his issue of Public Policy & Practice focuses on some noteworthy activities that are taking place at the University of South Carolina’s Institute for Public Service and Policy Research.  

Ed Thomas' article describes the Institute for Governmental Leadership, a training program offered by the Governmental Research and Service unit of the Institute. As he notes, this program takes a unique approaching in concentrating on the development and enhancement of specific skills and competencies needed for effective leadership in the public sector.     

In Jeff Beacham's piece, he outlines the challenges facing states across the nation as a result of new Environmental Protection Agency regulations regarding ground-level ozone that will go into effect in December 2007. Currently, a number of areas of South Carolina potentially will not meet these standards, and such “non-attainment” (non-compliance) will have some serious consequences for economic development in the state. State officials are aware of this problem and a number of steps have already been taken to avoid non-attainment, but much needs to be done not only to avoid federal sanctions against the State of South Carolina, but also, to improve public health and the environment.

In "A Profile of Municipal And County Councils In South Carolina," Dennis Lambries presents data from an Institute project designed to monitor the characteristics of local elected officials in the state, their reasons for running for office, the major issues that local governments face, and the relationships among various levels of government. This article provides information about an area of government that receives less attention than it deserves, especially given the significance of local government in the daily lives of South Carolina's citizens.

Finally, Fred Sheheen describes the activities that are planned for the 50^th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. A number of events are planned, including a visit to the state in June by the National Commission created for this event. Over the next year, the Institute will be involved in a research effort that examines a number of areas of importance to African-Americans in South Carolina, including education, justice, and the status of the family.

As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions on the contents of the journal. Please e-mail any comments to Young-Richard@sc.edu.