California's supplier diversity program is under DOJ scrutiny.

It raises an interesting question:

Should government encourage broader participation in contracting, or should awards be based solely on qualifications, cost, and performance?

Both sides have valid arguments.

What's your take?

Article 👇

https://zurl.co/fRaez

#Infrastructure #Energy #PublicPolicy

Universities need new ways to assess learning in the age of AI | The-14

AI is transforming universities. Experts argue assessment methods must evolve to measure skills, integrity, and real learning outcomes.

The-14 Pictures

This new book explains why your elderly parents’ retirement home, the nursery where you drop your children, or the company that pipes water into your kitchen is taken over by an increasingly intricate and deregulated industry.

If a private equity fund is "buying something using a lot a debt, [then] all of that debt is loaded onto the company that the private equity fund has acquired."
"Private equity has moved into care homes, housing, water, nurseries and other essential services."
"We have the power for it to be done otherwise."

Hettie O’Brien: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAJKiVQZaks via @oscarjiminy

#mortality #publicHealth #housing #publicServices #retirement #careHomes #hospital #expansion #development #LBO #privateFinance #finance #privateFinance #privateEquity #capitalism #publicPolicy #assets #England #Wales #Scotland #privateSector #UK #Britain #Blackstone #property #realEstate #buildToRent #Macquarie #childCare #careIndustry #taxBreaks #pensions #extraction

How Private Equity Sold Out the West | Hettie O’Brien & Vicky Spratt

YouTube

#Indigenous #land #landback #PublicPolicy

'Returns averaged less than one per year from 1972 to 2010, then more than doubled from 2010 to 2023. More than 80% of the documented returns occurred in the latter two decades.'

https://news.uwgb.edu/phlash/mediacoverage/06/17/study-finds-landback-returns-of-indigenous-lands-happening-across-country-can-lead-public-planning-ku-news/

Study finds landback returns of Indigenous lands happening across country, can lead public planning | KU News

Land acknowledgements, or statements where planners, residents or organizations recognize that the land they exist and operate on originally belonged to Indigenous nations, have become increasingly common in recent years. New research from the University of Kansas has found that the landback movement, in which land is returned to its original occupants, has grown rapidly […]

Inside UW-Green Bay News
Does the popularity of Hallmark Channel romance movies indicate a cultural shift away from #urbanism ? (Like I would know...) https://brucefnesmith.blogspot.com/2026/06/what-is-future-of-iowas-small-towns-ii.html #EntreFest2026 #Iowa #LocalEconomy #place #PublicPolicy #RuralPlaces
What is the future of Iowa's small towns? (II)

The lives we should all be living: "Texas Two-Step," a movie on the Hallmark Channel, offers romance and country music in a small town third...

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici introduced a resolution to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon, alleging she illegally moved 100+ Department of Education programs to other agencies without congressional consent. As a minority-party measure, it faces almost no path forward — but the underlying legal fight does. https://thecollegeinvestor.com/82553/house-democrat-files-resolution-to-impeach-education-secretary-linda-mcmahon/ #Education #PublicPolicy
Rep. Bonamici Moves to Impeach McMahon Over Education Department Dismantling

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici filed a resolution to impeach Education Secretary Linda McMahon over the Department's dismantling. Why it likely won't advance.

The College Investor

Are we answering the wrong question when it comes to smart cities? We spend enormous effort making cities easier to measure, and far less effort making them accountable to the people living in them.
Reflecting on my PhD research comparing two systems from two different cities, the evidence is clear: technology isn't the bottleneck. Citizen Inclusion is.

Read the breakdown and access the full thesis:
https://open.substack.com/pub/urbanlifeworks/p/what-bangkok-and-singapore-taught?r=18i7sn&utm_medium=ios
#SmartCities #GovTech #UrbanGovernance #CivicTech #PublicPolicy

What Bangkok and Singapore Taught Me About Smart City Governance

A short reflection on my PhD thesis, and what I hope it offers the urban innovation field

Urban life works

This brief highlights a strategic distinction between newly announced dollars and already authorized funding streams. For clinicians and social services coordinators, the piece underscores how funding announcements may reflect policy timing and grant administration rather than a fresh influx of resources, shaping how programs are planned and prioritized.

Grounded attention to fiscal labeling can inform program development, implementation timelines, and stakeholder communication within mental health systems, ensuring that expectations align with actual funding availability and grant cycles.

Article Title: RFK Jr. presents $700 million in mental health funding, but experts say grants aren’t new

Link to STAT NEWS Mental Health Article: https://nolinkpreview.com/www.statnews.com/2026/06/17/rfk-new-mental-health-funding-or-new-use-existing-grants/?utm_campaign=rss

#mentalhealthfunding #grantcycles #publicpolicy #behavioralhealth #fundingtransparency #homelessnessandmentalillness #healthcarebudgets #programplanning #clinicaladministration #statnews

🙄😂 "If you’re as shrewd as trump you’ve already gamed this all out. What better way to force humanity to face [#ClimateChange] head-on than to drive up the price of oil and gas — and everything else? If $6 a gallon at the pumps doesn’t focus the mind on climate-friendly alternatives, what would?..."
https://jacobin.com/2026/06/trump-iran-green-transition-environmentalism
h/t @NatalieDavis
https://journa.host/@NatalieDavis/116765849806003947
#ClimateCrisis #FossilFuel #EnergyIndependence #renewables #PublicPolicy
Is Donald Trump the Greatest Environmentalist of All Time??

Was Donald Trump’s decades-long persona as a venal carnival grotesque all part of a brilliant scheme to launch an insane war and create the geopolitical conditions for a global energy transition?

Medicaid Provider Cuts Could Impact Disability Services Nationwide: What Raleigh Residents Should Know

A recent report from Disability Scoop highlights growing concerns about Medicaid access and disability services after one state temporarily cut ties with thousands of Medicaid providers in an effort to comply with new federal funding requirements. The move is raising alarms among disability advocates and healthcare providers across the country who fear similar actions could affect access to critical services for people with disabilities. (Disability Scoop⁠)

What Happened?

According to Disability Scoop, state officials reviewing Medicaid providers terminated or suspended relationships with nearly two-thirds of the providers under review while attempting to meet federal oversight and funding requirements. The action was described as temporary, but it immediately created uncertainty for providers and the individuals who depend on their services. (LinkedIn⁠)

The situation comes as states nationwide face increasing pressure to comply with evolving Medicaid regulations while maintaining access to federal funding. Medicaid remains the primary source of funding for many disability support programs, including home and community-based services, personal care assistance, transportation, and healthcare coordination. (KFF⁠)

Why Disability Advocates Are Concerned

Advocates worry that aggressive provider reviews, funding reductions, and administrative changes could reduce access to services for people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. Even temporary disruptions can create major challenges for individuals who rely on consistent support services to live independently and participate in their communities. (Disability Belongs™⁠)

Many disability organizations have already expressed concerns about broader Medicaid policy changes scheduled to take effect over the next several years. Experts warn that states facing budget pressures may struggle to maintain provider networks, especially for home and community-based services that help individuals avoid institutional care. (KFF⁠)

What This Could Mean for North Carolina

While the Disability Scoop report focuses on actions taken in another state, the issue has relevance for North Carolina residents. Medicaid is a critical lifeline for thousands of North Carolinians with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families.

If provider participation decreases or administrative requirements become more burdensome, residents could experience:

  • Longer wait times for services
  • Reduced provider availability
  • Challenges accessing specialty care
  • Increased strain on caregivers and families
  • Delays in home and community-based support programs

North Carolina has expanded Medicaid in recent years, increasing access to healthcare coverage for many residents. However, disability advocates continue to monitor federal and state policy changes that could affect long-term service delivery and funding stability. (KFF⁠)

The Bigger Picture

The Medicaid debate is increasingly focused on balancing fiscal accountability with access to care. Supporters of stricter oversight argue that states must ensure providers meet program requirements and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Critics counter that broad provider removals and funding restrictions can unintentionally harm vulnerable populations who depend on Medicaid-funded services every day. (KFF⁠)

For people with disabilities, Medicaid is more than health insurance. It often funds the support systems that allow individuals to work, attend school, live independently, and remain connected to their communities. Any disruption in provider networks can have significant consequences for quality of life and independence. (Disability Belongs™⁠)

What Raleigh Residents Should Watch

As federal Medicaid policies continue to evolve, disability advocates, healthcare providers, and community organizations will be watching closely for any changes that could affect service access in North Carolina.

Residents who rely on Medicaid services should stay informed about policy updates, provider network changes, and public comment opportunities that may affect disability services and healthcare access in the years ahead.

For more Raleigh news, community updates, and issues impacting local residents, follow DoRaleigh.com.

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Published by Bryan Tomlinson | DoRaleigh.com

#DevelopmentalDisabilities #disabilityAdvocacy #DisabilityRights #DisabilityServices #DoRaleigh #HealthcareAccess #HealthcareNews #Medicaid #MedicaidFunding #MedicaidProviders #News #NorthCarolinaHealthcare #NorthCarolinaMedicaid #PublicPolicy #RaleighCommunityNews #RaleighNC