Governing: State and local government news and analysis
The power often goes out in Eastport, Maine, due to storms. Now, the small city is developing solar and tidal power to fuel its own microgrid.
Democratic governors are scrambling to mount an effective opposition to the policies of the new administration. They may not be holding a winning hand.
Future in Context
The recent fortunes of local initiatives reveal a shifting landscape in U.S. transportation policy — driven by political, economic and environmental factors. What lies ahead is, as yet, unclear.
Larry Rhoden has been serving as Kristi Noem's lieutenant governor. He'll inherit a tougher budget environment than she had.
Republicans in Congress might force all states to impose such rules. Supporters say they give Medicaid recipients a boost toward self-sufficiency and financial stability. Critics say such rules hurt far more people than they help.
Henderson City Manager Richard Derrick has focused on improving city services in Nevada’s second-largest city. Community surveys suggest residents are reaping the benefits.
The view of the federal department as a source of malign leftist influence is backwards. Good ideas are out there, and there needs to be a central authority to disseminate best practices and insist on results.
Mayors and other local leaders have an important role to play in the psychological well-being of their constituents, protecting them from harmful policies and helping them handle new uncertainties.
Rising minorities in big cities are increasingly concerned about order and security. Political parties need to pay attention.
Future in Context
Author Fern Tiger discusses how genuinely connecting with communities before launching projects can drive progress by ensuring feedback is more than surface-level. Tailoring engagement can shape more accurate policies.
Outlining rural health issues and priorities is the latest step in combating rural health disparities, according to leaders at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Innovation must come with transparency, safeguards and human oversight. We need to deploy the technology in ways that enhance rather than erode public confidence in the justice system.
A new report from Brookings shows how state departments of transportation have a free hand to spend on highway projects, but don’t keep good track of progress toward specific goals.
New consumer spending patterns fuel investment in entertainment venues.
Properly trained and integrated into the school leadership team, they can be helpful in some ways, but they cannot fix societal problems and their presence can make students feel less safe.
His second presidency could recolor the landscape for federal spending, with ramifications for states, local governments, schools and public pensions. Governors and mayors will need to try to discern where the political wind is blowing — and what to watch out for.
A new Brookings analysis of counties' 2024 presidential vote shows that lower-output, small town, and rural areas still comprise the foundation of the GOP base. But they've been joined by numerous new Republican-leaning places in the Sun Belt and elsewhere.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically in Vermont. Nationally, the election showed that partisanship matters most but active campaigning still makes a difference.
Latinos make up ever increasing shares of student bodies and the workforce but lag behind whites in science and technical education. One North Carolina county has a promising approach.
When people think about higher ed, they picture the Ivy League. But state officials are trained almost exclusively at their own state’s schools.
Local taxes to fund public transit fared well on Election Day. But state and federal election results could alter the outlook for infrastructure investment long term.
Future in Context
The Gates Foundation’s Allan Golston outlines a vision for equitable opportunities and the future of the American dream. As the transformative power of generative AI becomes clear, equitable access to education and jobs remains crucial.
They’re good for our children’s health and for the environment, and transitioning away from diesel-powered buses is the fiscally conservative thing to do. Unsubstantiated claims about them only serve as political theater.
Thanks to a celebrated book, we know all about Robert Moses’ dictatorial misdeeds in New York City. But the truth is that many of his worst visions were being realized in cities across the country.
It will be the leadership of our states and cities that will have the most direct impact on the issues that animated the presidential campaign.
State constitutional amendments that voters approved in seven states on Nov. 5 also are vulnerable to federal moves that could essentially override them.
Having won a big victory, Donald Trump can claim a mandate. But recent history shows that voters punish politicians who change things too much.
Moderates have been largely squeezed out of political relevance. There is room for a new party, and it would have to start at the state level. It could bring pragmatic solutions to critical problems the major parties avoid.
An initiative to cut a carbon tax out of the Washington Climate Commitment Act was soundly rejected by voters. Gov. Jay Inslee sees the margin of defeat as an important message.
Voting and election administration became contentious topics after 2020. This time, years of preparation, efforts to improve transparency and collaboration with law enforcement helped things run smoothly.
