Government / Politics

Report Finds Conflicts of Interest in Elaine Chao's Time as Transportation Secretary
The U.S. Department of Justice in the final weeks of the Trump administration rejected an attempt to broaden the investigation into former Secretary Elaine Chao's potential ethics violations.

Texas Grid Operator to Be Investigated by Congressional Subcommittee
Texas' costliest natural disaster will be the subject of a congressional investigation by a House Oversight subcommittee thanks to Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who is concerned about ERCOT's lack of preparation for extreme winter weather.

The Failures of the U.S.-Mexico Border Wall
Trump's promised "impenetrable" wall has proven to be anything but.

Newark Launches Land Bank to Revive Long-Vacant Properties
The land bank will assess proposals for the sale and redevelopment of 100 city-owned properties in neglected neighborhoods.

Opinion: Stop Paving Seattle Playgrounds for Parking Lots
Seattle schools are often forced to reduce their playground space in favor of parking and circulation for private cars, but altering the city code could change that.

Tracking Resilient Houston's Progress
The Resilient Houston initiative promises to strengthen the city's infrastructure and increase its capacity to thrive and adapt under crisis.

Proposed Maryland Monorail is 'Feasible' but Not Very Effective, Study Says
The MDOT study found that the monorail line would draw many of its riders from existing public transit systems.

'By the Numbers': California Shows How to Reopen Safely
Unlike other states that lifted restrictions statewide after coronavirus cases plummeted, California replaced its regional stay-home order with a county-based blueprint, permitting counties to advance based on performance in three health metrics.

Portland had an 'Unusual and Tragic' Year for Traffic Deaths
The Portland Bureau of Transportation's annual traffic crash report highlights the city's slow progress towards its Vision Zero goal.

L.A. Metro Will Pilot Free Fares for Most Riders
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will let low-income residents and K-12 students ride for free starting in January 2022.

Public Transit Isn't Just for Big Cities
Funding cuts and uneven investment in rural areas have left millions of Americans trapped without adequate transportation.

New York City Aims for Comprehensive Long-Range Planning
The city's proposed comprehensive planning bill could create a more equitable and collaborative planning process

Texas Lifts Coronavirus Restrictions, Ends Mask Mandate, Despite CDC Warning
Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he is reopening Texas 100% and lifting the state mask mandate, as is Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is warning of a variant-induced fourth surge.

The Need for Social Housing in Seattle
Seattle trails international peer cities in its social housing stock, but there are steps city leaders can take to produce more units and increase affordability.

Massachusetts Reopens, But Too Early?
Many coronavirus restrictions were lifted on Monday in Massachusetts by Gov. Charlie Baker due to falling COVID cases and hospitalizations, but many experts feel the move is too hasty and could lead to a resurgence in the virus.

PennDOT Proposes Bridge Tolls to Fund Critical Repairs
With gas tax revenues projected to fall this fiscal year due to the pandemic, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation argues it needs additional revenue to bridge its growing funding gap and repair crucial infrastructure.

Tiger Woods Crash: Blame the Road, Not the Driver, Say Authorities
"Purely an accident" is how the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department characterized the one-person, single-vehicle rollover crash that severely injured golfing celebrity Tiger Woods on Feb. 23 while driving on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

New Healthy Regions Planning Exchange Targets Health Inequities
A new Regional Plan Association initiative is assessing potential solutions to historic inequities in planning policy.

Environmentalists Object to California Desalination Plan
Critics of a controversial desalination project planned for Orange County claim Governor Newsom is pressuring officials to support the plant in spite of environmental concerns.

A Fourth Coronavirus Surge is Likely
The plunge in daily new coronavirus cases has ceased and may be climbing again, but the news is brighter when looking at the summer. Most of the public health experts interviewed by The New York Times believe a surge is likely but not inevitable.
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