Author Archive
Kate Elizabeth Queram
Public Safety
'Willing to Take Assistance' Whatever to Combat Illegal Marijuana Farms
An Oregon county declared a state of emergency and is begging the state for $750,000, 45 new employees and the National Guard, which officials say is necessary because the illegal businesses are running rampant, depleting resources and spiking crime.
Management
Should States and Localities Have Official Languages?
Voters in one Pennsylvania county will decide whether to remove English as the official language in a city charter. Dozens of states and localities have similar measures on the books.
Public Safety
Cracking Cold Cases: Police Turn to Podcasts to Track Down Killers
Law enforcement officials say that department-sponsored podcasts—free, easy to download and available on demand—are perfect for disseminating information. (America’s true-crime obsession doesn’t hurt.)
Health & Human Services
Public Health Departments Need 80,000 New Employees. But That's Not Enough for Another Pandemic.
A recent analysis found that state and local health agencies should increase staffing levels by 80% just to deliver basic services. Federal Covid-19 relief money can pay for some positions, but stability requires permanent funding.
Health & Human Services
Snip Snip: One Plan to Mandate Vasectomies to Prevent Pregnancies
A Pennsylvania lawmaker said his “parody legislation,” outlined in a sponsorship memo, is meant to garner discussion about reproductive rights.
Management
Why Mail-in Voting Became a Partisan Issue
Prior to 2020, mail-in voting was largely noncontroversial across the United States. Former President Donald Trump changed that.
Finance
More Than 500,000 Public Workers Likely to See Debt Relief Under Student Loan Forgiveness Overhaul
The U.S. Department of Education announced a host of changes Wednesday to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which guarantees debt forgiveness to qualifying public sector employees.
Health & Human Services
Why States are Expanding Domestic Violence Laws to Include Emotional Abuse
Connecticut is the latest state to do so, updating its laws to provide new protections for people victimized by damaging psychological tactics and controlling behavior.
Infrastructure
A State’s Plan for the Nation’s First Section of Wireless Charging Road
Michigan hopes to test out a short segment of roadway that will allow electric cars to recharge as they drive, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
Management
State and Local Government Beats out Federal in Survey of Citizen Trust
Digital services had a strong impact on whether residents found governments trustworthy, according to the report from Deloitte.
Management
A Free Tool to Help Cities Take Full Advantage of Federal Aid
The collaboration between Bloomberg Philanthropies and the U.S. Conference of Mayors lets city leaders search information and ask questions about rules and regulations related to coronavirus relief money.
Featured eBooks
Public Safety
A State Moves to Establish a Process for Revoking Police Officer Licenses
California is one of just four states without such a system in place. A bill that would change that is awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.
Health & Human Services
Supply of Antibody Drugs Could Drop in Some States as Feds Take Over Distribution
The Biden administration announced the new policy after a handful of states, most of them with low vaccination rates, accounted for nearly three-fourths of orders for the Covid-19 monoclonal antibody treatment.
Health & Human Services
State Lawmakers Push to Allow Residents to Contribute to Abortion Access Fund
A bill would allow New York residents to contribute on their tax returns, allocating money to nonprofit organizations that help women travel and pay for abortions.
Health & Human Services
Secretly Removing a Condom During Sex is Technically Legal. One State is Poised to Change That.
Lawmakers in California approved legislation to ban “stealthing.” If signed into law, the state would be the first to explicitly outlaw the practice.
Management
He Left a War-Torn Country as a Refugee and Went on to Become a US Mayor
Helena, Montana Mayor Wilmot Collins came to the United States in 1994 from Liberia. His life journey is a true immigrant success story.
Finance
Voters Have No Clue How Much Money State Lawmakers Make
Registered voters overshot their lawmakers’ annual pay by large margins in a recent survey. When given the correct salaries, respondents were more likely to support pay increases for legislators.
Management
Lyft and Uber Establish Legal Funds to Protect Drivers from Texas Abortion Law
The ride-booking companies said they would cover legal fees if their drivers are sued under the state’s new law, which allows private citizens to file lawsuits against anyone who “aids and abets” a woman in obtaining an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.
Health & Human Services
Hoping to Boost Vaccine Rates, One State Announces Grants for Primary Care Doctors
The Colorado program will use federal relief money to help health care practices boost vaccine distribution.
Health & Human Services