ordered have yet to arrive. Gov. Newsom is now requiring a $247.5 million reimbursement by the end of the week.
Florida released a list of coronavirus deaths but blacked out the probable cause of death and description of each case. The redacted document reinforces the so-called Sunshine State’s lack of transparency in dealing with the pandemic.
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North Dakota is the only state that has met the estimated need of 30 contact tracers for each 100,000 people. The state’s focus on contact tracing is one of its priorities for reopening the economy.
We shouldn't be casually equating the health of the economy with the health of the desperate, helpless people who labor on the front lines.
Given the budget crunch, cities are cutting or canceling summer jobs programs. Some are trying to find ways of keeping kids engaged online.
Largely uninsured and medically underserved, the rural population of Virginia’s coal country is at high risk for coronavirus. The task of helping them is up to a small, but popular health clinic.
Several California towns that have small populations and low, or zero, COVID-19 cases are desperate to lift shelter-in-place orders. “We’re very rural and naturally socially distanced in our everyday lives.”
The California Homeless Data System team is looking to hire new tech talent; a New York City group rolls out a new Census messaging guide; and the Connecticut Data Collaborative is now hosting online events.
Stern anti-fraud messaging can keep eligible people from applying for the benefits they need. There are effective ways to help people through the application process without threatening them.
In an era of social distancing, some are concerned that cash payments could transmit COVID-19. Even though transmission through currency is unlikely, officials are still concerned there will be a shift away from cash.
Driven by the deadly conditions in our jails, we're beginning to see a way forward for reforms that can produce safer and healthier communities. We need to build on it for the future.
States want to reopen their economies but need more tests before that can happen safely, and testing is complicated and slow. Soon the question will become, “How much risk are we willing to take to reopen?”
Some fears around the coronavirus have arisen due to lack of clear information regarding the disease. Many believe that combatting the virus first begins with addressing stigma and misconceptions.
With schools closed and health services delayed or canceled, it's a challenge to provide support for children with physical or behavioral health needs. Telehealth is one tool that can help fill the gap.
Governments that keep a daily record of obstacles they are encountering and steps they are taking — those that work and those that don't — will be in a better position to weather the next crisis.
Georgians are finding that the Department of Public Health’s published coronavirus data is contradictory and unclear. Many are concerned that Gov. Kemp wanted to reopen the economy before it was safe to do so.
A survey collected geographic and demographic coronavirus data from six states and found varying levels of public information due to both the ability to collect data and what officials want the public to know.
During the pandemic, Democratic governors have alternately knocked the president and sought his help. For the opposition party, power in states now provides a base that Congress does not.
California’s pre-emptive shutdown may have saved thousands of lives and the large majority of residents are supportive of Gov. Newsom’s coronavirus management. Staying at home helps keep deaths at a minimum.
A number of U.S. police departments are using drones as part of their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19, though public safety agencies differ in the way they employ the emerging technology.
Cities across the country are trying to get more of their citizens access to the Internet during the COVID-19 crisis, with essential services such as medicine and education moving online as residents stay home.
Governing is building a 50-state map to visualize the changes underway to declare states “Open for Business” even as the coronavirus remains at large across the country.
Michigan health officials don’t have enough resources to compile a complete report on coronavirus cases across the state. While the partial reports don’t provide a lot of data, they do protect some patient privacy through obscurity.
The House is still split about allowing proxy, remote voting or not. Some believe the low-tech option is a good solution for these unprecedented times of social distancing, but others believe it’s unconstitutional.
Thousands of inmates are infected with the coronavirus and dozens have already died. Some governors have released prisoners for public health reasons, but there's always a risk they'll reoffend.
With projected shortfalls of $300 million over the next 26 months, Cole may have become a canary in a coal mine for all city executives in the high stakes world of leading after COVID-19.
