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Mobile Drivers' Licenses to Debut in Iowa This Year

Theo Douglas

July 01, 2018 |

Government Technology |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Iowa

Iowans will soon store their drivers’ licenses on their smartphones rather than in their wallets. The state is moving forward after a pilot project demonstrated the promise of going digital. Several more states are considering similar programs.

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At Last, the Shipping Industry Begins Cleaning Up Its Dirty Fuels

Maria Gallucci

June 28, 2018 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

A lack of sulfur caps has lead to negative health impacts for those living along ship channels. After Emissions Control Areas proved successful internationally, however, this protocol is now being expanded to impact more regions that suffer from pollution created by the global shipping fleet.

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Always Under Construction

Sara Hudson

June 26, 2018 |

Slate |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

To resolve road construction communications with frustrated drivers, the New Orleans government developed RoadWork NOLA - an app that showed planned road construction. Unfortunately, no one was using it. Instead of giving up on their idea of a solution, they decided to embark on a plan to make it better through project iteration and human-centered design.

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Why Are Millions Paying Online Tax Preparation Fees When They Don't Need To?

Tik Root

June 18, 2018 |

ProPublica |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Thanks to an agreement between the U.S. government and a consortium of companies including Intuit and H&R Block, 70 percent of taxpayers are supposed to have access to free online tax preparation services. But Free File is confusing and poorly publicized. Only about 3 percent of eligible tax returns over the last 16 years used the system.

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What Alabama Can Teach You about Storm Resilience

Emily Nonko

June 18, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Mobile, Alabama

After witnessing the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, changemakers in Alabama took control of creating a more accountable insurance system that valued weather-resilient home construction.

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Detroit's demolition program under fire for lack of diversity

Katrease Stafford

June 15, 2018 |

Detroit Free Press |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Detroit had an opportunity to use its huge budget for demolitions to help minority-owned and Detroit-owned businesses, specifically by using Hardest Hit Fund federal dollars. However, the winning contractors largely were not as diverse or as local as many would have liked. Despite public outcry, the city continues to award contracts to large firms, maintaining the status quo stays. Their minimal efforts to change have not gone far enough, and locals are looking to states like Tennessee and South Carolina, hoping its leaders can learn from the success of others and bring more positive change to Detroit.

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'The Daddy quota': how Quebec got men to take parental leave

Mireille Silcoff

June 15, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Quebec

Influenced by Scandavian countries, the province of Quebec created its own paid paternity leave program, which offers 70-75% paid leave. The program is aimed at dad’s, who have traditionally faced stigma and judgement for accepting paternity leave. Quebec offers “five weeks of “use-it-or-lose-it” benefits, for fathers and non-biological mothers in lesbian couples.” The program has been an instant hit: “Over 80% of Quebec fathers take their paternity leave.”

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Giving Food Waste to the Hungry

Roxanne Patel Shepelavy

June 11, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Paris has become a leader in reducing food waste by passing legislation that requires large grocery stores to donate leftover food or compost it. Since 2016, this measure has saved over 10 million meals a year. In Philadelphia, where 326,000 people experience hunger and 300,000 pounds of food is thrown away monthly, the city is looking to France as an example for what it hopes to accomplish.

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The town that refused to let austerity kill its buses

Aditya Chakrabortty

June 06, 2018 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom, Oxfordshire

When subsidies for local buses were cut, bus services stopped in West Oxfordshire. Rather than give in and allow retirees and children to be stuck in their homes, forward-thinking citizens stepped up and created a co-operative to run their own bus system, West Oxfordshire Community Transport. Through volunteer efforts and dedicated workers, the system is thriving and the model has spread across the UK.

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How Denmark lost its MindLab: the inside story

Jennifer Guay

June 05, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Denmark

Denmark’s MindLab pushed experimentation and innovation in government for more than 16 years, inspiring imitators around the world. Now shut down, the innovation lab fell victim to a swift shift in political priorities, say former directors. Digital transformation of the civil service is now the focus.

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