The failed promise of independent election mapmaking
In Washington and other states, independent redistricting commissions have fallen prey to partisanship, just like the legislative bodies they were meant to replace.
San Antonio plans to tackle violence with a public health approach. Here’s what that looks like.
Several cities use the "beyond-policing" approach that aims to reduce gun-related violence, sexual assaults and other crimes against people.
It’s easy to lose sight of the root cause of the housing crisis
It’s not big investors, luxury developers or federal mortgage programs that are most responsible for driving up housing costs.
‘Super mayor’ goes viral amid salary ordinance controversy
Tiffany Henyard, the mayor and supervisor of two suburbs in Illinois, spearheaded a bill reducing a potential successor’s salary if she loses her 2025 reelection bid. It’s the latest in a long line of alleged misdeeds by the charismatic and controversial political figure.
Some cities see migrants as a ‘lifeline.’ Policy could follow, experts say.
Feds should help new arrivals settle in the places that would welcome them, a new report says.
Which states will join the new summer meal program for low-income kids? Here’s the list.
Thirty-five states are participating in the 2024 launch of a program that will provide low-income families $40 per child for groceries during the summer months when schools are not in session.
How many of your state’s lawmakers are women? If you live in the southeast, it could be just 1 in 5.
A record number of women were elected to statehouses last year. But in the Southeast, where some legislatures are more than 80% male, representation is lagging as lawmakers pass bills that most impact women, like near-total abortion bans.
The U.S. Supreme Court weighs several gun right cases
But a decision in one would strike down a nearly 30-year-old federal law as well as state laws in 46 states and Washington, D.C.
Gen Z and millennials have an unlikely love affair with their local libraries
Though they’re sometimes characterized as attention-addled homebodies, younger people see a real value in libraries − one that goes beyond books.
Federal rule forces oil states to cut planet-warming methane emissions
Some states say the new regulation is too heavy a lift.
States increasingly join the land use reform rodeo
For a long time housing-related land use issues have been primarily dealt with at the local level, but that’s changing as a case in Montana shows.
Are ski mask bans a crime-fighting solution? Some cities say yes.
Philadelphia is the latest city to prohibit ski masks in some public areas, but there is little research supporting the strategy.
Mayors push for Congress to address the migrant crisis
But could the partisan debate over the border derail funding to cities and efforts to avert a government shutdown?
Voters don’t always have final say—state legislatures and governors are increasingly undermining ballot measures that win
COMMENTARY | Election year 2024 will see citizen initiatives on the ballot across the country, some focused on abortion rights. But there’s a growing trend of lawmakers altering initiatives after they have passed.
Preparing for climate change risks to the 2024 elections
COMMENTARY | A natural disaster could quickly overwhelm a voting district and render prior planning moot, so officials should plan and practice how they will conduct elections in the wake of a disaster that displaces voters, destroys blank ballots or damages election equipment.
Do land-use reforms spur housing development? You betcha.
After years of adjusting land-use regulations, Minneapolis boosted its housing stock by 12%, while rents grew at just 1%. Meanwhile, the rest of Minnesota increased its stock by 4% as rents rose 14%.
Most people dropped in Medicaid ‘unwinding’ never tried to renew coverage, Utah finds
Medicaid officials in Utah conducted a survey to answer a burning question in health policy: What happened to people dropped from the program in the post-pandemic "unwinding"?
Migrant fight expands to suburbs, could force federal shutdown
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s actions are drawing more state and local leaders into debates over caring for migrants, while House Republicans target the Biden administration on border security. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
State elections board debates using race as a criterion in signature verification pilot
A North Carolina pilot program looks to verify mailed ballots using a signature-matching software after a debate over using race to ensure diversity.
States begin tapping Medicaid dollars to combat gun violence
Despite national homicide rates declining, some cities still see violence prevail. And with the number of gun purchases at a historical high in the U.S., states are turning to Medicaid funding to support violence prevention programs.
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