Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Two years ago, lawmakers in the Big Sky State passed one of the most comprehensive state-level housing reform packages in the country. This year, they doubled down on their success.
Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, has presided over major changes in areas including education, taxes, immigration and economic growth. He discusses his legacy even as he gears up for a fourth term.
No matter where they end up, import taxes aren’t likely to drive inflation enough to have much effect on state or local tax revenues. Public financiers have more to think about amid federal aid cutbacks, AI's impact on employment and rate-cutting by the Fed.
The president’s deployment of the military to our cities undermines a critical constitutional safeguard for democracy. Just look at what’s happened in some other countries.
Even during a time of inflation, there are ways to relieve financial pressures on families.
Cities and counties are asking Congress to include more direct funding for local projects in the next transportation bill. States are fighting to protect existing formulas.
Seeing an absence of strong national leadership on education reform, the Fordham Institute’s Michael J. Petrilli investigated the difference between red and blue state approaches.
Seattle looks likely to reject a mayor yet again, while San Francisco voters are poised to recall a local supervisor.
Colorado will no longer allow donors of sperm or eggs to remain anonymous. Georgia recently guaranteed adoptees the right to see their original birth certificates.
California is considering a slew of bills that would penalize smaller companies and squash intervention. Congress should step in.
The judgments we make about them can be difficult to shake, even when their reality has changed a lot.
There are plenty of strategies that have proven effective at dramatically reducing crime. Sending soldiers into the streets of our cities isn’t one of them.
Akron, Ohio, reopened a major downtown park after a $17 million renovation last year, part of a strategy to promote downtown growth by investing in public spaces.
By tying payments for services to results, a successful program in Anchorage demonstrates the impact of a data-driven focus on accountability.
SEPTA is cutting service and hiking fares amid a budget stalemate in the Pennsylvania legislature. The fight is highlighting regional fault lines.
Los Angeles County’s voters have demonstrated what a powerful tool these local constitutions are for self-governance. Home rule fosters experimentation — and a feisty and irreplaceable resilience.
Floods are frequent, unpredictable and expensive. Fremont, Calif., is one of the first cities to secure flood insurance designed using AI.
Trump’s vow to get rid of mail voting may be aimed at blue states, but it’s been gaining popularity among GOP voters. And it would almost certainly be unconstitutional.
State and local governments depend on federal data for everything from community planning to disaster response. What happens if it goes away?
One of the hurricane's most important lessons isn’t about storm preparations — it’s about injustice. Communities should build disaster resilience across the entire population, focusing aid where people need it the most.
Cities and states scrambled to house homeless people in hotels and motels during the emergency phase of the pandemic. Many communities still find it’s a good model.
From serious discussions about crime and transit to acting silly with kids, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther spent a day doing outreach and learning.
The Trump administration is planning a drastic rewrite of environmental policy. Will that happen?
Are vehicles like private equity, crypto and real estate a good fit for 401(k)-style public retirement plans — or too risky for savers? Marketers will soon be pitching these “alternative investments” to public employers. Prudence dictates caution.
Federal lawmakers are expected to return to the idea, despite cutting it from the budget reconciliation bill.
Small colleges in small towns are up against stiff odds. But some are finding ways to thrive.
Cuts in funding don’t change counties’ obligations to their residents. They will have to figure out how to raise new revenue, cut services or both. But success in navigating this new landscape won’t come from austerity alone.
There was a time when mid-decade redistricting was common. Such efforts often backfired, which is why the practice remains rare.
Water system experts say current treatment methods are effective at getting PFAS out of drinking water — but that the price of installing and maintaining treatment-equipped systems can be steep.
It undermines the effort to see what’s really working in government and what’s not.
