Author Archive
Kery Murakami
Infrastructure
Former coal towns get money for clean energy projects
Coal, oil and gas communities are receiving an amount of investment that is far above their share of the population.
Management
New health care grants look to reform how hospitals are paid
The program wants to increase primary care for Medicare and Medicaid recipients while reducing hospital and emergency room visits.
Cybersecurity
These federal grants could help shore up your cyberdefences
A report from the Government Accountability Office identified 27 grants not “intended to primarily support cybersecurity activities” that state and local governments could tap for critical funding—if they have grant writing expertise.
Finance
Senate passes stopgap measure to avert government shutdown
The chamber approved the same “laddered” spending bill as the House in a 87-11 bipartisan vote.
Infrastructure
FCC adopts rules prohibiting ‘digital redlining’
Deploying broadband in a way that discriminates against low-income communities is barred under the new rules, but observers worry that loopholes will make the rules less effective.
Finance
Shutdown appears averted as House passes ‘laddered’ proposal
The continuing resolution extends SNAP through September, ensures other benefit programs are funded into early 2024 and avoids millions of workers being furloughed.
Management
With a shutdown looming, states and localities ready plans
Officials say they could see an uptick in unemployment insurance claims, have trouble feeding low-income families and experience disruptions to air travel, among other things.
Finance
A dispute over Amtrak funding derailed a vote on THUD
The House GOP’s Transportation and Housing and Urban Development funding bill would cut $8 billion from the departments. But that’s not what scuttled the vote.
Finance
Amid high heating prices, emergency funding for energy bills dries up
Congress approved one-time funding last year to help low-income families pay to heat and cool their homes. As winter approaches, states and advocates are calling for more money.
Management
House proposes slashing $4B from the EPA
The GOP funding cuts, passed along party lines, would significantly impact state and local efforts to improve drinking water and reduce water pollution. Additional cuts would severely hamper environmental justice projects.
Infrastructure
Feds ease capital requirement for broadband funding
The rule, which required internet companies to put down millions of dollars upfront, would have excluded all but the biggest providers.
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Infrastructure
Cities ask the EPA to help them curb methane emissions from landfills
Despite local efforts, millions of tons of the powerful greenhouse gas, mostly from thrown-out food, are being released into the atmosphere. In a letter, cities have asked the EPA for grants, trainings and stronger regulations.
Infrastructure
A new federal proposal looks to take on digital redlining
The rules, which observers anticipate will be challenged in court, would allow the FCC to penalize broadband companies for providing poorer service to low-income customers.
Workforce
How one innovation hub plans to diversify the tech industry
Colorado’s quantum innovation hub consortium will ensure minorities and workers in rural and low-income areas get a fair share of the millions of jobs they believe the hub will create.
Emerging Tech
31 communities tapped as innovation hub finalists
The Biden administration expects the innovation hubs to spur scientific and technological innovation in communities across the country, including small and rural areas and those with historically underserved populations.
Management
County cuts recidivism with juvenile justice diversion programs
King County, Washington, is pushing counseling and diversion programs and considering closing its juvenile detention facility.
Finance
Student loan repayments will likely crimp tax revenue
Because borrowers will have less discretionary income, states and cities will likely see less tax revenue, a recent Pew report says.
Finance
How more than $600M in COVID relief funds awarded last year went unreported
The problem is even bigger this year, according to the Government Accountability Office. The lack of reporting makes it difficult to track fraud, waste and abuse.
Workforce
Not all states will go off the child care cliff
The end of federal child care subsidies will impact states differently depending on how they used the money and if they plan to spend their own.
Infrastructure