What has been learned about civilian oversight of law enforcement
It’s been four years since the murder of George Floyd, and while political tensions have thrown up obstacles to the approach, the experience of some cities and counties indicates it can help heal sour relations.
Airports to get $566M more for improvements
To date, nearly half of the nation’s 3,000 airports have received federal funding to upgrade aging infrastructure and expand facilities amid record-breaking air travel.
In this county, AI is its ‘institutional knowledge in a box’
The way Washoe County, Nevada, is using artificial intelligence may not be flashy or innovative, but its “boring” approach is leading to better customer service and, maybe, more transformative projects down the road.
Inflation has turned Washington state’s property tax cap into a county budget-killer
Frustrated county officials say state leaders have shunted the state’s financial burden onto local governments.
988 currently doesn't use geolocation services. Counties want to change that.
Counties are pushing for Congress to pass legislation that will require calls be routed based on location. Wireless carriers are already working with the federal government to start doing that.
Senate approves six spending bills, averts partial government shutdown
Counties praised the package for addressing Medicaid access for the incarcerated. Now, congressional negotiators turn to the remaining six spending bills, which will determine the future of internet subsidies and other significant programs.
Federal permitting hampers climate goals and natural disaster mitigation, counties say
Officials, who are calling for reforms, say environmental regulations shouldn’t lead to yearslong waits to build transmission lines or impede their ability to respond to natural disasters.
FAA boosts airport infrastructure with nearly $1B in grants
The money, which is part of the 2021 federal infrastructure law, will help airports accommodate more passengers, make their facilities more accessible to people with disabilities and prepare for climate change.
County officials lobby for internet subsidies
The FCC is currently turning away hundreds of thousands seeking assistance. If Congress doesn’t soon approve more funding, rural and urban county officials warn, millions will be plunged into “digital darkness.”
The U.S. Supreme Court Could Upend Local Property Tax Laws
The justices heard a case last week on a Minnesota county's profit on a seized condo. A ruling could change property seizure programs nationwide.
State & Local Roundup: Top Counties Return to Pre-pandemic Populations
Plus: Seattle gig workers get paid sick leave; Chicago and Wisconsin go to the polls; California’s insulin experiment hits a bump; Big gaps in electric vehicle ownership; and more news you can use from around the country.
America’s Massive Gap Providing Mental Health Services
Counties are pushing Congress to help fix the problem, which is especially bad in rural communities. But whether lawmakers will do so as part of upcoming budget legislation is unclear.
In a Rural Corner of the West, a Local Level Push to Revive Passenger Rail
Cuts in the late 1970s ended Amtrak service across southern Montana. Now, a county-led coalition wants to bring it back.
America’s Election Systems are More Than Just Machines
COMMENTARY | They’re people, who are overworked, underpaid and feeling pressured.
Local Election Officials Brace for Possible Violence and Threats
With worries over armed poll “monitors,” voter intimidation and risks to staff, some are coordinating with law enforcement or conducting special training ahead of Election Day.
Trump Allies Have Interviewed Nearly 200 Election Officials to Probe for Weaknesses
Volunteers for “Operation Eagles Wings” are using surveys in eight states to seek support for conspiracy theories.
Texas AG Says Counties Can Spend Covid Relief Funds on Extra Pay for Elected Officials Without Public Notice
The nonbinding legal opinion states local elected and appointed officials can receive up to $25,000 for work done during the Covid-19 pandemic on top of their regular salaries. Unlike other pay raises, these “premium pay” bonuses don’t need to be declared to the public ahead of time.
One County’s Solution to Controversial Confederate Road Names: Switch to Numbers
But dissenters argue it’s all part of a plot to erase their Confederate heroes from history.
A New Mexico Official Who Joined the Capitol Attacks is Barred From Politics
COMMENTARY | The little-known law behind the removal has some potential pitfalls for democracy.
It’s Time for Congress to Step Up Its Support for Public Lands Counties
COMMENTARY | Local governments with huge swaths of federal land make important contributions to the nation’s economy, but also face unique challenges. Lawmakers should act to shore up the programs they depend on.
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