State and Local Roundup

State & Local Roundup: A Historic Week for a New Governor

Plus: Pennsylvania ditches state job degree requirements. Pickleball! News you can use from across the country.

  • By Elizabeth Daigneau

City and County Government Workers Eligible for Additional Student Loan Debt Relief

The federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is temporarily offering expanded debt forgiveness but borrowers need to file paperwork soon.

  • By Molly Bolan

Timing of Covid-19 Vaccine for Health Care Workers Depends on Where They Live

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Kansas and Missouri plan to rely on the honor system to comply with priority distribution of coronavirus vaccines ... Employees in one Louisiana city will receive a one-time lump-sum hazard payment ... Indiana lawmakers hope to shield businesses from Covid-19 lawsuits.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

New York Leaders Call for Restrictions on UK Flights

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Record numbers of Vermonters hunt and fish during pandemic ... Oklahoma recruits out-of-state tourists while feds urge limits on travel ... Hawaii governor warns of deep budget cuts.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

SolarWinds Hack Also Hit States and Local Governments, Reports Say

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Experts worry local news could spread anti-vax conspiracies … Minnesota officials want to keep up fence around state capitol .... Massachusetts town sets out empty chairs as Covid memorial.

  • By Laura Maggi

Atlantic City Auctions Off Right to Push Button on Trump Casino Demolition

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Massachusetts contemplates lobster restrictions to save whales … Country music star was paid $1.7 million to perform at Texas governor’s inaugural ball … Kansas mayor resigned after mask threats.

  • By Bill Lucia and Laura Maggi

Biden Taps Pete Buttigieg, a Former Mayor and Presidential Rival, as Transportation Secretary, Reports Say

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Iowa decides against spending Covid funds on IT upgrades … Utah university votes to drop “Dixie” from name … New York governor accused of sexual harassment.

  • By Laura Maggi

Vaccine Shipments Fan Out, With First Shots Expected on Monday

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Suspected Chinese spy targeted local politicians… Nashville’s top health official resigns after investigation into sexism allegations … Fewer people are flushing toilets in Des Moines.

  • By Laura Maggi and Andrea Noble

Hospitals, ICU Beds Reach Capacity Across U.S. as Pandemic Surges

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | DOJ investigates Kansas City’s contracting policies… cities expand pilot programs providing guaranteed income... Mississippi prisons deal with understaffing.

  • By Andrea Noble

Attorneys General, FTC File Antitrust Lawsuits Against Facebook

Trump administration proposes $600 direct payments… Protests disrupt a vote on an Idaho mask mandate… Michigan undertakes an election audit.

  • By Andrea Noble

New Jersey Contact Tracers Find 74% of Sick People Won’t Cooperate

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Supreme Court rejects request to overturn Pennsylvania election results … GAO finds EPA air monitoring of pollution is faulty … Seattle mayor won’t run again after one term.

  • By Laura Maggi and Andrea Noble

Arizona Legislature Closed After Giuliani Hearing

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Covid-19 patients flown out of South Dakota… Alabama sheriff takes down “thugshots” social media post… Republican governors call for Congress to pass Covid aid.

  • By Andrea Noble
Featured eBooks
Road and Transit Infrastructure Trends
Federal Recovery Funds at the State and Local Level
Infrastructure at a Turning Point

State Medical Board Won't Let Doctor Practice After He Advised Against Masks

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | U.S. House approves federal marijuana legalization … Endangered tree species that grizzlies rely on could see new protections soon … Two out of five transit riders in Utah say they won’t return after the pandemic.

  • By Laura Maggi and Emma Coleman

Mayors and Governors Apologize for Violating Their Own Covid Suggestions

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Auditor finds Chicago has not been enforcing recycling laws … Health officials say vaccination cards will be issued to those who get Covid shots … Provo City Council votes to preserve a popular waterfall.

  • By Emma Coleman

White House Covid Task Force Tells Public Health Officials to Go Around Leadership if States Fail to Mandate Sufficient Restrictions

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Ohio Attorney General faces public records lawsuit from watchdog group … One Virginia county says coronavirus restrictions akin to “tyranny” … Beer inspired by Michigan governor.

  • By Emma Coleman

Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution Could Begin in Two Weeks

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | State lawmakers file articles of impeachment against Ohio governor … Bill would end solitary confinement in New York City … Colorado considers excluding certain counties from small business aid.

  • By Emma Coleman

San Francisco and D.C. Transit Agencies Consider Big Layoffs, Service Cuts

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Grocery stores with pharmacies buying medical-grade freezers for vaccines … Virginia looking for citizen members of its new redistricting commission … California governor denies parole for Manson follower.

  • By Laura Maggi

Mysterious Steel Monolith Discovered In Utah Desert Mysteriously Disappears

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Supreme Court rejects New York restrictions on religious services … Trump administration denies key permit for Pebble Mine … Baltimore County schools still closed after ransomware attack.

  • By Laura Maggi

No Bar Night Out Before Thanksgiving in Pennsylvania

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | National Guard deploys to El Paso to help with morgue crisis … Prosecutors are reviewing 800 cases possibly tainted by lab analyst … Nursing home workers strike in Illinois.

  • By Laura Maggi

Feds Shoot Down Pennsylvania Plan to Funnel Virus Relief Money to School Districts

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | D.C. transit agency looking at buyouts to avoid 1,400 layoffs … Missouri state Senate postpones session because of Covid outbreak among members … Texas AG controversy continues with whistleblower lawsuit.

  • By Bill Lucia and Emma Coleman

New Mexico, Oregon, Michigan and Washington State Issue New Shutdown Orders

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Jackson, Mississippi accuses biodiesel plant of illegal dumping … A high denial rate for Hawaii workers compensation claims linked to Covid … Gov. Gavin Newsom expresses regrets for attending outside restaurant gathering.

  • By Laura Maggi