Governing

Billions of dollars from Big Tech settlements could soon flow to states. How that money is spent could determine whether it delivers lasting benefits or repeats mistakes from tobacco and opioid settlements, write Regina LaBelle, a professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health, Will Jenkins, a principal with Public Leader Advisors, and Shelly Weizman, associate director of the Center on Addiction and Public Policy at Georgetown University Law Center.  https://bit.ly/3Ty0wdu

Increasing numbers of Americans depend on kratom to wean themselves off opioids or manage chronic pain, but critics say the drug is dangerous and too easy to obtain. Several states are jumping into the fray with proposals to regulate or ban the substance. https://bit.ly/3VYAuke

Colorado’s nearly 40-year experiment with a flat income tax could be coming to an end. Voters will decide whether to replace it with a graduated system, reshaping who pays and how the state funds programs. https://bit.ly/4yhRnET

Federal grants have long helped communities fund everything from infrastructure to public services. But growing uncertainty is forcing local governments to rethink a how they pursue grants and manage risk. https://bit.ly/4AFDySo

The most dangerous thing about a quiet hurricane season may be the temptation to relax. Communities can use the lull to strengthen infrastructure and reduce risks before the next major storm, writes Ravi Bhalla, former mayor of Hoboken, N.J. https://bit.ly/4dcz8IG

New Mexico made childcare free for every family and demand surged. Now, the first-in-the-nation experiment is confronting challenges with caregiver capacity. https://bit.ly/4z29Vcq

November’s ballots could rewrite the tax rules in at least nine states. Voters will make choices that could shape public budgets for years to come. https://bit.ly/4xPmHKn

Black women have long been among the most dependable participants in American elections. What is changing is the visibility of their political power, not only as voters but as candidates and officeholders, writes Governing’s Jabari Simama. Georgia’s 2026 elections offer a look at how that political influence is evolving. https://bit.ly/46KdvM5

There’s no single solution to the growing wildfire threat. An effective strategy could depend on bringing prevention, suppression and recovery together instead of treating them as competing solutions, write Tony Cheng, a professor at Colorado State University, and Matt Thompson, a wildfire scientist with the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute. https://bit.ly/3VatIaX

Gas and diesel prices are soaring, but the impact varies widely by state. Here’swhere residents are paying the most. https://bit.ly/3V4pLod