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Using Tech, California Counties Have Cleared 140,000 Marijuana-Related Convictions

Cinnamon Janzer

March 05, 2021 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

After California legalized marijuana, it offered people a way to erase their marijuana-related criminal records. But few tried, in part because the process was difficult. Code for America's Clear My Record initiative automated the process by creating lists of cases eligible for expungement and notifying counties that they could easily take the next step. As a result, 140,000 convictions have been reduced or dismissed, relieving those people of the burden of a criminal record when applying for a job. CFA is working to expand the program nationwide.

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The World Needs Syringes. He Jumped In to Make 5,900 Per Minute.

Karan Deep Singh

March 05, 2021 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: India, Ballabgarh

A family-run syringe making company in India is leading the manufacturing of Covid vaccine-specific barrels and needles, a task that no other country has been able to manage at the same speed. Because Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices is a family business – meaning no shareholders – the production of these medical supplies is able to be done without any interferences; although, the operation is a frugal task for the business owner.

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‘They track every move': how US parole apps created digital prisoners

Todd Feathers

March 04, 2021 |

The Guardian |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

State and federal parole officials have rushed during the pandemic to embrace the use of smartphone apps that monitor the location and behavior of a person on parole. The apps and related data analytics save courts money and time by easing the need for face-to-face meetings. While there are potential benefits as well for the people being monitored, such as not wearing stigmatizing and uncomfortable ankle monitors, some complain the apps are even more intrusive than traditional monitoring – and perhaps more apt to lead to technical violations of parole that can land people back in prison.

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To Tackle Homelessness, Santa Fe Found a Better Plan

Kriston Capps

March 04, 2021 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Sante Fe, New Mexico

The adoption of the “Built for Zero” campaign in Sante Fe, New Mexico, allowed the city to effectively respond to the housing crisis that unfolded as a result of the pandemic. The data-driven approach gives cities a better snapshot of how many people are homeless at any given time and also encourages agencies to work together, which creates a network that can adequately address chronic homelessness.

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Legos, Meditation, Video Field Trips: How One D.C. School Is Using Virtual Clubs to Help Students Break Through the Isolation — and Reconnect With Friends — During the Pandemic

Taylor Swaak

March 04, 2021 |

The 74 |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Themed, online student clubs are a new, home-grown venture for Two Rivers Elementary School in Washington, D.C. Previously, afterschool programming was run in-person and primarily by the network’s after care provider and outside agencies. The school started running a handful of virtual clubs at their respective campuses serving a few dozen students around late September, with weekly attendance growing as the number of clubs expanded.

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Schools Look To Algorithms To Flag Students Who May Harm Themselves

Alisa Roth

March 03, 2021 |

NPR |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Mason City, Iowa

Companies like Gaggle are typically used by school districts to track student online behavior, but now they are tracking something else—self-harm. Machine learning flags words that might indicate a student is thinking of hurting themselves. “It gives us insight into what the student's thinking.” Gaggle identified 64,000 student references to suicide and self-harm. The company claims to have saved 927 student lives. In Mason City, districts receive alerts when a student’s search is flagged. “Nicole Pfirman says there have been a few times where she believes an alert saved a kid's life.”

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The Hottest Amenity From Developers? A Power Plant Made of Batteries.

Patrick Sisson

March 03, 2021 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

An apartment complex in Utah includes a solar battery in every apartment allowing the resident, power utility, and building developer to save costs for generating electricity. Through a unique partnership, the power systems can provide 12.6 megawatts of power for the building, which translates into residents saving up to 40 percent on the energy bills. This setup might not be easy to scale, but the developer plans to expand the model in other states.

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For those frustrated with vaccine system, a crew of volunteers is ready to help

Felice J. Freyer

March 02, 2021 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

A community effort is underway in Massachusetts to help people secure Covid-19 vaccination appointments, despite a confusing government roll-out system. The Massachusetts COVID Vaccination Help volunteer group is composed of volunteers from across the state, who are using their free time to help individuals schedule appointments. Although there are concerns about privacy, users thus far have commended the group's persistence and success in booking appointments.

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‘There's so much gratitude': engineer who created viral vaccine site for $50

Miranda Bryant

March 01, 2021 |

The Guardian |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York

Frustrated with the Covid-19 vaccination system in New York, a local software engineer created a "much-needed vaccination appointment-finding bot" that shares available times and locations on a website and Twitter. Although the website was not built "in the way that modern websites are supposed to be built," it has still been extremely popular and users have reported successfully booking appointments because of it.

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Singapore Turns To Cultured Meat To Boost Its Food Security

Claire Turrell

February 26, 2021 |

Life & Thyme |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Singapore

Singapore recently became the first country in the world to allow cultured meat to be sold to the public, a move that scientists and environmentalists say is the future of meat production. U.S.-based company Eat Just takes stem cells from live tissue, mixes it with a broth, and puts it into a bioreactor to allow the cells to multiply and form connective tissue. While cultured meat can be expensive to produce, they sold its chicken — a maple waffle chicken dish and crispy chicken bao — to diners for $17.

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