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His Aunt Saw Red Flags. Police Say That May Have Prevented A Mass Shooting

Ryan Lindsay

October 08, 2019 |

Connecticut Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Connecticut

Connecticut has had Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or “red flag” laws, in effect since 1999. These laws allow citizens to provide tips to law enforcement if they suspect danger or violence, in which case law enforcement can then temporarily remove firearms from the suspects homes. While these have gained bipartisan popularity and have shown to decrease suicide attempts, proof of homicide or mass shooting preventions remains to be seen.

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California Just Legalized Public Banks. Will the Rest of the Nation Follow Suit?

Ananya Garg

October 04, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, Governor Newsom recently signed into law a regulatory framework for public banking in the state. Public banking, a concept not without its detractors, has been established successfully in North Dakota and California hopes to follow suit to tamp down on frustrations that big banking institutions put profits over social good. Supporters of public banks see them as a tool to create positive community change and support historically marginalized groups.

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Do Deportations Lower Crime? Not According to the Data

Anna Flagg

September 23, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

A federal deportation program called Secure Communities has been around off and on since 2008, and is a collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While responding to a perceived connection between illegal immigration and crime, the heavy-handed approach to deportation hasn’t actually had any effect on crime rates, recent studies have shown. The research has also fact-checked another myth about the program – that it helps police solve crimes better – which hasn’t proven to have any distinct correlation.

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Ideas from Oklahoma can help NC plan for future of increased flooding

Richard Adkins

September 17, 2019 |

WRAL-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Eastern North Carolina -- an area increasingly affected by flooding from hurricanes -- looks to Tulsa for long-term, financially sustainable solutions to routine flooding. Tulsa's comprehensive approach includes regulating building in floodplains as well as building vast drainage systems in all high-risk flood areas. The city implemented a storm water mitigation fee to residents' water bills in order to make flood insurance among the cheapest in the country.

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The gun solution we're not talking about

Madeline Marshall

September 11, 2019 |

Vox |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

While most Americans and politicians from across the partisan aisle support universal background checks for firearm purchases, that system has shown to not be as effective as many think. Instead, states are implementing licensing systems that require individuals wanting to buy a gun to take safety courses, apply with local law enforcement, provide references, and have their background checked. States that have such systems in place have seen a steady decline in gun homicides and suicides.

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Lacking Sexual Assault Nurses, Some Ky. Hospitals Illegally Turn Victims Away

Eleanor Klibanoff

September 03, 2019 |

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

In Kentucky, sexual assault nurse examiners (SANE) are often the frontline responders for survivors of a sexual assault, but have yet to be available in every hospital. Too often, women are turned away because of an absence of SANE nurses, which tend to be in more metro areas. Communities that do have access to the specialized services see an increase in rape prosecutions and a decrease in long term health concerns for these women, but making sure such services are statewide has proved economically challenging.

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How small businesses in Salt Lake City are helping to clear the air

Heather May

August 28, 2019 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Logan, Utah

VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are a type of pollutant that can be found even in homes and small businesses, but across Utah, small businesses are finding creative ways to reduce their emissions. A mix of mandatory rules at the state level as well as supplementary grants to pay for the cost to switch to more environmentally-friendly machinery and materials has fueled this shift. Businesses including coffee shops, lawn care companies, and furniture stores are stepping up.

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Do plastic bag taxes or bans curb waste? 400 cities and states tried it out.

Matthew Zeitlin

August 27, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Across the world, countries are reckoning with its astounding single-use plastic bag waste by instituting legislation that taxes or all-out bans them. Research has shown that taxing the bags has been a more effective strategy with less unintended consequences, as banning often leads to a sharp increase in thicker plastics or paper bags. In places that have instituted the tax, they’ve seen a 40 percent decrease in usage, and arguably more importantly, a cultural shift away from single-use plastics.

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Can Flexible Pricing be Fair?

Nate Berg

August 24, 2019 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

San Francisco is using technology to calculate the cost of parking throughout the city, depending on the demand in specific neighborhoods at any given time. While critics were wary of the effect flexible pricing would have on lower-income residents, the pilot program resulted in lower parking costs on average and demonstrated that flexible pricing could promote equity. In other cities around the world, flexible pricing systems implemented through the use of technology have been effective in raising revenue from higher-income people and neighborhoods to reduce prices and reinvest in equitable solutions.

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San Diego Is Showing California How to Use Its Red Flag Law

Alain Stephens

August 21, 2019 |

The Trace |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

In San Diego, California, more than three Gun Violence Restraining Orders, or “red flag laws,” have been used to prevent gun violence. These laws have gained in popularity across the country, and allow courts to temporarily take away firearms from individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others. With such success in San Diego, their attorney’s office is now training law enforcement and government agencies across the state on how to use such orders.

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