Author Archive

Michael Grass

Michael Grass
Michael Grass, who joined the Government Executive Media Group in June 2014, is the founding co-editor of DCist.com and worked as a copy editor at Roll Call, local and online editor at The Washington Post's Express newspaper, deputy managing editor at The New York Observer's Politicker.com, deputy managing editor at Washington City Paper and the D.C., Maryland and Virginia local editor for The Huffington Post. He also managed a non-profit network of state-based policy news sites in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and New Mexico.
Management

The Importance of Looking Beyond Your Own Boundaries

Route Fifty’s executive editor shares insights covering state and local government day in and day out for nearly five years.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Powerful Tornado Kills at Least 22 in Alabama

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Openly gay mayor brutally attacked … Sunday liquor sales OK’d by W.Va. governor … and vote nears on Tucson’s e-scooter pilot.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Pedestrian Deaths in 2018 Increase to Highest Levels Since 1990

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Ore. governor signs statewide rent control bill … Ariz. governor is “pro-vaccination and anti-measles” … and Fla. toll road expansion

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Federal Judge Blocks Texas Counties From Purging Voters

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Flooding isolates Northern California cities … snowed-in Oregon town faces lengthy power outages … and boosting Alabama’s gas tax.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Tolling Proposals in Connecticut Push Federal Officials Into ‘New Territory’

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Chicago mayoral primary results ... new fees proposed for Uber, Lyft rides in Los Angeles … and Colorado Springs vaping public health emergency.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Small Bikeshare System to Launch in an Unexpected Place

Wheeling, West Virginia looks to leverage its local network of bike trails.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Chicago Mayoral Election Could Bring a ‘Nightmare Scenario’

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Oakland teachers strike continues … boosting teacher pay in Texas … and Florida mayor ‘socialized with people of dubious repute.’

  • By Michael Grass
Management

‘There’s No One to Help You Right Now’: 911 Calls Released From Deadly Firestorm

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Alaska localities decry governor’s budget cuts … a Texas city with 400,000 people and no transit system … and Ohio River flooding.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

N.Y.C. Mayor Looks to Tame Abuse of Official Parking Placards

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Alaska to end ferry service in October … Philly term limits … and a Florida mayor shoots at police officers raiding his home.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Health Department’s Dog Crackdown Brings No Joy to Brewery Taproom

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Austin’s measles risk … former Little Rock mayor’s unused paid time off … and a Florida county’s understaffed 911 dispatch center.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Ohio Governor Says Raising State’s Gas Tax Is Unavoidable

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | What-if megastorm scenarios for L.A. area ... New Jersey “dirt broker” loopholes … and Orlando autonomous bus shuttles.

  • By Michael Grass
Featured eBooks
The State of Trust in Government
Cybersecurity in State and Local Government
Building Data Literacy in the State and Local Workforce
Digital Government

Philly Mayor Deleted Years of Text Messages

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | W.Va. teachers strike … Alaska cold case leads to arrest in Maine using genetic genealogy … and the Cincinnati City Council’s attendance record.

  • By Michael Grass
Finance

General Electric to Pay Back State Incentives After Backtracking on New Headquarters

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Ann Arbor dioxane plume … Norfolk’s recycling quandary … and the Bay Area’s new managed toll lane agreement.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Making the Case Against Bigger and Longer Trucks on Capitol Hill

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Alaska budget pain … Utah hepatitis A outbreak is over … and Kentucky’s governor sends Louisville mayor critical letter.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

California Governor Scales Back State’s High-Speed Rail Plans

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Baltimore targets trash burning … Illinois looks for way to dig out of pension mess … and Maine’s pragmatic budget.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Utah Lawmakers Move to Restrict Voter-Approved Medicaid Expansion

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Denver teachers go on strike … Kansas’ low meningitis vaccination rate … and New Jersey’s 94-year-old mayor.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

A New Call to Scrap Portland’s Unusual Form of Government

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Proposal would shutter Syracuse freeway … Palo Alto parking garage proposal scrutinized … and Massachusetts vaporizer tax.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

‘If You Elect to Be on the Roads, You Must Make Good Choices’

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Florida governor’s teacher bonus proposal … Louisville pension worries … and Pittsburgh’s mayor has an evening hobby.

  • By Michael Grass
Infrastructure

Using Nudges and Shoves to Encourage Better Transportation Choices

Yes, you can close a major urban highway and the world won’t end.

  • By Michael Grass
Management

Portlanders Don’t Hesitate to Call 911 About ‘Unwanted’ Persons

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | N.M. governor pulls National Guard troops from border … legal challenge to Idaho Medicaid expansion fails … and shortest commutes.

  • By Michael Grass