A Make-or-Break Moment for Cities
COMMENTARY | The future of America’s urban areas will depend on the help they receive—or don’t—from the federal government.
In a City That Was a Coronavirus Hotspot, More Public Employees Will Return to Work
Hundreds of workers in Detroit saw their pay and hours slashed in recent weeks as the city reeled from the virus outbreak.
A Guide to Staying Safe as States Reopen
Can I eat at a restaurant? Can I go shopping? Can I hug my friends again? Experts weigh in.
Nearly 1 Million Job Losses Reported in State and Local Government Sector
Jobs figures released Friday show a decline that has plummeted beyond a low brought on by the Great Recession.
House Democrats’ Coronavirus Aid Plan Would Distribute County, City Funding by Population
Democrats want to include funding for local governments in their latest proposal, but are expected to meet resistance from Republican lawmakers.
Amid Pandemic, A Call to Rebalance State and Local Power
As flare ups between states and localities over the coronavirus response get attention, one scholar says it may be a good time to reexamine the relationship between the two levels of government.
Los Angeles Opening Up Coronavirus Testing to All Residents
The city’s mayor says it is the first major city in the U.S. to do so. Even people without symptoms can get a test.
Across the Country, Local Officials Hope New Rules Will Help Parks Reopen Safely
Dozens of municipalities are reopening park facilities, but requiring that visitors wear masks and adhere to social distancing to continue to fight the spread of Covid-19.
City Song Aims to 'Lift Up' Residents During Pandemic
"Lift Up Louisville," a song collaboration among 29 artists with ties to the Kentucky city, debuted Monday. Proceeds will benefit the city's relief fund for residents and nonprofits.
Fed Expands Lending Program to Include More Counties and Cities
New guidelines for the initiative lower the population threshold for local governments to qualify, and allow for short-term debt to be repaid over a lengthier 36-month timeframe.
With Anti-Asian Harassment on the Rise, New York City Forms Covid-19 Response Team
The city’s commission on human rights has received 248 reports of harassment and discrimination, with 105 incidents targeting Asian Americans.
A City Plan to Make Masks Available to Every Resident
The city of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, partnered with a local manufacturer to make and distribute reusable masks, designed by a local doctor.
Prospect of Steep Service Cuts Looms as Virus Batters State and Local Budgets
“The longer this persists, the deeper it will be for state and locals and state and local cutbacks,” one expert noted this week.
Concerts and Sporting Events Could Be Canceled Until 2021, Mayors Say
Fearing a resurgence of the novel coronavirus, a handful of mayors said they would consider banning mass gatherings until next year.
Cities Take Lead on Coronavirus Response At Times, Leading to Friction With States
Debates over state and local authority could come into play going forward as government leaders decide on how to dial back restrictions and restart the economy.
There’s Been a Spike in People Dying at Home in Several Cities. That Suggests Coronavirus Deaths Are Higher Than Reported.
Coronavirus death counts are based on positive tests and driven by hospital deaths. But data from major metropolitan areas shows a spike in at-home deaths, prompting one expert to say current numbers were just “the tip of the iceberg.”
Five Years of Route Fifty
Look how we’ve grown.
He Spent $500,000 to Buy Coronavirus Tests. Health Officials Say They’re Unreliable.
An ER owner bought 20,000 rapid COVID-19 tests, but a week later they were seized by the federal government. It’s a bitter example of what can go wrong when local governments try to buy supplies on the open market from unknown manufacturers.
Why We Don’t Have Enough Backup Ventilators
COMMENTARY | The reserve stock of medical supplies is insufficient for our current crisis. The U.S. needs a new approach for maintaining emergency reserves.
'It Can Happen to Anybody': When Coronavirus Spreads at a Local Health Department
Six employees at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department tested positive for coronavirus. All were key to the department's pandemic response plan, leaving officials scrambling to find replacements.
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