Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Congress and some red states are pushing for work requirements but most recipients already work. Medicaid and other state programs typically don’t offer job assistance or training.
The state Senate passed a bill that falls short of proposals put forward by Gov. Mike Braun, but the Republican signaled he's open to signing it.
After a long economic slump, the post-industrial New England city is encouraging development, filling vacant properties and zoning for more housing.
Trade wars, federal aid cutbacks and IRS layoffs will all have an impact on revenues, though the shocks may not be as bad as some fear. Still, for most jurisdictions budget and staffing freezes or cuts lie ahead. But for now leaders should resist the temptation to raid rainy day funds.
Shortages are so bad in some counties that defendants have had to be released because they can’t be tried in a timely manner.
Experts argue about whether it’s mostly poor road design or dangerous drivers. But there’s no question that it’s gotten a lot riskier to travel on foot.
Makers of everything from food to hardware to components for bigger companies need a boost, which better state and local policies could provide.
The Washington state district didn’t just make students put phones away. They increased field trips and extracurricular activities, bringing chronic absenteeism down among participants by 13 percent.
A new Virginia law will allow judges to require intelligent speed assistance devices for people with repeat reckless driving offenses. Advocates are pushing for similar policies in other states.
The state recently became the first since 1980 to vote to eliminate its income tax. This will boost economic growth while removing barriers to work — and could ignite a wave of similar state-led reforms.
People want more political choices but end up defeating independent candidates. In Mississippi, single-party rule has not ended division.
The president wants to reward companies that make things in this country and punish those that don’t. This may not be enough to counter the forces that have shrunk manufacturing for decades.
The program has grown far beyond its original target populations. Congress needs to pare it back.
Proposals to cut Medicaid will not only end coverage for millions but undermine the health-care system as a whole.
Universities and colleges have historically not done well at enrolling Hispanic students. Now their continued success may depend on it.
Diverting young people who commit low-level offenses to community support programs can help them avoid incarceration down the line. Girls in particular may benefit from these tactics.
The SAVE Act threatens to block millions of Americans from voting while also imposing significant burdens on state and local election officials.
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.
