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In rural Arizona, Maricopa County uses tech to make voting more secure
March 18, 2024 | News, Digital GovernmentProviding voting access in rural areas has long been a challenge in the state, and across the country. Now, Maricopa county is hosting a big test of its efforts to improve access to the ballot in remote polling locations.
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‘Tough-on-crime’ policies are back in some places that had reimagined criminal justice
| News, ManagementSeveral states are considering or have already enacted legislation undoing more progressive policies.
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Sunshine Week brings attention to state efforts to overhaul open records laws
March 15, 2024 | News, ManagementAs technology renders decades-old open records policies obsolete, states look to overhaul them. It is pitting government officials against good-government groups and reporters.
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988 currently doesn’t use geolocation services. Counties want to change that.
| News, ManagementCounties are pushing for Congress to pass legislation that will require calls be routed based on location. Wireless carriers are already working with the federal government to start doing that.
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Supreme Court clarifies when public officials can block citizens on social media
| News, Digital GovernmentThe Supreme Court unanimously found in a pair of cases that whether a government official can block a constituent on their personal social media account hinges on if a post is a state action or is private conduct.
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Working-class people rarely have a seat ‘at the legislative table’ in state capitols
| News, WorkforceThe dearth of working-class legislators raises concerns that economic challenges such as wage stagnation and the rising cost of living will get short shrift in state capitols.
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What’s the status of your EMS?
| News, WorkforceCOMMENTARY | As rural communities struggle to keep Emergency Medical Services operating, how do we assess the condition of those services? Are we asking the right questions?
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Community groups step up to help rural agencies’ disaster recovery
March 14, 2024 | News, ManagementOrganizations like long-term recovery groups can help rural agencies get housing, financial, health care and food assistance to victims of natural disasters.
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There are 100,000 fewer Election Day polling places in 2024
| News, ManagementA major Supreme Court decision, a pandemic and localized issues have all conspired to reduce the number of physical voting locations. Advocates say that’s bad for democracy.
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Why do our traffic laws prioritize speed over safety?
| News, InfrastructureCOMMENTARY | Reducing traffic accidents is not rocket science. Lower speeds mean fewer accidents and less severe injuries when crashes do occur.