California
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.
How states can tackle vaccine hesitancy with data
From school safety to 'Tis the Sneezin’ public health campaigns, states are using public, local vaccination data to help people make better choices.
The right to repair electronics is now law in 3 states. Is Big Tech complying?
You're legally entitled to fix your own gadgets in California, Minnesota, and New York — but not all tech companies have gotten the memo.
Voters will decide minimum wage ballot measures in several states
Measures focused on workers who earn tips and on paid leave have drawn more opposition.
How California crafts a public-sector skills-based employment ecosystem
COMMENTARY | An enterprise statewide employment network should make public sector recruitment better and more efficient.
Few states require foster homes to respect LGBTQ youths' identities
The lack of explicit anti-discrimination policies around gender and sexuality can have dire consequences for children and teens, advocates say.
Hawaii is the first state where Medicaid covers comprehensive palliative care. That's good news for older adults.
Now six other states are considering increasing coverage for palliative care, which generally serves patients with pain or other symptoms from serious illnesses.
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This commuter rail agency just went electric
Caltrain is ditching most of its diesel trains between San Francisco and San Jose, a switch that will bring modern amenities and shorter trips to Bay Area residents. But it also lays the groundwork for high-speed rail along the route in the future.
California’s aging population is on the front lines of extreme heat
By the end of this decade, 10.8 million Californians — or one quarter of the state’s population — will be over 60 years old. That could change the way the state prepares for rising temperatures.
States could struggle to cut workforce costs in next downturn
It's a well-worn script. When states face budget challenges, they typically look to cut personnel spending first. But that might not work this time.
Extreme heat is making schools hotter—and learning harder
Rising temperatures mean dehydrated, exhausted kids, and teachers who have to focus on heat safety instead of instruction.
Western cities won the right to clear homeless encampments—but will they use it?
California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued an executive order encouraging cities to “move with urgency” to clear out camps. The move, which is at odds with others in the West, follows a Supreme Court ruling in June.
A California medical group treats only homeless patients—and makes money doing it
Since its launch three years ago, Healthcare in Action has cared for about 6,700 homeless patients and has placed about 300 people into permanent or temporary housing.
In an era of dam removal, California is building more
Project boosters claim the dams will be the most environmentally focused dams in California’s history, with water earmarked for environmental purposes and minimum flow requirements for the Sacramento River.
Mapping clean air centers to protect residents against wildfire risks
As wildfire smoke or poor air quality descends upon California residents, officials hope a data map will help them find pockets of fresh air across the state.
Zoning reform made way for an explosion of smaller homes in California. Will it work elsewhere?
Encouraged by California’s success, states across the country are passing laws to allow for more accessory dwelling units to address a shortage of affordable homes. But a slew of factors can keep the housing solution from taking off.
High-speed rail needs national direction to get rolling, report says
A New York University professor emphasizes the need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts—or, in this case, the rail profiles and cross ties—of high-speed rail projects to keep costs down and construction on time.
