After power play fails, Ohio Republicans face more ballot measure challenges
State legislators wanted to stop the public from voting on abortion rights to redistricting. Similar fights are playing out nationwide, as conservative lawmakers try to make it harder for liberals to pass policies at the ballot box.
Management
To solve the affordable housing crisis, some communities are turning to hotels
The pandemic presented communities with a unique opportunity to convert hotels into residential spaces, creating everything from temporary transitional housing to long-term supportive homes. But is the model sustainable today?
Finance
Transit agencies scramble to piece together funding as ‘fiscal cliff’ looms
Ridership in San Francisco and New York remains below pre-pandemic levels. As the end of federal aid nears, these agencies are racing to shore up funding.
Cybersecurity
3 low-risk, low-budget ways state and local governments can protect their data
COMMENTARY | By taking advantage of federal resources and leaning into autonomous technology and cybersecurity education, agencies can keep constituent data safe.
Sponsor Content
Three Critical Considerations for Optimizing NG9-1-1
To harness the full potential of Next Generation 9-1-1, decision-makers must prioritize three key considerations: platform, network, and provider ecosystem.
Infrastructure
Life in a rural ‘ambulance desert’ means sometimes help isn’t on the way
Rural health care services like ambulances and hospitals are often spread few and far between, research shows. A shortage of services puts residents' health at risk and even affects local economies, experts say.
Management
Water conservation model built on the Rio Grande may be a template for rest of US
Sen. Martin Heinrich hopes to add a nationwide groundwater conservation program to the Farm Bill.
Workforce
Flexible work options keeps the public sector competitive in these post-pandemic times
COMMENTARY | Agencies that offer remote work options find it easier to hire and retain talent and meet their diversity, equity and inclusion goals.
Cybersecurity
States ramp up software security standards amid growing threats
Collaboration among states to tighten the security of cloud software is increasing under the nationwide program StateRAMP. Meanwhile, Texas is embracing its own certification effort after several high-profile cyber incidents.
Workforce
The strikes rippling across the US seem big, but the number walking off the job remains historically low
COMMENTARY | More workers are advocating for better pay and improved working conditions, but research shows employees are not leaving their jobs as often as the frequency of protests suggests.
Management
New law eliminates insurance pre-approval for crisis mental health, substance use
A new law will make it easier for people to get insurance coverage for emergency care for mental health concerns and substance use disorder.
Management
The proof is in the poo: New data tool offers early detection of community COVID surges
Using wastewater monitoring data, an algorithm detects spikes in COVID-19 before outbreaks happen, giving public health officials a jumpstart in keeping the coronavirus under control.
Featured eBooks
Finance
An emerging ‘greenium’? New research says green bonds cost governments less
Amid an ESG backlash in some states, the finding could lead to more governments seeking an ESG-related label for bonds that will fund socially or environmentally sustainable projects.
Sponsor Content
Using technology to address police staffing & image challenges
How police chiefs are using new digital investigation tools to boost productivity and morale.
Infrastructure
Higher minimum broadband speeds reflect internet’s growth
The FCC last raised the standard definition of broadband in 2015. Since then, demand from users has soared, prompting some to call for raising that standard as states prepare to build more infrastructure.
Workforce
‘Who’s going to work there?’: Lawmakers grapple with labor shortages
Affordable housing, reliable child care and available mental health services could be the key for state and local governments desperate to fill vacant job positions in their communities. Lawmakers are finding ways to meet workers' needs through legislation and funding.
Management
Will Texas’ new fentanyl awareness curriculum for public schools succeed where other anti-drug messaging failed?
Historically, anti-drug messaging in schools has failed to acknowledge the mental health reasons that youth self-medicate. Without that key lesson, advocates worry House Bill 3908 will be another D.A.R.E. campaign.
Infrastructure
Using future, not just historical data projections could make state, local infrastructure designs more resilient
One county is baking sea level rise data projections into its building design requirements in an effort to prepare for the future effects of climate change.
Digital Government
Data helps some states boost renewals amidst Medicaid unwinding
Ex parte renewals, or those that use available data sources to redetermine Medicaid eligibility without requiring information from the individual, place the burden on the system—not on the participants or staff.
Finance
How one city is looking to future-proof its budgeting process
Nationwide, cities are attempting to improve their budgeting. But none appear to be taking more dramatic steps than fast-growing Fort Worth, Texas.
Workforce
127,000 New York workers have been victims of wage theft
An analysis of federal and state databases sheds new light on the prevalence and scale of wage theft in New York restaurants and other industries, placing the total wages stolen in one five-year period at more than $203 million.
Cybersecurity