This article describes the common ways that people poorly handle conflict, as well as what's required to view people less as enemies and more as allies whose success matters to us. "The best collaborations happen when everyone on the team feels that their voice was important to the process," writes Chad Ford.

Weirton, Ohio, City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo has proposed lowering the number of the police department's K-9 units, noting that each dog costs the city thousands of dollars. DiBartolomeo also has suggested that public resource officers at local schools be provided by the county rather than the city.

Evacuations were not ordered in Horry County, S.C., ahead of Hurricane Isaias because forecasts indicated the storm would not be a hurricane when it made landfall, says Randy Webster, the county's emergency management director. Webster notes that each storm is unique, and residents should be prepared to evacuate if necessary in the future.

City Manager Chris McCartt of Kingsport, Tenn., says the tax incentives the city has offered pulp supplier Domtar to remain in the region will ultimately save 140 of the 300 jobs lost as one of the company's plants closes and also will secure millions in local economic investments. McCartt says the 15-year deal likely will see the city and county each forgo $517,000 annually in taxes -- a loss he says will be offset by job creation and Domtar's investments in the community.

Bars in Mexico City that have been forced to close under restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus will be allowed to reopen as restaurants if they serve food and commit to hygiene and social distancing measures, the city says. Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum says the move is aimed at limiting job losses among bar staff.

Plans to build toll roads as part of Florida's Multi-use Corridors of Regional Economic Significance project were unanimously rejected by the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners. The project to build 330 miles of toll roads across rural areas of the state was approved by legislators in 2019, but has since met opposition from nature preservation advocacy groups.

While most students in Harrisonburg City Public Schools in Virginia are expected to participate in distance learning when the school year begins, the district will continue to have access to universal, free meals through the federal Community Eligibility Provision. Andrea Early, school nutrition director, said meals will be available to pick up Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the program also offers a week's worth of delivered meals via bus routes on Wednesdays for families who are unable to pick up food.

Former Lakeport, Calif., Community Development Director and Assistant City Manager Kevin Ingram has stepped into his new role as city manager, replacing Margaret Silveira, who retired at the end of July. "I wanted to go somewhere where I could really make a difference and local government is a wonderful place for that because you get to see your work in action," Ingram says.

In the August issue of PM magazine: The economic impact of COVID-19 is coming into sharper focus, and governmental entities across the country are in the direct line of fire. Municipal bankruptcy may be a viable option for local governments to restructure financial obligations. Read the article.

As a new addition to Clark County, Nevada, senior management analyst Kathleen Walpole, MPA, applied to the Emerging Leaders Development Program to gain new skills and knowledge to allow her to grow within her organization. In this interview, she shares how the program not only provided her with a cohort of other early- to mid-career level professionals that she could learn from, but also a deeper understanding of various management topics, including recruitment and effective human capital management. Read More.