News and analysis about the people who lead, manage and direct public agencies as they work towards well-managed, vibrant and resilient communities.

Washington, D.C.
Joined March 2009
The biggest story of the midterms may not be who controls Congress, writes Leslie Graves, founder and CEO of Ballotpedia. Races down the ballot could reshape state and local government, with consequences for policies that affect Americans' daily lives. bit.ly/3W3JZij
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Some public transit agencies lock in fuel prices ahead of time through a practice called hedging. That practice is paying off this year as fuel prices reach record highs.  bit.ly/4sdQOd7
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Other states can learn from Louisiana’s nimble, efficient approach to expanding broadband access to underserved areas across the state, argues Nate Karren of the American Consumer Institute.  bit.ly/3TRIRh8
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Putting riders first. Rebuilding trust. Challenging the status quo. Hear how Randy Clarke is leading change at Metro in the latest episode of The Common Thread. Catch the full conversation: bit.ly/4hZALuK #TheCommonThread #PublicLeadership #StateAndLocal
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California’s biggest election stories aren’t necessarily getting the most attention. Beyond the governor’s race, consequential contests could reshape political representation and the balance of power in the state. bit.ly/4jJfSGT
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A climate lawsuit out of Colorado could have consequences far beyond the state. The Supreme Court's decision could determine whether local governments can pursue fossil fuel companies in state courts and shape the future of climate litigation nationwide. bit.ly/4zwGdMH
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Rebuilding public trust starts with delivering results. In the latest episode of The Common Thread, WMATA’s Randy Clarke shares how he’s transforming Metro by putting riders first, improving safety and reliability, and embracing accountability. 🎥 Watch: bit.ly/4B589ZT
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When measles strikes, local health officers face tough decisions about quarantines, school exclusions and vaccinations. For local governments, the challenge is containing outbreaks while maintaining the public trust needed to respond effectively. bit.ly/4s50whG
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In a time of extreme housing affordability challenges, states have an obligation to clear the way for more manufactured housing, writes Governing columnist Emily Hamilton. Here's how they should do it:  bit.ly/47pNYrU
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David Morales, a 28-year-old socialist and state rep who grew up in Providence public housing, is the first candidate in the city to ever defeat an incumbent mayor in a primary. His campaign was centered on housing issues and the high cost of rent. bit.ly/4sbmBeU
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At least 31 states have laws against AI-generated deepfake ads and campaign calls. As the laws in two of them demonstrate, there’s not much that can be done to guarantee voters that what they’re seeing or hearing is real. bit.ly/3VILZMJ
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Over the last decade, the price of potable water has risen faster than the cost of food. Why are costs skyrocketing, and what can states do? bit.ly/4rXwSuM
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Christa Pike is believed to be the only person ever to survive a lethal injection — but she’s far from the only death row prisoner to experience prolonged agony during the administration of the fatal drugs. bit.ly/4i9w9n4
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In the latest episode of The Common Thread, Governing CEO Cathilea Robinett sits down with Utah Senate Majority Leader Kirk Cullimore, one of Governing’s 2026 Public Officials of the Year. Watch the new episode: bit.ly/47HHrc9
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Teacher pay is rising, but bigger paychecks don’t always mean greater buying power. See how teacher raises stack up against the cost of living across the country. bit.ly/4jst4zN
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With new billions coming from a social media giant, states have an opportunity to get the spending — and the accountability — right. That hasn’t always been the outcome. bit.ly/4i5p9Yi
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