Governing: State and local government news and analysis
A record amount of electricity came from renewable sources in 2024, with both red and blue states leading the way.
Most students in Delano, Calif., are low-income and many are English learners. A slew of support programs has raised test scores and sent them on paths to scholarships and top universities.
The two legislative chambers have passed a bill that would ban diversity efforts and faculty strikes. Critics say the bill's limits on discussions about “controversial beliefs” will stifle academic freedom.
It’s not just about the services government employees provide to residents of their states and communities. There are long-term costs for taxpayers and the economy.
Criminal justice experts say understaffing and trauma can contribute to prison violence. Mental health support and a sense of community may help.
Local governments and manufacturers need to embrace standardized firefighting equipment. Otherwise, it’s going to cost too much and isn’t going to be available when we need it.
The House and Senate passed competing bills that would end the income tax and increase gas taxes. Many differences must still be reconciled to make one version into law.
States are looking for alternate ways to fund transportation infrastructure as gas tax revenues dwindle. Despite years of study, only a few have adopted road user charges.
Americans believe that their local governments spend money more wisely than their state and federal counterparts. But forcing localities to do more with less isn’t a recipe for government efficiency.
A suite of changes passed by the legislature toughen signature requirements and raise the vote threshold for changing the state constitution to 60 percent.
HUD has warned local housing authorities that a $5 billion fund for emergency rental assistance is nearly out of cash, putting 60,000 households at risk of eviction.
Trust in local government has declined in recent years. Liberty Lake, Wash., has found ways to assure residents their voices will be heard.
Above all, staff needs support. And there are techniques for keeping violence in check. Everybody — officers, inmates and communities — benefits.
Cutting this unloved levy has again become a flashpoint in some states, once more raising difficult issues of fairness. Here’s what we can learn from decades of tax-limitation laws.
It’s often legal for officers to deceive suspects — but critics say this can lead to false confessions. Experts have mixed opinions about whether restricting the practice would affect case closure rates.
Discussions with 10 individuals about how their lives changed course as a result of school shutdowns.
A historian makes that argument in a new book. But maybe we just don’t want — or need — to move as much as we used to.
Health departments across the country rely on manual processes, like phone calls and fax machines, to get access to crucial data, a new study finds.
The impending defeats of three big-city mayors tell us a lot about how politics have changed over the past four years. Also, Utah is giving up on universal mail voting.
The public-sector workforce is plagued with vacancies. Some states are looking to recruit former federal workers who’ve recently lost their jobs.
Forests and other natural and working lands are climate-resilience allies. Managing them better offers common ground where economic growth, public safety and environmental progress align.
Republican presidents used to talk enthusiastically about empowering states and localities. That isn’t happening now.
A state-run insurance program is running out of money following the L.A. wildfires. Lawmakers are looking for ways to shore it up as private insurers leave the state.
Legislators have gone so far as to claim it’s “a myth” that courts have the power to strike down laws. So far, however, the most aggressive proposals to strip power from judges have been defeated.
Rapid wage growth has helped drive a record number of people working in government.
Mayor Matt Mahan said too many people are dying on the streets. His proposal would push people into services after they refuse shelter three times in 18 months.
Pedestrian deaths dipped slightly in the first half of 2024. California’s 13 percent reduction in deaths accounted for most of the net decline around the country.
Medicaid covers nearly half of all births in the U.S. and 80 million children. But the age and working status of recipients varies widely across the country.
Austin, Dallas, Houston and others face shortfalls. An analysis of the nation’s 75 biggest cities found that 54 are short of funds with a collective $300 billion in debt.
Legislators are expected to pass a bill this week that would take oversight of the police away from the city. That Civil War-era approach had been ended by state voters in 2012.
