Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Conservatives backed criminal justice reforms in hopes of driving down corrections costs and state budgets. A lot of violent and repeat offenders would have to be released to achieve real savings.
Nationally, fourth grade students’ reading scores have been sliding for a long time. But in the past five years, Louisiana has seen strong improvements.
The cost of housing is one big barrier to family formation. But simply building more single family homes isn't the answer.
It’s not yet clear how much financial support states can expect from a reimagined FEMA. A new analysis of past costs sheds light on the gaps they might have to fill.
Education technology has a history of failure. It will take years — and a lot of humility, experimentation and assessment — to learn whether artificial intelligence’s classroom benefits outweigh its negative effects.
The shutdown has caused flight delays across the country. But some rural areas are at risk of losing flight service altogether.
Short-term interest rates are likely to continue ratcheting down, making it a challenge for state and local financiers to maximize income on investments. But there are a few opportunities here and there.
It’s likely the result of confusion about how questions are asked. In reality, people almost universally condemn it.
A stretch of a historic highway in Lancaster, Calif., was transformed from a semi-freeway through town to an inviting space for residents and passersby to linger and connect.
What’s happened in Wyoming illustrates how closed primary elections shut too many voters out of the electoral process, intensify political polarization and raise important questions about funding these elections.
Federal funding is a bigger share of state budgets than ever. It comes with too many strings and strictures that choke off efficiency and innovation, and it threatens democratic self-governance.
Several Democratic governors have threatened to leave the National Governors Association, a 117-year old bipartisan group, amid tensions over the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to Democratic cities.
Economists hate it, but imposed in moderation it isn’t automatically ruinous. Meat-ax approaches like Zohran Mamdani’s in New York City might appeal to the voters, but they risk doing more harm than good.
The life of the former Atlanta mayor, congressman and U.N. ambassador hasn’t been without its contradictions, but today’s leaders can learn a lot from his decades of courageous leadership.
Los Angeles CIO Ted Ross faces many challenges, including a substantially reduced staff, but manages to revamp entire city functions nonetheless.
More industries are showing interest in this age-old pathway to well-paying, high-demand jobs. States have a role to play in accelerating its expansion.
Sandy Stimpson is retiring as mayor of Mobile, Ala., after 12 years. He has helped stabilize the city’s finances and coordinate major infrastructure and economic development projects.
California state Sen. Scott Wiener and a group of advocates spent seven years pushing a bill to promote dense housing near transit stops. It finally became law.
When police or other agencies face major lawsuits, figuring out how to fund settlements can be difficult.
Clear, consistent planning and messaging helped New Rochelle, N.Y., build thousands of housing units with minimal blowback.
The commonwealth was recognized on Forbes’ list of best employers, a sign that efforts may be paying off.
Taxpayers must be protected from unchecked growth in local government spending. Statewide limits on tax increases would do that while forcing local governments to live within their means.
The assistance program is a shell of its former self, with caseloads down and millions of poor families receiving no help.
Americans have always feared crowding and congestion, blaming the anonymity of the city for a decline in community feeling. But cities’ energy and vitality continue to pull people toward urban life.
Modern multifamily buildings are far safer than those built long ago. It’s another reason for policymakers to remove regulatory barriers to constructing them.
In Virginia, lottery income funds about 10 percent of the K-12 budget. Economic fears are leading residents to play less.
Governments are paying out billions to settle thousands of claims. There is no substitute for justice, but keeping the abuse from happening in the first place would be far more cost-effective.
Geothermal energy is a reliable, low-emission power source that can repurpose abandoned oil and gas wells. New engineering techniques are attracting rising levels of investment.
A new law in New Jersey requires cities to plan for a share of the state’s housing needs. The Republican candidate for governor is tapping into local frustration about it.
As the technology transforms service delivery, it’s essential to balance innovation, risk and public trust.
