Governing: State and local government news and analysis
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.
Boosted by an unprecedented infusion of federal funds, they have an opportunity to bring innovative collaborative efforts to bear on issues of economic inequality and mobility that cross jurisdictional lines.
Housing advocates want HUD to push the state’s planning board to open up housing options in the region’s more affluent suburbs and, in doing so, help tackle a growing segregation problem.
The predominantly Black college in Illinois announced they were closing their doors as a result of COVID-19 and cyber attack disruptions. Who’s next?
Wisconsin’s largest city suffers from a soaring murder rate and serious budget problems. Cavalier Johnson, the first new mayor in nearly 20 years, can’t wait to turn the city around.
The California Coastal Commission denied approval to construct a $1.4 billion plant after 20 years of debate. Gov. Newsom supported the plans, but it wasn’t enough to overcome worries about water costs and environmental damage.
Counties and their public health officials have been on the front lines of the COVID pandemic, struggling amid white-hot politics that has weakened the nation’s response. Can we do better when the next pandemic strikes?
During his presidency, Roosevelt did more to conserve America’s natural resources and its places of special beauty than any other president. He convened state executives to aid in the cause, which led him to create the NGA.
As insurance costs and requirements rise, some municipalities are looking to self-insurance and service providers’ cyber incident warranties to help in cases of ransomware and other incidents.
The Colorado River provides water and electricity to 40 million people in the western US, but falling water levels threaten both of those resources.
While the GOP struggles for its soul and debates MAGA versus RINO, Democrats are in disarray. Also, lawmakers who simply do not copy and paste legislation from other states are more likely to find success.
City centers have had a rough couple of years. But there is a way forward if they have the fortitude to take it.
As the nation approaches a grim milestone, public and political will to do much about the disease has faded. But absent health measures, the devastation could have been far worse.
Local governments and transit agencies are going to have to come up with matching funds, and to boost revenues, they’ll need to find ways to bring riders back. That will require some bold decisions.
Cities and counties are still struggling to regain pre-pandemic employment levels. New approaches to hiring and retention could help fill the gap.
To accommodate COVID restrictions, states gave restaurants permission to sell alcoholic beverages “to-go” during the pandemic. But now as life returns to normalcy, 18 states plus D.C. have made cocktails to-go permanent.
Pharmacists and pharmacist technicians have administered hundreds of millions of vaccinations during the pandemic, but federal emergency authorization for their wider role could end soon. States should make it permanent.
If autocracy is moving the world toward deglobalization, geopolitical investment principles should complement environmental, social and governance factors. There’s a lot for pension boards and investment managers to keep in mind.
Our public education system is too focused on preparing students for four-year colleges. When an auto mechanic can pull down a six-figure salary, it’s clear that career and technical education should be getting a lot more support.
Red states have filed 27 lawsuits or appeals against Biden’s immigration policies.
While most of the men have taken stands on cultural issues that reflect national GOP platforms, such as guns and abortion, there are issues they back that are distinct to the Keystone State.
Public institutions suffer when partisan drama is televised, streamed or leaked. Ill-considered legislation has to be cleaned up by the courts; confirmation processes turn dirty; and selective leaking is used to flip narrow majorities.
From becoming carbon-neutral to having net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, 21 states are making the legislative push toward cleaner energy production. But these efforts are not without substantial challenges.
Agreements negotiated a century ago to share water on Western rivers among states are showing their age in a time of water scarcity.
Levies for public transit can win at the polls when taxpayers perceive that a project benefits them. These days, properly designed bus rapid transit systems seem to have better chances than expensive light rail.
A trigger law making abortion illegal would go into effect within 30 days after the repeal of Roe v. Wade. An older law could hold people who get abortions criminally liable — but it’s unclear whether it would still apply.
Billions of dollars will soon begin to flow to state, local and tribal governments. It should be used in ways that reflect each community's needs, and we need systems of accountability.
