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The LATEST
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- Stateline Story
Anatomy of a Backlog: How Vermont Fell Behind on Adult Protective Services
PART TWO OF THREE: State systems to protect vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect are straining under growing caseloads and budgets that don't keep pace with the amount of work. Vermont's backlog of 733 open or unassigned cases highlights the depth of the challenges. more
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- Stateline Story
Short-Staffed and Budget-Bare, Overwhelmed State Agencies Are Unable to Keep Up
PART ONE OF THREE: States across the country are seeing growing backlogs of work, as shrinking staffs struggle to meet rising demand for some services. From public housing to crime labs, restaurant inspections to court systems, four years of layoffs, furloughs and hiring freezes are beginning to take a toll. more
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- Stateline Story
Infographic: State and Local Employment Is Down, But Not Everywhere
State and local governments in two-thirds of the states have reduced their workforces in the past three years. The biggest reductions came in Nevada, Hawaii and Georgia. But other states, led by Wyoming, grew their public sector employment base. more
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- Stateline Story
Infographic: How California Redevelopment Agencies Work
Under California law, when cities and counties declare an area blighted, a redevelopment agency takes responsibility for urban renewal. more
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- Stateline Story
Infographic: Local Government By The Numbers
There are 89,476 local governments in the United States. more
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- Stateline Story
New Policy Means It's Always 'a Great Day in South Carolina'
TODAY'S TAKE: To improve her state's image, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is asking state workers to answer their phones by saying, "It's a great day in South Carolina. How can I help you?" It's not the first time a governor has intervened in state workers' etiquette.more -
- Stateline Story
The Arkansas Approach: How One State Has Avoided Fiscal Disaster
Arkansas defaulted on its debt in the 1930s. The painful memory of that experience has been a help to its budget process ever since.more -
- Stateline Story
Iowa Centralizing Hiring of State Workers
MANAGEMENT BEAT: Many states are moving toward centralized human resources management systems as a way to cut costs. But in Iowa, the change is largely in response to a series of lawsuits alleging discrimination in hiring, firing and promotions.more -
- Stateline Story
As Four-Day Workweek Ends, Utah Opens on Fridays
The nation's most ambitious experiment with an alternative work schedule is over. While many public sector employers offer four-day schedules to some employees, Utah was the only state to try it for most of its workforce.more -
- Stateline Story
Minnesota Legislators Try to Prevent Future Shutdowns
TODAY'S TAKE: Now that Minnesota politicians have ended the longest state government shutdown in U.S. history, many are wondering how to avoid such a major disruption in the future.more