Pew Charitable Trusts

Afghans Steered to States with ‘Help Wanted’ Signs, Pro-Immigrant Bent

A steel mill and a chocolate factory are among the businesses desperate to hire Afghans.

  • By Tim Henderson, Stateline

Poll: Americans Distrust Government Collection of Data

Americans are more likely to view the collection of their data by the government as a risk than a benefit.

  • By Andrea Noble

State Tax Revenue Makes Biggest Gains in Seven Years

Revenue collections were boosted by favorable economic conditions, robust stock market returns in 2017 and the first half of 2018, and state policy actions.

  • By Barb Rosewicz, Justin Theal and Daniel Newman

Could Plastic Driver’s Licenses Become a Thing of the Past?

Privacy advocates worry that digital licenses—still in their infancy—raise questions that state officials have yet to think through.

  • By Jenni Bergal

State Revenue Volatility and Optimal Reserve Size Are Directly Linked

Comparison of states provides insight into their ability to weather an economic downturn

  • By Mary Murphy and Steve Bailey

Environmentalists Say the Time to Act on Climate Is Now. Voters Aren’t So Sure.

Environmentalists say the state level still might be the best place to seek changes, though not necessarily at the ballot box, where the energy industry remains a fierce and well-funded foe.

  • By Rebecca Beitsch

1 in 55 U.S. Adults Is on Probation or Parole

Better strategies can cut that rate while protecting public safety, decreasing drug misuse, and reducing incarceration

  • By Jake Horowitz

How Indiana Is Taking On the Opioid Crisis

Looking at proposals for treatment system transformation, the substance use disorder workforce and underserved populations.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

States Make More Progress Rebuilding Rainy Day Funds

Total rainy-day balances have improved since their low point but still have fallen short of pre-recession levels.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

More Money—and Stricter Scrutiny—for Child Care

“What we’re seeing is an influx of state policymakers starting to wrap their arms around the fact that learning doesn’t start in kindergarten,” said Bruce Atchison of the Education Commission of the States.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Nonstick Chemicals Can Really Stick Around—in Your Body

Amid growing health concerns, policymakers in multiple states want to ban PFAS from food packaging and limit the substances in drinking water.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Stress Testing Can Help Troubled State Public Pension Funds

A new analysis shows benefits of considering a range of factors and scenarios.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts
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Hedge Those Bets: Sports Gambling May Not Be a Jackpot for States

Gambling experts warn that starry-eyed lawmakers might be overestimating their haul from legalized sports betting.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

States Turn to New Tool to Sustain Pension System Funding

Stress tests help policymakers plan for the next recession.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

So States Ban Bump Stocks. Now How Do They Enforce the Law?

New Jersey is not the only state having trouble enforcing its ban. In Massachusetts, where residents had until February to surrender their bump stocks, State Police received just three devices.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Legal Sports Betting Is About to Sweep the Nation. Services for Gambling Addicts Probably Won’t.

Only 17 states pay for one or more full-time staff positions to help problem gamblers, according to a 2016 survey from the National Council on Problem Gambling and the Association of Problem Gambling Service Administrators.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Why This State Thinks Engineers Can Save Pedestrians' Lives

The number of pedestrians killed on U.S. roadways is up—by a lot.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

White-Hat Hackers to the Rescue

There are reasons more aren’t using the service: Some states might not have the money, or might be nervous about allowing white-hat companies to try to breach their networks.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

State Economic Growth Uneven Since Recession Began

All three major components of personal income—work earnings, transfers such as Social Security benefits, and property income—rose over the past 10 years. Among the factors that shape personal income, effects vary by state.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Fido Survived the Research Lab. Now What?

Maryland just became the seventh state to enact a “Beagle Freedom” law.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts

Decade After Recession Began, Tax Revenue Higher in 34 States

But the growth spurt may be short-lived.

  • By The Pew Charitable Trusts