Governing: State and local government news and analysis
For now, AI is helping plant operators scan through thousands of pages of compliance documents. Its uses could expand.
Cities and states battling the measles outbreak feel undermined by federal health spending cuts.
Cubans have been granted special status since the Cold War. That's suddenly changed, leading to a sense of betrayal among a staunchly Republican group.
Legal challenges, economic factors and Trump administration policies are all creating problems for commercial wind farms.
Los Angeles County has long been a governance mess. Have voters fixed it?
The median balance increased by 7 percent last year, a big comedown from 31 percent growth in 2023. Still, half the states could operate solely on rainy-day accounts for longer periods of time.
The field is now set for the governor's race, with both Democrats and Republicans nominating women. GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin is term-limited.
The New Hampshire legislature is considering dozens of policies aimed at making housing more affordable, a priority for first-year Gov. Kelly Ayotte. Some policies are gaining bipartisan support, but debates over local control still rage.
Making tips tax-free would not only lower revenues but distort the tax code.
Outdated transmission infrastructure can’t deliver the power that’s being generated. State policymakers can make it easier to build new lines and make older ones much more efficient.
Devastated by fire, then shut down by COVID-19, the school district in Paradise, Calif., has emerged as a leader in keeping homeless students in classrooms.
Atlanta is achieving notable success with its data-driven efforts to build and preserve housing, which the city sees as key to revitalizing distressed neighborhoods and confronting social challenges.
The state is losing its youthful energy, with more than 4 million people leaving for other states since the start of the century.
Colorado’s Bustang service provides links between big cities and small rural communities. Approaching its 10th birthday, it has expanded service frequencies and grown its ridership.
The high-poverty Rust Belt district is exceptional at teaching kids to read — and has been for more than a decade. Other school districts can learn from its success.
Head Start programs run on slim margins that are now threatened by Trump administration cuts, including the closure of five of the 10 regional offices that administer them.
The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program expires in September. State CIOs told a congressional subcommittee that the program is a success that should be built on, not ended.
Law enforcement has come out of a period of severe criticism with more support than ever. Departments still face many challenges though, most notably hiring enough officers.
Oregon-based Pacificorp is pushing shield bills in its home state after convincing lawmakers in three other states to offer utilities financial protection if they take preventative steps.
Philadelphia, San Francisco and Berkeley, Calif., have also banned algorithms that can lead to price-gouging, with similar proposals brewing in other major cities.
The once-derelict Motor City has turned into one of the great urban comeback stories, largely thanks to a mayor who was the right person at the right time.
If sensible ideas from a decade ago gain traction in Washington this year, they could boost U.S.-based manufacturing and international competitiveness, with a mixed impact on state and local tax revenues and policies.
The administration is shifting resources away from Housing First, the long-established approach of getting individuals into supportive housing as the first priority.
Legislators have made water a priority this session, with the state falling short of ever-increasing demand. Ideas for addressing the problem range from conservation to desalination.
Increasing demand for power is leading lawmakers to promote an energy source that's languished for decades.
San Antonio created a housing strategy that’s made it more affordable than most other large cities.
A new data dashboard from the Urban Institute fleshes out how the funding is being allocated by category and across states, counties and congressional districts.
A panel of Massachusetts energy experts discussed how the commonwealth can promote renewable energy even as the federal government pulls back on approvals and funding.
Building new highways doesn’t ultimately ease congestion. By changing behavior, reducing capacity is a better solution.
Democrats are not enjoying their time in the wilderness — or seeing a way out. At the same time, Wisconsin is now hosting the most expensive judicial race in the nation's history.
