Author Archive

Elaine S. Povich

Elaine S. Povich is a journalist with Stateline, an initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts.
Finance

Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money

As states explore shorter degrees, some faculty say they undercut students’ education.

Management

Freedom Caucuses push for conservative state laws, but getting attention is their big success

Eleven states have formal chapters of the State Freedom Caucus Network, which aims to push Republicans to the right.

Cybersecurity

If schools won’t ban kids’ cellphones, some lawmakers say, they will

Florida now bans cellphones during class, and lawmakers elsewhere like the idea.

Finance

As Electric Vehicles Shrink Gas Tax Revenue, More States May Tax Mileage

This year, legislators in at least eight states debated mileage taxes on drivers of electric vehicles.

Infrastructure

Many state capitols have security holes

With less than two-thirds of state capitol buildings employing metal detectors, and about 20 statehouses specifically allowing guns inside, there are many security gaps that rioters could exploit.

Cybersecurity

TSA agents to warn travelers on Real ID deadline

Transportation Security Administration agents at airports will warn travelers without Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses that they have just 13 months to get one.

Cybersecurity

Maryland lawmaker warns Real ID snafu could lead to license confiscations

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration has asked law enforcement officials to confiscate licenses from drivers they stop if the driver is on the MVA’s list to provide additional documentation.

Cybersecurity

Real ID, real problems: States cope with changing rules, late rollouts

Technical glitches, delays and miscommunication are roiling the Real ID implementation in some states, calling into question whether residents will have the secure driver’s license needed to travel by air or enter government restricted areas after October 2020.

Management

States stumble on internet privacy

After net-neutrality and privacy rules were repealed last year, states have had little success crafting regulations of their own.

Cybersecurity

It’s tax season, and states are battling bogus requests for refunds

States are working to try to stop online filing fraud by verifying the identity of the filers, strengthening password protocols and sharing information on filings that use stolen identities.

Infrastructure

Taxing the cloud: States are looking at how to do it

As states look to tax cloud services, a wide range of both policy and technical questions arise.

Management

To collect revenue, some states put tax scofflaws in virtual 'stocks'

Publishing the names of tax scofflaws and the amounts they owe on the Internet works spectacularly well, bringing in millions to states eager for the revenue.