Equity
See how your state uses zoning codes to control land use
A newly expanded online tool makes it easier for policymakers and the public to understand their states' zoning landscape.
Guaranteed income programs might improve people's lives, but not their health
A new study examining cash transfer programs' effects on participants' health found limited impact.
HIV infection rates are down everywhere but the South
A new federal grant program looks to improve health equity in Southern states for vulnerable populations like individuals of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
A new report ranks the best and worst states for women’s health
State policies shape women’s health and reproductive care, and researchers say there is a growing geographic divide where some women are dying at greater rates from preventable causes.
Nearly $1B available for local digital inclusion projects
The goal of the new federal grant program is to fund local efforts that provide underserved communities with the tools and skills needed to access high-speed internet service.
States take a more measured approach to ESG mandates
There's great recognition—on both sides of the issue—that strict pro- and anti-environmental, social and governance investing strategies can lead to unintended costs and administrative challenges.
How Connecticut is developing untapped talent to fill 30,000 open jobs statewide
COMMENTARY | Three strategies bring together employers, community organizations and education providers in a new skills-based ecosystem.
America’s biggest education experiment is happening in Houston. Could it change U.S. schools?
The controversial reforms underway in Houston ISD rival the biggest U.S. education experiments—and could impact schools across the nation.
The time is now: Harnessing rigorous evaluation in a post-ARPA America
COMMENTARY | Cities and states can use the federal funds to evaluate the effectiveness of new programs.
US laws created during slavery are still on the books. We should acknowledge that, a legal scholar argues
COMMENTARY | Addressing slavery’s legal legacy is not just an issue for historians.
Featured eBooks
No shortcuts: Only well-managed AI will deliver on its promise
COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence opens new opportunities for policymaking and service delivery, but success still depends on understanding residents’ needs and on the thoughtful handling of their data.
White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows
Much of the increase in hate and extremism can be attributed to a 50% surge in white supremacy hate groups in 2023, the highest jump ever recorded by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Can cash payments reduce childhood poverty?
Money may not be able to buy happiness, but observers say it could help protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable: children living in poverty.
Successful city parks make diverse communities feel safe and welcome
COMMENTARY | Parks are like a city’s living room. Designing, building and managing them well makes them attractive to different groups and boosts inclusion.
Report: State by state, how segregation legally continues 7 decades post Brown
Researchers unveil loopholes, laws and a lack of protections allowing Black, brown, low-income students to be excluded from America’s most coveted schools.
Easing the housing squeeze on low-income renters
The State and Local Innovation project will work with policymakers to draft bill language and leverage data and best practices to keep the lowest income renters in stable housing.
Neediest areas are being shortchanged on government funds
COMMENTARY | A recent study of the Community Development Block Grant program showed that neighborhoods with the largest share of low- to moderate-income families were less likely to receive CDBG funds than communities that were closer to the 51% threshold.
HUD warns on AI-fueled housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed characteristics like race and income are protected from AI algorithmic discrimination.
Don’t pull the plug on internet access for 23M families
COMMENTARY | No family should be forced to choose between one essential and another. And they don’t have to, as long as Congress acts to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program.
State, local govs crack down on menthol cigarettes by pumping prices up
Setting minimum retail prices and increasing taxes can help officials address public health concerns surrounding menthol cigarettes.
