Help Us Crowdsource State and Local Government News Links
Two hashtags you can use to help us monitor news from across the nation and where you live: #localgovwire and #stategovwire
Mayor Emanuel: ‘Chicago Will Not Be Blackmailed’ by Trump Administration
The Windy City plans to sue the federal government and “will continue to stand up to President Trump and his Justice Department.”
The Transit Investments That Stitched Together L.A.’s Winning 2028 Olympic Bid
“LA 2028 is about what we have, not what we’re going to build” in terms of venues. But it also helped that an impressive array of transportation improvements are already underway across the City of Angels.
The Very Real Dangers of Building in the Wildland-Urban Interface
In central Oregon, the city of Bend and Deschutes County are no strangers to big wildfires. But building more fire-resilient communities isn’t always easy.
It’s Been 10 Years Since the Deadly I-35W Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis
But “almost nothing has been done in this country to keep it from happening again,” according to former Mayor R.T. Ryback.
A Bird’s-Eye View of a Bad Wildfire Season in the West
So far this year, fires have burned 5.2 million acres of land. And it’s only going to get worse.
New Mapping Tool Helps Chattanoogans Explore Their City’s Data
"Open data has a tremendous ability to break down barriers and empower communities,” according to Mayor Andy Berke.
The Tech That Helps San Francisco Process Its Wastewater
PHOTOS: Treating raw sewage and stormwater involves a maze of pipes and plenty of data analytics, too.
Oregon’s DOT Cleans Up Slimy Mess From a Korean Delicacy
PHOTOS: One unlucky car was completely slimed in an unusual mucus from eel-like hagfish.
Keeping the Nation’s Busiest Locks Running Strong for Another Hundred Years
PHOTOS: The Ballard Locks in Seattle were an American engineering triumph when they opened a century ago and there’s plenty of other critical infrastructure and economic activity that continue to rely on this waterway.
A Long-Haul Rail Journey on a Train Trump Wants to Eliminate
One of the best ways to better appreciate America is, unfortunately, an endangered species thanks to the White House.
In Madison, a Low-Tech Idea to Use Buses as a Traffic Enforcement Tool
Should law enforcement piggy-back on moving transit vehicles to get a bird’s-eye view of adjacent driver behavior?
When 100,000 People Suddenly Swarm a Rural City of 6,500 Residents
Oregon expects 1 million visitors for the highly anticipated solar eclipse in August and Madras will play a starring role in managing the influx of people.
Route Fifty Navigator Award Nominations Deadline Extended
We’re getting ready to review submissions in this year’s program to feature 50 individual and team finalists from the world of state and local government. But we’re giving you just a little more time.
Cuomo Dispatches Portable Dams to Fend Off Lake Ontario Flooding in Upstate New York
The high water levels aren’t expected to recede for months.
How Western Washington’s Geographic Barriers Squeeze Lifelines During Emergencies
Mountainous, forested topography can squeeze—or cut off—the Pacific Northwest’s key transportation routes at the worst times. What happens when the Big One hits?
This Promising Tech Tool Can Save Lives Before a Major Earthquake Strikes
As the Trump administration preps to kill ShakeAlert, here's a scenario to demonstrate why funding its continued implementation is critical.
Managing Risk in the U.S. City Facing the Most Danger From Urban Avalanches
If the conditions are right, snow and ice can rip a path of destruction in Juneau, Alaska. This spring, Route Fifty explored an avalanche that came down Mount Juneau, which could have hit a neighborhood if circumstances were different.
Portland Mayor Calls on Feds to Revoke 'Trump Free Speech Rally' Permit
Mayor Ted Wheeler: “Our city is in mourning, our community’s anger is real and the timing and subject of these events can only exacerbate an already difficult situation.”
New Series: The Geography of Disaster Risk and Resiliency in America
Starting in Alaska and heading to the Lower 48, Route Fifty will feature locations that tell interesting stories about the dangers and disasters that our communities face.
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