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Lawmakers will devote considerable time this year to perennial concerns such as crime and education.
A federal grand jury has indicted Sheng Thao as part of a sprawling case involving other top Bay Area officials and contractors.
The state withdrew its pioneering clean air regulations for diesel trucks and trains, acknowledging they wouldn’t win federal approval. The state intended to end sales of trucks powered by fossil fuels by 2036.
Gov. Ron DeSantis says sheriffs will have to help the Trump administration carry out its immigration policies or he’ll remove them from office.
Lots of prosecutors, judicial staff and jurors lost their homes. Many others left court because they felt ill from dangerous air.
Marla Luckert, the chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court. Luckert delivered a State of the Judiciary speech on Wednesday before the Legislature, saying lack of access to legal representation is an “all-out crisis” that threatens to undermine faith in the judicial system as a whole. Rural areas are particularly short of attorneys, with a third of those who practice in rural counties over the age of 60. (Kansas Reflector – Jan. 15, 2025)
Lawmakers continue to try to get ahead of the curve on AI and many are eager to curb social media use among the young. Climate remains the top environmental concern but "forever chemicals" are more likely to see bipartisan action.
New York's mayor, embroiled in legal trouble, has no chance at winning a second term. Meanwhile, the two parties argue about whether the legislative year can even begin in Minnesota.
Mayor Michelle Wu has hired more than 300 new City Hall staffers, helping fuel budget growth of 8 percent over the past year. Many of the new positions are in middle and upper management.
California will ultimately get lots of help from Washington but some GOP lawmakers want to tie wildfire assistance to policy strings. Hawaii had to wait more than a year for aid to be approved after the Maui fires.
Melissa Hortman, Democratic leader of the Minnesota House. After the November election, the chamber was tied. One seat won by the Democrats is vacant, so Republicans currently have a one-seat majority. Democrats boycotted Tuesday’s opening session, depriving the chamber of a quorum. Republicans decided to proceed, installing one of their own as speaker. The contentious situation will likely be sorted out by the state supreme court. (NPR – June 14, 2025)
Grant programs too often send money to areas that already have resources. Federal agencies should work with state and local leaders to identify the place-specific needs of regional economies and develop custom projects.
Between brazen minor offenses like organized shoplifting and a few heavily publicized acts of random violence, it’s little wonder that people are on edge.
Even the most basic computing tasks require electrical power. The level of computing that drives today’s economy is far from basic.
A 2022 law gave staff the ability to unionize. Their new contract will provide a raise of 3 percent in July and additional workplace protections.
States face a tricky year, with their own revenues stalling and federal aid running low.
Karen Bass has come in for criticism over her handling of the fire department’s budget and other issues. Her chances for reelection may depend on the city’s long rebuilding process.
Georgia GOP Gov. Brian Kemp. The governor’s education spending proposal would fully fund the state’s K-12 funding formula and provide additional funding for school safety, mental health counseling, technical education and transportation, and facilities and equipment. "I made a promise to hardworking Georgians that we would make all of our children a priority in this state, and we are doing that once again today,” Kemp said. (WAGA – Jan. 13, 2025)
U.S. prisons are dangerous for corrections staff and incarcerated people alike and recidivism rates are high. Can a Scandinavian-inspired culture shift help?
It’s just too hard to start a new business. These offices can do a lot to eliminate governmental red tape and remove other barriers to our engines of job creation and economic growth.
PowerSchool, which has 16,000 customers, is used by more than 50 million students. Hackers gained access to information about them and their parents, receiving ransom to prevent leaks of the stolen data.
A resident of Corpus Christi, Texas. Last November’s city council election resulted in a tie between incumbent Everett Roy and former councilmember Billy Lerma. Both received 1,916 votes in a runoff election, as verified by a recount. To determine the winner, the two candidates drew numbered beads from a box, with Roy drawing a 3 to Lerma's 2. (Texas Tribune – Jan. 10, 2025)
Maryland’s Democratic governor has quickly gained a national profile and enjoys strong support at home. But a $3 billion budget shortfall is going to force him to make some unpopular choices.
Before the Goodmans (Oscar and Carolyn) served as mayor, the biggest game in town was college basketball. Thanks to the personal relationships they built, the city now has the NFL and hockey, with baseball soon to follow.
The nation's largest health insurance program is likely to be cut in Congress this year to pay for other priorities. That could have profound ramifications for state budgets and the health-care system.
Voters in several states, including deeply red ones, chose to make significant boosts. While the federal minimum remains stuck at $7.25, 10 states now have a wage of $15 or higher and more are headed in that direction.
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