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.
Governor DeWine has opened the possibility that Ohio’s primary election could be an entirely mail-only election. The decision could increase voter turnout and save money. “We are open to discussion.”
Governor Newsom hasn’t given statewide directives because the state is too large and diverse to say what’s best for all communities. But some are concerned that he’s not being aggressive enough.
The Pennsylvania primary is six weeks away, but election officials are implementing practices for worker and voter safety amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials recommend concerned individuals to cast vote-by-mail ballots.
State lawmakers are tackling new digital threats to elections and public trust by banning voting bots and criminalizing deepfakes; meanwhile, in New Jersey, a legislator wants to bring an end to paper records.
In the past decade, telecommuting has increased by 115 percent and many believe that it will continue to increase as states manage COVID-19. But telecommuting isn’t a permanent solution for everyone.
Millions of workers, including government employees, will experience remote work for the first time. There are strategies you can adopt to stay on task when away from the office and co-workers.
Cities, counties and states are trying to proceed as normal while the coronavirus spreads. However, some legislative sessions have ended early, and courts, senior centers, libraries and other services are starting to shut down.
As they deal with an emergency like the novel coronavirus, mayors and county executives need to be ready to ask their residents to sacrifice, break bureaucratic rules, and move quickly and decisively.
At ground zero of America’s coronavirus outbreak, Seattle is overwhelmed by patients needing care. Social distancing and persistent hand washing is no longer enough. “The next step is to start thinking about alternate care systems.”
Governors and mayors don't run for office with the intention of managing emergencies. But when a crisis strikes, they become the public face of government response and need to be ready to communicate accurately and calmly.
The five-city community choice aggregation program that will launch next year has received certification from the California Public Utilities Commission. San Diego Community Power will be an alternative to San Diego Gas & Electric.
Richard L. Hasen, one of the nation’s leading experts on election law and campaign finance regulation, talks about what state and local officials can do to reduce potential abuses and disruptions during the 2020 election.
Two years after a fatal accident, Uber has resumed testing robot cars in San Francisco, Calif. The tests will be during daylight hours only with two safety drivers. Uber has already begun testing in several other cities.
The OTA served Congress well until it was defunded. Now there are calls for a fresh start to create a lean, dynamic agency aimed at making sense of the shock of the new tech today.
A study revealed that the Midwest’s electricity grid will require major upgrades to power lines and power reliability as power shifts towards solar and wind energy. But the study didn’t say how much it would all cost.
Los Angeles County, Calif., experienced a chaotic Super Tuesday that left voters disheartened and discouraged. To ensure November’s vote goes more smoothly, change must happen. “Clearly, voters deserve better.”
Our current system fails to prepare too many students for the competencies that are needed in today's and tomorrow's workplace. We need to rethink our approach to funding, curricula and governance.
Many companies and schools are encouraging their staff and students to stay at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. But for those that don’t, precautions and preventive measures have increased.
Researchers at Augusta University in Georgia are working on an app that will help people better understand if they’re at risk for the virus, identify hot spots of infection and, possibly, predict future outbreaks.
Delivery companies are overwhelmed as people fearful of virus risk aren’t leaving the house and are, instead, turning to delivery services. But delivery drivers are at risk and have to take extra precautions.
Hours-long lines and confusion plagued Los Angeles County voting centers, and many people placed blame on the new voting machines. “If the idea is to make this simpler, it’s gotten much worse.”
UC Berkeley found that 89 percent of California voters are okay with the three-day law for counting ballots, which allows more time and ways to vote. It “reaffirms what we’ve believed for a long time.”
San Jose is one of the main tech hubs in California’s Silicon Valley and yet almost 10 percent of its residents live without Internet in their homes. But a grant program hopes to close that gap.
State officials are ramping up their efforts to get Mississipians to participate in the Census. For each resident that isn’t counted, the state could lose $5,000 annually. “There has never been a more bipartisan issue.”
Several New Hampshire cities are considering the implementation of body cameras to increase police transparency. But the tech is expensive, costing about half a million dollars to lease for five years.
An effort to overturn a law requiring vaccines in Maine went down to resounding defeat on Tuesday. That doesn't mean the fight is over in other states.
State and local governments have adapted plans for other pandemics and are putting them into action. They're hoping for better coordination and more funding from the feds. Officials insist that they’re up to the challenge.
Far too many Americans still don't have access in their homes to the technology and affordable high-speed broadband they need to succeed in today's economy. We need to think of it as a civil and human right.
Even though the state agreed to the purchase, many are opposed. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s CEO, earned $12 billion last year so why does he need the state’s money? “Stop these gifts to obscenely wealthy companies.”
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Calif., is a popular spot for photos, especially by drones. It’s also a National Recreation Area where drones are illegal, but officials are having trouble restricting them.
