Governing: State and local government news and analysis
With government workers’ pay raises lagging the private sector’s, state and local officials will need to navigate through different measures of inflation to fairly calibrate wage and pension increases.
Baltimore’s free ferry system gets commuters and others where they need to go.
Manufactured homes, which are less expensive and faster to construct because they’re built on an assembly line, could help resolve the nation’s housing crisis. America is short 3.8 million housing units by some estimates.
As climate change brings longer periods of hot weather, the associated heat-related health risks also increase. While being in air conditioning is the simplest way to prevent heat illness and death, access to cool air isn't equitable.
After several years of pushing, the Phoenix Fire Department has officially launched its unmanned aircraft, or drone, systems program, laying the policy and best practices groundwork for other city departments to follow suit.
Lawmakers are seeking to downplay the role that slavery played in the development of the United States, but history tells a different story.
The economy keeps adding them by the hundreds of thousands. But those big numbers don’t tell the whole story.
A play written by New Mexico state Sen. Bill O’Neill experiments with a partisan taboo in hopes of bolstering collaboration, as the nation’s political climate has become increasingly divided over the last decade.
Though roughly two dozen cities have appointed food policy directors at the local level, an estimated 53.6 million people still live outside an easy walk or drive to a full-service supermarket.
Removing highways is a tricky business, a costly and time-consuming physical feat, but advocates say even a small commitment to addressing the harms of legacy highway infrastructure is a positive sign.
Tens of millions of Americans now work remotely on a full-time basis. Relocation incentives are helping to redefine the concept of “suburb.”
An apology by public officials would be the first step toward acknowledgment of government’s role in the sins of our past and the effects that linger today. And it would be the start of racial healing.
Tulsa has long relied on oil and gas to fuel its economy. It's created a tech and entertainment ecosystem that turned out to be a perfect fit for the era of remote work.
The U.S needs defined metrics and more data about cyber happenings across the nation, experts say. Otherwise, it’ll struggle to understand which practices and policies are most effective and where to invest more heavily.
Unlike many serious urban problems, this one is eminently solvable. There’s a growing body of useful research of what works to operate a well-functioning transit system.
Most bridges aren’t built offsite and then moved to where they need to be. But that’s what happened in Detroit with an unusual infrastructure project that also called for saving an iconic music recording studio.
With confidence in election outcomes at an all-time low, where is the evidence that election officials have used their authority to interfere with America’s democratic process?
Higher ed’s complex array of systems creates a large attack surface, and institutions are likely to pay ransom. Meanwhile, K-12 schools struggle with cyber staffing but more often resist extortion, a global report finds.
Arizona, Colorado and Nevada are projected to grow by 30 percent or more by 2060, raising fears that demands for water will outstrip supply. Possible fixes include restricting water use and building new pipelines.
Inside politics: Key governor contests are set with abortion as the central issue; a defense of state Senates puts the focus on Nebraska; and, once again, a big number of legislators are facing no competition in elections.
There are time-tested and newer interventions that have a track record of success. All of them are within the power of local officials and policymakers.
New incentives included in the Manchin-Schumer “Inflation Reduction Act” could help overcome range anxiety and cost concerns. Meanwhile, states are submitting plans to spend millions of federal dollars on EV charging networks.
It can happen anywhere, and it will fall to the mayor to be the “communicator in chief,” setting the tone for the traumatized community’s immediate response and long-term recovery. The time to prepare is now, and resources are available.
Half a decade after it first proposed the rule, the federal government could soon require states to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. But questions remain about its impact.
Clickbait headlines aside, there's little evidence that most Americans expect that it will take violence to settle our differences. And there's plenty of evidence that most favor compromise, common ground and progress.
A long-running lawsuit alleging collusion in the securities lending industry may be heading for class-action status. That could be a big deal not only for pension funds nationwide but also for the future of a $2.5 trillion marketplace.
Two states are leading the way in training and accountability guidance and policies aiming to prevent tragedy and trauma. Arrest should be viewed as the least desirable outcome.
Kansans have seen a long history of battles over abortion. The question may be settled on Tuesday, when voters could approve an amendment that would allow a ban.
Without both, a new book argues, a community can’t achieve its highest purpose. Some cities and suburbs have managed to combine them. Most are finding it difficult.
The offshore wind industry is expected to grow exponentially in the near future, pushed by federal and state mandates to increase offshore wind capacity. Many states also see the potential economic returns of the growing industry.
