LADP Tests Situational Awareness Tool
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has been piloting a new mapping technology that improves situational awareness and response during large-scale events and disasters. TouchShare, this new mobile touchscreen visual geospatial mapping technology, has already been effective in improving LAPD situational awareness throughout Los Angeles during large events. The LAPD sees a bright future for TouchShare, hoping this technology can be applied to disaster relief and response efforts, as well as connect other agencies throughout the city and state to better coordinate in the event of a disaster. Read More…
Supreme Court Considers Cases Impacting States & Localities
This month, SCOTUS began hearings and oral arguments on several cases whose decisions could have impacts on state and local governments. The top six cases Governing magazine discusses address hot button issues ranging from affirmative action to abortion and the first amendment. Read More…
EPA Greenhouse-Gas Rules Draw U.S. Supreme Court Scrutiny
Although the Supreme Court will not make a final ruling on whether the EPA has authority to set new permit requirements for stationary sources of pollution like power plants and factories until next year, the Court is taking its time to hear appeals from all stakeholders. However, the Court sent a strong message Tuesday when it said it would limit its review to “whether EPA permissibly determined that its regulation of greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles triggered permitting requirements under the Clean Air Act for stationary sources that emit
greenhouse gases.” Read More…
Obama to Push Immigration Reform ‘Day After’ Budget Deal
On Tuesday, the President said that once Congress reaches an agreement on raising the debt ceiling and reopening the government, he will push for an immigration reform vote in the House. Both chambers have bills floating around, however, trying to resolve the different approaches to reform offered by both parties will be difficult to conference. Read More…
House Farm Bill Conference Committee Announced
Over the weekend, House Speaker John Boehner named the House members who will be on the conference committee handling the farm bill reauthorization negotiations. Despite this strong step forward, the turbulent atmosphere in Washington makes it unclear when conference negotiations can begin. Read More…
Private Risk, Public Benefit: Are Social Impact Bonds the Way of the Future?
Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are relatively new financial products that offer private capital in exchange for measurable, permanent progress addressing societal problem. If an SIB project outcome is not met by a certain date, the government pays nothing back to investors, but if the project succeeds, the government pays investors back with a financial return. Although these bonds seem like risky business, the payoff can be in big in more ways than one. Read More…
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