Why 2023 emerged as a banner year for passenger rail
Many efforts that had been in the works for years started paying off this year, but passenger rail advocates hope even better things are on the way.
Feds consider limiting how states can use welfare funds
The Biden administration says that the 1996 welfare reforms gave states too much spending flexibility. Now, it wants to claw back back some of those freedoms.
Biden wants states to ensure Obamacare plans cover enough doctors and hospitals
A proposal from the federal government would standardize open enrollment periods across all states, require states to assess the accessibility of their insurer networks and expand adult dental coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
Child care programs see closures, resignations and tuition hikes after federal funding expires
In West Virginia, providers and parents are feeling the impact on the other side of the "child care cliff."
States expect ‘big jump’ in Medicaid spending
As pandemic-era federal funding support winds down, state Medicaid directors said in a survey that they anticipate their share of the costs to increase even as enrollment declines.
Shutdown appears averted as House passes ‘laddered’ proposal
The continuing resolution extends SNAP through September, ensures other benefit programs are funded into early 2024 and avoids millions of workers being furloughed.
Amid high heating prices, emergency funding for energy bills dries up
Congress approved one-time funding last year to help low-income families pay to heat and cool their homes. As winter approaches, states and advocates are calling for more money.
House proposes slashing $4B from the EPA
The GOP funding cuts, passed along party lines, would significantly impact state and local efforts to improve drinking water and reduce water pollution. Additional cuts would severely hamper environmental justice projects.
Legacy programs stymie Biden's efforts to boost equity in infrastructure spending
Communities of color benefit when federal agencies pick transportation projects, but most infrastructure money is doled out using old rules that favor whiter areas, according to a new report from the Urban Institute.
Governors press Biden to help with migrant surge
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is the latest state leader to outline changes in federal policy the Biden administration could make to alleviate some of the strain on states and cities.
New White House office will work with communities to curb gun violence
The office will look to build off of last year’s landmark gun legislation and has been applauded by national local government associations who have called gun violence an “incredibly serious issue in America.”
As cities struggle to shelter migrants, calls for federal action grow
State and local leaders have resorted to desperate measures—sometimes circumventing the federal government—to find housing and support for the influx of asylum seekers. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
An Illinois plan for ending book bans? Republican senators aren’t on board
A tense hearing on Capitol Hill showed partisan divisions over who should decide what books libraries and schools offer.
A GOP bill would ban California’s pig measure and others like it
The proposal, which is part of the farm bill, would block states from passing laws that could change how agriculture is practiced in other states. Critics say it could upend hundreds of state and local laws.
Emergency rental assistance programs do more than provide cash assistance
Beyond covering rent, the federal funding laid the groundwork for improved partnerships with courts and data integration that will help communities continue providing support.
States could use federal money to add Tesla chargers
Kentucky, Texas and Washington might add extra plugs for the popular EVs, as several automakers indicated they would make cars with the same connections in coming years.
CDC to reduce funding for states’ child vaccination programs
Citing the recent debt ceiling deal, the CDC is trimming its funding to child vaccination programs that focus on communities vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The cuts come despite data showing the percentage of children getting vaccinated has dropped in recent years.
More than $42 billion in broadband funding allocations announced
President Joe Biden released how much each state will receive in funding under the bipartisan infrastructure law to expand access to high speed internet in America’s under- and unserved communities.
Amid looming ‘child care cliff,’ states scramble to bolster programs
Billions in federal subsidies for child care providers are set to run out in September, causing as many as 3.2 million children nationwide to lose their daycare spots. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
Congress Set to Weigh Whether State AGs Can Tackle Airline Complaints
State officials have not been allowed to pursue air carriers for violating consumer protection laws since 1978, but recent airline meltdowns have emboldened state AGs and advocates to ask for a change.
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