Governing

New York City and the MTA are studying a possible thermal energy network in Lower Manhattan, hoping to capture excess heat from subway platforms and store it for use in public buildings during the winter.

Seeking uniformity, many homeowners associations make it hard for owners to landscape with native plants, create wildlife habitat or install solar panels. State policies can turn these quasi-governments into leaders in residential sustainability.

The state will require platforms to limit potentially addictive features and strengthen privacy protections for children.

After years of tougher state requirements and new laws aimed at boosting construction, nearly every city and county is still falling short of its housing targets.

Indiana, Illinois and New Hampshire have offered taxpayers a break on penalties and interest as fiscal pressures mount, despite warnings that the strategy can come with long-term costs.

After a recruit died, the academy asked international policing experts for help learning how to improve. In recent years, many academies are rethinking their approaches.

The state expanded benefits dramatically back in 1999. It proved to be unsustainable. Now lawmakers of both parties are supporting changes that would cost the taxpayers billions.

Bay Area researchers found that gardens created to capture stormwater can do more than reduce flooding and manage water flow. They can also help keep pollutants out of the bay.

New York City is increasingly relying on half-century-old floating power plants to prevent blackouts as extreme heat, electrification and growing electricity demand push the grid closer to its limits.

In too many places it costs more to build than market-rate homes. Colorado is an exception, thanks to an array of policies that bring down costs.