Rockefeller Institute of Government

rockinst.orgGrieving in the Margins: When Black Fathers Lose a Child to Gun Violence | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentJoin RGVRC and the Black & Brown Collective for this important dialogue that bridges research, lived experience, and pathways toward healing.

On Monday (11/16), join the RGVRC for a webinar co-hosted with the Black & Brown Collective for Community Solutions to Gun Violence on how Black fathers navigate grief, masculinity, & manhood in the aftermath of losing a child to homicide. rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

rockinst.orgElection Issues We’re Watching | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentRockefeller Institute researchers highlight the issues they're tracking across drug, firearm, and environmental health policy ahead of the 2026 Election.

Dismantling an adult-use cannabis market? Enshrining additional firearm rights in a state constitution? A wave of local restrictions on data centers? See what our researchers are tracking a week out from Election Day. 👇 rockinst.org/blog/electio...

rockinst.orgEp. 132. A New Unemployment Platform for New Yorkers | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentNYS Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon explains what New Yorkers need to know about the State's new unemployment insurance processing platform and why an upgrade was necessary.

Next Monday (11/2) at 5 pm, NYS will implement a new unemployment insurance processing platform that will bring the unemployment process for individuals and businesses out of the ’70s and into the modern age. We spoke with NYS DOL Cmsr Roberta Reardon about the update. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

We were saddened to hear of the passing of former Rockefeller Institute Deputy Director Frank Mauro last month. You can learn more about Frank's life in FPI's (@nyfiscalpolicy.bsky.social) moving tribute to him here: fiscalpolicy.org/honoring-fra...

Rockefeller Institute of Government reposted

@cunyislg.bsky.social

On 10/29, CUNY ISLG & @rockefellerinst.bsky.social host “Universal Child Care for New York: Impacts and Next Steps,” a joint webinar about how NY's increased investment in child care can impact our economy, workforce, and affordability. Learn more and register at buff.ly/5tUzheC

Rockefeller Institute of Government reposted

CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance

@cunyislg.bsky.social

Join us and @rockefellerinst.bsky.social on Thursday 10/29 for “Universal Child Care for New York: Impacts and Next Steps,” a joint webinar. Researchers will discuss new studies on NY’s child care expansion, from ROI to how to successfully implement it. Register at buff.ly/Fco746T

rockinst.orgRGVRC Member Highlight: Christopher Collins | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMeet RGVRC member Christopher Collins and learn about his research into incel-perpetrated violence, firearm-related violence, and mental health screening mechanisms.

ICYMI: Last week, we highlighted RGVRC member Christopher Collins in our blog. Chris's research focuses on (1) incel-perpetrated violence against women and (2) firearm ownership among LGBTQ+ people. Meet Dr. Collins: rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgWhy Mixtures Matter: Data and Regulation of PFAS in US Drinking Water | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentData from the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR) show that a third of studied drinking water systems have PFAS contamination and more than two-thirds of those have mixtures of more t...

Data from the fifth UCMR show that a third of studied drinking water systems have PFAS contamination, and more than two-thirds of those have mixtures of more than one PFAS. Why that matters and the policy implications 👇 rockinst.org/blog/why-mix...

Thanks to @nyclabor.bsky.social President Brendan Griffith for offering keynote remarks at our forum on labor policy in NYC and NYS.

rockinst.orgThe Maternal Health Crisis of Firearms | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentBetter protections for pregnant people require understanding and treating firearm policy, intimate partner violence prevention, reproductive care, and economic security as maternal health intervention...

In the US, violence is the second leading cause of death during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The latest RGVRC blog details the risks of firearm violence, limitations of data collection systems, and options for policymakers to improve maternal health. rockinst.org/blog/the-mat...

Excited to welcome a new cohort of Richard P. Nathan public policy fellows! These scholars are working on timely public policy issues in local government, housing, clean energy, and healthcare. Read our announcement 👇 rockinst.org/news/article...

rockinst.orgScience Notes: Bioremediation | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentLearn in this Science Note how bioremediation uses living organisms to address environmental contamination from emerging contaminants like PFAS.

Bioremediation’s use of living organisms can include those as large as trees or as small as bacteria and fungi. In our latest Science Note, NYS Science Policy Fellow Jose Antunes explains how living organisms are used to treat environmental contaminants. rockinst.org/blog/science...

rockinst.orgDrawing the Line: Lead Service Line Inventories in New York State (2026 Update) | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentThis report provides an update on the status of New York State's Lead Service Line Inventory ahead of the November 2027 to complete an inventory of service lines in the state's water systems.

A little more than a year ahead of the November 2027 deadline to complete an inventory of public water system service lines, we take a look at where things stand in New York State. Read our 2026 report on lead service lines 👇 rockinst.org/issue-area/d...

rockinst.orgBack to School: Five Topics to Watch in Education Policy | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentSchool cellphone bans, universal pre-K, AI in the classroom, student mental health, and school safety—all will play a role in how students and teachers experience the classroom.

5️⃣ topics to watch in education policy as the school year begins: smartphone bans, AI in classrooms, student mental health, school safety, and universal pre-K. rockinst.org/blog/back-to...

21 Sept

Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium Executive Director @jschildkraut80.bsky.social will present best practices for lockdown drills as part of this October 6 webinar. Register here: emergent3.com/webinar-lock...

rockinst.orgRGVRC Member Highlight: Caleb Cuthbertson | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMeet RGVRC postdoctoral research fellow Caleb Cuthbertson, whose research explores how firearm injuries affect the mental health and well-being of entire families.

16 Sept

We are excited to welcome the RGVRC's inaugural postdoctoral research fellow: Caleb Cuthbertson! Caleb's research centers on the psychological/relational impacts of firearm injuries on individuals, families, & communities, & we're looking forward to showcasing it! rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgRockefeller Institute of Government Welcomes Third Cohort of New York State Science Policy Fellows | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentSix doctoral-level scientists will serve two-year appointments across New York State government to support evidence-based policymaking.

We're thrilled to announce our third cohort of NYS Science Policy Fellows! These PhD scientists are working with the NYS executive and legislature to bring additional scientific expertise to bear on important policy problems. 👇 Meet the fellows! 🧵 rockinst.org/news/article...

🥼 Briana McRae received her PhD in Neurobiology and Behavior from Columbia University and is placed in New York State Department of Health, Division of Family Health.

🥼 Viet Dinh received his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from The University of North Texas and is placed in New York State Department of Health, Office of Science.

🥼 Olivia Asher received her PhD in Bioinformatics from the University of Georgia and is placed in New York State Assembly Office of Program and Counsel.

🥼 Emily Costa received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and is placed in New York State Senate Finance Committee.

rockinst.orgEp. 130. Learning About Firearm Injury Risks in School | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentOn this episode of Policy Outsider, we explore a program in Washington State that delivers to high school students an evidence-informed education on how to reduce firearm injury.

31 Aug

On a new episode of Policy Outsider, @jschildkraut80.bsky.social explores a program in Washington State that delivers to high school students an evidence-informed education on how to reduce firearm injuries and deaths. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

rockinst.orgRethinking Older Men as Victims of Firearm-Involved Homicides: Differences Across Ages and Contexts | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentFindings from a new study underscore the need to refocus homicide prevention efforts toward the contemporary realities of older men and the lives they actually live as opposed to outdated stereotypes ...

21 Aug

NEW RGVRC Affiliate Scholars Lynn Addington & Wendy Regoeczi highlight their recently published study examining older adult men (50+) as homicide victims. Important differences emerge across more granular age categories—50-59, 60-69, etc—with implications for prevention. rockinst.org/blog/rethink...

rockinst.orgPushing Back on the Cloud: The First Statewide Moratorium | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentNew York’s first statewide data center moratorium signals a major shift in how policymakers are responding to rapid data center growth.

20 Aug

Our latest look at the policy response to a boom in data center projects examines NY's EO 62, which places a temporary ban on new data centers, and other state legislation in NY addressing concerns around these facilities. rockinst.org/blog/pushing...

rockinst.orgNYS Data Centers Dashboard | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentVisualizing operating facilities, proposed developments, local municipal moratoriums, and state legislation across New York State.

20 Aug

We're also rolling out the New York State Data Centers & Legislation Dashboard, which provides an interactive overview of operating data center facilities, proposed developments, local municipal moratoriums, and state legislation across the Empire State. rockinst.org/issue-areas/...

rockinst.orgKratom Policy Dashboard | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentAcross the US, states are taking action on kratom through bans, potency caps, and sales restrictions.

14 Aug

Yesterday, Massachusetts moved to restrict the sale of kratom by temporarily designating the drug as a Schedule I drug. See which other states have banned or restricted the sale of kratom on our Kratom Policy Dashboard. rockinst.org/issue-areas/...

4 Aug

Get to know @ubalberticenter.bsky.social Director Amanda Nickerson in our latest member highlight. Her research focuses on gun violence prevention in schools. She takes a systems-oriented approach to this work & places an emphasis on translating research → practice. ► rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgGuns in Public: What Research Tells Us About Permitless Carry Laws | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentA new study by RGVRC affiliate scholar, Susan Parker, finds that permitless carry laws are linked to higher firearm violence and reduced police enforcement of weapons laws.

28 July

Since 2013, 29 states have passed permitless carry laws, which allow concealed carry of a firearm without a license or a background check. In our latest RGVRC blog, Susan T. Parker highlights findings from her recently published study examining the effects. rockinst.org/blog/guns-in...

rockinst.orgRGVRC Member Highlight: William Wical | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMeet William Wical, an RGVRC affiliate scholar researching how Black male gunshot survivors experience healing, trauma, and care to inform more effective violence prevention efforts.

15 July

"I hope people who engage with my work take away a sense of the deep challenges that Black men who survive a gunshot wound face when seeking to heal from their injuries and the need for our modes of caring to rise to these challenges." Read the latest RGVRC blog 👇 rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgEp. 129. Bridging the Firearm Divide | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentOn this episode of Policy Outsider, scholars with the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium showcase the work of Bridging the Divide on Firearm Policy, a coalition of stakeholders across the firea...

7 July

Our latest Policy Outsider episode features an interview w/ Bridging the Divide on Firearm Policy, a coalition of stakeholders across gun rights/regs spectrum working to create a broadly supported policy roadmap to reduce gun violence & protect constitutional rights. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

rockinst.orgIntroducing the Global Mass Shooting Factsheet | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMass shootings remain far more common in the United States, but new global data show these attacks are increasingly affecting countries around the world.

22 June

Today, we're sharing a new resource from the RGVRC: the Global Mass Shooting Factsheet. Working with RGVRC member @jasonrsilva.bsky.social, who maintains the database, we've developed a high-level overview of 99 mass shootings from 2000-2025. Read the intro blog 👇 rockinst.org/blog/introdu...

rockinst.orgGlobal Mass Shooting Factsheet | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentA high-level overview of public mass shootings across the globe from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium.

22 June

View the Global Mass Shooting Factsheet 👇 rockinst.org/gun-violence...

rockinst.orgEp. 128. Tote or Toke: The SCOTUS Ruling in Hemani | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentRockefeller Institute resident cannabis policy expert Heather Trela explains how the US Supreme Court ruled in US v. Hemani and what questions remain unanswered for drug-using firearm owners.

18 June

On our latest Policy Outsider episode, Rockefeller Institute resident cannabis policy expert Heather Trela explains the SCOTUS ruling in US v. Hemani this morning and what questions remain unanswered for drug-using firearm owners. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

rockinst.orgRGVRC Member Highlight: Nazsa Baker | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMeet Nazsa Baker, whose research explores the long-term impact of firearm violence on Black male survivors and challenges how systems support healing and recovery after gun violence.

15 June

"My research focuses on Black men living w/ firearm-acquired disabilities. I want people to understand: this disability doesn’t arrive alone. It comes w/ lost wages, fractured relationships & a system never designed to support Black men in healing." rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgUpdates on the Cloud: More Moratoriums on Data Centers | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentAs data center expansion accelerates, states and local communities are increasingly considering moratoriums amid concerns over environmental, energy, and community impacts.

10 June

Our latest blog provides an update on state legislative action to place moratoriums on data centers. rockinst.org/blog/updates...

rockinst.orgSharing Information to Stop Mass Shootings—Final Report | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentThis report examines 171 mass public shootings in the United States between 1999 and 2024 involving 175 perpetrators with identifiable pre-attack warning behaviors and communications.

4 June

Today, we published the final report from Phase I of this project to better understand mass shooters' pre-attack behaviors and communications. Consortium researchers built a database of more than 150,000 records across 171 shootings from '99 to '24. Read it 👇 rockinst.org/issue-area/s...

rockinst.orgEmerging State Regulations of PFAS for Biosolids | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentAs federal action stalls, states are accelerating efforts to regulate PFAS-contaminated biosolids through testing, restrictions, and bans.

1 June

States ramped up their efforts to address PFAS contamination in biosolids in 2025: liability protection legislation, study/research legislation, bans and moratoriums, disclosure requirements, and more. rockinst.org/blog/emergin...

rockinst.orgSupporting the Childcare and Preschool Workforce | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentNew York’s FY 2027 budget expands Universal Pre-K and childcare access, but success will depend on growing and supporting the early care and education workforce.

28 May

As New York looks to expand universal, affordable childcare, it will need to build its workforce of childcare workers and preschool teachers. Our latest analysis looks at who these workers are and potential policy strategies for expanding the workforce. rockinst.org/blog/support...

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CTG UAlbany

@ctgualbany.bsky.social

22 May

Check out this episode of @rockefellerinst.bsky.social's The Policy Outsider podcast featuring @ctgualbany.bsky.social & @rockefellercollege.bsky.social's @milagasco.bsky.social & @kevindeliban.bsky.social on the existing & future roles of #AI in government rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

rockinst.orgEp. 126. Another AI Conversation | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentOn this episode of Policy Outsider, guests Mila Gascó-Hernandez and Kevin De Liban explore the existing and future roles of AI in government systems and the risks and opportunities associated with inc...

rockinst.orgRGVRC Member Highlight: H. Jaymi Elsass | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentMeet H. Jaymi Elsass, whose research uses data and media analysis to challenge fatalism and identify ways to prevent and reduce the harm of mass public shootings.

27 May

"Mass public shootings are human behaviors that follow patterns, have identifiable precursors & occur within systems that can be made more/less responsive. That means they are at least partially preventable—and that’s what makes this research worth doing." rockinst.org/blog/rgvrc-m...

rockinst.orgThe Realities of Rescheduling Medical Cannabis | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentThe recent rescheduling order issued by the Department of Justice is an important landmark in cannabis policy, but it creates a new set of policy considerations.

19 May

While the DOJ order rescheduling medical cannabis from Schedule I to III is relatively straightforward from a 30,000-foot perspective, when you get into the weeds, there remain substantial unanswered questions. rockinst.org/blog/the-rea...

rockinst.orgUnderstanding Life in the Gunocracy: The Challenge of Addressing Mass Shootings in a Gun-Friendly Society | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentGuns are woven into the fabric of American life, shaping our legal and cultural narratives and the function of our government. Still, there are threads we can pull that can reduce the number of people...

18 May

Our latest: RGVRC Affiliate Scholar Christopher Strain shares his framework for thinking about how gun ownership shapes American political life and examines which policies that seek to address mass shootings are viable in the "gunocracy." rockinst.org/blog/underst...

rockinst.orgClouds, Cables, and Megawatts: States and Localities Grapple with the Data Center Boom | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentThis policy brief explains the recent drastic increase in data center demand, examines how federal, state, and local governments are attempting to balance these competing priorities, and explores recent developments in New York State.

14 May

The rapid increase in new and planned data centers is prompting policymakers at all levels of government to address energy costs, water use, and other concerns associated with these projects. Our latest brief documents the policy responses. rockinst.org/issue-area/c...

rockinst.orgPlace Matters: How Neighborhoods Shape Patterns of Gun Violence | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentJoin the RGVRC for a timely discussion on how the built environment and community context intersect with gun violence.

13 May

How are local patterns of gun violence influenced by neighborhood structure? How do infrastructure changes affect these patterns? RGVRC's 6/2 webinar explores these issues through the lens of the I-81 Viaduct Project in Syracuse, NY. Learn more and register 👇 rockinst.org/rig-events/2...

rockinst.orgEp. 127. Freshmen Perspectives: Assemblymember Gabriella Romero | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentFreshman lawmaker for New York State's 109th Assembly District Gabriella Romero shares key accomplishments from her first-term, what she hopes to get done in subsequent terms, and how her time as a pu...

12 May

NEW NYS Assemblymember Gabriella Romero joins us for our series, "Freshmen Perspectives," and highlights accomplishments from her 1st term, what she hopes to get done next, and how her experience as a councilmember & public defender shapes her approach to lawmaking. rockinst.org/issue-area/e...

rockinst.orgScience Notes: Food as Medicine | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentFood-as-medicine programs integrate nutritious food into healthcare, reducing food insecurity and improving diets while showing promising health and cost benefits.

7 May

Food-as-medicine programs integrate nutritious food into healthcare, reducing food insecurity and improving diets while showing promising health and cost benefits. Our latest Science Note explains how they work. rockinst.org/blog/science...

rockinst.orgDirect Contracting for Health Services: Considerations for Policymakers | Rockefeller Institute of GovernmentDirect contracting lets large employers cut healthcare costs by working directly with providers, but policymakers should monitor whether this new(ish) approach to health insurance delivers reliable, e...

6 May

Direct contracting for health insurance allows employers to cut out 3rd-party administrators & customize their health plans. There's some positive early evidence for this approach, but policymakers should monitor the impacts on the industry & the insured. rockinst.org/blog/direct-...