The Stories That Defined the Year in State and Local Government

Today’s Governing Daily brings together some of our best and most-read reporting and commentary—from in-depth features on how states and cities are navigating policy, politics and innovation to sharp opinion pieces shaping the national debate.

Top 10 Governing Feature Stories of 2025

1. Massachusetts Legislators Want to Discourage Police From Lying to Suspects
2. I Survived the L.A. Fires. My Home Didn't.
3. Local Governments Could Be Flying Blind as Federal Data Disappears
4. How Colorado Built a Bustling Intercity Bus Service
5. What Can Be Done to Shield State and Local Officials From Political Violence?
6. Las Vegas’ New Mayor Has a Slump on Her Hands. She’s Not Worried.
7. What's Driving States to Ban 'Junk Food' Purchases With SNAP
8. No Desire for Streetcars: A Transit Mode Falls Out of Favor
9. Should Cities Open Their Own Grocery Stores?
10. What the Federal Shutdown Means for States and Localities

Top 10 Governing Opinions and Analysis of 2025

1. FEMA: The Federal Agency We Don’t Like Until We Need It
2. Are Libraries the New ‘Third Places’ We’re Looking For?
3. A Governor’s Race to Watch in 2026
4. It’s Not Easy Being a Blue City in a Red State
5. Public Retirees’ Big Win — and What Might Happen Next
6. One Small Town’s Special Sauce for Economic Revival
7. Whatever Happened to Federalism?
8. What Montana Can Teach Us About Housing Reform
9. Can a Revamped FDIC Better Protect the Public Purse?
10. The Key Ingredients of College Town Success