Governing

Governing The Future of States and Localities Governing connects America's leaders and citizens by providing news and analysis on management, policy and politics.

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Ransomware attacks can shut down systems, disrupt services and generate headlines. But the true costs often extend far b...
06/10/2026

Ransomware attacks can shut down systems, disrupt services and generate headlines. But the true costs often extend far beyond the ransom itself, creating long-term financial, operational and public trust challenges for state and local governments.

State and local governments are likelier to face a ransomware attack than they are almost any other major emergency. These attacks' true damage goes far beyond the price of the ransom.

As tribal nations expand their digital capabilities, protecting sensitive data is becoming an increasingly urgent challe...
06/10/2026

As tribal nations expand their digital capabilities, protecting sensitive data is becoming an increasingly urgent challenge. Strengthening cybersecurity and data governance is essential to safeguarding sovereignty and public services, writes Kerri J. Malloy, an assistant professor of Native American and Indigenous studies at San José State University.

AI poses a threat to Native sovereignty over cultural knowledge. Tribal nations should have the authority to govern how their data is collected, stored, interpreted, shared and used.

Federal resilience grants have helped communities prepare for floods, wildfires and other disasters before they strike. ...
06/09/2026

Federal resilience grants have helped communities prepare for floods, wildfires and other disasters before they strike. As that funding disappears, state and local governments may face tougher choices about how to invest in resilience and who bears the cost of future risks.

The cancellation of these funds has left communities scrambling to scale back long-planned infrastructure projects meant to reduce future disaster risks.

Public pension systems are increasingly turning to alternative investments in search of stronger returns. But assets suc...
06/09/2026

Public pension systems are increasingly turning to alternative investments in search of stronger returns. But assets such as private equity, hedge funds and private credit can bring added complexity, higher fees and new risks for retirement savers, writes Governing’s Girard Miller.

An array of non-traditional investment vehicles will likely be offered up to governments’ defined-contribution plans. Consultants, plan sponsors and overseers need to approach them with caution.

Homelessness in the http://U.S. declined for the first time in nearly a decade, but the trend is far from universal. New...
06/08/2026

Homelessness in the http://U.S. declined for the first time in nearly a decade, but the trend is far from universal. New data shows sharp differences among states, underscoring how housing costs, local conditions and policy choices continue to shape outcomes.
Map: Homelessness Is Down Overall, but Not in Every State https://bit.ly/4efiRm1

A Housing and Urban Development report awaited since December shows homeless numbers went down for the first time since 2016.

Public transit remains a critical link to jobs, education and essential services, but access varies widely depending on ...
06/08/2026

Public transit remains a critical link to jobs, education and essential services, but access varies widely depending on where people live. A new state-by-state comparison highlights the uneven geography of transit opportunity across America.

A new analysis from the Urban Institute finds only 10 percent of American homes are located within half a mile of frequent public transit service, with significant variation from place to place.

For the rapidly growing number of Americans earning income independently, work doesn’t come with a benefits department. ...
06/08/2026

For the rapidly growing number of Americans earning income independently, work doesn’t come with a benefits department. That’s one reason why “portable benefits” reforms have been sweeping through statehouses and are beginning to attract serious attention on Capitol Hill. writes Liya Palagashvili, director of the Labor Policy Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and Jonathan Wolfson, a visiting fellow at the Institute for the American Worker.
https://bit.ly/4evcc8g

Benefits that travel with workers from job to job give them stability, and they’re a recruitment and retention tool for businesses. State laws that provide legal clarity can make it work for everyone.

California’s primary elections offer an early look at the ideological battles likely to shape campaigns and voter coalit...
06/03/2026

California’s primary elections offer an early look at the ideological battles likely to shape campaigns and voter coalitions in the years ahead.

Votes aren’t fully counted, but the general-election duels for California governor, L.A. mayor and other offices are starting to take shape.

The Colorado River supplies water to 40 million people across seven states. But there’s a problem: there’s simply no lon...
06/03/2026

The Colorado River supplies water to 40 million people across seven states. But there’s a problem: there’s simply no longer enough water for everyone. As resources shrink, state leaders must negotiate a new plan for sharing a critical resource.

Seven states that rely on Colorado River water couldn’t agree on a plan to share a shrinking resource. What comes next could be especially fateful for Arizona.

Maryland has become the first state to restrict "surveillance pricing" in grocery stores, signaling a new frontier in co...
06/03/2026

Maryland has become the first state to restrict "surveillance pricing" in grocery stores, signaling a new frontier in consumer protection policy.

The state has become the first to ban personalized algorithmic pricing for food retailers and food delivery companies.

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