Local Law

Nearly a year ago in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization , the Supreme Court eliminated the federal constitutional limits on government interference with access to pre-viability abortion. It is hardly novel to note that “return[ing] the issue of abortion” to the states has hurt pregnant people nationwide—for many of whom, particularly the most marginalized, abortion access was already nearly impossible. Immediately after the Dobbs opinion leaked, all eyes were on th

As an academic, one reads a fair amount of texts. Very few of them give you sheer pleasure throughout the process of reading, while at the same time causing you to rethink and reimagine themes and concepts that you have been otherwise engaged with for years. Co-Cities by Sheila Foster and Christian Iaione is one of these rare gems. Sheila and Christian, two dear friends and colleagues, brilliant scholars, and truly engaged citizens of cities and the world, have written an in

San Jose Gun Insurance Law Going Into Effect – NBC Bay Area Brown forgives uncollected traffic fines to allow driver license reinstatement – Oregon Capital Chronicle D.C. home rule imperiled by Kevin McCarthy speaker fallout - Axios Washington D.C. After pandemic, mental health crisis challenges legislatures - Pluribus News Mayors Introduce Global Declaration for Democracy | Strengthening Transatlantic Cooperation (gmfus.org) Jacksonville drops appeal of redistricting ruling,

February 24, 2022, marked the start of what has become a never-ending nightmare for all Ukrainians. This day went down in world history as the start of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into the territory of Ukraine under the auspices of the “special military operation” to “liberate” the Ukrainian people, and to demilitarize and “denazify'' it. Although Vladmir Putin claimed at first that Moscow’s plans did not include the paramilitary occupation of the territories of

The bankruptcy of Purdue Pharma is a saga with many twists and turns. Among the many interesting facets of the case is the role state and local governments have played within it. These governments were involved from the beginning of the case and will have a vital role to play whenever settlement funds are distributed. Throughout the case, these governments have been a critical part of negotiations. Relying in part on assurances from pharmaceutical companies like Purdue that o

Boil notice lifted for Jackson after nearly 7 weeks of water crisis, Mississippi officials announce (nbcnews.com) Michigan charter school spending questioned - Chalkbeat Detroit Gov. Ron DeSantis' Administration Tells Florida Town to Abandon Zoning Reform (reason.com) Chicago Looks to Boost Hiring for People Released From Prison - Bloomberg N.Y. State Vote Could Raise Pressure on Officials Over Hasidic Schools - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Public Libraries Face Thre

This Alabama city couldn’t fire cops who sent racist texts, so it disbanded the entire department - al.com Louisiana Delays Critical Flood Response Funds to New Orleans Over Abortion Politics (jezebel.com) Florida’s Bond Chief Sees Disney District Being Re-Established (DIS) - Bloomberg New Orleans short-term rental rule struck down by court (msn.com) Inside the Effort to Help Lowndes County's Water Issues | Time Texas trigger law making abortion a felony goes into effect

Philadelphia police cancel 200 block parties for ‘criminal activity,’ frustrating residents - On top of Philly news (billypenn.com) Indiana officers suspended for arrest of possible candidate they thought was anti-cop - The Washington Post Op-Ed: Solve the insulin pricing problem by getting government into the business - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) How New York City Hopes to Win Its Long, Losing War on Trash - The New York Times (nytimes.com) Judge Says He Will Toss O

How Abortion Rights Supporters Won in Kansas - The New York Times (nytimes.com) DeSantis suspends Florida prosecutor for indicating he would not enforce restrictions on abortion, gender therapy (nbcnews.com) Pennsylvania County Could Divest From Wells Fargo Over Abortion - Bloomberg School districts facing 'crisis' teaching shortage - The Washington Post Upset over LGBTQ books, a Michigan town defunds its library in tax vote | Bridge Michigan Opinion | Alabama Takes From

I am not even a fan of Fall Out Boy, and yet I am distressed that Atlanta’s Midtown Music Festival, scheduled for September 17-18 in Piedmont Park, was cancelled this week by organizers because of a preemption issue. Well, that is not what Instagram account said , but it is what happened . This time, it is about gun safety. In 2014, then-Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia signed the so-called Safe Carry Protection Act, which expanded where people could carry concealed firearms

As NYC Slashes School Budgets, Art Teachers Are Feeling the Squeeze (hyperallergic.com) Uvalde Schools’ Police Chief, Criticized Over Mass Shooting Response, Quits City Council - WSJ Is your dishwasher repairman packing heat? The case for ‘no carry’ gun defaults on private property | The Hill New York Moves to Enshrine Abortion Rights in State Constitution - The New York Times (nytimes.com) St. Paul's new basic income project: $12K cash plus college funds (twincities.com)

How Texas forces companies to stay neutral on gun control - or lose business (dallasnews.com) California Judicial Council Sued for Illegal Scheme to Fund Courts through Late Fees; San Mateo Court Stops Collecting Millions in Outstanding Debts and Waits for Governor and Legislature to Act. - LCCRSF Oklahoma becomes first state to ban almost all abortion access (19thnews.org) The Cityhood Movement Is Defeated in Metro Atlanta - Bloomberg Opinion | A local official sued me f

Cash piling up from bonds freeing migrants arrested in Texas border push | The Texas Tribune Will Disney lose Mickey Mouse, too? Josh Hawley targeting copyrights (tallahassee.com) Discrimination lawsuit settlement with St. Louis police chief finalist includes forced retirement (msn.com) Ahead of Supreme Court Gun Ruling, Adams ‘Very Concerned’ as City Hall Mulls Options - THE CITY Lightfoot: Parents, not just police, need to hold kids responsible for roaming streets after

On the Problem of Prison Towns: A Future for Susanville - Bolts Mag Connecticut governor signs law protecting abortion seekers and providers from out-of-state lawsuits - CNN What Cities Are Doing to Prepare for SCOTUS Roe Reversal - Bloomberg U.S. Treasury's Adeyemo urges states, local governments to use COVID aid for housing - Reuters Shawnee unanimously passes ordinance banning co-living - The Kansas City Star Tulsa Race Massacre: Reparations lawsuit survives moti

Illinois Law Bans Schools From Fining Children With Tickets. So the Police Are Doing It for Them. Why Don’t We Just Build New Cities? Disney’s special tax district suggests its repeal is illegal Georgia governor sign bills on banning books, transgender sports, and race Federal Appeals Court Rules Local Governments Can sue Oil Companies Over Climate Change

Today's installment includes stories from outside the United States, along with domestic stories that touch on some of the most timely issues in the country right now. Check out these articles below: “Why Ukraine’s Best Hope Lies With Its Cities” The Brennan Center for Justice’s Local Election Officials Survey suggests that all is not well And “Florida is set to create a new police force to investigate elections” Tennessee is trying to take over a small, majority Black

A few weeks ago Mason, Ohio voted to make itself a new kind of “sanctuary city” by banning abortions and threatening to punish anyone who aids or abets an abortion within the city limits. Mason is not alone—it is part of a growing movement of local governments passing ordinances declaring themselves “sanctuaries for the unborn.” On their face, these ordinances seem almost silly. Towns like Mason or Lubbock, Texas clearly don’t have the legal authority or capacity to co

On November 2, residents of Minneapolis will vote on Question 2 – a proposition to amend the city charter to transform the Police Department into a Department of Public Safety that employs a “comprehensive public health approach to the delivery of functions” related to public safety. While the proposition defers specifics of implementation to subsequent negotiations between the mayor and the city council, the Question contains two explicit changes from the status quo. First,

Sheila R. Foster & Chiara Pappalardo The Biden Administration has focused his governing agenda on recommitting the United States to the Paris Agreement and advancing environmental and racial justice . While much has been written about this focus, what has not been emphasized is how some of his efforts are a result of scaling up innovations from state and local governments. State and local governments are innovating and piloting policies that can help usher in not just a tr

On November 2, New York City voters are likely to elect Eric Adams as the city’s next mayor, a development that could herald a new era of local government experimentation in food policy, potentially with national implications. Adams’ views on policing have received a lot of media attention, and David Schleicher recently blogged here about Adams’ comments suggesting he favors a zoning budget-type approach to increase affordable housing. Adams’ interest in encouraging peopl