Governing

The latest battle over abortion rights may hinge on a much broader question: How far can one state go in regulating actions that cross its borders? A new Supreme Court fight over abortion pills is becoming a test of state sovereignty and the growing use of the court’s “shadow docket,” writes Donald F. Kettl, professor emeritus and former dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy. https://bit.ly/4fNGXXa

Rents have climbed sharply in many parts of the country over the past few years, reshaping household budgets and local housing debates. In many markets, though, they’ve recently started falling. How much are renters paying across the U.S.? https://bit.ly/3PtZZHB

California’s race for insurance commissioner has long been a low-profile political contest. But as wildfires and other disasters reshape the state’s insurance market, the office is suddenly drawing major money and growing scrutiny. https://bit.ly/4x1fMP2

Public transit systems are still grappling with the long tail of the pandemic. Ridership remains below pre-COVID levels in many cities and remote work has permanently altered commuting patterns. What does that mean for the future of buses and trains in America’s cities? https://bit.ly/4dy0l9d

The National Science Foundation was created to support research in fields that depend on federal backing, including public health. Recently, all 22 members of its board were dismissed. The director of NSF resigned a year ago. Public health experts warn that these changes could have consequences far beyond Washington. https://bit.ly/4dMa0ro

Corner stores and small food retailers could face difficult choices under new SNAP rules. As requirements around stocked foods and purchase restrictions expand, some worry smaller stores may stop accepting benefits altogether, writes Benjamin Chrisinger, an assistant professor of community health at Tufts University. https://bit.ly/3PL03Ta

What happens when cities stop spreading neighborhood dollars thin and instead concentrate investment in a few targeted areas? Atlanta is betting that focused redevelopment can generate the kind of long-term economic momentum diffuse investment often fails to achieve, writes Stephen Goldsmith, the Derek Bok Professor of the Practice of Urban Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. https://bit.ly/4fbptny

New data shows SNAP participation has dropped in every state and Washington, D.C., with some states seeing especially sharp declines. Where are the biggest changes happening and what do they reveal about the shifting safety net landscape? https://bit.ly/4tWPtGM

College sports already operate like a multibillion-dollar business, but many programs are still governed like nonprofits. As athlete compensation and financial pressures reshape college athletics, a corporate model may be the only way to make the system sustainable, write Michael Granof and Martin J. Luby, professors at University of Texas at Austin. https://bit.ly/42PR8D6

The 2026 World Cup is expected to bring massive crowds to Texas, and local officials are racing to answer one big question: How do you move thousands of fans to the stadium on time in a region built around cars? https://bit.ly/49fdd1o