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Addicts Need Help. Jails Could Have the Answer.

Sam Quinones

June 16, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Covington, Kentucky

Kentucky is rethinking its penal system for dealing with drug offenders and has shown success in reducing recidivism and relapse rates. Instead of leaving addicts to languish in the typical jailhouse environment of "extortion, violence and tedium," more than two dozen of the state's county jails have created separate units devoted to full-time addiction treatment and support-services for prisoners that involve peer-policing.

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Colo County Offers Housing Comparison

Chris Rourke

June 15, 2017 |

Gunnison Country Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Breckenridge, Colorado

As second-home owners increase property values and decrease the supply of residences in Gunnison County, its year-round community faces a dwindling affordable housing stock. Nearby, a popular tourist town of Breckenridge in neighboring Summit County has been able to deliver a measurable increase in affordable homes. The Gunnison County Housing Authority is following Summit's goal-oriented, community-driven solution, and turning to residents to form a community plan and vision.

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Chicago Youth Help Decide Where Public Funds Go

Martín Xavi Macías

May 30, 2017 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is asking its citizens, including youth, to help determine how to spend public money. Participatory budgeting involves communities identifying their greatest needs and guiding spending towards solutions.

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The Detroit Success Story Visible From Space

Erick Trickey

May 18, 2017 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In just three years, Detroit carried out an ambitious $185 million project to re-illuminate the city's 88,000 streetlights, half of which were dark, with new energy-efficient LED lights. Through its new Public Lighting Authority, the city used an innovative funding scheme to pay for the lights even in the midst of municipal bankruptcy. After the lights went up, residents felt safer, and businesses felt a noticeable bump.

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Nearby Hudson may have found internet desert solution

Noah Jones

May 11, 2017 |

Richland Source |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hudson, Ohio

Hudson was an internet desert, with slow and unreliable internet services and companies refusing to provide better internet since it wouldn't be very profitable. Thus, the city created its own internet company-Velocity Broadband, which already has more business customers than expected, has been receiving positive feedback- including residents wanting to access the service, and has sparked businesses to move to the area.

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Participatory Budgeting: The People's Budget

Sophia Paliza-Carre

April 26, 2017 |

WNYC |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, North Shore, Staten Island, New York

Participatory budgeting is a way for citizens to directly influence government spending. The idea is taking off in New York with city councils in all five boroughs now putting money into these “people’s budgets.” Citizens propose ideas of how to spend the money, usually one million dollars or more, then vote. Past projects have included creating a teen space, planting trees, and building a community recording studio.

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Filing Taxes in Japan Is a Breeze. Why Not Here?

T.R. Reid

April 14, 2017 |

The New York Times |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Tax Day doesn’t have to be stressful. Governments around the world make paying taxes easy. How? By filling out tax returns for people instead of expecting them to slog through the forms themselves.

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The Stanford Professor Who Fought the Tax Lobby

Alex Mayyasi

March 22, 2017 |

Priceonomics |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

ReadyReturn is the only program in the United States that provides taxpayers with completed tax returns. It’s simple, easy, and has a 99% user satisfaction rate. Who’s not happy? Intuit, H&R Block, and other tax preparers who have fought the California program every step of the way.

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Larimer caseworker crisis slows child welfare work

Jacy Marmaduke

March 08, 2017 |

Coloradoan |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

High caseworker turnover in Larimer County has led to poorer outcomes for children and high stress for the caseworkers themselves. To help combat this high turnover the salaries have been increased, retention incentives have been implemented as have job participation rewards and other methods.

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Philadelphia's Soda Tax Is Reducing Consumption—and Maybe Jobs

Elena Gooray

February 28, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Soda taxes are are showing unexpected financial reprecussions, resulting in greater harm to the soda businesses than anticipated leading to massive workforce reductions. A proposed solution is to tax sodas based on how much sugar is in then, rather than a blanket tax.

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