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.
An investigation found that suicides in 2025 were tied to isolation, substance use and inconsistent clinical care.
The state has the nation’s highest rate of gun violence per capita. Residents experience more gun violence than even those living in California, and a survey found that more than half of residents have experienced physical violence.
A state judge delivered a huge win to young climate plaintiffs. Montana is one of just three states that have the affirmative right to a healthful environment. Montana’s attorney general called the ruling absurd and said the state would appeal the decision.
The Democracy Restoration Act, introduced by U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, Texas, would restore voting rights in federal elections for all released felons regardless of parole or probation status and regardless of state laws.
The federal agency found Alabama’s program of managing its own coal ash is “significantly” less protective than what the federal rules require. For many the decision is evidence that other states, like Georgia, need to adjust their plans.
The bills will make it easier to distribute the opioid reversal drug Narcan, create a curriculum on the dangers of certain drugs, fund a coordinated crisis services system, establish a task force to study alcohol pricing and addiction services, and more.
It will provide protections to health-care practitioners who refuse to prescribe marijuana, participate in procedures such as abortion, medically assisted death, gender-affirming care and other treatments that go against their personal beliefs.
The Aug. 1 rule establishes the state’s open meetings provision for the judicial branch, removing any doubt about the accessibility of court meetings. However the court has not established open records for remote access.
The proposed legislation would hold companies liable for accusations of harassment, wage theft and other forms of mistreatment. The fast food industry has spent $3.9 million from Jan. 1 through June 30 on lobbying efforts to kill the legislation.
Lakewood, Colo., voted four years ago to limit the number of new housing units that can go up in the city in any given year, but a law recently signed by Gov. Polis prohibits the implementation of “anti-growth” policies.
A new state law requires armed personnel on every public school campus starting on Sept. 1, a change intended to increase security and safety after last year’s Uvalde massacre. There are 318 registered school marshals across the state.
J.B. Pritzker signed a bill this week requiring public school districts to establish full-day kindergarten by the 2027-28 school year. The bill also requires a half-day program.
Georgia is just one of 19 states that have laws regarding the disconnect of customer power in summer months. No company in the state may shut off power in the extreme heat or when temperature falls below 32 degrees.
After an unsuccessful attempt to identify their unsheltered population in January, one Pennsylvania county hopes for better results in the summer.
AM radio stations provide a free-to-listen voice for underrepresented communities and act as a reliable source of public safety information during emergencies. Proposed legislation would require car manufacturers to keep the AM dial on EV dashboards.
We don’t bulldoze poor neighborhoods the way we used to. But African countries are heavily into it.
The California city became one of the first to implement a strict set of guidelines for use of the artificial intelligence tool and clarified that ChatGPT is subject to the state’s Public Records Act.
They can help clear the air over UFO sightings by letting residents know if they live near military operations airspace, says a new RAND report. Public help is most needed to spot and report human misbehavior.
A new state law that goes into effect in September blocks city, county, school district and other authorities from limiting or banning the use, sale or lease of an engine based on its fuel source.
As the presidential campaign gets underway, some Republicans are pledging to wield federal power to nationalize their states’ policies. It’s an approach that seems at odds with the party’s history.
The state’s Vehicle Code says a person cannot drive a vehicle unless they hold a valid driver’s license. While the DMV still requires a physical license, it is working toward a mobile version for their app.
A proposed bill would pave the way for night markets and farmers’ markets across the state by cutting red tape and costs through a dedicated permit to regularly occurring market events.
About a quarter of businesses across the nation have adopted AI and many are beginning to use the tech in their hiring process. Only three states currently require employers to ask for consent first if using AI in hiring.
Future prosperity depends not only on local resources, but on size. Academic centers that don’t lure new residents are apt to fall behind.
The District of Columbia’s approach isn’t perfect, but overall it’s a balanced and well-thought-out effort that protects individuals and doesn't overly burden businesses. It could serve as a model for other governments.
The law goes into effect on Sept. 1 but it’s still unclear how officials will respond or how many local government laws will become illegal. Dallas has declined to say whether the city is preparing a lawsuit against the state.
Just 19 percent of the Dallas Police Department’s sworn officers are women, but they hope to establish a support system for each other and to fight the industry’s culture of harassment and sexism.
A freshman Virginia delegate has jump-started the Legislature’s technology and innovation caucus. Her inclusive way of dealing with AI and facial recognition policies has drawn positive attention from both sides of the aisle.
For Chicago and other cities hit by gun violence, a massive injection of federal grant money will help more programs offer an alternative to law enforcement that, supporters say, gets at the root drivers of violence.
Liliana Bakhtiari, the state’s first queer Muslim to serve in public office, introduced legislation that asks the city police department to prioritize criminal cases under the law at the “lowest possible level” and avoid any investigations of reported cases.
Dallas County is locking up minors for months longer than national standards recommend and administering more punitive rulings than other counties. Families worry their children are locked inside for most of the day.
