Education Nov 02 Uprooted by Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rican teachers try to start over Puerto Rican teachers who fled Hurricane Maria's aftermath often relocate to states with school staff shortages, but tests, fees and certificates create roadblocks to getting these instructors back in the classroom.
Nation Sep 14 How diverting mothers from prison may break the cycle of incarceration With the number of incarcerated women — and the cost of imprisoning them — on the rise in some states, the programs are drawing new attention.
Nation Jul 27 How states are working to reduce recidivism among ex-offenders To ease prison crowding and rein in corrections spending, state legislatures are trying to help ex-offenders re-enter society with the goal of ensuring they don’t return to prison.
Nation May 13 Lawmakers in 10 states push to raise marriage age Most Americans think of child marriage as a vestige of a bygone era. And yet in every state, people under 18 are allowed to marry.
Nation Apr 17 Should states ban the death penalty for people with severe mental illness? Legislators in at least seven states have proposed bills this year to prohibit the death penalty for people who suffered from a serious mental illness at the time of their crime.
Politics Mar 12 Lawmakers look to curb foreign influence in state elections Bills under consideration in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Washington state would bar political spending by businesses in which non-U.S. citizens have a significant ownership stake.
Nation Jan 31 States reconsider suspending licenses of drivers with drug convictions “We want to make sure people who have done their time don’t suffer doubly,” said Brian Ferguson, director of the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs in Washington, D.C.
Health Dec 24 Licensing medical marijuana stirs up trouble for states States have struggled with how to give out potentially lucrative medical marijuana licenses.
Politics Oct 19 New voter ID rules, other election changes could cause confusion New voter ID requirements, early voting schedules and voter registration rules in more than a dozen states are creating uncertainty that could dampen turnout.
Nation Sep 12 Worsening highway traffic slows down paid express lanes But as Americans drive more miles than ever before, express lanes are facing a challenge: they are too popular. So many drivers of all kinds are using the lanes that it is increasingly difficult for transportation officials to keep them…