Author Archive
Jacob Fischler
Finance
Rural Electric Co-Ops to Get $10.7B in Clean Energy Grants, Loans
The Agriculture Department says the money marks the largest single funding effort for rural electrification in the U.S. since the 1930s.
- By Jacob Fischler, Washington State Standard
Management
House GOP Would Make It Easier for Feds to Give Public Lands Away to States
The rule would apply to any land owned by the federal government, almost all of which is in 11 Western states and Alaska.
- By Jacob Fischler, Arizona Mirror
Cybersecurity
U.S. Senate votes to bar TikTok from government devices as state bans multiply
The states that have announced bans in the past two weeks include Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, New Hampshire and Tennessee.
- By Jacob Fischler, Idaho Capital Sun
Management
A Pivotal Moment for States and Localities Electrifying Their Fleets
Technology breakthroughs, federal funding and grants are reducing barriers to going electric with government-owned vehicles.
- By Jacob Fischler
Management
A $5B Turning Point for Reducing Homelessness
Long-term efforts to get homeless people into permanent housing will be jump-started by the massive infusion in federal relief funds flowing into localities and states.
- By Jacob Fischler
Management
Why States Have Been Slow Paying Out Billions in Federal Rental Aid
Congress approved over $46 billion to help cover overdue rent. Struggling households and frustrated landlords are still waiting on the money.
- By Jacob Fischler
Finance
Biden’s Pause on Oil Leases Could Squeeze State Budgets
But experts caution that it’s hard to know at this point what the financial toll could ultimately look like.
- By Jacob Fischler
Digital Government
California’s Unemployment Backlog Grew to Over 1 Million Applications. Will Automation Speed Up Payments?
State unemployment agencies have started automating identity verification in the hopes of more quickly processing record numbers of new applications. But experts say more fixes to flawed systems are also necessary.
- By Jacob Fischler
Digital Government
States Urge Congress to Help with Skyrocketing Tech Costs
As the coronavirus pandemic escalated, states spent big on information technology as employees started working from home and antiquated systems like unemployment websites needed fast upgrades.
- By Jacob Fischler