Why some schools are halting Halloween celebrations
Concerns that some students may feel excluded from Halloween celebrations has prompted some districts to move celebrations outside of school hours.
States’ lawsuits pile up against social media companies
A multistate coalition filed suit against Facebook parent Meta, accusing it of damaging young people’s mental health and illegally harvesting their data. It is the latest in a long line of actions taken against social media platforms to reckon with the growing youth mental health crisis.
After hottest summer on record, local governments are underreporting heat deaths
Bexar County’s medical examiner blames lack of data for the decision not to list heat as a cause on any summer deaths.
Western states look to these lands for new affordable housing
State-owned trust lands were created to support schools and other community benefits.
Interest rates are rising, but states aren’t worried yet. Here’s why.
State and local governments generally use bonds to finance major infrastructure projects. But higher rates won’t bust budgets just yet. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
4 questions to ask before sharing constituent data
As more Americans grow concerned about how their personal data is being used and shared, a new report offers state and local agencies tips on how to handle it responsibly in order to avoid further eroding trust.
Politicians love to cite crime data. It’s often wrong.
Only 71% of U.S. law enforcement agencies submitted 2022 crime data to the FBI.
The Biden administration looks to spur office-to-housing conversions
The White House launched a multi-agency effort to encourage states and cities to convert more empty office buildings into housing units. It is putting billions of federal dollars behind the announcement.
As e-bikes grow in popularity, so do calls for safety certification
Last month, New York City became the first in the nation to require e-bikes to be tested and certified for safety.
Communities look to end prison-to-homelessness pipeline
Incarceration and homelessness are inextricably linked, each cycling into the other. As the housing crisis drags on, state and local governments are looking to prevent former inmates from becoming homeless in the first place.
AI-driven 911 translation saves first responders time, money
A Louisiana parish has turned to the technology to help translate emergency calls from a growing number of non-English speakers and amid a staffing shortfall.
As TikTok and other Chinese technologies are deemed dangerous, what should state and local governments do?
COMMENTARY | Finding and replacing Chinese-made equipment in state and local government networks will be challenging and expensive. But the threat is genuine and must not be ignored.
Hear that? It’s the sound of leaf blower bans.
As restrictions spread, neighborhoods are getting quieter—and cleaner.
Number of uninsured drivers in one state plummets with new verification system, automatic fines
Arkansas’ enforcement mechanism is one of the strictest in the U.S., constantly checking insurance status in real time. Many other states only check once a month.
A new federal proposal looks to take on digital redlining
The rules, which observers anticipate will be challenged in court, would allow the FCC to penalize broadband companies for providing poorer service to low-income customers.
California suspends Cruise robotaxis, and questions mount
The state Department of Motor Vehicles halted operation of the self-driving cars in San Francisco because of concerns over how the company handled a crash with a pedestrian.
Why cities should consider roundabouts
COMMENTARY | An alternative to traditional signalized intersections, roundabouts can substantially offset the dangers posed by larger vehicles, ensuring that any potential impact is less severe due to moderated speeds and oblique angles of collision.
Report: Abortions up nationwide post-Dobbs, soared in some states
Despite some states' attempts to restrict abortion access, the number of abortions have increased nationwide since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Some observers say the rise in patients seeking abortions could put a strain on clinics with limited resources and staff.
Blue and red states slash taxes despite warnings of hard times ahead
Since 2021, half the states have cut personal income tax rates.
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.
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