Governing: State and local government news and analysis
By most reckonings, tiny schools should be gone by now. But a few of them are hanging on in a state where the rural population has been declining for decades.
By making producers responsible for the recycling of their products, Colorado is showing the way toward improving recycling rates, reducing unnecessary packaging and lightening the burden on local governments.
In response to the pandemic, leading experts are calling for a reassessment of public health efforts. More money is only part of the solution.
Clerks have stolen an estimated $1.7 million from 17 towns in the past decade, according to audit reports and restitution orders. And the problem could be worse: 158 towns have gone more than 20 years without a full financial audit.
Corporate investment can be an economic boon to low-income communities. It can also be a cultural threat.
Congress responded to the COVID crisis by allocating unprecedented sums to help cities and states recover. Early data about how they are using the money suggests that big spends can have complications.
Recent investment losses have highlighted provisions that are missing from most municipal money management contracts: full disclosure of the downside and stronger risk controls.
Cities have been struggling with the question for decades. Some are welcoming the murals and other street painting they used to deplore. Others call it vandalism and are erasing it.
Confronting their harsh legacy, the United States has taken steps to establish a Native American Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It’s a move that’s long overdue.
Efforts like reducing carbon emissions are important to fight climate change, but cities should also be looking at how they can reinforce roads, stabilize electric grids and use new technologies to build resilient communities.
Frances Haugen, Timnit Gebru and Janneke Parrish are at the forefront of a group of high-profile women calling out big tech. Is there a connection between their gender and their role as whistleblowers?
Now a federal holiday, its roots are based in local, grass-roots celebrations dating back to the Civil War. Once nearly forgotten, the rebirth of Juneteenth speaks to America’s ongoing struggle for racial equality.
The street vendors who sell food to downtown customers are a boon to urban life. Cities ought to have more of them.
Starting in the 1990s, many cities have come back, growing in population while reducing sky-high rates of crime. A. K. Sandoval-Strausz talks about the overlooked impact of Latino immigrants on their rebirth.
The U.S. is losing 36 million trees every year. Several organizations have stepped up with creative solutions to save the wood, reduce carbon emissions and create jobs.
With billions of broadband infrastructure dollars at stake, states have to ensure that digital equity programs are sustainable long after federal money has been spent. Here’s how they can do it.
Pre-emption has been on the upswing in recent years, leaving many city leaders frustrated. Richard Schragger, author of City Power, talks about the fallout from this power struggle and how it can hurt urban growth.
It seemed we were on a path to genuine progress after the death of George Floyd, but those efforts have faded. There are things we can do to get back on track.
Federal cybersecurity grants are expected “in the coming months,” with CISA still mulling feedback and finalizing. Local governments should use the time to ensure they’re part of any state planning processes.
Consensus among the states on issues of national importance now seems as elusive as it was in the nation’s pre-Constitution days.
The congressional House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol held its first prime-time televised hearing on Thursday evening. Dismissed by critics as show trials, these hearings may test the medium’s ability to capture the nation’s attention.
For decades, states have relied on the so-called "sin tax" to fund vital social programs. If the FDA's recent proposal to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars prevails, states will need to find another funding source to keep the programs afloat.
Curtailing parking minimums represents a sweeping shift in American attitudes, swapping a glorified car culture for climate-friendly and affordable housing options.
Deaths and injuries from motor vehicle accidents were once rampant. Research showed how to decrease the number of fatal crashes and it worked. Patrick Carter believes we can achieve similar results with guns.
Long gone are the early days of digital government services, which often came with a “more is more” approach to graphic design. Mobile-first now means rethinking — and simplifying — public-sector websites.
As natural disasters grow more severe across the country, local governments are increasingly using predictive analytics to understand where and when an emergency will impact their communities.
San Francisco recalls progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Sen. Alex Padilla seem to be on a glide path to victory in November. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Latino vote.
With historic funding for badly needed projects arriving at the same time as historic shortages of construction workers, what can states do to open up the employment pipeline?
Single-room occupancy units have largely disappeared from American cities. But a Philadelphia councilmember has introduced legislation to legalize one of the most affordable forms of housing for low-income people.
It takes entrepreneurial skill to win high office, but timing may be even more important.
