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The National Guard Takes On Hackers
Washington National Guard members wait in an end zone to take a re-enlistment oath before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings late last year. Washington and other states view the Guard as a natural fit to counter cyberattacks. (AP) At home, the National Guard is summoned during natural disasters and […]
Former State Lawmakers in Congress Look Back Fondly
Click through for the interactive map. As a Democratic state senator in Maine, Chellie Pingree enjoyed frequent, freewheeling debates with her colleagues from both parties. She helped pass legislation to lower prescription drug costs for the uninsured, and watched proudly as the measure had a ripple effect in other states. But after eight happy years […]
How Do You Commute?
Statistics on commuting get a lot more interesting at the state level. See Stateline Interactive: Commute Times and Methods by State How do you get to work each day and how long does it take? Nationally, American workers spent an average of 25.4 minutes getting to work in 2008, compared to 25.7 minutes in 2012. […]
Why States Need Social Media Policies
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence’s office was caught deleting Facebook comments that were critical of his position on gay marriage. A website was set up to capture the censored comments. (Courtesy of Pencership.com) Soon after Indiana Gov. Mike Pence posted a statement on Facebook expressing disappointment in the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage, a long […]
Federal Shutdown Alarms State Health Officials
Louise Hannings , left, receives a flu shot from Kelly Frame, a public health nurse with the Cape May County Health Department, at a senior center in New Jersey. State health officials are concerned that the federal shutdown will harm the fight against the flu. (AP) This week more than 11,000 U.S. Muslims are expected […]
Cash-Strapped Governments Turn to Special Districts
David Hartman of Colorado’s Pagosa Fire Protection District pauses while fighting a wildfire last August. Special districts, such as fire protection districts, have proliferated as cash-strapped local governments have looked to them to provide services. (AP) Kentucky state Auditor Adam Edelen used a standard icebreaker when he met voters during his 2011 campaign: “Who’s cheating […]
Local Governments Rose Slightly During Recession
Residents opposed to the consolidation of Michigan towns Saugatuck and Douglas raise their hands at a community meeting on the merger. Local governments across the country are considering consolidation to help survive the Great Recession. (Credit: Lindsey Smith / Michigan Radio) In Saugatuck and Douglas, two quaint cities on the coast of Lake Michigan, people […]