The federal government is rewriting the way it defines poverty. As a result, city poverty levels are expected to see major shifts.
NPR talks about the new changes with Rebecca Blank, who serves as undersecretary for economic affairs at the Commerce Department.
"Today, the Commerce Department will announce a new experimental formula that includes things like taxes or tax credits, medical bills and work expenses. The official calculation will remain the same. Indeed, the Commerce Department says the new yardstick would be an inappropriate way to measure an individual, but it will give us a better picture both nationally and regionally."
FULL STORY: Commerce Department To Revise Poverty Measure

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico
An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes
Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels
Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.
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