California
Self-driving cars aren’t here yet, but states are getting the rules ready
New laws aim to address safety, liability concerns.
A ballot measure on Medicaid funding is poised to pass. Some say it could do more harm than good.
Proposition 35 would change how California funds its public health insurance program to address health care shortages in the state.
Emails reveal how health departments struggle to track human cases of bird flu
Farm owners' resistance to tracking human bird flu infections is creating significant gaps in disease surveillance. But forcing farmers to submit to testing could reignite a backlash against public health efforts.
More states ban PFAS, or forever chemicals, in more products
In total this year, at least 16 states adopted 22 PFAS-related measures.
We know widening highways leads to more traffic. Why do we do it anyway?
More lanes, more pain—a researcher unravels the persistent myth of easier commutes.
Biden administration doles out $4.2 billion for big-ticket infrastructure projects
A new Boston rail bridge, a California high-speed rail station, electric dock equipment in Miami and a safer highway interchange in Iowa are among the 44 projects selected for funding.
School choice questions dominate November ballot propositions
Measures in Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska are among 11 ed-related issues on the ballot. Others address facility upgrades, school board partisanship.
Millions of aging Americans are facing dementia by themselves
At least 4.3 million people 55 or older who have cognitive impairment or dementia live alone in the United States, according to estimates from University of California-San Francisco research.
Weeks before the election, and some states still don't know who's allowed to vote
A blizzard of GOP lawsuits and the devastation of two hurricanes are complicating plans for administering the 2024 general election.
California inspired a wave of plastic bag bans—with an unfortunate loophole
The Golden State finally fixed its ban last month, but at least five other states still allow the distribution of extra-thick "reusable" plastic bags.
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California’s rent control ballot measure could reverberate across the US
Proposition 33 would allow cities to limit rent increases. Some economists doubt that’s a good idea.
Hungry for affordable housing, communities turn to land trusts
The old-school approach is garnering renewed interest amid a nationwide housing crisis. The model promises permanently affordable housing.
Ballots in two cities aim to keep soda taxes from falling flat
Taxing sugary drinks can raise cities’ revenue and improve people’s health, according to research. But state restrictions and industry pushback have stalled such taxes. Can two ballot measures change that?
As wildfires burn throughout the West, officials are turning to AI
In California, fire officials began using artificial intelligence last year to scan cameras for smoke.
As deadly bird collisions with buildings mount, cities look for solutions
Big buildings with glass facades are becoming notorious for deadly crashes, claiming a billion birds a year. Some want to do something about it.
Inside the tricky politics of special legislative sessions
Governors in several states are trying to get their priorities passed before the November election.
Humans of Public Service inspires a new generation of government employees
About 850,000 state and local jobs went unfilled last year, as public agencies struggle to find workers. This nonprofit is using social media to entice them.
Governments often struggle with massive new IT projects
Culture, bureaucracy and serving a broad patchwork of agencies can make a comprehensive technology update a challenge, experts say.
State dam safety programs could get new look after summer storms
The pressure is on aging dams as climate change fuels more intense weather, but it often takes high-profile incidents to focus lawmakers and other officials on the problem.
Oakland’s new school buses don’t just reduce pollution—they double as giant batteries
A new fleet of buses can send power back to the grid, stabilizing it instead of straining it.
