Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 249 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

As Floods Keep Coming, Cities Pay Residents to Move

John Schwartz

July 06, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

The city of Nashville is a model for other U.S. cities focusing on how to deal with homes that are flooding more consistently than before. The National Flood Insurance Program exists to help insure homes that wouldn't be covered by private insurance; for some homeowners, the frustration of constant flooding is alleviated by the city's initiative to buy back those properties from their owners, turning them instead into more environmentally friendly parks, paths, and other flood buffers.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Eskilstuna: how a Swedish town became the world capital of recycling

Ammar Kalia

June 18, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Sweden, Eskilstuna

Recycling provides an economic alternative to heavy industry. In the former steel town of Eskilstuna, recovery from economic decline has meant re-platforming into a model of sustainability. From the city’s second-hand article mall to state-of-the art trash sorting technologies, innovations in closed-loop economics have created new jobs and possibilities for longtime residents and new arrivals alike.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Paving, rumble strip installation underway at site of fatal May 5 crash

Carl Hunnell

June 12, 2019 |

Richland Source |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Shelby, Ohio

A rural intersection in Shelby, Ohio has received a safety makeover: new paving and rumble strips. The intersection was the site of a fatal car accident in May 2019 and Josh Boggs – a father who lost family members in the accident – took it upon himself to demand action. By contacting the county’s commissioner, engineer, and a state representative, he hopes this will be the first of many intersections receiving added safety measures.

Read More
Go to Original Story
People Are Helping Animals Cross Highways — That's Great for Humans, Too

Monica Humphries

June 10, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Gainesville, Florida

Across the United States, cities are designing ways for wildlife to cross major roadways. Whether they’re overpasses crossing highways or tunnels under freeways, these helpful pathways are strategically placed to help save the most wildlife. Seeing huge successes, including a casualty rate decline of close to 94% – conservationists are calling for more legislation to help protect and maintain such efforts.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Why you want oysters and a salt marsh between you and a hurricane

Anne N. Connor

June 03, 2019 |

Vox |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Beaufort, North Carolina

Instead of building hard seawalls to protect communities from hurricanes, some are turning to “living shorelines.” These are made out of crushed rock or oyster shells that are placed offshore in front of a wetland. There are more than 120 of these types of habitats — including in Beaufort, North Carolina — and they have shown that they can absorb 50 percent of wave energy, which can reduce the risk of loss of human life and property from flooding. This might not work for all coastal communities, but living shorelines are cheaper than the traditional seawalls.

Read More
Go to Original Story
‘People aren't disabled, their city is': inside Europe's most accessible city

Emily Yates

May 28, 2019 |

The Guardian |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Breda, North Brabant

The Dutch city of Breda is making great strides in making their city accessible for all with more than 800 shops and bars physically accessible and more than 26 city resident and tourist-focused websites now accessible to those with sensory and learning impairments. Breda attributes these successes and many more to a commitment to improving accessibility and creating partnerships that work together to achieve this mission of inclusivity and social confidence.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Oakland's 'Pothole Vigilantes' Take Street Repairs Into Their Own Hands

Sonja Hutson

May 20, 2019 |

KQED |

Radio |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

In Oakland, CA, two men deemed the Pothole Vigilantes have paired up to fix every pothole in the city. Made possible by crowdfunding the venture, the two have now developed public meetups to teach others how to fix potholes themselves. This has caught the attention of city officials, who, partly because of this effort, have passed a $100 million plan to repave Oakland streets.

Read More
Go to Original Story
New Orleans Uses Tech to Consolidate 911 and 311 Systems

Zack Quaintance

May 17, 2019 |

Government Technology |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Low-code applications assist in modernizing governmental software systems. A development platform that allows people who have little coding experience to easily digitize processes has allowed New Orleans and the Orleans Parish Communication District to streamline their 911 and 311 services, allowing citizens to track information and engage with government agencies more transparently.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Tiny Branson has plenty of water. But like other small rural delivery systems in Colorado, it must find a way to meet new state standards.

Kevin Simpson

May 06, 2019 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Branson, Colorado

Innovation is the key to resilience. In Branson, Colorado, the community of only 55 residents and with volunteer town council has taken on the massive task of bringing its water system up to compliance with the Colorado Department of Health. Because the state and federal government did not have the specific resources to assist Branson, the community turned to a locally developed, innovative water filtration system and an unorthodox funding campaign to pay for it.

Read More
Go to Original Story
The traffic solution most cities haven't tried

Diana Budds

May 03, 2019 |

Vox |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Cities across the world have implemented “congestion pricing” – meaning that cars in high-traffic areas will have to pay a fee to drive within those limits. New York City is one of the most recent cities to potentially implement this approach in its attempt to reduce congestion and encourage walking, biking, and public transportation.

Read More
Go to Original Story