The 'New Normal': A Survey of Covid's Lasting Effects for Localities
A new survey is asking local government staff and officials how Covid has changed their work—and what might happen next.
Biden Administration Preparing $3 Trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Plan, Reports Say
The president is expected to receive the plan this week, according to reports from The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Miami Beach Extends Curfew, State of Emergency as Visitors Swamp South Florida
City officials called an emergency meeting Sunday in Miami Beach to discuss mitigation measures for throngs of unruly gatherers after a week of arrests, fights and crowd-control headaches.
Utah Poised to Block Porn on Smartphones
The bill, awaiting a signature from Gov. Spencer Cox, would require smartphones and tablets in the state to automatically enable filters for content deemed "harmful to minors."
How One County Helps Low-Income Homeowners Rehab Their Houses
James City County, Virginia tapped federal housing dollars to fund repairs and rebuilding projects that make homes safe and habitable. "Nothing is more affordable than the house you already have," notes a local official.
States Consider 'Do-Over Years' for Students Affected by the Pandemic
Some policies allow students an extra year to participate in both academics and athletics, other measures focus entirely on sports.
The Mayor on a Mission to Bring a RoboCop Statue to His City
Mike Wiza, mayor of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, wants to score an 11-foot-tall replica of the cyborg police officer from the 1980s action film. But if that effort fails, the city might see about making its own—possibly bigger—version.
Florida Officials to Spring Breakers: Please Try to Not Spread Covid Everywhere
City and county leaders in Florida, prohibited from enforcing local mask mandates, are relying largely on public messaging to keep visitors in line.
State and Federal Wildlife Officials Would Like You to Please Destroy Your Moss Balls
Invasive zebra mussels have been found in aquarium moss balls in at least 21 states. Wildlife officials say the balls must be destroyed to prevent the fast-multiplying mollusk from spreading.
For Seniors in One County, Robotic Pets Help Ease Pandemic Loneliness
Oswego County, New York's Office for the Aging has distributed 30 animatronic pets to senior citizens to provide companionship amid a year of social isolation.
More Pedestrians Are Getting Killed By Cars
The number of pedestrians struck and killed is up 45% over the last decade. People of color and residents of low-income and rural communities are more at risk, according to new research.
The Best and Worst States of 2021
U.S. News & World Report published the latest edition of its Best States Rankings.
A Bolder Way To Tweet About Boulders: How A Traffic Alert Typo Rocked the Internet
On Jan. 27, 2020, San Miguel, Colorado Sheriff's Office PIO Susan Lilly tweeted a warning of a highway obstruction: a "large boulder the size of a small boulder." The rest is internet history.
Police Department Tries Out Virtual Reality De-Escalation Training
The department in Schenectady, New York, is working with a local game development company on the program.
Coming Soon to a Snowy Road in Minnesota: 'Plowy McPlowFace'
Plowy McPlowFace was the runaway winner in an online contest to name eight Minnesota Department of Transportation snowplows.
An Initiative to Improve Street Safety through Public Art
Officials used street murals and planters to transform a hazardous intersection in Kansas City, Missouri, tapping grant funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies' Asphalt Art Initiative.
Police Departments Experiment With 70-Pound Robot Dog
Departments have deployed the cyber K-9s in hostage situations and as part of the covid response. Proponents say the robots can help keep officers out of harm's way, while critics worry how they could be used without clear policy guidelines in place.
'I Need to Find Water, and I Need to Find it Now': A Local Official Takes Disaster Relief Into Her Own Hands
Paige Ellis, a city council member in Austin, Texas tracked down 10 pallets of bottled water and distributed it across her district after winter storms left thousands in the state without power or water.
Illinois Becomes First State to Abolish Cash Bail
Judges will instead use a risk assessment tool to determine a defendant's fitness for release. The change is part of a broader criminal justice reform bill Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed this week.
Study: Vaccinating Teachers Could Help Get Kids Back in Classrooms
Federal researchers examined coronavirus cases in a Georgia school district and their findings suggest that educators had a central role in transmitting the virus in schools.
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