Governing: State and local government news and analysis
The small Illinois town of 6,000 has a giant statue, a museum and an annual celebration linking the Man of Steel with the namesake fictional city where he battled for truth, justice and the American way.
There’s increasing evidence that low-density zoning codes can restrict the nation’s housing supply, but it’s not easy to see how this plays out in every community. A national atlas of zoning codes could help change that.
Conservatives have targeted District Attorney Chesa Boudin, blaming him for the city's theft and murder rates. It's a sign that a public weary of crime may be growing dubious about reform.
Mayfield was devastated last December when a tornado ripped through Western Kentucky. New homes are starting to spring up, though, and the city's got big plans for reshaping itself.
One year after the Colonial Pipeline hack — and the IST Ransomware Task Force's report — attacks remain frequent. But government is making strides and recognizing the issue as a national security matter.
With primary season underway, our resident historian examines the origins and role of primary elections in American politics and the intensification of American partisanship.
Watchers of micromobility are seeing closer partnerships and collaborations between scooter and bike-share operators and other providers of mobility services such as public transit and ride-hailing.
Ken Paxton shows how it's done. Meanwhile, five Michigan candidates for governor are disqualified for submitting forged signatures and a reminder why it's so hard to beat incumbents.
The most devastating school shooting in decades is prompting calls for Congress to act on gun control. State leaders don’t have to wait.
The president's party always loses seats in midterms. This year, just about everything — fundraising, voter enthusiasm, demographic shifts, the issues mix — is going the right way for Republicans.
Some states have responded with restrictions, but many more have loosened requirements. Dan Malloy, governor of Connecticut during Sandy Hook, reflects on how he was able to get a gun-safety law passed.
The effort caught national attention, but the real story is the rest of the package of land use reforms that the city council passed to open up the housing market. However, opposition to further reform is growing.
A young state lawmaker’s life, dedicated to helping the most needy, was cut short by a white supremacist in a Charleston church. What happened there, in Buffalo and elsewhere is symbolic of a society corroding from inside out.
Despite often winning a majority of votes, the Democratic Party is at an electoral disadvantage in legislatures that appears to be worsening. Author Jonathan Rodden explains the current problem and why national reform is unlikely.
George Washington and John Adams were no fans of the Boston Tea Party, but the disruptive protest has endured as a prime example of how some Americans will express their desire for change.
Issues ranging from severe paper shortages to cyber threats and disinformation are looming ahead of the 2022 elections, threatening voter confidence. Officials shared their concerns with members of the U.S. Senate May 19.
Rising interest rates have triggered substantial market losses from Golden State treasurers’ untimely investments of idle cash. It’s time for reforms wherever similar portfolios are now bleeding red ink.
Schools have a big impact on everything else. A new analysis can help metro areas benchmark themselves and learn what works to build quality into K-12 education.
States keep trying to rein in the offensive language people want to affix to their cars, but issues of free speech come up again and again. What are reasonable societal boundaries?
The federal government’s historic investment in broadband could fall short of its goals if it doesn’t improve digital skills. A leading expert explains the importance of digital human capital.
A leading observer reminds us that the war is also a cultural and religious one. He cautions the U.S. not to underestimate the risk it’s taking nor overestimate its support from the international community.
Despite a series of federal measures requiring greater efforts to preserve family unity, many policies make life harder for people swept up in the system.
The Justice in Forensic Algorithms Act aims to ensure that when algorithmic analyses are used as evidence in court, defendants get to know how the tools reached their conclusions and allow them to contest the results.
Extreme weather events, water scarcity, risks of illness: Climate change is here, and it’s already affecting Texans.
Nearly 35 states have ended their health emergency declarations, which have given governors authority to mandate pandemic mitigation measures, and most of those remaining are set to expire before August.
The famous road in Austria’s capital is a masterpiece of monumental design. But it’s no model for American planners to emulate.
Urban residents know about the housing-related problems that hurt their city, from overcrowding to redlining. What if they had a visual display of where things are worst?
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law gave the Department of Energy billions to invest in clean hydrogen hubs. There’s broad agreement hydrogen is needed for the energy transition, but not about how it should be produced and used.
In Idaho, one of the most conservative states in the nation, GOP voters largely backed incumbent Brad Little for governor. Progressives in Oregon now represent the mainstream, but a moderate Republican can still win.
The result highlights extremist tendencies growing within the Republican Party, which may boost the general election prospects for Attorney General Josh Shapiro who won the Democratic nomination for governor.
