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Without the protections of the Voting Rights Act, many look to state solutions

Frances Nguyen

April 18, 2022 |

Prism |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Virginia

Virginia’s VRA protects voters from suppression, discrimination, and intimidation and has effectively stopped racial gerrymandering and intimidation. Its pro-voting measures include requiring materials in multiple languages, the provision of accessibility accommodations, and requiring public review of any local level voting changes. The legislation also creates a pathway for Virginians to bring civil lawsuits if a procedure negatively impacts economically disadvantaged communities or communities of color.

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Could the highly political redistricting process be more independent? San Antonio may find out

Megan Stringer

April 17, 2022 |

San Antonio Express-News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

San Diego’s independent redistricting commission has aimed to take politics out of drawing district maps since 1992 by preventing City Council from drawing or approving its own map. Instead, nine commissioners from over 100 applicants were chosen based on background and qualifications by three randomly selected retired judges. The member selection process, rules for transparency, open public engagement and no tolerance for conflicts of interest are keys to its success. There is more equitable infrastructure investment and greater voter turnout now, which are two positive signs of reduced gerrymandering.

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From scandal to scrutiny: How intense citizen oversight reshaped Oakland police

Nigel Duara

April 06, 2022 |

CalMatters |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

Since 2016, complaints filed against Oakland police officers have triggered parallel investigations by both the department's internal affairs unit and the city's Civilian Police Review Agency. When an outcome is disputed, the final decision is made by the Civilian Police Commission, a system that has resulted in the city sustaining complaints against officers at a rate more than double the state average between 2018 and 2020.

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What the student loan payment pause has meant to Black women

Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

April 03, 2022 |

The Washington Post |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The two-year pause on federal student loan payments in the United States during the pandemic allowed Black women, who share a disproportionate amount of the country’s student debt, to redirect the money they would typically use for repayment toward other needs.

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Shiny new ballots: Record number of states eyeing ranked-choice voting

Amanda Pampuro

March 25, 2022 |

Courthouse News Service |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

More states and cities are adopting ranked-choice voting system, which are said to be friendlier and more inclusive. In a ranked-choice system, voters rank multiple candidates in order of preference and a winner must get over 50% of the votes. This often occurs by being a voter’s second choice, so many argue there is less political vitriol since, rather than ignoring voters committed to other candidates, politicians must appeal to them as at least their second choice. Data in the six California cities that use the system show slight increases in the number of women and people of color running for office.

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Solar Power Is Clean and Cheap, But Still Has Challenges to Overcome

Ethan Brown

March 25, 2022 |

The Sweaty Penguin |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, San Jose, California

Solar energy is a clean, cheap, renewable, and land-efficient resource, making it a valuable technology to scale up in the face of climate concerns and clean energy. Diversifying the supply chain for creating and sourcing solar panels can help make solar energy more reliable when faced with geopolitical and human rights issues.

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In Austria, the Government Pays to Repair Your Stuff

Kaja Šeruga

March 22, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Austria, Vienna

In 2020, Vienna, Austria launched a program to subsidize half the cost of repairs to items such as clothing, electronics, bicycles, and furniture. The initiative supported the repair of more than 35,000 items, saving 850 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and spurring other localities, such as Thüringen, Germany, and Portland, Oregon, to roll out their own repair bonus schemes.

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How Chinese-built railway projects are easing mobility, saving lives in Nigeria

Niyi Oyedeji

March 22, 2022 |

International Centre for Investigative Reporting |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Nigeria

The Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge railway has helped increase travel safety across Nigeria. Many commuters have had to deal with kidnapping and violence while traveling but trains provide secure modes of transportation. They are also a more affordable alternative to air travel. The Abuja-Kaduna railway was mainly funded by project-tied loans from China. Because of the increased comfort, reliability, and safety, train lines are expanding throughout the country.

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Democracy Comes to Michigan

David Byrne

March 21, 2022 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

A grassroots campaign ended gerrymandering in Michigan by passing an initiative requiring districts be drawn by citizen-commissions rather than politicians. The all-volunteer campaign went door-to-door collecting enough signatures to get the initiative on the ballot and used creative voter-engagement techniques to sustain the support. Once the ballot initiative passed, 9,300 people applied for the first commission. A third-party firm ultimately selected four Democrats, four Republicans, and five non-partisan people as commissioners, who worked together very well to redraw districts.

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The secret sauce behind Wichita's success in distributing emergency housing vouchers

Celia Hack

March 18, 2022 |

The Wichita Beacon |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Wichita, Kansas

A federal voucher program is seeing huge success in Wichita, Kansas with almost 70 percent usage rates. Coordination between nonprofits and the housing program are required for the success of the initiative, something that the city had in place prior to the program. Wichita also had a supply of affordable housing available for people experiencing housing instability. A lack of housing stock has been a huge barrier in the success of the federal program in other part of the country.

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