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Kate Elizabeth Queram
Management
Breonna Taylor Decision Sparks Nationwide Protests
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | California pledges to eliminate new gas-powered cars by 2035 ... Louisiana's voter-registration website goes down on National Voter Registration Day ... Missouri governor tests positive for Covid-19.
Management
One Officer Indicted in Breonna Taylor Case, But Not In Her Death
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Two Louisville police officers shot and wounded ... No evidence of widespread Covid-19 outbreaks in reopened schools ... California protects Joshua trees but allows solar companies to cut them down ... Colorado will furlough thousands of state employees, including the governor.
Management
Coronavirus Death Toll Passes 200,000
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | CDC advises against trick-or-treating ... Wisconsin judge grants voters extra time to return mail-in ballots ... Alaskan dog-sled race will kick off as scheduled despite pandemic.
Management
CDC Pulls Updated Guidance on Coronavirus Spread, Saying it was Posted By Mistake
STATE AND LOCAL NEWS ROUNDUP | Barges came ashore during Florida hurricane ... Maryland lab stopped using coronavirus tests acquired by governor after false positives ... Pennsylvania inmate finds noose in bed.
Health & Human Services
Michigan Residents Urged to Stay Indoors to Avoid Deadly Mosquito-Borne Illness
Eastern Equine Encephalitis has been confirmed in 22 horses and is suspected in at least one human in Michigan. The disease, transmitted by mosquito bite, kills a third of people it sickens.
Tech & Data
Concerned About Mail-In Voting? Maybe a Virtual Assistant Can Help.
Idaho is using IBM's virtual assistant platform to answer common questions about mail-in voting, a technology available for free in the lead-up to the presidential election.
Management
One-Night Stays at Short-Term Rentals Won't Be Allowed on Vrbo in Arizona
Vrbo announced that the new policy to discourage parties, a month after Airbnb announced its own global pan on parties at its rental properties.
Management
Sleek, Silver and Stuffed With Litter: San Francisco Settles on Three Finalists for New Trash Can Design
The city's public works department is revamping its public trash can design to better contain garbage and, maybe, look nice on the street.
Management
Michigan Mulls Eliminating License Plate Registration Tags
The proposal would save the state roughly $500,000 in postage and printing costs, but the measure might require expensive technology investments.
Management
Lawmakers Hope to Allow School Districts—Not Governor—to Set Crowd Size for Sporting Events
Spectators are currently allowed at sporting events in Pennsylvania, but state limits on crowd sizes would make it difficult for many, if any, audience members to attend games. Proposed legislation aims to allow school districts to set their own limits.
Health & Human Services
Lawmakers Consider Staffing Mandates to Reduce Stress and Burnout for Nurses
More than two-thirds of state lawmakers in New York have signed onto a bill that would require nurse-to-patient ratios, which supporters say would reduce burnout and improve medical outcomes for patients.
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Infrastructure
Transit Authority Looks to Bus Lanes to Reduce Crowding, Encourage Social Distancing
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority will add up to 14 miles of dedicated bus lanes in Boston and its suburbs to improve bus service, aiming to provide customers with room to spread out and spend less time onboard.
Management
Parks Prove Popular During Pandemic—But Budget Cuts Loom
A June survey by the National Park and Recreation Association found that a majority of Americans consider parks an essential government service, but decreased revenue from the coronavirus pandemic is likely to threaten parks funding in the future.
Management
Roadkill Dropped During Coronavirus Shutdowns, Study Found
The study, which found a 58% decrease in mountain lions killed by cars, examined crash reports involving large animals and traffic patterns in three states.
Management
Local Governments Have Embraced New Technology to Weather the Pandemic, Survey Finds
More than 95% of state and local leaders who responded to the poll said their agencies used software to maintain service levels as employees began working largely from home.
Health & Human Services
States and Counties Mandate Covid-19 Testing for Farm Workers
A handful of states and counties are requiring Covid-19 testing for farm and food-processing workers after several clusters of positive cases were traced back to agricultural facilities.
Health & Human Services
State Lawmakers Advance Bills to Protect Workers and Residents at Nursing Homes
Lawmakers in New Jersey last week moved legislation meant to curb Covid-19's spread in nursing homes and care facilities, including proposals to prioritize PPE and require increased wages for health workers.
Management
Revenue Shortfalls, Low Morale and New Technology: A Survey of Government Leaders in the Age of Covid-19
Facing reduced tax revenues and dealing with new challenges, local government officials in a new survey by ELGL, the Atlas and SeeClickFix reflect on staff morale and potential government cutbacks, as well as the technology that is helping them navigate this time.
Health & Human Services
One State Launches Online Tool to Help Residents Gauge Risk of Exposure to Covid-19
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services launched the "Decision Tool" after contact-tracing data showed an increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases linked to mass gatherings.
Management