Over the past 10 years, Utah’s crime rate has nearly halved (from 3,241.3 to 1,638.5 crimes per 100,000 people), compared to a 27% drop in the national crime rate. Since 2022, Utah’s overall crime rate is lower than the national crime rate, dropping from 12% higher in 2015 (238.7) to 26% lower in 2024 (229.6). As part of the comprehensive criminal justice bill House Bill 348 passed in 2015, Utah enacted statutory limits on how long a person could be incarcerated for a revocation on a technical supervision violation. These violations occur when someone fails to meet a supervision condition, such as not paying fines and fees or attending required meetings. Data show that, while the intended goal of this policy was to reduce the number of prison admissions for revocations by improving successful supervision outcomes, revocations have continued to drive prison admissions in Utah. Since the policy was enacted, revocations have consistently comprised at least three-quarters of admissions to prison, peaking at 87.2% in 2021. Closer analysis shows that revocations from probation have decreased, down 18% since 2016, but that parole revocations have increased, growing 10% since 2016 and comprising 59% of prison admissions in 2025. However, since 2023, the revocation rate, number of revocations, recidivism from revocations, and admission to prison due to revocations are all decreasing. Revocation rates, meaning the total number of revocations accounting for changes in the overall parole population, have dropped 2% since 2023 from .33 to .26.136 Similarly, the number of parole revocations overall have declined, dropping 27% from 2,265 in 2023 to 1,652 in 2025.

Trial by jury is a cornerstone of the American criminal justice system, yet its institutional design varies across jurisdictions and continues to evolve. This paper reassesses the performance of the jury system by integrating insights from the law-and-economics literature with the institutional realities of criminal adjudication. Drawing on institutional practice and courtroom experience, the paper identifies several ways in which real-world conditions—such as prosecutorial discretion and the limited availability of retrials—may lead to results that depart from those put forth by the theoretical economic literature, shedding light on the shortcomings and inconsistencies between policy agendas and the institutional structures actually employed in jury systems. Although the perspectives brought by the coauthors of this paper are methodologically different, the authors converge on a common conclusion: meaningful reform of the jury system requires a holistic approach that recognizes the interdependence among jury size, standards of proof, voting rules, and retrial practices.

While at least 31 states, including Florida, and the District of Columbia require 180 instructional school days, the number of hours or minutes required within those days varies. What is counted toward minimum school year or school day requirements also varies. For example, some states’ minimum school year requirements may specify whether things like non-student contact days or parent-teacher conferences are included. And some states exclude things like recess and/or lunch from hours-per-day calculations, while others may count it. Some states’ policies provide flexibility to districts, allowing them to set some of their own requirements. Some, but not all, states have statutory or regulatory provisions on what may or may not be counted toward minimum day or hour or minute per school year requirements. For example, in Alaska, up to 10 days of in-service training may be counted toward the required 180 days. Kentucky’s policy specifies that the required 170 days must include 4 professional development days. In New Mexico, some hours may be used for home visit or parent-teacher conferences at some grade levels. Florida statute requires 180 days of instruction per school year, with a total of at least 720 hours for grades K to 3 and 900 hours for grades 4 to 12. A 2024 study, “Time in School: A Conceptual Framework, Synthesis of the Causal Research, and Empirical Exploration,” explored the role time plays in learning. The researchers synthesized the findings of 74 studies to estimate the effect of total time on students’ academic achievement. They found that the research shows increasing total time results in improved academic achievement, though it is important to note that the degree of the impact depends on 1) the existing amount of time, 2) how it is increased, and 3) how it is used.

In addition to an acceleration of a longer-term decline in teacher satisfaction, resignations and retirements among teachers and principals spiked nationally in the United States and in several states in the aftermath of COVID-19 in the 2021–22 school year. Since 2022, teacher well-being appears to have risen and stabilized after pandemic-era lows. However, 16% of teachers still reported intentions to leave their jobs in the 2024–25 school year. The report tracks district-reported national turnover rates for public school teachers and principals. Researchers found that the U.S. national teacher turnover rate (i.e., resignations and retirements) has continued a downward trend from its peak of 10% during the COVID-19 pandemic to a little under 7% as of the 2024–25 school year. This turnover rate remains nominally higher than the estimated pre-pandemic rate of about 6%. Researchers also found that the national principal turnover rate has fallen from a high of 16% during the COVID-19 pandemic to about 8% as of the 2024–25 school year. Despite this drop, this latest rate is still above pre-pandemic levels. Lastly, urban districts reported significantly higher turnover rates among teachers in the 2024–2025 school year compared with suburban and rural districts.

Students enrolled in Medicaid can receive certain health services through their school, such as early vision screening, diagnostic treatments, and services mandated in a student’s individualized education plan. This essay describes the role Medicaid has played in school funding in recent years. Researchers found that, in Fiscal Year 2024, school-based Medicaid spending accounted for at least $8.1 billion, with $4.4 billion coming from the federal government and $3.60 billion from states, though most states require schools to cover some or all of the non-federal share of costs using such mechanisms as intergovernmental transfers and certified public expenditures. Researchers also found substantial variation across states in the share of federal Medicaid revenue compared with total K–12 funding. In 10 states, including Texas and New Mexico, the federal portion of school-based Medicaid spending made up more than 1% of total K–12 revenue. There were also variations in school Medicaid spending per pupil. For example, the gap between the highest and lowest states is more than tenfold, with the District of Columbia spending $300 per pupil and Oregon only spending a few dollars per pupil, indicating that federal Medicaid rules alone do not determine how much funding schools receive. Lastly, federal funding for school Medicaid averages about $2.9 billion annually (2020–24), far below K–12 funding via the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ($12.6 billion in 2024), Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ($15.6 billion in 2024), and the National School Lunch Program’s free and reduced-price meals component ($17.2 billion in 2024).

Data centers house computer servers, data storage systems, and network equipment that provide digital applications and services—such as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. Space-based data centers would place data processing and storage systems for AI and other computing needs into satellites. This could reduce the land, electricity, and water needed for data centers on Earth. Several companies have begun development of data centers in space, but there are engineering and economic barriers to deployment. Researchers found that placing data centers in space could reduce the demand for resources from these facilities on Earth, such as land, electricity, and water usage. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Energy projects data centers will account for up to 12% of U.S. electrical demand by 2028, driven by AI development. Data centers in space might reduce demand for electricity, water, and physical infrastructure on Earth. However, space-based data centers can pose several potential challenges. For example, more satellites in orbit could increase collision risks, including with crewed missions, and interfere with astronomical research. Federal agencies must coordinate demand nationally and internationally for radio frequencies for data communication. Lastly, space radiation can corrupt data unpredictably and degrade hardware. Mitigation may be costly or could reduce computing performance. A data center might benefit from in-space servicing by other satellites, but this capability is underdeveloped. As a result, data centers might be decommissioned more frequently than other satellites, potentially increasing space debris or risks from atmospheric reentry.

In March 2025, state and local governments employed 20.3 million people, an increase of 1.4% from 2024 (20.0 million). Nationally, local government workers comprised the majority of the state and local government workforce with 14.7 million employees (72.2%). In comparison, state governments employed 5.7 million workers (27.8%). Of the total 20.3 million employed, 15.8 million were classified as full-time and 4.5 million as part-time. Full-time employment by state governments increased by 2.7% to 4.1 million, while full-time employment by local governments increased by 1.2% to 11.7 million. The number of part-time state (1.5 million) and local (3.0 million) government employees increased 0.8%. Education, hospitals, and police protection employees constitute the largest functional categories of state and local governments, with 13.7 million people employed on a full- or part-time basis in a capacity related to these functions. Lastly, education, the single largest functional category for state and local government, employed 11.4 million people. Among those public education employees, 8.5 million worked at the local government level, primarily in elementary and secondary education. State governments employed another 2.9 million education employees, mostly in higher education.

Across the country, states are eyeing the stars and the economic potential they offer. By 2035, the global space economy is projected to exceed $1.8 trillion as commercial space activities continue to grow in response to increased demand. As private space companies expand their launch schedules and the federal government ramps up military and commercial space priorities, states increasingly view spaceports as launch pads and long-term investments in innovation, industry, and infrastructure. This publication examines state laws, policies, and regulations governing spaceports. The South is home to six of the ten states that currently host spaceports, including Florida. Despite multiple states having federally licensed spaceports, not all states define or recognize what constitutes a spaceport or related facility in statute. Some, such as Florida and Oklahoma, feature robust geographically defined criteria, while others, such as Alabama, Texas, and Virginia, are silent on definitions or broadly reference “spaceflight” activities. In contrast, outside the South, only Wisconsin features a clear definition of land and water constituting a spaceport’s territory, while New Mexico only specifies that any area featuring spaceflight activities constitutes a spaceport.

Increasing behavioral health needs and persistent workforce shortages leave many communities without timely access to prevention and early intervention services for substance use disorders. Community-initiated care (CIC) offers a promising strategy to expand support and mitigate substance use disorder service gaps by engaging trained community members and leveraging existing local resources. This report examines how existing CIC programs operate, funding strategies used to sustain their work, and offers insights to help strengthen and expand CIC models nationwide. Researchers found that CIC programs support behavioral health programs through coordination with trusted community members and organizations, rely on existing community structures, such as schools and faith-based organizations, to reach individuals, and often provide prevention and early intervention programming. Nearly all CIC programs serve a wide range of populations, including low-income individuals and individuals from rural areas. Despite its reach, most CIC programs operated on modest budgets—typically less than $500,000 annually. CIC programs use diverse funding sources, including federal and state grants, local government funding, foundation funding, and fundraising. However, managing these funds posed challenges, particularly with reporting requirements and spending restrictions. Lastly, researchers offer key considerations for communities looking to start or expand a CIC program, including using needs assessments to determine which type of CIC program would be most effective, building on existing partnerships, particularly those from past prevention efforts, and engaging a local evaluator to measure service quality and impact.

Since the 1980s, fertility rates in the United States among women age 30 and older, particularly those 35 and older, have generally increased. During the same period, fertility rates for women younger than 30, who still account for most births, decreased. As a result, the overall number of U.S. births has declined. Although previous reports have described national changes in fertility rates for women 30 and older, limited information is available on variation by state. This report describes changes in fertility rates for women ages 30–34, 35–39, and 40 and older by state and the District of Columbia (D.C.) from 2015 to 2024. The U.S. fertility rate for women ages 30–34 decreased 8% from 2015 to 2024, with declines in 37 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) ranging from 2% to 21%. For women ages 35–39, the U.S. fertility rate increased 5% from 2015 to 2024, with increases in 35 states ranging from 3% to 21% and decreases in 5 states and D.C. The U.S. fertility rate for women age 40 and older increased 24% from 2015 to 2024, with increases in 46 states ranging from 7% to 70%. Florida’s fertility rate for women aged 30-34 in 2024 was 90.3 births per 1,000 women, and during the period from 2015 to 2024, this fertility rate decreased by 7%.

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into long-term care (LTC) systems presents an innovative approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by an aging population that is increasingly reliant on family caregivers. AI offers the potential to enhance LTC delivery across the continuum of care, whether by enabling care at home through smart home systems or strengthening support for family caregivers. Yet, the early integration of AI in LTC warrants careful examination. Although AI offers promise for improving LTC systems, these new tools require thorough study and evaluation before widespread adoption. This publication explores early applications of AI integration in LTC delivery, its potential uses, and key challenges and considerations for scaling these technologies. Key findings include that early AI applications in long-term care are concentrated in five areas: assessments, diagnosis and treatment support, family caregiver assistance, monitoring, and care navigation. Current tools are largely in pilot stages, focused on streamlining administrative tasks, supporting clinical decision-making, and managing complex information. In addition, AI holds promise for reducing strain on family caregivers and the direct care workforce, but only if tools are intentionally designed to supplement — not redistribute or intensify — existing care responsibilities. Lastly, existing AI tools for long-term care carry distinct and consequential risks, including errors, algorithmic bias, privacy vulnerabilities, and overreliance. AI effectiveness in long-term care is constrained by significant data gaps. Older adults, people with disabilities, and racially and ethnically diverse communities remain underrepresented in the datasets used to train these tools.