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Articles on Local government

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Central Maine Power Co. lineman John Baril works to restore electricity in Lewiston, Maine, on March 15, 2023, after a winter storm. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Maine voters don’t like their electric utilities, but they balked at paying billions to buy them out

Power companies can be publicly or privately owned and may report to corporate boards, local governments or co-op members. But there’s no one best way to deliver electricity reliably and affordably.
Crews clear lots of destroyed homes in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., in February 2022, four months after Hurricane Ian. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Climate change is a fiscal disaster for local governments − our study shows how it’s testing communities in Florida

A new study of Florida’s fiscal vulnerability to climate change finds that flooding directly threatens many local tax bases.
Cedric VT/Unsplash

Herding cats: councils’ efforts to protect wildlife from roaming pets are hampered by state laws

One-third of local councils have rules to stop pet cats roaming because of their major impacts on wildlife. More councils want to get on board but many are hampered by state laws.
Darebin City Council was the first to declare a climate emergency. John Englart/Flickr

Beyond roads, rates and rubbish: Australians now expect local councils to act on bigger issues, including climate change

A national survey shows that, while Australians see the traditional council services as very important, most support local government involvement in a much broader range of issues and activities.
Hackers can disrupt local government services, like this library in Willmar, Texas. The town suffered a cyberattack in August 2019. AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez

Local governments are attractive targets for hackers and are ill-prepared

With Russia poised to launch cyberattacks on US targets, many local governments find themselves without the staff or resources to even recognize when they’re under attack.
Medium-sized towns like Mossel Bay have a key role to play in South Africa’s development. Photo by Hoberman Collection/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Municipalities can play a key role in South Africa’s economic development. Here’s how

The important developmental role that intermediate city municipalities can play in creating employment and stimulating growth suggests they should be prioritised.

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