Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Disjointed data systems are failing to identify and address disparities along the pre-K-to-work continuum. Two states are leading the way in building effective systems, and a new resource can help governments use data to inform student success strategies.
Newport News, one of the nation's oldest cities, has one of its youngest mayors.
Millions of households still get their drinking water from lead service lines. Federal money is available to replace the pipes, but in allocating the funds, it’s important for states to prioritize marginalized communities.
Designed to be the crown jewel of the Hudson Yards development, a 150-foot-tall collection of 154 interconnected staircases known as the Vessel remains off limits.
The hands of the Doomsday Clock now stand at 90 seconds to midnight — the closest to global nuclear catastrophe it has ever been. Against that backdrop, the United States still struggles with its own nuclear history.
From claims about an "Agenda 21" to attacks on 15-minute cities, a range of conspiracy theories have taken aim at progressive ideas around urban mobility and city design.
They want to hold the major oil companies responsible for the costs of responding to disasters that scientists are increasingly able to attribute to climate disruption and tie back to the fossil fuel industry.
Data exchange between states, hospitals and the CDC increased temporarily during the pandemic. The public health community wants this to mark the turning point in achieving a permanent national system.
Governments have more than a million job vacancies. Many of those positions need the kind of problem-solving that tech workers are likely to embrace and excel at.
A debt-ceiling breach would cost states in terms of revenue, pension investment losses and increased borrowing costs. Even a fix at this point will likely lead to cuts in federal grants.
In a legislative first, the Land of Enchantment has committed to an earth-bound scent.
The more than 1.6 million preventable deaths of Black Americans documented in a new study reflect racism and discrimination in housing, education, employment and health care. We have the money and the means to do something about it.
Revenues are slowing but lawmakers, at least in red states, have continued to enact major tax cuts this year.
Popularly referred to as “the eighth wonder of the world,” the bridge was, at the time of its construction, the largest suspension bridge in the world. Today, it connects New Yorkers with their past and each other.
Smart Growth America is restarting its annual reports on the best policies to promote safe and accessible streets. Howard County, Md., got a perfect 100.
It’s a trend that started before the pandemic, and it isn’t slowing down, thanks in part to hefty price increases for housing.
Traditional approaches to the kinds of complex issues governments face stymie creative work. Houston has been making significant progress on reducing homelessness with a process of bridge building among stakeholders.
Income tax and sales tax revenue projections are slipping. State and local policymakers need to avoid fiscal giveaways and gimmicks, and they need to beware of potential federal aid clawbacks.
The Mississippi city's Mayor Toby Barker recalls the highs and lows of navigating COVID-19's delta and omicron waves.
Too many election administrators and polling-place workers are the subject of harrassment, threats and even violence, and they’re quitting in droves. If we don’t protect them, who is going to be left to work our elections?
Though Black people only make up 5 percent of the state’s population, they accounted for 21 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2021, a disparity fueled by discrimination, community distrust and lack of access.
The origins of the sixth president’s pathetic quest for greatness and his sacrifice of happiness during a lifetime of service.
One-quarter of adults in the United States have some kind of disability. Are government agencies doing enough to serve their citizens equally — and ensure their safety in emergency situations?
Turnover is increasing and gender gaps are barely budging, but accurately assessing the consequences remains a challenge.
Election administrators are still digging out from the mountains of misinformation from the 2020 election cycle. Bad actors are using AI to ramp up for the next one. Can AI help level the playing field for the good guys?
Attracting more people with four-year degrees — and more women — into policing is likely to produce better outcomes. Among other things, they are less likely to draw complaints and use force.
Two former Republican governors are already running and a handful more could still announce their candidacy. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence will make political ads even worse and does the Supreme Court even care about corruption?
New federal guidelines make it clear that new hazard mitigation plans should factor in the likelihood of extreme weather events. Here are four recommendations for preparing for the future impacts.
"Trash Walker" Anna Sacks finds treasure in her neighborhood's refuse and shares the discoveries with her 400,000 online followers. She is part of a growing trend of "zero wasters" who patrol the city's streets.
On Tuesday, Democrats held onto control of the Pennsylvania House, while robbing Republicans of two of their major local offices. However, the GOP is solidly behind its candidate in the year's key race for governor.
