GOVERNING STATES AND LOCALITIES HOT TOPICS Environment and Land Use "Making Good on Bad Land," April 2004 By William Fulton Brownfields and their cleanup and redevelopment are dramatically changing the business of recycling urban land. "Building with a Green Thumb," March 2004 By Brad Amburn Two bridges play up eco-safe solutions. "Edge-Ucation," March 2004 By Rob Gurwitt What compels communities to build schools in the middle of nowhere? Intergovernmental Politics "The Phantom of New York," November 2004 By Christopher Swope Quasi-governmental authorities spend billions of dollars of Empire State taxpayers' money every year. They don't have to answer many questions about it. "House of Loopholes," November 2004 By Jonathan Walters The more tax cuts Congress passes, the more trouble states and localities will have making ends meet. "Death and No Taxes," August 2004 By David Brunori Estate taxes have allowed states to sponge off the feds without burdening their own citizens, but that's coming to an end. Homeland Security "Politics and Promises," October 2004 By Christopher Logan Rhetoric meets the reality of a slowdown in homeland security funding. "Unconnected Dots," April 2004 By Donald F. Kettl State and local governments aren't being let in on the national homeland security strategy. That may be because there isn't one. Media and Information "Dealing in Data," September 2004 By Ellen Perlman Forget about building a big all-purpose database. There are other ways to integrate state and local information. "Late Bloomer," August 2004 By Christopher Swope New York's businessman-mayor is learning politics the hard way. But he's learning it. "Strong Governor," August 2004 By Alan Greenblatt Arnold Schwarzenegger may have been elected as a political novice, but he's outsmarting the pros at every turn. Gender and Ethnicity "Chasing the Rainbow," October 2003 By Christopher Swope Is a gay population an engine of urban revival? Cities are beginning to think so. "The Big Easy's Makeover Mayor," August 2003 By Rob Gurwitt Ray Nagin is taking a businesslike approach to changing New Orleans' image. But much also depends on how well he masters the art of politics. "The Two-Sided South," July 2003 By Alan Greenblatt Southern politics is settling into a pattern of two parties--one black and one white. Republicans are reaping the benefits. Civil Rights "An Awkward Age," January 2003 By Sarah Wheaton Runaway teens don't belong in adult court, but they're often too old for juvenile court. The law tends to ignore them. Updates "Fresh Start," September 2004 By Alan Greenblatt After a series of scandals, Connecticut is taking ethics seriously. Governor Jodi Rell has a mandate to push for change.