Coronavirus Quarantines Pose Tough Issues for State and Local Officials
Thousands of people across the country are being asked to self quarantine after being in close contact with people diagnosed with Covid-19.
State Lawmakers Face Uphill Battles as They Seek to Tax More Services
Maryland is the latest state to consider such a proposal. What many experts regard as “good tax policy” is often a tough political sell.
Lawmakers Push to Restore Waterway, Coastal Storm Assessment Funds
The Trump administration has proposed significant reductions to a program that funds cleanup in the Chesapeake Bay and stopped funding studies that seek to address threats posed by coastal storm-related flooding.
Cities and Towns are Abandoning Glass Recycling. Can It Be Saved?
Glass is highly recyclable, but collection of the material through single-stream recycling programs is falling out of favor in many cities because of contamination problems and high costs.
Ban or Regulate Kratom? State Lawmakers Weigh Approaches to Herbal Supplement
The American Kratom Association is lobbying lawmakers to adopt regulations that set ground rules for the supplement, which the FDA advises people not to consume, instead of joining six states that ban it as a controlled substance.
Recycling Labels Don’t Reflect Reality for Local Governments
A local government official says the federal government could help by setting standards that make clear what plastics are recyclable.
Ensuring That People Can Easily Understand the Ballot Measures They’re Voting On
A Maryland bill would set new guidelines for describing proposals put on the ballot in plain language.
A Town Moves Forward After Two 'Thousand-Year' Storms
After two historic floods in less than two years, officials in Ellicott City, Maryland, are putting their hopes in a long-term rebuilding plan that officials say aims to balance recovery and resiliency with historic preservation.
On-Site Health Care Could Help Seniors Stay at Home
Forty affordable housing complexes are in an innovative federal program.
Digital Driver’s Licenses Could Become a Real Option in Some States
Several states have run pilots for digital driver’s licenses, which would allow residents to supplement plastic ID cards with smartphone apps. But as the technology becomes more of a reality, experts are worried about the privacy implications.
States Move Ahead With Digital License Plates
Maryland is the latest state to launch a pilot program to test the technology for consumer use.
‘Peace Cross’ Ruling is Likely to Insulate Older Religious Displays From Lawsuits
The U.S. Supreme Court decision will allow a cross-shaped war memorial on public land in Maryland to stay put. But it has broader implications as well.
Maryland Has Created a Truth Commission on Lynchings—Can It Deliver?
COMMENTARY | In April 2019, the state of Maryland established a truth commission to investigate the lynchings of at least 40 African Americans between 1854 and 1933.
Composting, Clean-Ups and Comprehensive Planning to Combat Litter
Prince George's County, Maryland, has struggled for years with litter. Officials have launched a multi-year, multi-pronged effort to tackle it.
Virginia Prepares for the Arrival of Amazon’s HQ2
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Not many people want to run for elected positions in this county … Texas deals with voting maps and databases … Tulsa improves on equality markers.
Finding History Along the Highway
State archeologists in Maryland are digging up the history of slavery in the state, connecting the DNA of an enslaved woman who lived on a plantation 200 years ago to modern-day descendants in Sierra Leone.
How Historic Ellicott City Plans to Survive the Next Flood
After catastrophic storms in 2016 and 2018, the Maryland mill town has five flood control plans. But it faces hard choices on how to avoid future disasters.
Baltimore Mayor Takes Health-Related Leave as Book Scandal Grows
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | The 100 Resilient Cities program will close up shop this summer ... Supreme Court allows Missouri execution to move forward ... Eagles causing problems at Washington state landfill.
Six States Have Now Passed $15 Minimum Wage Laws
“I think there definitely is momentum,” says one expert.
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