The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources this month is outlining how it plans to use $150 million to make upgrades to its outdoor-recreation system. In the current two-year state budget, the department was given the one-time sum to bolster infrastructure and add amenities at state parks and other sites. While Minnesota is known for its recreational opportunities, Parks and Trails Director Ann Pierce said it s become clear the system is showing signs of age, and improvements are much needed. .
Connecticut s General Assembly is poised to take up a bill to study universal voting. This is when voting isn t just a fundamental right, but required by law. Research shows the U.S. .
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Most legally free Michiganders possess their vital records, but some people recently coming back to society after incarceration do not. A package of bills awaits Senate approval to ensure the Michigan Department of Corrections and Secretary of State provide people returning to society with their birth certificate and driver s license or state ID, and then work with the federal government to provide a Social Security card. Chuck Warpehoski, project coordinator for the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration, said people hoping for a fresh start in society after prison often cannot get a break. .
A new report shows persistent state budget cuts in 80% of U.S. states including Texas deprive public schools of the funding they experienced before the Great Recession. The report measures statewide funding adequacy based on how many students attend schools in districts with funding below estimated adequate levels. .