Telehealth is changing how doctors treat patients, especially in rural communities. Technology that delivers health care services and information allows patients to receive services from specialists while avoiding long-distance, time-consuming travel and some stress. Since about 16 percent of Americans live in rural regions and only about 11 percent of the country’s physicians practice there, […]
A recent State of Our Schools report, co-produced by three education groups, brought attention to the rampant underinvestment in the nation’s education infrastructure. Shockingly, the report concludes that the U.S. is spending $46 billion less than what is required for safe and healthy facilities. Allocations of $38 billion for construction and $8 billion for school […]
Texas has lots of banks and one of the most interesting is the State Infrastructure Bank (SIB). Texas was one of 10 states chosen to participate in the first pilot SIB program following passage of the 1995 National Highway Designation Act. That legislation authorized SIBs as financial options that local governments could take advantage of […]
In election years, especially this one, it’s easy to focus only on national politics. The media could easily lead us to believe that everything important is happening nationally. But, that is definitely not true! In fact, it appears that more good things are happening at the local levels of government. Counties have particularly been interesting […]
When disasters and major emergencies occur, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to move into action quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately, that does not always happen. In fact, FEMA’s performance over the past few years cried out for improvement. Changes have now been implemented. That’s important for a number of reasons. Victims of disasters […]
World leaders, meeting in Paris last December, signed a historic accord related to carbon emissions and global warming. The agreement, signed by 195 nations, should result in significant strides being made in the battle to combat climate change. But, in spite of these efforts, global temperatures are expected to rise 3.6 degrees over the next […]
The nation’s water infrastructure has taken another hit – and it will be a costly one. Just one day after U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials put state drinking water systems on notice that the agency was about to step up its enforcement of lead contamination rules for drinking water, a price tag was attached […]