Policy
This coverage will look at how public leaders establish new policies in a range of crucial areas of government – health, education, public safety, for example – and how these policies impact people’s lives through better services, effective regulations and new programs. This will include stories examining how state and local government approaches policymaking around emerging areas, including artificial intelligence.
Many insurance companies in metro Atlanta are denying essential coverage to businesses in “high crime” areas, which are also predominantly areas of low-income residents of color.
Connecticut State Sen. James Maroney is leading efforts to establish a nationwide consortium to discuss policy measures in response to artificial intelligence technologies.
The Santa Fe School Board unveiled a plan that will provide teachers with artificial intelligence tools to help in the classroom, in some cases allowing students to use AI on assignments as a “co-pilot to enhance human creativity.”
Future in Context
As the nation nears its 250th anniversary, a longtime broadcast journalist and historian calls for addressing economic inequities, corporate monopolies and restoring effective governance to grow stronger.
By the time federal crime rate statistics are published, they're already out of date. A new online resource provides a month-to-month view of crime rates.
The former steel capital has already made the transition to advanced manufacturing. Its combination of tech talent, universities and power sources make it well-equipped to be a leader in AI.
In the 2022 general election, just 42 percent of eligible Texas voters cast a ballot, making it one of the worst states in the nation for voter participation.
A new bill asks Gov. Kathy Hochul and state legislators to overhaul New York’s broken guardianship system. It cites a ProPublica investigation that found the elderly and infirm living in dire conditions while under court-mandated oversight.
Regional library systems provide vital services for small and under-resourced communities. But what happens when political divisions threaten to dismantle them?
They do better in school, parents have to spend less money on food and all households benefit from lower grocery prices.
The emergency declaration would kick off a “public education” campaign about road safety for drivers and pedestrians and would jumpstart the implementation of “quick-build” safety projects.
The public likes what lawmakers around the country are doing, but the industry’s lobbyists are working hard to embed provisions into trade deals that would undermine much of the progress states have made.
Sonoma County officials hope the new policy will act as a guide for how to appropriately use AI technology for emails, reports, job descriptions, spreadsheet calculations and more. But the policy prohibits using confidential or specific county information.
The bill states that Baltimore “shall be entitled to recover for economic loss” from the bridge collapse which stalled the city’s port activity, reallocated emergency services and impacted local workers. But some legal experts are skeptical.
We know what works to prevent tragedies like the recent one at a Georgia high school. Effective gun policies could save thousands of lives.
Other states look to Texas as the state psychology board pushes against the new national licensing requirements.
A poll found that 56 percent of California Latinos see artificial intelligence as “just a new tool,” while the remaining 44 percent said the tech was a bad idea and would cost people jobs.
And how does that overlap with reported deaths from firearms?
While environmentalists say the new rules don’t do enough to protect groundwater, oil and gas operators are contesting stricter requirements for waste pits near wells.
Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order that will require the state Office of Motor Vehicles to compile a list of people who have been issued a temporary license or ID card, which will then be used to cross-check state voter rolls.
Across California there have been concerted efforts to ban or restrict cellphone use in schools to limit distractions from learning. But given the most recent school shooting, some are questioning the safety risk of such bans.
A year ago, state Democrats blocked efforts to combat and prevent retail theft, but now the Legislature has created a select committee to study its cause. Last month, lawmakers sent 10 retail-theft-related bills to Gov. Newsom’s desk.
As they expanded eligibility under the Affordable Care Act, some skirted the law by misclassifying new enrollees to maximize revenue from Washington while doing little to help those who need care. It will take federal legislation to end this behavior.
Before the pandemic, most court proceedings took place in person at the Deschutes County courthouse. While remote court appearances improve efficiency, some argue that for serious crimes there are clear disadvantages.
The Legislative Auditor has found that the state does not have an adequate review process to ensure changes to prisoners’ release dates are accurately calculated. This is the fourth time an audit has made such findings.
Designating them by law would go a long way toward addressing the many issues these critical services face. They have evolved over decades to encompass a multitude of responsibilities.
California is one of seven states that fund schools based on average daily attendance instead of how many students are registered for the year. But that could change if proposed legislation gets Gov. Newsom’s signature.
In 2020 and 2022, annual spending on the issue didn’t exceed $7 million and between 2013 and 2017, Philly spent an average of $9 million annually to settle police misconduct cases. But misconduct spending has since skyrocketed.
Deepfake images and videos are just one way AI could disrupt the upcoming election. Experts are highlighting risks that could cause bigger problems and helping election officials prepare for them.
Despite the forces working against fair elections, coalitions and grassroots organizations in several states have achieved a lot for democracy.
Insurers have wide latitude on when and how they can deny mental health care. An analysis of all 50 states shows that some are charting new paths to secure mental health care access.
