Equity
States take a more measured approach to ESG mandates
There's great recognition—on both sides of the issue—that strict pro- and anti-environmental, social and governance investing strategies can lead to unintended costs and administrative challenges.
How Connecticut is developing untapped talent to fill 30,000 open jobs statewide
COMMENTARY | Three strategies bring together employers, community organizations and education providers in a new skills-based ecosystem.
America’s biggest education experiment is happening in Houston. Could it change U.S. schools?
The controversial reforms underway in Houston ISD rival the biggest U.S. education experiments—and could impact schools across the nation.
The time is now: Harnessing rigorous evaluation in a post-ARPA America
COMMENTARY | Cities and states can use the federal funds to evaluate the effectiveness of new programs.
US laws created during slavery are still on the books. We should acknowledge that, a legal scholar argues
COMMENTARY | Addressing slavery’s legal legacy is not just an issue for historians.
No shortcuts: Only well-managed AI will deliver on its promise
COMMENTARY | Artificial intelligence opens new opportunities for policymaking and service delivery, but success still depends on understanding residents’ needs and on the thoughtful handling of their data.
White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows
Much of the increase in hate and extremism can be attributed to a 50% surge in white supremacy hate groups in 2023, the highest jump ever recorded by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Can cash payments reduce childhood poverty?
Money may not be able to buy happiness, but observers say it could help protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable: children living in poverty.
Successful city parks make diverse communities feel safe and welcome
COMMENTARY | Parks are like a city’s living room. Designing, building and managing them well makes them attractive to different groups and boosts inclusion.
Report: State by state, how segregation legally continues 7 decades post Brown
Researchers unveil loopholes, laws and a lack of protections allowing Black, brown, low-income students to be excluded from America’s most coveted schools.
Featured eBooks
Easing the housing squeeze on low-income renters
The State and Local Innovation project will work with policymakers to draft bill language and leverage data and best practices to keep the lowest income renters in stable housing.
Neediest areas are being shortchanged on government funds
COMMENTARY | A recent study of the Community Development Block Grant program showed that neighborhoods with the largest share of low- to moderate-income families were less likely to receive CDBG funds than communities that were closer to the 51% threshold.
HUD warns on AI-fueled housing discrimination
The Department of Housing and Urban Development confirmed characteristics like race and income are protected from AI algorithmic discrimination.
Don’t pull the plug on internet access for 23M families
COMMENTARY | No family should be forced to choose between one essential and another. And they don’t have to, as long as Congress acts to renew the Affordable Connectivity Program.
State, local govs crack down on menthol cigarettes by pumping prices up
Setting minimum retail prices and increasing taxes can help officials address public health concerns surrounding menthol cigarettes.
LGBTQ students wonder what’s next as conservative states seek to block new Title IX rules
Days after the new Title IX rules protecting LGBTQ youth from discrimination at school were published, top officials in 15 states announced they were suing to block the rules from going into effect.
A water crisis in Mississippi turns into a fight against privatization
Thanks to a federal judge, residents of Jackson will have a say in how the city resolves its yearslong water crisis.
State-level conservation action sparks hope for nature
COMMENTARY | Spurred by strong local support and successful conservation ballot initiatives, elected leaders are collectively building a menu of policies that could turn the tide of nature loss.
Republican attorneys general mount a new attack on the EPA’s use of civil rights law
Twenty-three states want the Biden administration's EPA to curtail its approach to environmental justice.
Mandatory reporting laws meant to protect children get another look
Some states are considering rolling back these laws, saying the result has been too many unfounded reports that disproportionately harm families who are poor, Black, or Indigenous or have members with disabilities.
