Author
Adrienne Lu
Adrienne Lu leads Pew’s efforts to examine how states can support and strengthen the fiscal health of local governments. Her work focuses on detecting and responding to local government fiscal distress, municipal finances, and how state policies have the potential to affect local budgets and economies.
Marijuana Revenue Still Hazy for States
By: Adrienne Lu - September 16, 2014
© AP A customer pays cash for retail marijuana at 3D Cannabis Center, in Denver, Colorado, one of two states where recreational marijuana is now legal. Many states are watching to see how much tax revenue legalized marijuana brings in – so far in Colorado, sales have been far under projections, although they continue to […]
States Collaborate to Keep Track of Students
By: Adrienne Lu - September 5, 2014
© AP Students at North Thurston High School in Olympia, Washington, one of four states that participated in a pilot project that shared data about student outcomes. States hope that this data will help them in education planning. (AP) For years, Washington state has collected data on students from prekindergarten through college along with workforce […]
Veterans Win In-State Tuition Benefit
By: Adrienne Lu - August 19, 2014
© AP Students rally for in-state tuition for veterans and others in front of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida was one of several states that made it easier for veterans to be eligible for in-state tuition before a federal law expanded the benefit for some veterans nationwide. (AP) As president of the Collegiate […]
States Watching Congress on Internet Access Taxes
By: Adrienne Lu - August 5, 2014
© AP Jean Menden uses a laptop in her home in rural Boyd, Minnesota, where she has ultra-fast broadband that allows her to run an online business. Congress is considering making a ban on state and local taxes on Internet access permanent, or extending the ban and pairing it with controversial online sales tax legislation. […]
States Debate Regulating Digital Currency
By: Adrienne Lu - July 28, 2014
© ADRIENNE LU/Stateline Giuseppe Lanzone talks with a customer at his Peruvian Brothers food truck, which accepts bitcoin for payment. Giuseppe and his brother Mario operate two food trucks in Washington, D.C. About a dozen customers have used bitcoin to pay for their purchases since they began accepting it in December. Giuseppe said bitcoin saves […]
States Debate Millionaires’ Taxes
By: Adrienne Lu - July 16, 2014
© AP Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, argues in favor of the “Millionaires’ Tax” proposal at the state Capitol. About a dozen states have increased income tax rates on high-income earners since the Great Recession. When New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie last month vetoed a tax increase on any income over million, […]
States Hit the Brakes on Road Projects As Federal Fund Goes Broke
By: Adrienne Lu - July 2, 2014
© AP A truck drives on the Highway 40 bridge over I-70 near Midway, Missouri. As the federal Highway Trust Fund barrels toward insolvency, Missouri and other states have delayed highway projects to avoid getting stuck with bills they can’t pay or starting projects they can’t finish. (AP) Instead of shifting into high gear during […]
Online Gambling Revenues Fall Short
By: Adrienne Lu - June 24, 2014
© AP A computer screen in Atlantic City, New Jersey, shows a losing game of slots on the website of the Tropicana Casino and Resort. New Jersey started offering Internet gambling last November and has been disappointed in revenues to date. State lawmakers who dream of dollar signs from legalized online gambling might want to […]
Common Core Sparks Flood of Legislation
By: Adrienne Lu - June 12, 2014
© AP Mary Natali teaches her first grade class at George Buck Elementary School in Indianapolis. Indiana was the first state in the country to revoke the Common Core math and English standards, leaving teachers reeling from years of change. Stephen Colbert mocked it. Comedian Louis C.K. called it a “massive stress ball that hangs […]
States Intervene When School Districts Hit Financial Trouble
By: Adrienne Lu - May 28, 2014
© AP Among the students at Francis Howell Central High in Cottleville, Missouri, are dozens of transfers from the Normandy School District, which is being dissolved July 1 and restarted by the state. States often step in to help school districts that are financially struggling. Pushed to the brink of financial ruin, the Normandy School […]
Students Paying Bigger Share of Public College Costs
By: Adrienne Lu - May 15, 2014
Students at Indiana University celebrate at commencement ceremonies in Bloomington, Indiana, last week. Indiana State University has promised students they can graduate within four years or be able to take remaining courses for free, one of the ways public colleges and institutions are trying to help students to afford college as tuitions goes up. (AP) […]
Some Schools Hiring Teachers as Revenues Increase, Others Struggle
By: Adrienne Lu - May 5, 2014
Recent high school graduate Jordan Salguero, right, waits to play in a farewell concert in Philadelphia at the school district’s headquarters last June along with music teachers who were slated to lose their jobs. Job prospects for teachers range from dire to great across the country. (AP) Follow on Twitter Teachers looking for new jobs […]