Management

Covid Response and Budget Basics at Forefront for States

State governments are in a better financial position than initially thought, but pandemic-related initiatives will likely take up most of their time and resources this year, with more innovative lawmaking taking a backseat, experts said.

  • By Andrea Noble

Occupational Licensing Reforms Must Maintain Standards to Protect the Public

COMMENTARY | Proposals to recognize professional licenses across state lines are getting attention in legislatures. But worker mobility should not come at the expense of public health, safety and welfare.

  • By Torey Carter-Conneen and Tricia Hatley

How Biden Plans to Beat Republican Obstructionism

History suggests that Joe Biden and the Democrats are going to have a tough two years and a disaster in the midterms. Here’s their plan to avoid that.

  • By Edward-Isaac Dovere, The Atlantic

Census Estimates Show Population Decline in 16 States

The declines could lead to economic stagnation for some states. Overall, the nation grew about 7% between 2010 and 2020, similar to a previous historic low around the time of the Great Depression.

  • By Tim Henderson, Stateline

Voters Are Starting to Act Like Hard-Core Sports Fans—With Dangerous Repercussions for Democracy

COMMENTARY | Fandom can go beyond outfits. It can become a core component of a person's identity, making losses feel personal.

  • By Michael Devlin and Natalie Brown Devlin, The Conversation
Sponsor Content

Eliminate Manual Processes Route and Approve Invoices from Anywhere

Today’s finance teams carry a heavy burden, supporting everything from growth strategies to long-term planning – all while continuously delivering monthly and quarterly numbers and keeping cash flowing. But even as demands on finance departments grow, many still spend excessive time using paper, spreadsheets, and e-mails to process vendor invoices, approvals, and payments.

  • Presented by SAP Concur

Biden Moves to Rejoin Paris Climate Pact, Halt Keystone XL Pipeline

After he was sworn into office on Wednesday, President Biden signed a slate of executive actions, including measures to begin reversing Trump era environmental policies.

  • By Bill Lucia

Biden Sworn in as President, Promising Truthful Government to Tackle Crises

The new president quickly turned to a deluge of day one priorities.

  • By Eric Katz

Cities and Counties Honor Lives Lost to Covid-19

Communities across the country participated Tuesday in a national Covid-19 memorial, while others have erected more permanent reminders of those who have died during the pandemic.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Women Hold Unprecedented Power in Vermont’s Statehouse. This Is How They’ll Lead.

Women hold the three top positions in Vermont’s legislature. With them they bring an understanding that to focus on economic recovery means to focus on caregiving.

  • By Barbara Rodriguez, The 19th

'The Internet Has Made Us Dumber,' and Other Lessons Government Officials Learned in 2020

State and local officials weigh in on what they're taking from—and leaving behind in—the dumpster fire that was last year.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Customers Won't Wear a Mask? One State Says to Call the Police.

Updated guidance from the New Hampshire Attorney General's office instructs businesses to call local law enforcement for assistance if customers simply refuse to comply with a statewide mask mandate.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Making Community Engagement More Accessible and Inclusive

COMMENTARY | The pandemic quickly shifted most community engagement to virtual arrangements, but not all citizens have ready access to online forums. Public officials can address inequities by finding alternative ways to gather valuable community input.

  • By Shaughnessy Daniels

Featured eBooks

Government Tech & Innovation
Management in City and County Government
State CIOs in 2020

Make Government Boring Again

ANALYSIS | The Texas Capitol had its defenses ready for the start of the legislative session after last week's riots in the U.S. Capitol. But opening day was nice and quiet.

  • By Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune

Cocktails To-Go Help Restaurants Stay Afloat

“It’s not a huge chunk of sales, but it’s something, and right now, something counts," says one restauranteur.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

Many States Resist Adapting Worker Safety Rules to Pandemic

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued no new rules during the pandemic. And states with their own workplace safety agencies lack a strong benchmark to follow.

  • By Alex Brown, Stateline

State Capitols on 'High Alert' Amid Talk of Armed Protests

Governors in multiple states were beefing up security at statehouses in preparation for rumored protests through the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

New Bloomberg Philanthropies Competition Seeks Cities With Innovative Responses to Covid

Fifteen winners will receive $1 million each and other support to implement their ideas.

  • By Bill Lucia

Lawmakers from Multiple States Involved in Capitol Chaos, or Related Activities

Republican state lawmakers from across the country traveled to D.C. on Wednesday. At least one joined the siege of the U.S. Capitol Building.

  • By Emma Coleman

Voting in Georgia Runoff Went Better than June’s Disastrous Primary, but Trouble Still Lingers

COMMENTARY | Georgia Republican leaders have begun to propose new changes to the state’s election process.

  • By Adrienne Jones, The Conversation

Biden’s First Order of Business May Be to Undo Trump’s Policies, but It Won’t Be Easy

President Donald Trump made substantial changes to the nation’s health care system using executive branch authority. But reversing policies that Democrats oppose would take time and personnel resources, competing with other priorities of the new administration.

  • By Julie Rovner, Kaiser Health News

Biden Picks Two More State and Local Leaders for Top Jobs

The president-elect has selected Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to lead the Labor Department and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to be Commerce secretary.

  • By Bill Lucia