Gerald Ford was president. It was 1976. A mysterious new strain of swine flu turned up, and Ford raced to come up with a response. Every American, he said, would be vaccinated. Here's how that turned out.

Suddenly everybody's a fan of big government, now that a crisis has hit. But we're not ready for this one -- precisely because of the decades-long movement arguing that government needs to be slashed and burned.

In the middle of a pandemic, the subject of the public's health never came up during a 90-minute GOP candidates for governor forum. It's like a metaphor for the alternate realities of our politics — and also why the GOP may be in more trouble than usual in the local elections this year.

Washington citizens give a damn about public records — as proven by the stunning response to legislative efforts to shield their records from public view.

NEW YORK (AP) — While thousands of small businesses waited for coronavirus relief money to arrive, they were shutting down and laying off workers. Two reports issued this week shed light on the crisis that business owners have been struggling through since the coronavirus hit. On Wednesday, payroll provider ADP said its small business customers […]

“Respirators, ventilators, all of the equipment — try getting it yourselves,” the president told governors in a conference call. The suggestion surprised some governors, who are increasingly looking to the federal government for help.

Gov. Tim Walz is hesitant to reopen businesses until his state's daily testing rate dramatically increases. "You can't flip it like a switch and say you're open if you don't have testing," he says.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order saying that in the state of Texas, no one can be put behind bars because they're not following an executive order. This was announced by the governor himself while speaking with reporters in the Oval Office after a meeting with President Donald Trump. The Republican Governor met with the President Thursday to discuss Texas' response to the co

Germany's top court on Tuesday ruled against the European Central Bank's bond purchases and gave the bank three months to explain how the scheme can be justified.

With the substantial growth in data volume, velocity, and variety comes a corresponding need to govern and manage the risk, quality, and cost of that data and provide higher confidence for its use. This is the domain of information governance, but it is a domain that many people struggle with in how to get started. This article provides a starting framework for information governance built around IBM InfoSphere Information Governance Catalog.

Don’t fall for the line that Australia has handled the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic brilliantly.

The Victorian government’s refusal to ease restrictions immediately, hasn't stopped thousands of people packing the shops of Melbourne. While hospitality businesses have been promised they can open soon, there's still a fear it might be too late for many. Image: News Corp Australia

A diplomatic spat between Australia and China appears to be escalating, with accusations of unprofessional conduct and petty games.

The New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will join the Australian National Cabinet Meeting via video link tomorrow to talk about the way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Government has updated the SafeWork Australia website with industry-specific guidelines for businesses to re-open and carry on in a "COVID-safe" manner.

Good government groups are pressing Gov. Asa Hutchinson to act now to encourage absentee voting in the November election.

The post Another question for the governor: Will he move to make voting safer in November? UPDATE appeared first on Arkansas Times.

Another writer has questions about how Asa Hutchinson and four other governors declared victory in their policies of coping with coronavirus.

The post Article chides Asa Hutchinson and other governors on ‘victory lap’ appeared first on Arkansas Times.

Coronavirus today:

The post Coronavirus today: Governor cheers legislative approval of increase in business grant program, announces expansion of surgeries, opening of public swimming pools appeared first on Arkansas Times.

Wind farm developments in Victoria will now have to have noise levels checked by an independent auditor, before and after construction.

A man that suffered a shark attack at Norval Park, north of Bundaberg, has called for the State Government to consider a shark cull or implementing shark nets.

Big business is set to be hit with hundreds of millions of dollars in extra taxes and royalties as the Palaszczuk Government seeks to tap the top end of town to deliver payroll tax relief to small- and medium-sized businesses, in the hope of boosting jobs particularly in regional Queensland.

The government of Poland wants to go ahead with a presidential election conducted entirely by postal vote, on May 10, despite widespread opposition and public health concerns.

For the first time in history, the mayor of WA's biggest council will be chosen directly by residents, but the campaign has been marred by allegations of criminal damage, sabotage and online abuse.

Drug experts and welfare groups speak out against the Government's push to drug test welfare recipients, questioning why the bill has been revived despite "comprehensive" opposition from the medical profession.

The WA Government finds a way to hit Opposition Leader Liza Harvey where it hurts most, and deliver generous cuts to TAFE fees for students in the process, writes Jacob Kagi.

The WA Government will ban students from using mobile phones, smart watches and tablets in all public schools from 2020 in a major push to reduce distraction and focus on learning.

The Keith and District Hospital will receive $140,000 lifeline to keep operating until July under a new deal struck by the South Australian Government and Tatiara District Council.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the cottage where Bob Hawke was born is a "significant part" of Australia's democratic history, and commits $750,000 to purchase and renovate the Bordertown property.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visits drought-ravaged Granite Belt, where dam levels are so low water could run out by December. She vows she will not allow that to happen but needs a written request for help from council.

Drought-stricken Queensland farmers are worried about where their underground water is going as a new report questions the impact of a controversial coal mine.

Thousands of hectares of native forest north of Noosa, which was due to become national park, will now remain open to the timber industry in order to save hundreds of jobs.

Wilcannia locals worry their weir won't ever be built, despite State and Federal Government pre-election promises.

Nationals MP Wendy Duncan says the State Government is paying the price for the shortage of doctors in regional Western Australia. She says the Commonwealth should fund efforts to attract doctors to regional areas.

The State Government says it has sent a serious warning to the owners of one of Albany's prime vacant lots, by signing off on a plan that would allow it to forcibly reclaim the site.

The State Government says it's sent a serious threat to the owners of one of Albany's prime vacant lots, by signing off on a plan that would allow it to reclaim the site. But the Opposition maintains it's a hollow threat.

The Shire of Narrogin says its proposed amalgamation with the Town of Narrogin will require about $2 million of state funding if it is to go ahead.

The WA Local Government Association (WALGA) says it is hopeful regional councils which lost a combined $20 million in previously allocated funds will be given a State Government reprieve.

The Federal Government has handed Norfolk Island a lifeline to save its tourism industry, but locals have railed against their offering saying it could turn tourists away.

Technology is driving immense social and economic change and it's time for governments to step up and actively shape the future. If we simply leave it to the market we risk social dislocation and economic disruption. Former US Ambassador to Australia Jeff Bleich says the five trends demanding urgent attention from governments are automation, education, climate change, cyber security and self-governance. And Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz on the price of inequality

A magistrate who found a Nimbin Mardi Grass festival worker not guilty of drug driving has blasted the NSW Government's advice to motorists, saying it "lulls them into a false sense of security".

Victoria has recorded two new coronavirus cases overnight as of April 28, 2020, as Premier Daniel Andrews says the state is aiming to conduct 100,000 tests over the next two weeks.

MORNING BRIEFING: The multi-arts venue hosts Vivid, Sydney Writers' Festival and Fashion Week, but a new proposal would see the Sydney Opera House take control.

This farewell to the Wolfpack doesn't feature a major hangover, but there is predictable mayhem and some decent laughs

With towns across New South Wales at risk of running out of water within months, there are renewed calls for an urgent upgrade of water storage infrastructure.

Tasmania's coronavirus tally reaches 133, with the director of Public Health confirming 11 new cases have been diagnosed in the state's north-west today.

An elderly woman becomes the 13th Tasmanian to succumb to coronavirus as the Government rules out an easing of state restrictions.

The NSW Government has announced a $10 million initiative to combat what the Agriculture Minister has described as a looming "fish Armageddon".