Governing: State and local government news and analysis
A historian makes that argument in a new book. But maybe we just don’t want — or need — to move as much as we used to.
Health departments across the country rely on manual processes, like phone calls and fax machines, to get access to crucial data, a new study finds.
The impending defeats of three big-city mayors tell us a lot about how politics have changed over the past four years. Also, Utah is giving up on universal mail voting.
The public-sector workforce is plagued with vacancies. Some states are looking to recruit former federal workers who’ve recently lost their jobs.
Republican presidents used to talk enthusiastically about empowering states and localities. That isn’t happening now.
Forests and other natural and working lands are climate-resilience allies. Managing them better offers common ground where economic growth, public safety and environmental progress align.
A state-run insurance program is running out of money following the L.A. wildfires. Lawmakers are looking for ways to shore it up as private insurers leave the state.
Legislators have gone so far as to claim it’s “a myth” that courts have the power to strike down laws. So far, however, the most aggressive proposals to strip power from judges have been defeated.
Rapid wage growth has helped drive a record number of people working in government.
Mayor Matt Mahan said too many people are dying on the streets. His proposal would push people into services after they refuse shelter three times in 18 months.
Pedestrian deaths dipped slightly in the first half of 2024. California’s 13 percent reduction in deaths accounted for most of the net decline around the country.
Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the U.S. and 80 million children. But the age and working status of recipients varies widely across the country.
Austin, Dallas, Houston and others face shortfalls. An analysis of the nation’s 75 biggest cities found that 54 are short of funds with a collective $300 billion in debt.
Legislators are expected to pass a bill this week that would take oversight of the police away from the city. That Civil War-era approach had been ended by state voters in 2012.
There's bipartisan agreement that immigration reform is essential. But mass deportation brings its own risks to communities.
Citizens in half the states have the power to place initiatives or referendums on the ballot. That process is under threat, but in an era of partisan gerrymandering and unresponsive legislatures we must keep it viable.
Police have increasingly adopted drones and ground robots to supplement their work. But departments often lack clear policies on the tools’ uses.
They can call attention to important social causes, and they can invest in their communities. They might even hold public office themselves.
The share of electricity used by data centers is projected to triple by 2028. A Harvard study warns that consumers could end up subsidizing their utility bills.
International migration drove growth in many states, notably in the Northeast. Florida grew the most, gaining just over 2 percent in overall population.
An upsurge of corporate purchases of single-family homes has sparked legislation in at least half a dozen states this year. Legislators hope to preserve homeownership as a path to building wealth for middle-class families and limit the number of properties owned by large corporations.
Former federal workers offer a range of skills and experience that we need among elected officials at every level of government.
The new law will offer families $7,000 annually per child for costs such as tuition and tutoring. It will also offer funding for pre-K costs, but only to income-qualified families.
Turner’s death comes two months into his first term representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District.
When it opens in 2028, the advanced filtration plant will supply 10 million gallons a day, the first in the country to convert wastewater directly into drinking water.
GOP Gov. Mike DeWine wants more able-bodied recipients to work to receive benefits. Such requirements in other states have been held up in court but Congress might make them universal.
The Democrat touted his experience in formally launching his bid, but many believe his tainted past and resignation as governor make him unelectable.
In his address to Congress, the president said tariffs and tax cuts would help manufacturing, farming and other sectors.
As Texas land commissioner, Dawn Buckingham controls 13 million acres. She intends to give the Trump administration as much of it as they need to secure the border.
The House and Senate are pursuing separate approaches that would offer greater relief either to homeowners or commercial properties.
