Hickory families face a big school-system shift after county approves merger plan
Hickory NC – Catawba County has approved a school merger plan, but state review is still ahead and the earliest proposed change date is July 1, 2028.
Public Policy
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Fort Worth voters weigh $845 million bond package as early voting runs through April 28
Fort Worth TX – Early voting is open on an $845 million bond package and charter changes, with May 2 voting set and ballot wording that says tax increase.
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Scottsdale may swap a planned Dynamite roundabout for a signal. Why $31 million is at stake
Scottsdale AZ – Council has told staff to redesign the Scottsdale Road and Dynamite Boulevard intersection, and that change could put regional transportation money at risk.
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San Jose approves $1.3 million Medi-Cal readiness grant as it looks for relief on homeless shelter costs
San Jose CA – The City Council approved PATH CITED funding and a matching local investment to prepare homelessness services for future Medi-Cal billing support.
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Hickory school merger vote: what Catawba County’s decision means for families now
Hickory NC – Catawba County approved a plan to merge local school systems, but state approval is still required and major details remain in transition.
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Fremont’s draft 2026-27 action plan puts $2.2 million in federal housing and services funds on the table
Fremont CA – The city’s draft 2026-27 action plan would direct about $2.2 million in federal housing and community funds, and residents can weigh in before May 12.
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Grundy-area taxpayers can now see Buchanan County’s proposed FY27 budget. Here’s what stands out.
Grundy VA – Buchanan County has posted its proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, showing major school, capital, flood, and opioid settlement spending before adoption.
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Salt Lake City joins community clean energy program, setting up new bill choice for residents
Salt Lake City UT – The council’s April 21 vote starts a new electricity-supply choice for many Rocky Mountain Power customers, with notices and opt-out details coming soon.
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Richmond opens comment on $12.6M HUD housing plan before April 27 and May 11 hearings
Richmond VA – The city is taking public comment on a five-year housing plan and 2026 action plan that steer about $12.6 million in federal funds.
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Fontana’s West End Regional Navigation Center advances as city and county take new steps
Fontana CA – The West End Regional Navigation Center moved closer to reality after new city and county actions, but the shelter is not open yet.
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Raleigh Water restrictions started April 20: What residents, landscapers, and businesses can do now
Raleigh NC – Stage 1 water restrictions took effect April 20 as drought conditions worsened. Here’s what the watering schedule means for homes and businesses.
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Plano’s new Via rides start May 4 for seniors, with Legacy West service still to come
Plano TX – A new Via microtransit service starts May 4 for riders 65 and older, with a free launch period, a $3 base fare later, and more transit changes ahead.
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Pittsburgh trims food access funding as council reshapes 2026 budget
Pittsburgh PA – City Council cut the Food Justice Fund in half during April budget changes, shifting money to other priorities as fiscal pressure continues.
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Greensboro may swap summer pallet shelters for housing-first pilots at its April 21 meeting
Greensboro NC – Council is set to weigh a shift away from the Doorway pallet-shelter model, with new summer shelter sites and two small housing pilots.
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Oklahoma City opens comment period on housing and homelessness spending plan before May 5 vote
Oklahoma City OK – Residents can weigh in on the draft 2026-27 HUD Action Plan before the April 21 review and May 5 Council vote on housing funds.
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Oakland’s new encampment abatement policy gives the city more room to remove RVs and street camps
Oakland CA – The City Council’s April 14 vote changes when Oakland can remove some encampments and RVs on public property, with effects for sidewalks and shelter access.
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Philadelphia’s new rideshare tax fight is really about school funding, and the next budget votes matter
Philadelphia PA – A proposed $1 fee on rideshare trips could raise school funding, but it is still part of the FY27 budget fight and needs Council approval.
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Raleigh water restrictions begin April 20: who has to cut outdoor watering now
Raleigh NC – Stage 1 water restrictions started April 20, affecting outdoor watering for Raleigh Water customers in Raleigh and several Wake County towns.
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Norfolk floodwall still gets new capital money after the project’s price tag jumped
Norfolk VA – The city’s newest capital plan still puts local money into its coastal flood-protection buildout, even as the project cost climbs and state support remains unsettled.
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Corpus Christi to weigh Level 1 water-emergency rules as new wells buy time but Stage 3 drought drags on
Corpus Christi TX – Council is set to discuss what a Level 1 water emergency would mean for lawns, car washes, pools, and business water use.
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St. Louis Board of Aldermen ends its session Monday: what the housing and storm-recovery changes mean now
St. Louis MO – The Board of Aldermen’s April 20 sine die meeting is mostly a wrap-up, but the session already changed housing rules and advanced tornado recovery work.
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Kerrville utility says construction has started on its 122 MW power plant. What that means for rates and reliability
Kerrville TX – KPUB says construction began on its 122 MW gas-fired plant in April 2026, a key step before a June 2027 in-service target.