Texas lawmakers are weighing a rare mid-decade redistricting. History shows both parties have acted sooner when they could—sometimes with unintended consequences, writes @Governing’s Alan Greenblatt.

Counties face a new era of fiscal federalism—federal cuts don’t reduce their obligations. Tough choices loom, write Jed Herrmann & Teryn Zmuda. Without sustainable funding, they warn, a cycle of cuts, frustration & tax hikes may follow.

A dozen years after bankruptcy, Detroit is in better shape than almost anyone could have imagined. But too much of the city remains poor, says Mary Sheffield, the probable next mayor, and that growth must be shared more equitably.

As prison populations decline, shuttered facilities can be transformed into assets like housing, argues Deanna Van Buren of Designing Justice + Designing Spaces. With the right planning, places once built to punish can become places that heal.

Washington wants to prune regulations across the country. If it’s looking for some successful examples, it should turn to Virginia, argues Patrick A. McLaughlin of the Hoover Institution.

New York City’s movement toward free care for kids up to age 2 could be a gamechanger with national implications, argue Councilmember Brannan Yew and senior organizer for New Yorkers United for Child Care Allison Lew.

FEMA’s role is shrinking — with cuts to funding, staffing, and grants — just as peak hurricane season begins. What can emergency managers do to adapt to the federal retreat?.

The Great Lakes could generate three times the electricity the surrounding eight states use — but much of that wind power remains untapped. The Great Lakes could generate three times the electricity the surrounding eight states use.

Portland’s Mill Ends Park is the nation’s smallest at just 452 square inches. What began as a planted flower bed in an empty light-pole hole (plus an imaginary leprechaun colony) is now a beloved city landmark.

Cuts to NIH & NSF funding under Trump are sparking concern in cities where “meds & eds” power the economy. In some places, they make up 1/3+ of jobs. Pittsburgh & St. Louis may offer a blueprint for adapting. More via @GOVERNING:

California Sen. Monique Limón will be the next Senate president pro tem in 2026 — the first woman of color in the role. She’ll lead amid a $12B budget shortfall and debates over health care, housing & climate funding. More from @jaredbrey via @GOVERNING:

There’s a disconnect in American politics that’s truly bipartisan, writes Governing Editor Alan Greenblatt. What’s behind this seeming ideological mismatch?

Federal cuts to farming programs are rippling through local communities, leaving food banks strained, school meal programs scrambling, and small farmers uncertain about their future.

Traffic cameras make a measurable impact on road safety. As policing of speeding and red-light violations has waned, traffic deaths have climbed as traffic stops fell by over half. Installing cameras helps reverse that trend. #SmartEnforcement #PublicPolicy #UrbanPlanning.

RT @JuvLaw1975: A must read in @GOVERNING from our colleagues Liz Ryan and Vinny Schiraldi on the urgency of a juvenile legal system that t….

RT @ALEC_states: "Governing is hard and it’s a challenge. But I don't know that any of our legislators are not eager for that role." ~ @Lis….

.@MorningConsult updates gov approval ratings. As ever, Republican Phil Scott of VT has nation's best numbers but several Dems see big gains

Our summer print issue is out and online. Read features about higher ed, growth in Texas, the decline in fentanyl deaths and much more

RT @FlowTap1: Important piece by @JPattisonGordon in @GOVERNING abounds with vital context & nuance. Love the cautionary language at the en….

Recalling a memorable interview with Melissa Hortman