Podcasts about legislative services

Thunder Bay City Council could operate with a new model in the near future. The Clerk's Office wants to hear what the public thinks of a new governance model. City Clerk and Director of Legislative Services, Krista Power stops by The Minutes studio to talk about governance. Host Jeff Walters has a rundown of what happened at this week's City Council meeting.

In this episode, we talk with experts from the Texas Municipal League (TML) and the Texas City Management Association (TCMA) about what they'll be watching for in the 89th session of the Texas Legislature that begins on January 14. GUESTS:Mark Israelson, City Manager, City of Plano, and Chair of the TCMA Advocacy Committee Thomas Hunter, Assistant City Manager, City of Pflugerville, and Vice Chair of the TCMA Advocacy CommitteeBill Longley, General Council, Texas Municipal LeagueMonty Wynn, Director of Grassroots and Legislative Services, Texas Municipal LeagueADDITIONAL INFORMATION: TCMA Advocacy CommitteeTML Legislative Information

There is no shortage of public policy to pass through in Colorado in 2024. Legislators are trying to address a state in the throes of a housing affordability crisis, an infrastructure crunch, a crime wave, a post-inflation economic climate, a surge in migrants from the southern border, a statewide homelessness crisis, and a mental health crisis, on top of the usual array of issues from healthcare costs to energy reform to environment. Lawmakers have put forward over 600 bills in the 2024 General Assembly session to try to catch it all. Joining Host and Chairman Earl Wright is CSI's Director of Legislative Services Jake Zambrano. Together they discuss proposed legislation about oil and gas development, property taxes, education, crime and the general mood and timbre of this year's legislative session. With less than a month to go, this is the episode you need to recap what has already transpired and equip you for what remains.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here. Jake Zambrano is Director of Legislative Services for Common Sense Institute. Jake has specialized in state government relations, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and political campaign management for over 20 years. He has represented a number of clients at the Colorado General Assembly including Colorado Mesa University, Medtronic, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Extraction Oil and Gas, and Teladoc to name a few.

For many of us here in The Region of Waterloo, YKF is a convenient place to fly in and out of. In fact, the airport has become so popular that the number of passengers flying out of YKF is projected to reach 1 million in the coming years. However, YKF is more than a convenient travel hub, it is an engine for innovation, it connects our local economy to the global economy, and it creates jobs.  In this episode, we explore the advantages that YKF brings to the Region, and we'll even look at the potential for the airport to help address climate change.Joining us on this episode:Rod Regier, Commissioner, Planning, Development & Legislative Services, Region of Waterloo Rod is responsible for planning the future growth of our community and creating strategies to support our continued prosperity. This includes the operation of the Region of Waterloo International Airport, the Region's museums and libraries and the management of Regional Forests, as well as oversight of the Regional Official Plan.https://www.waterlooairport.ca/@regierr  Scott Gray, CEO of Avidrone Since 2007, AVIDRONE Aerospace has been maturing and developing some of the world's best UAV technologies. AVIDRONE was founded on over 20 years of National and World Championship winning experience, combined with thousands of commercial flight operation missions, and a veteran team of highly motivated innovators in high-tech automation excellence.https://www.avidroneaerospace.com/2018/01/15/avidrone-cicer-one/  Dr. Suzanne Kearns, University of Waterloo Dr. Kearns is an aviation academic with a focus on education and improving pilot performance. Her research explores how to optimize the next generation of aviation professionals (NGAP) by analyzing processes to attract people to the field of aviation.  An accomplished educator both in the classroom and through electronic courseware, she has taught thousands of aviation professionals worldwide. She is a former airplane and helicopter pilot and is internationally recognized within the aviation industry. https://uwaterloo.ca/sustainable-aeronautics/profiles/suzanne-kearns https://wwfc.ca/ Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on SpotifyiTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts Google: Your Region Pod on GoogleAmazon: Your Region Pod on AmazonWe want to hear from you! X: Region of Waterloo (@RegionWaterloo) / X (twitter.com) Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo | Kitchener, Ontario | Instagram p

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson break down the driving factors behind Maryland's current fiscal picture, economic trends, and what it could mean for the next legislative session and beyond.As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Board of Revenue Estimates adopted a revised estimate for fiscal 2024 – a  minor write-down of $14.1 million – and the first official estimate for fiscal 2025.And while the State closed its books on fiscal 2023 with an unassigned general fund balance of $555 million, the Department of Legislative Services warns of looming structural deficits over the next four years, a stark change from last January, when DLS projected billions in structural surpluses between fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2028.The Conduit Street Podcast is available on major platforms like Spotify, Apple, Google, and anywhere else you get your podcasts. Episodes are also available on MACo's Conduit Street blog.Previous Conduit Street CoverageState Revenue Forecast Largely Unchanged: Inflation, Looming Shutdown Elevate RiskBoard of Revenue Estimates Approves Modest Adjustments to Current, Future Forecasts

Join us on Texas County Voice as we walk through the key provisions of Senate Bill 22, a pivotal piece of county-related legislation that provides crucial financial assistance to sheriffs, constables and prosecutors in rural counties. Our guides for this informative episode: Skylor Hearn and Katy Estrada from the Texas Association of Counties' Legislative Services department.

The Colorado legislative session wraps up imminently. The budget for 2023-2024 has passed, which outlines state spending totaling $41.1 billion. It's a number larger than the GDP of Libya, Bolivia, Uganda, Iceland and dozens of other countries. $41.1 billion also represents a 4.2% increase over last year and the largest budget in Colorado history. As the legislature works fast and furiously to finish out the session, much debate remains on top issues pressing to Coloradans, including housing, crime, workforce, to just name a few. Host and Chairman Earl Wright welcomes Owner and Principal Lobbyist at Sanchez Policy Works, Jordan Sanchez, and CSI's Director of Legislative Services, Jake Zambrano to recap this year's legislative session, discuss emergent themes, unpack fiscal policy, and delve into the key issues faced. What should Coloradans focus most pressingly on? What issues remain? And fiscal cliffs has the body faced as they seek to move Colorado forward? All of these questions and more will be answered in the latest edition of Common Sense Digest.  Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here.  Jordan Sanchez is the Owner and Principal Lobbyist at Sanchez Policy Works which specializes in fiscal policy lobbying. Services include tracking, monitoring, and active advocacy throughout the annual budget process as it unfolds within the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of Colorado. Additionally, Sanchez Policy Works monitors and advocates on policy implementation. Jake Zambrano is Director of Legislative Services for Common Sense Institute. Jake has specialized in state government relations, public affairs, grassroots advocacy, and political campaign management for over 20 years. He has represented a number of clients at the Colorado General Assembly including Colorado Mesa University, Medtronic, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Extraction Oil and Gas, and Teladoc to name a few.

What happens in Washington doesn't stay in Washington. Decisions made at the federal level affect Texas counties. Federal outreach efforts by TAC's Legislative Services department, in partnership with the National Association of Counties, make sure Texas counties have a voice in Washington, D.C.

The 2022 Colorado Legislative Session is underway where Democratic legislators retain a strong majority in both houses. As the majority party, they intend to embark on an extensive list of priorities which reflects the state of Colorado's economy, social issues hotly contested, and the major successes and failures of last year. Chairman and Host Earl Wright welcomes two guests to discuss a multitude of issues pertinent to this year's session. Jake Zambrano is Common Sense Institute's Director of Legislative Services and a very experienced observer of the Capitol, and Chris Brown is CSI's Vice President of Policy & Research. Together, the three of them discuss how the state budget is set, what will likely happen with the one-time windfall of money from the federal government, and the priorities of legislators. They touch on everything from PERA to inflation to local control to the role of the free market and a lot more. It's an illuminating conversation that will have you informed about the goings on with our elected officials. Thank you for listening to Common Sense Digest. Please rate, review, and subscribe on your favorite podcatcher. All of our podcasts can be found here

The Rhode Island GOP got a win Wednesday when a judge ruled that a lawsuit filed by Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Blake Filippi against the Joint Commitee on Legislative Services can move forward. Rep. Filippi shares his thoughts on the decision. Additionally, the GOP in the house will put forth a bill to end the mask mandate in schools.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s another month in a year that’s already had eleven of them? Another turn of the earth, and each of us is another day closer to the solstice, the holidays, 2022, President’s Day, and so many more milestones that are worth noting somewhere. Perhaps not on this installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement, which is intended to capture a few things that happened around the time of December 1, 2021. Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To ensure new posts come out as frequently as possible, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber!On today’s show:More details on what happens next in the top executive position in CharlottesvilleThe Albemarle Board of Supervisors seeks patrons for bills on photo-speed camera expansion and more Virginia’s recycling rate increased in calendar year 2020 In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out: The Rivanna Conservation Alliance is looking for a few good volunteers for a couple of upcoming events. On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the RCA will team up with the James River Association to plant trees along the Rivanna River and Town Branch in the Dunlora neighborhood to serve as a riparian buffer. In all, they’re hoping to put in 9 acres of trees. On Sunday, the Rivanna Greenbelt Marathon takes place, and the Rivanna Conservation Alliance is the beneficiary! They’re looking for people to help put on the race. Learn more about both events and the organization at rivannariver.org. COVID updateThe Virginia Department of Health reports that the seven day average for new COVID cases has increased to 1,548 cases a day, and the seven-day percent positivity has increased to 6.7 percent. A month ago on November 1, the percent positivity was 5.5 percent. There were 746 more reported deaths in Virginia in the past month. The Blue Ridge Health District reports an additional 58 new cases today and the seven-day percent positivity is 6.1 percent. There were 26 reported COVID deaths in the health district in November. The Jefferson Madison Regional Library has distributed 631 rapid COVID tests in the past week as part of a pilot program with the Virginia Department of Health. Learn more at jmrl.org. Executive vacancyMarc Woolley will not start today as Charlottesville’s City Manager. Or any other day, for that matter. The former business administrator of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has opted to not take the position of running the city’s executive functions. The City Council met in closed session for over three hours yesterday to discuss the withdrawal. Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker addressed the public afterward to say she had known since before Thanksgiving. “On November 21, Mr. Marc Woolley reached out to me,” Walker said. “We had a planned meeting scheduled for early in the week that had been postponed to that day and he informed me that he for personal reasons would not be taking the job in the city of Charlottesville.”Walker said Council tried to get the notice of Woolley’s withdrawal out before the Thanksgiving holiday.“And we were unable to do that and we apologize to the community for that confusion but we did want to give more time than the notification that happened today,” Walker said. “So we have known for a little over a week and this was the first opportunity for us to get together to explore other options and kind of just brainstorm where we are and where we’re headed.” Councilor Heather Hill had a few more glimpses into what happens next.“Council is considering going into a contract with a firm for interim services,” Hill said. “We’re going to be working through with staff on what the best and most efficient process would be for that. We have made no decisions in that matter.”In the meanwhile, Deputy City Managers Ashley Marshall and Sam Sanders will continue to serve with extended duties. Hill said more information about a search firm will be released in two weeks. City Councilor-Elect Juandiego Wade will be sworn into office at on December 15 at 9:30 a.m. on the City Courthouse steps. He’ll be sworn along at the same time as three members of the School Board. City Councilor-Elect Brian Pinkston will be sworn in on December 23 at 10 a.m. on the Courthouse. However, their terms do not officially begin until January 1. Solid waste planningThe recycling rate in Virginia increased in the year 2020, as reported by 71 planning units across the Commonwealth. Of the 11 million tons of municipal solid waste processed, 5.3 million were reported as recycled. “However, some planning units faced recycling challenges due to the COVID 19 pandemic, lack of recycling markets in their regions and difficulty in obtaining recycling information from private businesses,” reads the executive summary of a report generated by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Of that 5.3 million tons, 3.9 million were classified as principal recyclable materials and 1.4 million were in the form of credits. Recyclable materials include: Paper, metal, plastic, glass, commingled materials, yard waste, waste wood, textiles, waste tires, used oil, used oil filters, used antifreeze, inoperative automobiles, batteries, electronics and other.Credits refers to: Recycling residues, solid waste reused, non-MSW recycled (includes construction and demolition material, ash and debris) and source reduction initiatives. Under Virginia code, localities or the regions they are within must develop a solid waste management plan. In this area, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District does that work on behalf of Albemarle, Charlottesville, Greene, and Fluvanna. The towns of Scottsville and Standardsville are also covered by the TJPDC which reports a recycling rate of 41.9 percent. Louisa County runs its own sanitary landfill and is its own solid waste planning unit. They report a recycling rate of 29.5 percent. The Lunenberg County solid waste planning unit reported a 78.8 percent recycling rate, the highest in the state. Lee County in Southwest Virginia reported the lowest at 10.4 percent. Virginia code requires localities to be above 15 percent. The report singles out Arlington County for improving the recycling rate by prohibiting glass from the single-stream recycling system. Instead, Arlington set-up five drop-off locations to ensure glass would not be contaminated by other materials. Over 1,429 tons of clean glass was collected. “The removal of glass from the residential curbside recycling program had the added benefit of boosting the overall value of a ton of the single-stream recycling significantly,” reads the report. To learn more about Arlington’s program, visit their website.On Thursday, the operations subcommittee of Albemarle’s Solid Waste Alternatives Advisory Committee meets.  On the agenda is an update on efforts to increase the market for glass recycling to attract interest from a processing company. I wrote about this topic back in January and will be interested in getting an update. (meeting info)See also:  Group seeks information from beverage producers on glass recycling, January 26, 2021You’re reading Charlottesville Community Engagement, supported in part by subscriber supported shout-outs like this one: The Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign, an initiative that wants you to grow native plants in yards, farms, public spaces and gardens in the northern Piedmont. The leaves have started to fall as autumn set in, and as they do, this is a good time to begin planning for the spring. Native plants provide habitat, food sources for wildlife, ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate change, and clean water.  Start at the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page and tell them Lonnie Murray sent you!Legislative prioritiesThe General Assembly convenes six weeks from today. Across Virginia, local officials are seeking ways to get Delegates and Senators to carry specific bills. The Albemarle Board of Supervisors held a meeting on Monday to explain their three legislative priorities. County Attorney Greg Kamptner said the first is a request to allow localities to treat some violations of local ordinance with civil penalties as opposed to being criminally punished. Albemarle wants to be able to establish a schedule of fines that exceed what can be charged now. “The initiative would authorize a schedule of civil penalties of up to $500 for the initial summons, with increasing amounts of up to a total of $5,000 in aggregate under the same operative facts,” Kamptner said. Kamptner said the current penalty of $200 for the first violation and $500 for additional ones is too low.“Those amounts are unchanged since 2007 and the county has found that some zoning violators see those payments as the cost of doing business which prolongs the enforcement process for those localities that have opted to pursue civil penalties,” Kamptner said. Both Delegate Sally Hudson (D-57) and Delegate Rob Bell (R-58) and expressed interested in being a sponsor for that legislation.Albemarle’s second legislative request is to expand the use of photo-speed cameras to enforce violations of the speed limit. The General Assembly passed legislation in 2020 that allow the cameras to be used in highway in highway work zones and school crossing zones. (HB1442) (current state code)“A photo-speed monitoring device is equipment that uses RADAR or LIDAR in speed detection and produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, video tapes, or other recorded images of vehicles,” Kamptner said. “The enabling authority is self-executing. No ordinance is required and local law-enforcement offices can have the devices installed in those zones.”Kamptner said Albemarle would like to be able to use the cameras on rural roads where speeding has been identified as an issue. “The roads would be selected by the governing body based on speeding, crash, and fatality data,” Kamptner said. Delegate Bell said he would want to talk to someone at the Albemarle Police Department before deciding whether to carry the bill. “I’m reading what is drafted and it’s not exactly what is being described by some of the speakers for what they are looking for,” Bell said. Both Delegate Hudson and Delegate Chris Runion (R-25) both said they would also like to hear from law enforcement. Hudson had concerns. “Historically sometimes automated enforcement devices have been disparately positioned throughout communities and might appreciate some language or guardrails in the bill that would require some kind of public analysis about where they’re going to go,” Hudson said. Albemarle’s third legislative request would be to require agricultural buildings at which the public will be invited to conform to the state’s building code. Currently there is no inspection process or minimum standards for barns and other structures where large events might be held. “The use that would be subject to requirements as such having an automatic fire alarm system, emergency lights and exits, panic hardware at all required exit doors, portable fire extinguishers, and a maximum occupancy of 200 persons,” Kamptner said. Albemarle County cannot currently regulate construction of such buildings due to state law, but a 2018 review of building codes for agritourism and businesses suggested such minimum standards would be beneficial to public safety in an era when many of these buildings are used for breweries, wineries, and other destinations. (read the review)“Many people who go to these properties have no idea that these buildings are not expected and that they don’t meet the building code,” said Supervisor Ann Mallek. Delegate Hudson said she would be willing to request the Division of Legislative Services prepare a draft based on this request. Delegate Chris Runion (R-25) had some concerns about unintended consequences of the requirements and suggested there may be another way to address the issue. “The other area I think is probably a new area of conversation is the limit for 200 people,” Runion said. “I thought there was a limit at 300 previously Also at Monday’s meeting: The Thomas Jefferson Planning District puts together a regional legislative program. TJPDC Deputy Director David Blount serves as legislative liaison and says this year’s regional wishlist is very similar to last year’s.  ‘We’ve added some language to support the expansion of allowing the uses of electronic meetings outside of emergency declarations,” Blount said. “I think we’ll see some legislation on that in 2022.”Charlottesville City Council will be presented with the TJPDC legislative program and their own program at their next meeting on December 6. End notes:Thanks to Grace Liz Cerami, Lisa Edge, Lloyd Goad, and Grace Reynolds for their narration assistance in the podcast. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

This is a program update; more will come shortly. The U.S. Army and now the Navy along with the Marine Corps have agreed to reconsider the cases of thousands of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars era with mental health conditions who received other-than-honorable discharges. This original broadcast outlines the help the DAV will be providing and now will be extending to those affected by this new discharge review decision. 

Let’s begin today with a Patreon-fueled shout-out. Charlottesville 350 is the local chapter of a national organization that seeks to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Charlottesville 350 uses online campaigns, grassroots organizing, and mass public actions to oppose new coal, oil and gas projects, and build 100% clean energy solutions that work for all. To learn more about their most active campaigns, including a petition drive to the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/cville350                                                                                                                  On today’s program:The CDC has approved booster shots for all adult AmericansThe city fills one position while another became vacant The Virginia Supreme Court appoints two Special Masters to complete the redistricting process Members of the Crozet Community Advisory Committee debrief after Supervisors adopt a master planCOVID updateAs the week ended, the percent positivity creeped up slightly to 5.8 percent as reported by the Virginia Department of Health and the seven day average rose to 1,518. Nearly a million Virginians have received a third dose or a booster shot. The seven day average for doses administered a day was 40,389 on Friday. Also on Friday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of the Moderna and Pfizer booster shots for all adults, and the Centers for Disease Control followed suit later in the day. Dr. Costi Sifri is director of hospital epidemiology at the University of Virginia Health System, and he said this means anyone who completed their two-dose cycle of Pfizer and Moderna can now get a booster dose. “We’re at a point right now where that is going to start including a fair number of people,” Dr. Sifri said. “It’s clear that boosters are really beneficial in boosting up the number of antibodies.”Dr. Sifri said there are an increasing number of “breakthrough-cases” in people who were vaccinated over six months ago. Some of these cases have resulted in hospitalizations and Dr. Sifri recommended those at higher risk should schedule their booster. “I really strongly encourage those people to get a booster especially as we head into the holiday season and as we are starting to see increasing rates of COVID in the nation as well as our community,” Dr. Sifri said. Dr. Sifri said others should consider getting the third dose, especially if they want to avoid contracting COVID. “There hasn’t been much of a rush,” Dr. Sifri said. “Right now we understand that about 16 percent of people in our health district who are eligible for a booster vaccine has received one.”Dr. Reid Adams is the Chief Medical Officer at UVA Health. His recommendation is a little more sharp.“I think the time is now,” Dr. Adams said. “We have gotten to a lower rate in Virginia but it’s certainly not low enough. If you look around the country, particularly in the midwest and the upper plains, we’re really seeing a surge so ideally folks would get their booster now before that happens here.” People who want to schedule a booster dose or get vaccinated for the first time can do so at vaccinate.virginia.gov. There are plenty of appointments and shots.“We have not seen long waits for booster doses here at the medical center,” Dr. Sifri said. “Those are available. In addition there is the availability of getting booster vaccines through local pharmacies and the Blue Ridge Health District.”Since November 6, over 4,674 children between the ages of 5 and 11 have been vaccinated, or around 25 percent of the eligible population. Sage Smith disappearanceToday marks nine years since Sage Smith disappeared, having last been seen in the 500 block of West Main Street. The Charlottesville Police Department put out a release this morning stating they are still seeking the whereabouts of Erik McFadden, calling him a critical person of interest in the case. The two had been expected to meet the night of November 20, 2012, but Smith has not been heard from since. McFadden is believed to have left town rather than speak to the police. “Smith was a beloved family member and friend to many in the Charlottesville and LGBTQ+ communities,” the release reads. “Although [nne] years have passed, CPD is hopeful with the help of the media and continued public interest, we can finally solve this case and bring closure to a family and community that continues to experience anguish.” A missing persons report was filed for McFadden in June 2019 but multiple leads have not turned up any further developments. For more information, take a look at the release. Charlottesville personnel updateThe city has hired a Minority Business Development Coordinator. Ajoni Wynn-Floyd will take the position within the city’s Economic Development Department. The Minority Business Program was created in 2018 to assist qualified businesses with one-on-one business consulting, start-up assistance, and help registering to be vendors for state and local government. “The program is focused on increasing the number of minority- and woman-owned businesses that are registered vendors with the City and to encourage more City spending with such businesses,” reads the intake form on the city’s website.Wynn-Floyd has worked with the Latino Student Alliance and the Diversity Awareness Program board. Earlier this month, the city’s Tree Commission learned of the resignation of Mike Ronayne, the city’s urban forester. He served in the position for five years. The position has not yet been advertised on the Charlottesville jobs board as of Friday afternoon.  At that November 2 meeting, Tree Commission chair Brian Menard said the city must demonstrate support for urban forestry.“We need to have more resources, not just financially, but we need more resources in terms of hands that can do this work and support this work,” Menard said. “We recognize that this has not been an ordinary 18 months but even before then it was clear that there’s just a lot that’s put on one person,” Menard said. Map-drawers selectedThe Virginia Supreme Court has appointed two special masters to complete the process of redistricting maps for the General Assembly and the U.S. House of Representatives. Sean P. Trende and Bernard F. Grofman are the selected candidates. “Though each was nominated by legislative leaders of a particular political party, the Nominees… shall serve as officers of the Court in a quasi-judicial capacity,” reads the appointment order made Friday.The pair will work on a single map and have 30 days to complete their work. According to the order, Trende and Grofman must resolve differences in good-faith and are not permitted to consult with anyone except for designated staff at the Supreme Court and the Virginia Division of Legislative Services. They are directed to take into account the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. “In short, the Court expects to receive from its Special Masters redistricting maps that have been drafted using factors that are fully compliant with constitutional and statutory law applied in an apolitical and nonpartisan manner,” reads the order. Trende was nominated by Republicans and is a senior elections analyst with Real Clear Politics. Grofman is a political science professor at the University of California at Irvine. Read more at the Virginia Mercury.In today’s second Patreon-fueled shout-out, Code for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Charlottesville Office of Human Rights. Visit codeforcville.org to learn about those projects. Crozet updateA month has passed since the Albemarle Board of Supervisors adopted an update of the Crozet Master Plan, with some land use aspects included over the wishes of some members of the Crozet Community Advisory Committee. For a good summary of what happened on October 20, read Allison Wrabel’s story in the October 21 Daily Progress. Or Lisa Martin’s story in the November 5 Crozet Gazette.On November 10, the Crozet CAC had the opportunity to talk about the plan. Chair Allie Pesch didn’t have anything prepared, and neither had Planning Manager Rachel Falkenstein. The Albemarle Planning Commission had recommended removing the Middle Density Residential designation from a portion of downtown Crozet, but there were four votes on the Board of Supervisors to move forward. White Hall District Supervisor Ann Mallek ended up voting with that majority on the eventual 5 to 1 vote in support of the plan’s update.“I should have done it differently,” Mallek said. “I should have made the motion I was going to make that adopted the Planning Commission’s route and if that had been voted down we would have been much more clear to the membership in the community what was going on.”  Meetings in Albemarle are still virtual due to the pandemic and Mallek said the logistics of getting that motion moved forward were difficult to accomplish over Zoom. She acknowledged that many landowners in Crozet are concerned about the increased density. Many CAC members thought their concerns were too easily dismissed.“I found a fair amount of pretty serious community input ignored at points and I feel that ever since the state abolished the ability to negotiate proffers, developers kind of trump most of the decisions,” said Brian Day.Day referred to legislation in 2016 that rendered invalid an Albemarle policy that required a cash payment from developers for every new unit authorized by a rezoning. Proffers are still legal if they are deemed reasonable and contribute to the direct impact of a development. However, the 2016 legislation ushered a cooling off point where localities were hesitant to even discuss the issue. This past week, for instance, representatives of Greystar Development said they would pay a proportional amount toward upgrades on Old Ivy Road. Michael Monaco, a new member of the CAC, said he felt public input had to be broadened in range. He said Crozet needs more housing and more entry-level jobs so young people can stay.“I think any process that is guided mostly by homeowners is going to be guided mostly by the financial interests of homeowners, consciously or not,” Monaco said. “Any attempt to counter that would be wise.” Kostas Alibertis is on his second term on the CAC. “I think the struggle and the challenge that we had here was the vision of the county versus the vision of the community and I think we’ll always have that unless there is some delineation of where those lines are, and I think that’s what led to all of this frustration,” Alibertis said. Shawn Bird said the process was hurt by a lack of in-person community engagement meetings due to the pandemic.“If you remember those meetings we had at the high school, I thought there was really strong turn out, I thought there were people energized by the process, we had a certain momentum behind it,” Bird said. “I saw new people coming out to those things and then COVID hit and we all had to jump on our computers and it just changed the whole dynamic.”During the process, the CAC took votes indicating a majority were not in favor of the middle density residential category. Those votes are not binding and are only symbolic, but Bird defended the practice as well a 2017 survey (as published in the Crozet Gazette),“I think the powers that be need to know was this issue 13 to 2, or 8 to 7, by the CCAC?” Bird said. “I think you need to quantify to some degree where the citizens fall on particular issues. In my mind, that’s what makes a survey much more powerful to some degree than anecdotal one-offs by people who have the time to jump on these cools and may have the loudest voices.”Allie Pesch said the master plan update was revision and not a rewrite. She said an analysis of the update should look at whether existing goals are being met.“We’ve wanted to increase affordable housing for a while and the solution seemed to be just to increase density and not really look at how that has or hasn’t worked in the existing plan,” Pesch said. Marc McKenney is in his first term on the CAC and he said many are concerned that Albemarle has not made the investments to support that density. “There’s been massive growth in Crozet in the past two decades,” McKenney said. “Population went from 2,200 in 2000, to 5,500 in 2010, to 9,500 or 9,200 a decade later. (TRIM) If we cannot show citizens what’s actually been delivered from an infrastructure perspective, I guarantee you there will be a complete loss in faith by citizens to the county that they have their best interest in providing sidewalks, and road repairs, and bridges.”Some of the current projects in the planning process are:$1.5 million in improvement to the Square anticipated to be completed in May 2023 (page 26 here), $21.25 million expansion of Crozet Elementary School expected to be completed in August 2022 (page 28 here)Sidewalk improvements on U.S. 250 West from Cory Farms to Cloverlawn (page 44)A revenue-sharing application was submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation on October 1 to complete Eastern Avenue across Lickinghole Creek to Cory Farms Road (Albemarle transportation priority #8)Improvements at Crozet Avenue and U.S. 250 West are being considered for Smart Scale recommendations in 2022 (Albemarle transportation priority #21) The adoption of the Crozet Master Plan happened just before the first phase of the county’s Comprehensive Plan review got underway. A public kickoff meeting will take place in January. Supervisor Mallek urged members of the CAC to become engaged in that process to ensure that Crozet’s voice can be heard.“While people may feel discouraged about particular outcomes in our process, we all need to be keeping our eyes on this other prize going forward because from natural resource planning to historic preservation to climate change to all slews of things, that is the core book that the Board and the staff refer to and this is our chance to make sure that our local words are maintained,” Mallek said. One of the items to be discussed during the Comp Plan review will be the county’s growth management policy. Thanks to Ting for their support in helping this program be produced each day. Today the newsletter ends with a limerick from friend of the show Bekah Saxon honoring Ting for their commitment to match your initial payment to a paid Substack subscription!There once was a reporter named SeanWho needed a check to go onWith money from TingHe could make his words singAnd keep Charlottesville moving alongSpecial announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In episode 6 we're joined by Elizabeth Hertel, the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). This wide ranging conversation certainly covers COVID-19, but dives even deeper to discuss what public health officials and the health sciences community can do to invest in the future health of our society. A great discussion not only for Michiganders, but for anyone interested in looking “under the hood” of a state department of health and human services.   Our Guest: Elizabeth HertelElizabeth Hertel is the Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Previously she was Senior Chief Deputy Director for Administration where she oversaw External Relations and Communications, Financial Operations Administration, Legislative Services, Legal Affairs, Policy & Planning, Strategic Integration, Organizational Services, Workforce Engagement and Community and Faith Engagement.Hertel joined the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) in 2013 as the senior assistant for Policy and Planning, and in February 2014, was appointed director of Policy and Planning. Following the merger of the Departments of Community Health and Human Services into MDHHS in 2015, Hertel served as senior deputy director for Policy, Planning and Legislative Services. In October 2016, she left that position to serve as director of Michigan Advocacy for Trinity Health and returned to MDHHS as Chief Deputy for Administration in February 2019.Prior to joining MDCH, Hertel worked as a senior advisor for Health Policy in the state House Republican Policy Office and as a legislative assistant to state Rep. Bruce Caswell. She began her tenure in the House in 2005. In 2010, she worked as a consultant with Public Sector Consultants and then as a policy analyst at Blue Cross Blue Shield. She returned to the House in 2011.

Sue Smith is the CEO and Registrar at the Nova Scotia College of Nursing (NSCN). Doug Bungay is the Senior Director of Legislative Services and Deputy Registrar. They, along with Trilogy Effect founding partners Heather Marasse and Mary Beth Sawicki, discuss the importance of cultural alignment in an organizational merger.“We thought the legal aspect of going from two into one was going to be the tricky part, but it became very clear early on that, even though we had two organizations doing nearly identical work, our organizational cultures were different and unique,” explains Doug Bungay.Sue Smith credits the use of the Enneagram framework as the driving force towards the co-creation of the new regulator and a whole new culture. She says, “I would say it was the number one contributor to our success. The Enneagram allowed our team members to learn about themselves and grow professionally and personally. It gave them a tool to develop self-awareness and the self-control needed during a time of tremendous change.”NSCN brought Trilogy Effect in early in the process to support the organizational cultural aspects of the merger. Managing Partner Heather Marasse says, “From the beginning of working with NSCN, I was struck by the depth of the commitment of the people. It was something deeper than you might experience working in the corporate world. In nursing, there's a higher calling and the difference is almost palpable. These healthcare professionals are giving their lives to this work. They are passionate and yet at the same time, they bring a certain sense of grace to everything they do.”Her partner, Mary Beth Sawicki, agrees. “NSCN employees were really engaged in the process. It was almost like working with human sponges, who were so appreciative and soaked up everything that we had to teach. This stems from support of leadership. Everyone was encouraged to take part and was supported all along the way.”In this podcast episode, Sue and Doug share their own leadership journeys and explain the important role that cultural alignment played in the successful merger of two healthcare regulators. They talk about how the Enneagram transformed their teams, their workplace, and their lives.  Links to helpful resources and information about some of the tools and concepts mentioned in the show:What is a Leadership CoachHow to use the Enneagram better to become a leaderAlignment and Why It MattersPlease subscribe to the Being Human Is Good for Business Podcast on iTunes, Amazon, Google Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify (links below) or wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate us and leave a review!Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts I Heart Radio Spotify | Amazon

This episode is all about what happened under the Gold Dome during the 2021 session of the Georgia General Assembly. You can access a written wrap-up report of the session as well as many other highlights and analyses on the legislative webpage https://www.pagelegislative.org/ (HERE). Host Craig Harper, PAGE Executive Director, is joined by Legislative Services staff Margaret Ciccarelli, Josh Stephens, and Claire Suggs. Topics Discussed COVID-19 adjustments for the 2021 legislative session Gov. Brian Kemp's Teacher Pipeline Bill $1,000 educator retention supplement $3,000 educator tax credit for qualifying teachers in high needs and rural schools TRS return-to-work bill and why it would not take effect until July 2023 Explanation of two-year process for fiscal impact bills Paid parental leave for state employees, including school employees Charter school funding and expanded educator eligibility for state health Home school students qualification to participate in public schools sports Expansion of the special needs voucher Fiscal impact of vouchers Voucher bills that did not pass: Educational Savings Accounts and expansion of student scholarships Partial budget restoration of austerity reductions and fiscal outlook Additional federal funding for schools through pandemic spending Allocation formulas for federal funding Get to know your legislators now for better advocacy later "Inspirational Outlook" by scottholmesmusic.com

The late Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D) was one of the most consequential figures in Maryland political history. Love him or hate him, his record-breaking tenure as a presiding officer in the General Assembly — a stunning 33 years — means he was central player in every significant political fight and policy debate over the past several decades. His knowledge of history and his political skills were unparalleled. He had strong personal beliefs, but he also had an innate sense of where his caucus, and the Senate, and the entire state were moving — and adjusted accordingly. He was of course a powerhouse in Annapolis, but he also had enormous influence in Prince George's County (where he grew up and came of age politically), throughout all of Southern Maryland, and in the judiciary and criminal justice system. Governors came and went, but Mike Miller was always there. He served with eight governors, beginning with Marvin Mandel. The tributes to Miller really began in January of 2019, when he first revealed that he had stage 4 prostate cancer. They continued that fall, when he gave up the gavel as Senate president, and continued into 2020 when the Senate hung his portrait in the chamber, and at the end of the year, when he resigned his Senate seat. And of course, his death this January at the age of 78 was a sad and seminal moment. There was a lot of talk about how Mike Miller loved the state of Maryland, loved the state Senate, loved the University of Maryland (his alma mater), and loved his big and formidable family. But he also had a second family that he also loved and admired and was forever loyal to — his staff. On the latest episode of Maryland Chatters, our occasional podcasting series, we to talk to three of his former chiefs of staff: Joe Bryce, who held the job for three years in the mid and late 1990's and is now a lobbyist with the firm Manis Canning and Associates; Vicki Gruber, who served in the job from 2006 to 2017 and today is the executive director of the Department of Legislative Services in Annapolis; and Jake Weissmann, who was Miller's last chief of staff and holds that role now for Senate President Bill Ferguson.

 The U.S. Army has agreed to reconsider the cases of thousands of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars era with mental health conditions who received other-than-honorable discharges. The decision is part of a settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit brought by two Connecticut veterans. Scott Hope, Deputy Director of Legislative Services for the Disabled American Veterans organization will discuss the ramifications of this court decision and how the DAV is and will be prepared to assist the personnel receiving revised discharges file claims where appropriate. 

Click to listen to episode (4:41) Sections below are the following:Transcript of AudioAudio Notes and AcknowledgmentsImagesExtra InformationSourcesRelated Water Radio EpisodesFor Virginia Teachers (Relevant SOLs, etc.) Unless otherwise noted, all Web addresses mentioned were functional as of 12-31-20.TRANSCRIPT OF AUDIO From the Cumberland Gap to the Atlantic Ocean, this is Virginia Water Radio for the week of January 4, 2021. This week is our annual preview of the Virginia General Assembly, which convenes this year on January 13.  We start with some music and a short General Assembly quiz.  Have a listen for about 20 seconds to part of “The Lass of Gowrie,” a traditional tune from the British Isles, which might have entertained General Assembly members in centuries past; it’s performed here by Timothy Seaman of Williamsburg, Virginia.  While you listen, consider this question: what do the numbers 1619, 100, 40, 60, 30, and 46 have to do with the General Assembly? MUSIC – ~18 sec – instrumental. Here are the quiz answers: The first meeting of the Virginia legislature was held in Jamestown in 1619. The current General Assembly consists of 100 members of the House of Delegates and 40 members of the Senate. And the Assembly convenes for a scheduled 60-day “long session” in even-numbered years and a scheduled 30-day “short session” in odd-numbered years.  In practice, the 30-day sessions are usually expanded to 46 days. In each session, thousands of bills and resolutions are proposed.  Usually about 100 to 200 bills relate to water resources, either directly through impacts on aquatic life, water supply, or other water uses; or indirectly through land uses that affect water.  The state budget also affects water, particularly through funding of water-related departments, such as Conservation and Recreation, Environmental Quality, Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Marine Resources Commission.  A new biennial budget is proposed in each even-numbered year session for the upcoming two fiscal years, while amendments to the current budget may be considered every year.Action on measures in the General Assembly involves sub-committees, full committees, and floor debate.  Passed bills go to the governor for approval, veto, or proposed changes.  All along the way, citizens, interest groups, and other stakeholders vie to have a say through information and opinions.  You can join in by following the Assembly’s work and by communicating with your local delegate or senator about issues of concern.  Tools to help you do so are available online at virginiageneralassembly.gov. Thanks to Timothy Seaman for permission to use part of “The Lass of Gowrie.”  We close with some more music, this time by the Harrisonburg- and Rockingham County, Virginia-based band, “The Steel Wheels,” with a song whose title reminds us of what the 140 General Assembly members are called to do every January.  Here’s about 25 seconds of “Get to Work.” MUSIC – ~27 sec – Lyrics: “Wake up in the morning and get work; wake up in the morning and get to work.  Got a lot of work to do; gonna go do it; gotta get to it.” SHIP’S BELL Virginia Water Radio is produced by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center, part of Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources and Environment.  For more Virginia water sounds, music, or information, visit us online at virginiawaterradio.org, or call the Water Center at (540) 231-5624.  Thanks to Stewart Scales for his banjo version of Cripple Creek to open and close this show.  In Blacksburg, I’m Alan Raflo, thanking you for listening, and wishing you health, wisdom, and good water. AUDIO NOTES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The version of “The Lass of Gowrie” heard in this episode, from the 1998 album “Celebration of Centuries: Acoustic Instrumental Music for Williamsburg, Jamestown, & Yorktown, Virginia,” is copyright Timothy Seaman and Pine Wind Music, used with permission.  More information about Mr. Seaman is available online at http://timothyseaman.com/en/.  This music was used previously by Virginia Water Radio in Episode 402, 1-8-18 (General Assembly preview episode for 2018). “Get to Work,” from the 2019 album “Over the Trees,” is copyright by The Steel Wheels, used with permission.  More information about The Steel Wheels is available online at https://www.thesteelwheels.com/home; at https://www.facebook.com/thesteelwheels/; and in a July 2015 interview with Cory Kuklick for the WHURK Newsletter, online at http://whurk.org/29/the-steel-wheels.  Click here if you’d like to hear the full version (1 min./11 sec.) of the “Cripple Creek” arrangement/performance by Stewart Scales that opens and closes this episode.  More information about Mr. Scales and the group New Standard, with which Mr. Scales plays, is available online at https://www.newstandardbluegrass.com/. IMAGES Painting of the first meeting of the Virginia House of Burgesses in Jamestown in 1619.  Image from the Virginia General Assembly, “About the General Assembly,” online at this link.Old Virginia House of Delegates chamber in the State Capitol in Richmond, January 31, 2018.Virginia House of Delegates floor session at the State Capitol in Richmond, January 31, 2018.Virginia Senate floor session at the State Capitol in Richmond, January 31, 2018.EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLYThe General Assembly’s main Web page, http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/index.php, offers several useful features, including member lists, session calendars, live video of floor sessions, and information on legislative processes.  The Legislative Information System (LIS) Web site, http://lis.virginia.gov/lis.htm, provides lists and summaries of all bills, searchable by topic, member, committee, etc.  Streaming of floor sessions is available at https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/chamber/chamberstream.phpfor the House and http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3for the Senate. Committees are key parts of the General Assembly process.  Legislation about water or about activities that can affect water may be assigned to any of several standing committees, most of which meet weekly during the General Assembly session.  Streaming of House committee meetings is available online at https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/committees/commstream.html; streaming of Senate committee meetings is available online at http://virginia-senate.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3.  Two committees that receive many (but not all) of the water-related bills are the House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee.  Information about all standing committees as of the 2021 session—including membership, meeting times, and legislation being considered—is available online at https://lis.virginia.gov/211/com/COM.HTM. To express an opinion on legislation, citizens are requested to contact their respective delegate of senator.  If you do not know your representatives or their contact information, you can use the online “Who’s My Legislator” service, available at http://whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov/. You can find members’ contact information at these links:House of Delegates, at http://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php;State Senate, at https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/. The Lobbyist-In-A-Box subscriber service also offers free tracking for up to five bills, and it offers tracking of more than five bills for a fee; visit http://lis.virginia.gov/h015.htm.  For assistance, phone Legislative Automated Systems at (804) 786-9631. SOURCES USED FOR AUDIO AND OFFERING MORE INFORMATION Andrew Kuntz and Valerio Pelliccioni, “The Traditional Tune Archive,” online at https://tunearch.org/wiki/TTA.  “The Lass of Gowrie” entry is online at https://tunearch.org/wiki/Lass_o%27_Gowrie_(1). Virginia Division of Legislative Services, “Commissions, Committees, and Councils,” online at http://dls.virginia.gov/commissions.html. Virginia House of Delegates Appropriations Committee, “Legislative Budget Process,” online at http://hac.virginia.gov/legislative.htm. Virginia General Assembly main Web site, online at https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/index.php.  See particularly the following specific pages (all hyperlinked): About the General Assembly;Citizen Involvement;Legislative Terms. Virginia Legislative Information System, online at https://lis.virginia.gov/.  For committee information, see https://lis.virginia.gov/211/com/COM.HTM. Virginia Water Resources Research Center, “Virginia Water Legislation,” online at https://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/virginia-water-legislation/.  This site provides access to inventories of water-related bills in the Virginia General Assembly from 1998 through 2019. RELATED VIRGINIA WATER RADIO EPISODES All Water Radio episodes are listed by category at the Index link above (http://www.virginiawaterradio.org/p/index.html).  See particularly the “Community/Organizations” subject category. Following are links to previous episodes on the Virginia General Assembly. Episode 143, 1-7-13 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 147, 2-4-13 – on General Assembly committees. Episode 196, 1-13-14 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 247, 1-5-15 – annual General Assembly preview, with special focus on the state budget. Episode 252, 2-9-15 – annual “voting on water” episode. Episode 297, 1-4-16 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 302, 2-8-16 – annual “voting on water” episode. Episode 350, 1-9-17 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 353, 1-30-17 – annual “voting on water” episode. Episode 359, 3-13-17 – on General Assembly subcommittees. Episode 402, 1-8-18 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 405, 1-29-18 – annual “voting on water” episode. Episode 410, 3-5-18 – on 2018 session legislation on electricity regulation. Episode 454, 1-7-19 – annual General Assembly preview. Episode 460, 2-18-19 – annual “voting on water” episode.Episode 506, 1-6-20 – annual General Assembly preview.Episode 510, 2-3-20 – annual “voting on water” episode.Episode 522, 4-2-/20 – on 2020 session legislation on electricity generation, carbon emissions, and recurrent flooding. FOR VIRGINIA TEACHERS – RELATED STANDARDS OF LEARNING (SOLs) AND OTHER INFORMATION Following are some Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) that may be supported by this episode’s audio/transcript, sources, or other information included in this post. 2020 Music SOLs SOLs at various grade levels that call for “examining the relationship of music to the other fine arts and other fields of knowledge.” 2018 Science SOLs Grades K-5 – Earth Resources3.8 – Natural events and humans influence ecosystems.4.8. – Virginia has important natural resources. Grade 66.9 – Humans impact the environment and individuals can influence public policy decisions related to energy and the environment.Life Science Course LS.9     – Relationships exist between ecosystem dynamics and human activity.Earth Science Course ES.6 – Resource use is complex.ES.8 – Freshwater resources influence and are influenced by geologic processes and human activity.ES.10 – Oceans are complex, dynamic systems subject to long- and short-term variations, including effects of human actions.ES.11 – The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic system subject to long-and short-term variations, including effects of human actions. Biology CourseBIO.8 – Dynamic equilibria exist within populations, communities, and ecosystems, and  natural events and human activities influence local and global ecosystems and may affect the flora and fauna of Virginia. 2015 Social Studies SOLs Virginia Studies Course VS.10 – Knowledge of government, geography, and economics in present-day Virginia. Civics and Economics Course CE.1 – Social studies skills that responsible citizenship requires. CE.7 – Government at the state level. CE.10 – Public policy at local, state, and national levels. World Geography Course WG.18 - Cooperation among political jurisdictions to solve problems and settle disputes. Government Course GOVT.1 – Social studies skills that responsible citizenship requires. GOVT.8 – State and local government organization and powers. GOVT.9 – Public policy at local, state, and national levels. GOVT.15 – Role of government in Va. and U.S. economies, including examining environmental issues and property rights.Virginia’s SOLs are available from the Virginia Department of Education, online at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/. Following are links to Water Radio episodes (various topics) designed especially for certain K-12 grade levels. Episode 250, 1-26-15 – on boiling, for kindergarten through 3rd grade.Episode 255, 3-2-15 – on density, for 5th and 6th grade.Episode 282, 9-21-15 – on living vs. non-living, for kindergarten.Episode 309, 3-28-16 – on temperature regulation in animals, for kindergarten through 12thgrade.Episode 333, 9-12-16 – on dissolved gases, especially dissolved oxygen in aquatic habitats, for 5th grade.Episode 403, 1-15-18 – on freezing and ice, for kindergarten through 3rd grade.Episode 404, 1-22-18 – on ice on ponds and lakes, for 4th through 8thgrade.Episode 406, 2-5-18 – on ice on rivers, for middle school.Episode 407, 2-12-18 – on snow chemistry and physics, for high school.Episode 483, 7-29-19 – on buoyancy and drag, for middle school and high school.Episode 524, 5-11-20 – on sounds by water-related animals, for elementary school through high school.Episode 531, 6-29-20 – on various ways that animals get water, for 3rdand 4th grade.Episode 539, 8-24-20 – on basic numbers and facts about Virginia’s water resources, for 4th and 6th grade.

During this Modestly Outspoken episode, we speak with Cristina Pinzon, Founder and CEO of Stateside Affairs, a minority and woman-owned public relations consultancy company, and Maria Del Cid, Coordinator of the Latino Caucus under the NJ Democratic State Committee and Director of Policy and Legislative Services at the NJ Department of Health. They join us to talk about what they do to advocate and help the Latino community strive for better while being the only Latino women in the room. They emphasize the challenges of mail-in voting, how our young bilingual speakers can get involved during this process, how we can drive change in our communities, and the marketing techniques they are using to target specific communities and encourage the young vote. Watch it on YouTube: Modestly Outspoken Want to get involved? Check out www.njdems.org and find the volunteering opportunity that is right for you! Want to get involved in the Democratic Latino Caucus of NJ? Email Latinos@njdems.org to stay engaged with Cristina and Maria! Passionate about marketing and design, with interest in public service? Stay tuned for an internship opportunity coming soon!

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, David Juppe joins Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson to discuss the fiscal implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, examine the "trigger" provision in the Kirwan Blueprint bill for education funding, and explore the viability of dipping into the state's rainy day fund to respond to the coronavirus public health crisis.David Juppe, a professor in the Public Affairs department at the University of Baltimore and former senior operating budget manager at the Department of Legislative Services, is an expert on state and local finances.MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Kirwan Blueprint Bill Heads to Governor, With a “Trigger” ProvisionPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Hogan Seeks Rainy Day Funds for Coronavirus ResponsePrevious Conduit Street Coverage: States Are Using Budget Surpluses to Shore Up Rainy Day FundsPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Previous Conduit Street Coverage: MACo Compiles List of Local Resources During COVID-19 ResponseFor up-to-date information and resources regarding coronavirus, including confirmed case counts and clinician guidance, visit http://health.maryland.gov/coronavirus.

RI state Sen. Ryan Pearson (D-Cumberland) joins Bonus Q&A to discuss the controversy involving the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, the hiring and spending arm of the legislature; why taxpayers are not getting a better return on their investment in education; his political future; and whether his proposal to steer more tax money to education is going anywhere.

RI state Sen. Ryan Pearson (D-Cumberland) joins Bonus Q&A to discuss the controversy involving the Joint Committee on Legislative Services, the hiring and spending arm of the legislature; why taxpayers are not getting a better return on their investment in education; his political future; and whether his proposal to steer more tax money to education is going anywhere.

State lawmakers are in Helena this week for the first-ever Legislative Week, a five-day series of training sessions, interim committee meetings, and social events aimed at fostering “cross-pollination” among legislators, according to the Legislature’s website. Legislative Week is born of a study resulting from the 2019 session’s Senate Bill 310, which seeks to gauge the potential of holding annual legislative sessions, rather than the current biennial session schedule. Susan Fox, executive director of the nonpartisan Legislative Services Division, joined Montana Free Press editor-in-chief John S. Adams for a Montana Lowdown podcast discussion about what she expects ⁠— and does not expect ⁠— to take place during Legislative Week. Fox also reflects on her 30 years of experience working in Legislative Services, noting an increase in partisanship, and declining opportunities for new legislators to grow into leadership positions.  “[Legislators] don’t have time to mature like they used to,” she tells Adams. “And I remember in the past, leaders ... would slowly work their way up to committee chairmanship, and then they might, in another session or two, become a whip, and then become a leader. But they don’t have time to do that now — you just have to get in and start [leading].” Fox also says she’s seen a lack of understanding between those legislators tasked with drafting the state’s budget and those who develop policies, a dynamic that helped lead to the passage of Senate Bill 310.  “Budget and policy are kind of two different tracks,” Fox says. “And [legislators] really feel like it’s disjointed. The budget people don’t understand the policy people, and the policy people don’t understand the budget.” The SB 310 study explores the prospect of annual sessions with alternating focuses on the state budget and policy-related law.  Fox’s conversation with Adams is featured on this week’s Montana Lowdown Podcast, a production of Montana Free Press.

Once every 10 years, America’s political landscape changes. While most people are aware the U.S. census takes place in years that end in zero, a smaller percentage know the data collected helps determine how the nation’s political power is divided. In most states, legislatures are charged with redrawing congressional and state legislative maps following the release of the census data. This means political control of the legislature and the governor’s office will be critical when maps are redrawn in 2021. We invited two guests to explain this process and what legislatures are doing in preparation for the historic event. Wendy Underhill is the director of the Elections and Redistricting Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures. NCSL is producing a series of meetings on redistricting, with the next one taking place Oct. 24-27 in Columbus, Ohio. Future redistricting meetings will be held in Las Vegas, Portland, Ore. and Washington, D.C. For the staff perspective, we talk with Michelle L. Davis, a senior policy analyst on redistricting and election law at the Maryland Department of Legislative Services. She is the editor of the website Redistrictingonline and its Facebook page. Additional Resources Transcription of Episode 75

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally discuss the latest news and notes from Annapolis, including a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that partisan-gerrymandering challenges to electoral maps are political questions and thus beyond the reach of the federal courts — dismissing challenges by voters in Maryland and North Carolina, an update on the budget impasse between Governor Larry Hogan and the General Assembly, and a recap of MACo's trip to Maryland's Lower Eastern Shore.MACo has made the podcast available through both iTunes and Google Play Music by searching Conduit Street Podcast. You can also listen on our Conduit Street blog with a recap and link to the podcast.You can listen to previous episodes of the Conduit Street Podcast on our website.Useful LinksPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: SCOTUS: Federal Courts Have No Role in Partisan Gerrymandering CasesPrevious Conduit Street Coverage: Governor & General Assembly Remain At Odds Over FY 2020 Restricted FundingConduit Street Podcast: Budget Battle, SALT Smackdown, and More!Maryland Department of Legislative Services

In this GSBA podcast episode 3, hear Angela Palm, GSBA Director for Policy and Legislative Services and Scott Bierman, GSBA Legislative Services Associate walk us through the 2019 legislative session of the Georgia General Assembly. We will learn what bills made the final cut this year and what may be left for consideration in the second session of this 155th term.

Listen as Angela Palm, GSBA Director for Policy and Legislative Services and Scott Bierman, GSBA Legislative Services Associate discuss the Georgia General Assembly's crossover day. Learn what actions were taken and what to expect for the remainder of the legislative session.

Listen to the latest on what is impacting public education during this legislative session at the Georgia State Capitol with Angela Palm, GSBA Director for Policy and Legislative Services and Scott Biermann, Legislative Services Associate.

On the latest episode of the Conduit Street Podcast, Michael Sanderson and Kevin Kinnally discuss Governor Hogan's new proposal to dedicate nearly all of the revenues resulting from the education "lockbox" constitutional amendment to school construction, examine the latest clues from the [Kirwan] Commission on Innovation and Excellence in Education on what a county funding component might look like in a post-Kirwan landscape, review MACo's Half-Day Annapolis Immersion Training, and recognize the Department of Legislative Services for their recent award from Governing Magazine.

Kevin Kinnally is joined by MACo's Research Director, Robin Eilenberg, to discuss school construction in Maryland. For many years the State-county partnership on school construction has been strong, with the Department of Legislative Services reporting that from fiscal 2006 through 2013, the State provided $2.4 billion in new funds for school construction while Counties provided $2.1 billion for school construction.Increases in school construction costs in recent years, however, threaten to strain that relationship and offset the balance of the shared commitment to building and renovating facilities for Maryland’s K-12 students. Eligible cost definitions and state environmental and labor mandates are at the heart of the division.

www.gravenhurst.ca/elections  

Michael Catania has played a major role for three decades in New Jersey in the areas of environmental legislation, regulation and conservation. In this interview, we discuss major environmental laws, like the Pinelands Act, that Michael helped to draft when he worked for the Office of Legislative Services. We also cover his time at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, his recent leadership in conservation projects, and his exciting new challenge as executive director at Duke Farms. Michael has been a participant in and witness to much of the progress of the environmental movement as we know it in New Jersey. Is he discouraged by currenet events?  Listen and learn. We think you'll really like this epidsode and you may learn a good deal, too.  Want to help us grow the podcast? We'd be most grateful if you'd take a few minutes to give us a review on iTunes. You review will help us reach more listeners and encourage experts to participate in future interviews. Thanks in advance. We also recommend that you check out our free EnviroPolitics Blog, our paid-subscription daily newsletter, EnviroPolitics (30 day free trial) and our Enviro-Events Calendar where we will help you publilcize your upcoming event for free.