Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Republican and Democratic states aren’t exactly sure what they are for, but they know what they’re against.
Local governments could turn to special assessment districts to cost-effectively assure safety improvements, bypassing occupants’ foot-dragging and dysfunctional homeowners’ associations.
There is a growing movement for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour to help reduce stress on low-wage workers. But a new report reveals that a $15 hourly wage isn’t always livable.
Unlike last year, kids will be in classrooms almost everywhere. Politics will interfere with safety measures to protect them against the delta variant, notably mask mandates.
Online medical services are cheaper to deliver than in-person care, but legislatures are mandating reimbursement at the same rates. It’s costly for taxpayers and patients, and it stifles innovation.
The laws prohibit fast-food chains from terminating, suspending or reducing employees’ hours by more than 15 percent without evidence of demonstrated misconduct or poor performance, or without a bona fide economic reason.
The field of 46 candidates includes GOP politicians, a reality TV personality, a YouTuber, a retired detective, a cannabis advocate, several business owners and even a New Age shaman.
It has taken steps to give local policymakers more control over the allocation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccinations, while setting national policies to hasten the availability of vaccines.
A new report ranked which states have the best and worst K-12 public school systems in the nation; Massachusetts came in the top spot. On average, blue states ranked higher than red.
Compared to other forms of transit, public buses are cheap, flexible and plentiful. But policymakers aren’t that interested in buses, and ridership is declining. It’s a problem that needs fixing, argues Steven Higashide.
Judges shouldn’t hear cases involving their campaign donors. Though some lawmakers are addressing the issue, only a few states have ethics rules that require judges to avoid hearing such cases.
Photojournalist David Kidd has traveled to nearly every state in the union while on assignment. His keen interest in American history has led to some interesting and unique discoveries about the nation’s past.
Small businesses need affordable commercial space. Federal stimulus funds offer the chance for local governments to get involved in a variety of ways — including becoming landlords themselves.
“We’re saying we cannot negotiate with you. It’s not legal for us to pay anything.”
Dangerous policies and practices are sidelining public health evidence and authority. With COVID-19 cases and deaths surging, public leaders need to support the experts, tune out the anti-science chorus and encourage vaccinations.
Water may be among the least cyber-defended critical infrastructure sectors. Keeping it safe may include channeling more funds and training to tiny agencies and establishing voluntary guidelines.
Intentional or not, untrue information propagating on the Internet threatens democratic institutions and the public good. Emerging tech tools aim to help government combat the threat.
After years of relative quiet, Republican lawmakers have successfully pushed abortion bans, voting restrictions, tax cuts, religious freedom and school choice.
When public officials use words like “black” and “white,” they need to keep in mind the color bias of language and do what they can to eliminate it.
As drought grips most of California, water thefts have increased to record levels. Thieves tap into hydrants, pump water from rivers and break into remote water stations and tanks.
New Yorkers relied on street vendors during the pandemic, but as the city reopens, those essential workers are once again being fined.
While the rest of the developed world has made progress in reducing the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles, America continues to move in the wrong direction. Author Angie Schmitt talks about root causes and solutions.
Over-reliance on fees, fines and forfeitures drives a wedge between police and the communities they serve. It's detrimental to both crime-solving and the profession of law enforcement.
States like Arizona and Texas have positioned themselves as hubs for autonomous vehicle testing and deployments, in part, by creating regulatory landscapes that are easy for new companies to navigate.
The technology is taking root in the region, with states like Wyoming and Colorado opening doors to developers and agencies. But potential technical and regulatory barriers need to be addressed.
Washington is sending cities a gigantic fiscal gift. They have to produce results. The danger is that the money will be squandered. Republicans are watching all that generosity with skepticism.
The mayor of St. Louis only has weak official powers. Tishaura Jones says she won't let that stop her from reshaping the city.
In deploying the National Guard to the southwest border and with other actions, several Republican governors are illustrating the impact states can have on federal policies.
The state capital has a modest-sized transit system, so taking out the farebox during the pandemic was easy and so far everyone likes the outcome. But making free bus service financially sustainable could be harder.
The concept that everything should be within a short walk or bike ride keeps coming up, but making it a reality raises challenging questions.
