Georgia
Wildfires are coming to the Southeast. Can landowners mitigate the risk in time?
No other part of the country has seen such a sharp rise in the number of big fires. The bigger challenge, though, is getting people to embrace the prescribed burns that can prevent them.
Election skeptics are running some county election boards in Georgia. A new rule could allow them to exclude decisive votes.
An examination of a new election rule in Georgia suggests that local officials in just a handful of rural counties could exclude enough votes to affect the outcome of the 2024 presidential race.
Election workers may need to become whistleblowers this fall
Legal groups stand ready to help election workers navigate the legal realities of “see something, say something.”
Officials voted down a controversial Georgia election rule, saying it violated the law. Then a similar version passed.
The rule, which was pushed by nationally prominent election deniers, only changed in minor ways between being voted down in May and approved in August. Those adjustments made it even less compliant with existing law, experts say.
Ballot questions tackle high property taxes that come with rising home values
Colorado’s new cap on property tax revenue isn’t enough for some activists. Conservatives elsewhere agree.
Georgia’s Medicaid work requirements have brought high costs, low enrollment
The state’s experience so far stands in stark contrast with that of North Carolina, where half a million people have signed up for Medicaid coverage in the first seven months of its expansion.
In Georgia, inadequate housing can mean significantly longer stays in foster care
Even after resolving other safety concerns, parents can wait for months to be reunited with their children, often because of what advocates say are stringent requirements sought by the state’s Division of Family and Children Services.
Georgia’s Medicaid work requirements costing taxpayers millions despite low enrollment
The program touted as an alternative to Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act has cost taxpayers millions, with more than 90% going toward administrative and consulting costs rather than medical care.
Governors propose spending billions on overdue infrastructure projects
In State of the State addresses this week, several governors said they would prioritize ambitious and much needed infrastructure projects. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Efforts grow to undercut prosecutors’ authority
COMMENTARY | Some Republican lawmakers in Georgia are looking to remove District Attorney Fani Willis, a Black Democrat representing a majority Black district, from office. The effort in Georgia is not happening in a silo.
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Amid Economic Uncertainty, State Tax Revenues Decline
If there’s good news in April's numbers, though, it might be that most states were already planning for softer revenue growth in fiscal 2024 and many have robust rainy day funds to weather a potential downturn. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Community Colleges Emerge as Key Players in $1B Build Back Better Regional Challenge
Each of the 21 regional partnerships features at least one community college or technical training school.
Some Unusual State and Local Laws to Take Note of This Valentine's Day
A number of state and municipal laws deal with relationships—both good and bad ones.
How a Powerful Company Convinced Georgia to Let It Bury Toxic Waste in Groundwater
Documents reveal Georgia Power went to great lengths to advocate for risky waste storage. After a ProPublica investigation exposed this practice, the EPA is trying to block the move.
The Millennials Who Are Showing More Interest in Renting Than Homeownership
In a number of states there's been a rise in “lifestyle” renters with $50,000-plus incomes seeking high-end apartments.
County Judge Bans Elf on the Shelf ‘Tyranny’ as ‘Gift To Tired Parents’
Cobb County, Georgia Superior Court Judge Robert D. Leonard II, in a blistering decision, banned the elf, a stuffed toy that serves as a lookout for Santa around the world.
Another State Will Train Police to Draw Blood From Drunk Driving Suspects
Georgia will establish a phlebotomy program to instruct law enforcement officers on how to collect blood samples, the latest in a growing number of states to embrace the practice.
Analysis: The States with the Largest and Smallest Tax Increases
Legislatures have implemented or are considering tax policy changes that will impact their states’ budgets in fiscal year 2022, according to analysis by Fitch Ratings.
The States that Make it Most Difficult to Vote
A report by the Center for Election Innovation and Research compares which states allow voters to cast absentee ballots by mail without an excuse and offer early in-person voting.
Pandemic Provokes City vs. State Conflicts
The Georgia legislature approved legislation that would preempt the commission’s powers, after the panel moved toward restricting police funding. State preemption of local powers is increasing nationwide.
