The Center Square

The Center Square was launched in May 2019 to fulfill the need for high-quality statehouse and statewide news across the United States. The focus of our work is state- and local-level government and economic reporting. www.thecentersquare.com

50-state Report: GOP-Led States Are in Best Economic Condition

A new report ranks all 50 states from best to worst for economic conditions, showing which states have ...

Economy April 17, 2023
Property Taxes Climb 3.6 Percent Across US to $339.8 Billion

Property taxes levied on single-family homes in the United States increased 3.6 percent to $339.8 billion in 2022, ...

Economy April 8, 2023
Cost of Over-the-Counter Narcan Could Be Barrier to Use

The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) decision to give an opioid overdose antidote over-the-counter status could help as ...

US News April 8, 2023
Man Accused in $83.6 Million Fraudulent COVID-19 Testing Scheme Out on Bond

A man federal prosecutors allege is responsible for an $83.6 million fraudulent COVID-19 testing scheme is out on ...

US Crime News March 18, 2023
Total Fraud in Federal Government? For First Time, an Agency Tries to Solve

A government agency wants to find out just how much taxpayer money is lost to fraud at the ...

US News February 15, 2023
Feds to Spend $25 Million to Entice Food Stamp Recipients to Eat More Fruits, Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service will invest $25 million into three states to encourage ...

US News February 1, 2023
Gas Prices Rise for 5th Straight Week With Trend Expected to Continue

Gas prices at the pump rose for the fifth consecutive week and there isn't much hope of prices ...

Economy February 1, 2023
Missouri’s Republican Congressional Delegation Demands EPA Stop New Waterway Regulations

Missouri’s Republican congressional delegation sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency requesting an immediate stop to a ...

US Politics January 31, 2023
22 AGs Call on Congress to Change Law to Allow States to Jam Contraband Cell Phones in Prisons

Twenty-two attorneys general, led by South Carolina AG Alan Wilson and Alabama AG Steve Marshall, are urging Congress ...

US News January 27, 2023
Federal Food Stamps Program Hits Record Costs at $119 Billion

The cost of the federal food stamps program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increased to ...

US News January 27, 2023
Amid Ridership Struggles, S&P Dims Transit Outlook

Public transit agencies that can't find new funding or make cuts could face a fiscal cliff, according to ...

Economy January 23, 2023
Federal Border Wall Replacing Arizona Container Wall Goes Up This Week

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced that construction on a barrier at the Yuma sector of the southern ...

Immigration & Border Security January 9, 2023
Amtrak Has Big Increase in Ridership but Still Not Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

Amtrak saw a big increase in ridership in fiscal year 2022 but is still at 72 percent of ...

US News January 2, 2023
Food Prices Soared in 2022, Americans Hope for Improvement in 2023

Food prices soared in 2022, and so far there are few solutions on the horizon for 2023. The ...

Inflation January 2, 2023
IRS Increases Deductible Costs for Mileage by 3 Cents per Mile in 2023

The optional standard rate for deductible costs for operating an automobile for business will increase to 65.5 cents ...

Economic Policies January 2, 2023
Report: California Is One of the Least Charitable States Despite Being One of Wealthiest

It turns out that California is one of the least charitable states in the union. When it comes ...

US News December 26, 2022
Census: Texas Leads US With Largest Population Gains, Florida Leads With Fastest Population Growth

Texas and Florida lead the U.S. in population growth, according to new Census Bureau estimates. Texas saw the ...

US News December 26, 2022
Analysis: Two California, Louisiana Cities Among the Neediest in America

Detroit, Michigan, is the most economically disadvantaged city in the United States, followed by Brownsville, Texas, and Cleveland, ...

US News December 24, 2022
Researchers Find Academics Improve for Athletes Playing in College Football Bowl Games

College football bowl games are known to create publicity for universities, increase donations from alumni, and promote tourism ...

College Sports December 24, 2022
Bipartisan Group of 37 AGs Urging Stronger Protections for Airline Customers

A bipartisan coalition of 37 attorneys general are requesting the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) improve protections for ...

Executive Branch December 24, 2022
Report: Majority of Americans Living Paycheck to Paycheck, Many Blame Rising Inflation

Recently released survey data reports that the majority of Americans are feeling the pain of inflation and living ...

Inflation December 24, 2022
Survey: 1 in 3 Americans Want to Save More With New Year’s Resolutions

Inflation remains one of their top concerns for Americans heading into 2023, according to a new WalletHub survey. ...

Economy December 23, 2022
Report: Teens Warned to Be on Alert for Online Scams Ahead of Holiday Season

Ahead of the holiday season, a California-based online dating investigation service is warning a specific consumer group to ...

US News December 19, 2022
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wants to Ban Land Sales to Foreign Entitities

Florida's new Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson wants to restrict the sale of The Sunshine State's farmland to ...

US-China Relations December 19, 2022
IRS Warns of 50 Percent Penalty for Failing to Make Retirement Withdrawals

Throughout the decades, millions of Americans had small amounts from their paychecks withdrawn—before taxes were deducted—and invested the ...

Business December 19, 2022
Baker to Transition From Massachusetts Governor to NCAA President

Outgoing Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has already found a landing spot for his post-political career. The second-term Republican ...

College Sports December 15, 2022
Feds Doling out $2.3 Billion to ‘Expand and Modernize’ Intercity Passenger Rail

The federal government is looking to dole out nearly $2.3 billion to “expand and modernize” intercity passenger rail ...

Executive Branch December 11, 2022