What to watch for in Tuesday’s high-stakes elections
Abortion rights are playing a pivotal role in elections in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Plus, more news to use from around the country in this week's State and Local Roundup.
The Fight to Reverse Increasing Maternal Mortality Rates
The U.S. has some of the highest mortality rates in the world. A study in North Carolina found approaches that are making a difference.
‘Do Not Drink the Water,’ Mississippi Governor Tells Jackson Area’s 250,000 Residents
“The city cannot produce enough water to fight fires, to flush toilets and to meet other critical needs,” Gov. Tate Reeves said.
$53.3 Million. 33 Jobs. No Plan. That’s How Mississippi Lawmakers Are Spending BP Oil Spill Money.
Business leaders hoped the state would use money from the 2010 oil spill to transform Mississippi’s coastal economy. Instead, lawmakers are using much of it to fill gaps in local government budgets and fund projects with few metrics for success.
Conditions at Mississippi’s Most Notorious Prison Violate the Constitution, DOJ Says
“The problems at Parchman are severe, systemic, and exacerbated by serious deficiencies in staffing and supervision,” the report said.
In Mississippi, Another Push to Ease Restrictions on Divorce
The change would make things easier for someone trying to end a marriage against their partner’s wishes.
Price Jumps Prompt Pocketbook Policies in States
The Midwest and South are seeing the biggest spikes.
Rural Leaders Fear They’ll Miss Out on Infrastructure Money
Small towns might not have the staff to write grants, according to state and association officials.
The Best and Worst States for Child Well-Being
Massachusetts took the top spot in the KIDS COUNT Data Book, an annual survey from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, while Mississippi ranked 50th.
Lowest Rates, Highest Hurdles: Southern States Tackle Vaccine Gap
"It's not a Covid vaccine thing. It's a Mississippi thing."
Best and Worst States for City Manager Jobs
The median salary for the highest 10% of city manager positions is $227,000, but not all these executives nationwide fare as well when it comes to pay and opportunities, according to a recent report.
Pandemic Prompts Some States to Pass Struggling Third Graders
Citing mental health concerns, some states are delaying third-grade retention.
What Can Parks Do When Demand Rises as Budgets Decline?
Though there may be greater appreciation for the nation’s parks, many are still fighting for funding. Some states are finding solutions.
Families Say Athletic Bans Would Exact Toll on Rural Transgender Youth
This year, state lawmakers across the country have filed more than two dozen bills that would ban transgender youth from playing on sports teams that don’t align with their sex at birth.
In America, Covid Vaccine Eligibility Is a ‘Crazy Quilt’ of State Rules
Across the country, a mishmash of rules to qualify for the Covid-19 vaccine is creating difficulties for people seeking the shots.
High Obesity Rates in Southern States Magnify Covid Threat
In the American South, obesity is playing a role not only in covid outcomes, but in the calculus of the vaccination rollout.
Mid-Sized City Mayors Urge Feds Not to Forget Them in Climate Fight
The type of infrastructure investment needed to advance the Biden administration’s climate policy goals could be out of reach for many small and mid-sized cities without federal help.
‘It’s Patchwork’: Rural Teachers Struggle to Connect in Pandemic
Some teachers are hand-delivering reading material to students’ homes.
Biden Criticizes ‘Neanderthal Thinking’ as Two Governors Roll Back Mask Mandates
The Republican governors of Texas and Mississippi this week announced plans to ease public health restrictions, prompting the rebuke from the president.
Hospitals, ICU Beds Reach Capacity Across U.S. as Pandemic Surges
STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | DOJ investigates Kansas City’s contracting policies… cities expand pilot programs providing guaranteed income... Mississippi prisons deal with understaffing.
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