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Solar panels illuminate path to improved care

Vandana K

December 13, 2023 |

Harvard Public Health |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: India, Mawtawar, Meghalaya

The Indian government and the solar nonprofit Selco Foundation partnered to install solar panels at health facilities across the country to address blackouts that prevented them from providing adequate care.

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Ranked choice is 'the hot reform' in democracy. Here's what you should know about it

Miles Parks

December 13, 2023 |

NPR |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

Advocates of ranked choice voting, which allows residents to rank candidates from their favorite to least favorite, say the system encourages politicians to appeal to a wider range of viewpoints, as evidenced by a recent congressional race in Alaska in which Mary Peltola, a moderate Democrat, was elected over more extreme candidates. The system is currently used by two states for statewide races and in nearly four dozen cities for local elections.

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Is requiring new apartments to include affordable units the right move for Vancouver? It's working in Redmond

Alexis Weisend

December 09, 2023 |

The Columbian |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

Mandatory inclusionary zoning policies have increased affordable housing stock in many cities across the U.S. In most cases, the policies require developers build 5-10% of new units with rents attainable for low- to median-income people, or pay a fee, which is dedicated to other affordable housing projects. In Redmond, Washington, such policy has resulted in a 42% growth of housing stock since 2010.

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In France, zero-waste experiments tackle a tough problem: People's habits

Joseph Winters

December 06, 2023 |

Grist |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: France, Roubaix

Local governments in France are educating residents about waste reduction and finding ways to incentivize the behavior change necessary to meet the country’s ambitious zero-waste goals. Roubaix, for example, teaches residents simple lifestyle changes that will also save them money. Whereas, Smicval transitioned from door-to-door waste collection to a central collection point where residents drop off trash themselves.

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Does Mandatory Civic Education Increase Voter Turnout?

Jenna Spinelle Michael Berkman Chris Beem

December 04, 2023 |

Democracy Works |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States

Since 2015, 18 states have adopted the Civic Education Initiative, which requires high school students to take an exam modeled on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Civics test. However, researchers have determined that voter turnout rates did not increase among the target age group in states that adopted the policy.

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Little by little, perpetual vote-by-mail list reshapes New Jersey's off-year elections

Nikita Biryukov

November 30, 2023 |

New Jersey Monitor |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

Thanks to a 2019 law, New Jersey voters who request a mail-in ballot one time continue to receive them in perpetuity for future elections without needing to submit another request. The state has seen mail-in voting rates increase in off-year elections since the perpetual vote-by-mail list was created, with 22 percent of votes cast in 2021 attributed to mail-in ballots compared to 16.7 percent in 2019.

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Extremism stand-down checked a box with no lasting result, critics say

Nikki Wentling

November 30, 2023 |

Military Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Following the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon created a mandate requiring all service members to receive a one-day training on domestic extremism. But military members report that the “stand-down” trainings were half-hearted and disorganized, and two years later, few of the recommendations developed by the Pentagon’s working group on extremism have been implemented.

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This Cheap Street Fix Saves Lives. Why Don't More Cities Do It?

John Surico

November 28, 2023 |

Bloomberg |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Cities in the United States are implementing daylighting to improve driver visibility and keep pedestrians safer. The practice consists of many different methods, such as building curb extensions or adding new signage, but all of them focus on the corners of crosswalks where most crashes occur.

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The Surprising Power of Wastewater Wetlands

Bryn Nelson

November 20, 2023 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Forest Grove, Oregon

Wastewater treatment plants constructed to mimic natural wetlands — complete with varied topographies, native plants, and logs — are becoming a popular way to prevent pollution while creating environments where wildlife can thrive.

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An effort to increase teen engagement in Gonzales is succeeding, and spreading to neighboring cities

Celia Jiménez

November 16, 2023 |

Monterey County Weekly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Gonzales, California

The Gonzales Youth Council, which allows young people to advise local government on issues that affect them, has inspired other youth councils to sprout up in neighboring communities. Youth commissioners participate in a paid summer fellowship to learn about city and school district processes, and the council has made several recommendations that have gone on to become ordinances, including fines for adults who facilitate underage drinking.

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