Governing: State and local government news and analysis
Five dozen Democrats left Texas Monday, hoping to block or at least stall voting legislation. It’s a tactic that doesn’t always work but does always cause a stir.
A new training program is an opportunity for lawmakers and their staffs to get up to speed so that the policies they craft address the issue in ways that don’t harm the economy.
The case of UNC and Nikole Hannah-Jones is not just about one Black journalist being treated shabbily. It illustrates the dangers of political interference and underlines the need for a more diverse workforce of educators.
Biographies play an important role in studying the full story of past Americans by exploring their successes and how they reached their goals. Here are the five elements of an excellent biography and some personal recommendations.
The federal government sent a lot of money to states to help with an anticipated COVID-related economic downturn. Turns out, states did not need that much money – but they may spend it anyway.
Housing advocates agree that California’s Project Homekey had a significant impact on the Fresno community, but there is still more that must be done to ensure all residents have safe, affordable housing options.
Are the postmodernists and critical race theorists correct when they say America and some of its founders should appear with an asterisk behind their names from now on? The legacy of the Enlightenment and the American Experiment is in the balance.
There’s plenty of demand for space in central cities. We just need to stop dictating what it can be used for.
State and local government innovation offices are neither ubiquitous nor standardized. GT talked to veterans of four such agencies to get insight on best practices, lessons learned and what’s ahead.
In 22 states, the share of renters in debt increased.
Registered apprenticeship can bridge the gap between job seekers looking for a living wage and employers who need skilled workers. The system, established during the Great Depression, is experiencing a renaissance.
State and local bans have been of some help in keeping renters in their homes, but the federal moratorium hasn't had much impact. Targeted cash relief and an abundant housing market are the best tenant protections.
Loretta Weinberg, the “Jewish grandmother” of the Garden State’s political arena, has battled with Chris Christie and Andrew Cuomo to get better transit for the common worker. Now, it’s time to say goodbye.
State laws and local practices vary widely, so the impact on budgets will defy generalizations. But it’s unlikely that rising revenues will uniformly cover impending growth in municipal costs.
Total aid ranges from about 5 percent to more than 20 percent of annual spending.
Bristol, R. I., has celebrated July Fourth for nearly 240 years, making it “The Most Patriotic Town in America.” Legendary Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci made the festivities not only historic, but infamous.
As the nation’s Independence Day approaches, a report analyzes which state is the most patriotic based upon its military and civic engagement. Montana scored the highest. Republican states are more patriotic than Democratic ones, but just barely.
Slavery was a national issue, but its legacy increasingly is being addressed by local officials. The mayors of nearly a dozen cities have pledged reparations programs.
Assuming the Supreme Court casts a hostile eye toward Roe v. Wade, abortion rights would disappear overnight in half the states.
State, local and county governments officials testified that they need continually renewed, flexible funding to fend off increasing cyber threats during a U.S. Senate hearing earlier this month.
The Big Easy isn’t the only city using chatbots to bridge equity gaps and provide more residents with the answers they seek on a 24/7 basis. Smarter chatbots are finding their places in public service.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has announced several upcoming changes to the Department of Workforce Solutions to improve technology capabilities in handling unemployment insurance claims and reducing fraud.
Braddock, Pa., is where Andrew Carnegie first mass-produced steel. The city, now one-tenth its former size, is home to a new kind of industry: robotic farms that grow greens inside buildings.
Big tech companies could soon be facing down new antitrust rules if a suite of five bills from the U.S. House gain enough support. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have voiced interest in reining in tech monopolies.
With the final CDC eviction moratorium set to expire at the end of June, three Texas families recount their experiences facing their own housing struggles over the past year.
Are the election law changes proposed in statehouses across the country really as bad as some say? An election law scholar cuts through the yelling to take a sober look at the new voting landscape.
While wealthy cities have managed to grow transit ridership, overall numbers have dropped by nearly 50 percent since 1970. The decrease in riders makes it harder for officials to support future transit investments.
Civil debate about American democracy is possible if it’s grounded in civic literacy. The new president of the Center for Civic Education says civics and constitutional education offers a chance for special unity.
Without federal help, cities in the Northeast and Midwest face heavy cost burdens to upgrade aging roads, bridges and water systems. Younger municipalities in the South and West are beginning to have similar problems.
Road reformers want to demolish aging center-city freeways to make up for old racial harms. It’s a bit of a stretch, but it may be an effective argument.
