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The climate watchdog holding the UK government to account

Akshat Rathi

April 04, 2024 |

Zero |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United Kingdom

Following the passage of the Climate Change Act, the United Kingdom created a Climate Change Committee to oversee the country’s efforts to reach net-zero emissions. The committee acts as a watchdog by analyzing ways to decarbonize the economy and publishing information that can be leveraged by policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and private sector industries. Its model has since been replicated around the world.

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North Carolina tried to rebuild affordable housing after a hurricane. It took half a decade.

Jake Bittle

April 03, 2024 |

Grist |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, North Carolina

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s disaster recovery program provides federal funding to build affordable apartments in areas that have lost significant housing stock to disasters such as hurricanes. But due to the required congressional approval process and complex regulations, projects funded by the program often take so long to complete that people affected by the disaster are not able to benefit from the housing. In North Carolina, one such development opened to tenants more than five years after Hurricane Florence struck the area.

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Why Portland failed where Portugal succeeded in decriminalizing drugs

Aitor Hernandez-Morales Carmen Paun

March 28, 2024 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Oregon

After the Oregon Legislature voted to reverse a law decriminalizing drug possession for personal use in response to a spike in overdoses, advocates attributed the legislation’s failure to poor implementation, complications related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and inadequate time to produce results.

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Plastic bag bans have already prevented billions of bags from being used, report finds

Joseph Winters

January 23, 2024 |

Grist |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

A plastic bag ban in New Jersey helped eliminate more than 5.5 billion plastic bags annually, keeping the single-use plastic out of the environment where it can harm wildlife and contribute to pollution. However, some researchers question whether plastic bags are truly worse for the environment than single-use paper bags or reusable cotton bags, and some states have passed laws preventing local governments from adopting their own bans on plastic bags.

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Native nations with scarce internet are building their own broadband networks

Madyson Fitzgerald

January 17, 2024 |

Stateline |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Hopi Reservation, United States, Arizona

In an effort to address a lack of broadband access, Indigenous communities are working together, and with local organizations, to acquire funding to bring internet access to their communities and close the digital divide.

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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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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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'We could start to move the needle': Iowa offers model for fixing Mass. child-care crisis

Samantha J. Gross

October 15, 2023 |

The Boston Globe |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

After the COVID-19 pandemic weakened an already fragile child-care industry, Iowa created an incentive program offering grants to help businesses build their own child-care centers or purchase slots in existing facilities. So far, the state has awarded more than $75 million, which has helped create nearly 11,000 new child-care slots.

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