Little-noticed statehouse races could reshape election policies next year
In several swing states, control of legislative chambers—and agendas—is on the ballot in November.
Rent is eating up a greater share of tenants’ income in almost every state
Arizona and Nevada had the biggest spikes in renters paying 30% or more of their income on housing from 2019 to 2023.
Voters will decide minimum wage ballot measures in several states
Measures focused on workers who earn tips and on paid leave have drawn more opposition.
Move over, presidential race. These state governments also are up for grabs.
Thousands of state lawmakers are on the ballot, and control of some statehouses hangs in the balance.
See how your state uses zoning codes to control land use
A newly expanded online tool makes it easier for policymakers and the public to understand their states' zoning landscape.
A fifth of U.S. green hydrogen projects eyed for water-stressed areas
As the federal government pours billions into hydrogen production to lower greenhouse gas emissions, critics worry water shortages in the Southwest could worsen.
Ballot questions tackle high property taxes that come with rising home values
Colorado’s new cap on property tax revenue isn’t enough for some activists. Conservatives elsewhere agree.
States could struggle to cut workforce costs in next downturn
It's a well-worn script. When states face budget challenges, they typically look to cut personnel spending first. But that might not work this time.
White House looks to safeguard groundwater supplies as aquifers decline nationwide
Nationwide, overconsumption is depleting aquifers that supply communities with fresh water. In some areas, fertilizers used in farming or chemicals used in industry or mining are contaminating the underground reservoirs.
A federal utility assistance program favors cold-weather states, giving less money to hot places
A federal program helps people in poverty cover the costs of heat and cooling. But advocates say it disadvantages states like Texas and Arizona, even though extreme heat is a key cause of weather-related deaths.
School vouchers were supposed to save taxpayer money. Instead they blew a massive hole in Arizona’s budget.
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, has spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it’s now facing hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects.
Building emergency housing to meet the unique needs of older adults
A silver tsunami of older adults experiencing homelessness is starting to crash across the U.S. Here’s how one state is trying to soften the blow.
A tale of two states: Arizona and Florida diverge on how to expand kids’ health insurance
Both Florida and Arizona want to expand eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as CHIP, but their approaches to charging low-income families premiums for the coverage showcase the nation’s ideological divide on helping the disadvantaged.
Other 'zombie' state laws, like Arizona's, on abortion, LGBTQ+ issues and more could resurface
COMMENTARY | It might seem unnecessary for a state legislature to repeal a law that is not enforced or has been superseded by a more recent law, but the recent Arizona abortion ban shows the consequences of assuming that old laws will always remain dormant.
How one state pushes cybersecurity to local agencies
Arizona’s whole-of-state cybersecurity program gives local governments free access to cloud-based cybersecurity tools—an approach that extends security and helps build a problem-solving community.
There's a Deal to Conserve the Colorado River, Now Comes the Hard Part
After two decades of an ongoing “mega drought” in the West, there are a variety of water conservation efforts to choose from. But one idea in California sticks out.
A Fight Over How Tax Hikes are Passed at the Ballot Box
A proposal before Arizona voters would change the threshold for approving tax initiatives from a simple majority to 60%. Is it a check on outside groups funding tax-and-spend measures? Or a hit to citizens' power to approve new funding for their priorities?
Republican Election Deniers Rack Up State Level Primary Wins
Former President Trump's clout in state elections was on display this week. In Arizona, his picks for governor and five seats in the legislature won their primaries. In Michigan, five of 10 Trump-endorsed legislative candidates on the ballot prevailed.
The Rise of the Trump Agenda in This Year's Governors Races
Republicans in a number of key gubernatorial contests want to pursue priorities in state government aligned with the former president's platform. Will the strategy work to win over voters?
Arizona’s Statehouse Lifted Covid Precautions. Two Lawmakers Worry About What It Means for Their Family.
They’re navigating decisions familiar to many parents with children too young to be vaccinated, worrying about risk as guidance on how to deal with the pandemic changes.
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