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The ‘win-win-win' Tompkins could use to help jailed veterans

Melissa Whitworth

June 30, 2015 |

The Ithaca Voice |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Buffalo, New York

Over 220 Veterans Treatment Courts have been created across the United States, each of which helps provide services like rehabilitation and support groups instead of jail time to veterans. Courts in Ithaca, New York are thinking about implementing such programs and are looking to places like Buffalo, which has seen a decreased recidivism rate to just five percent.

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Jeb Bush says Estonians can file their taxes in five minutes. Really?

Louis Jacobson

June 04, 2015 |

PolitiFact |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Estonia

In Estonia, filing a tax return takes five minutes or less. The country has a simple tax system and laws that permit the government to gather data from employers, banks, and other third parties to generate pre-filled tax returns. Taxpayers review the forms and make any needed edits, then click “send.”

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The Navajo Nation Just Passed a Junk Food Tax. Too Bad Junk Food is All You Can Buy.

Tristan Ahtone

April 23, 2015 |

Talking Points Memo |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Newcomb, New Mexico

More than 80 percent of the food sold on the Navajo Nation qualifies as “junk food”— products high in salt, fat and sugar—and Navajo citizens struggle with disproportionately high rates of heart disease, obesity and diabetes. But on April 1, the Healthy Dine Nation Act, colloquially known as the “junk food tax,” took effect in the Navajo Nation, adding a two percent tax to unhealthy foods like chips, candy and soda while eliminating taxes on healthy items like fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Education lessons from Maine, New Hampshire

Jane Lindholm Patti Daniels

April 07, 2015 |

Vermont Public Radio |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Maine

As Vermont struggles to create legislation regulating school district management and financial efficiency, the state looks to models in Maine and New Hampshire for guidance. In Maine, school districts have tried to save money and resources through consolidation; in New Hampshire, officials have reworked the way schooling is financed altogether.

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Oklahoma schools district offers insight as EPISD, YISD consider shutting schools

Lindsey Anderson

March 21, 2015 |

El Paso Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa Public Schools drew on expertise across many sectors and extensive neighborhood input to address the issue of thousands of empty seats in local schools. Through a community-focused process, they were able to mindfully close under-utilized schools and better maximize the community's resources for students.

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How cities are searching for solutions among massive mounds of data

John Lorinc

February 20, 2015 |

The Globe and Mail |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City suffered from fires that erupted in overcrowded, run-down apartments. Then the city sleuthed through residential records and found that landlords who foreclosed let their properties fall apart and ignored safety-code violations. Greater Toronto wants to expand upon New York City’s method by using transportation surveys, census data and computer data to build transit lines.

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Everyone Wants to Copy This Pedestrian Bridge (It's Not the High Line)

Gregory Scruggs

October 09, 2014 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Poughkeepsie, New York

City officials and nonprofit organizations in Poughkeepsie used extensive research and sustainable financing to revitalize an outdated railroad bridge into a bustling park & walkway. Rather than demolish the suspended tracks, a local organization used city funds to develop a financial and development strategy, which ended up costing the city five times less than the famed New York City High Line.

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The City That Turned Its Water Into Cash

John Tierney

September 22, 2014 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown, Pennsylvania uses a creative financing strategy - leasing the city's water and sewage utilities - to pay for expensive public pension programs. To keep from raising rates for Allentown residents, the lease agreement has a strict rate cap that rises with inflation.

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Boston: There's an App for That

Ben Schreckinger

June 10, 2014 |

Politico |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

Boston had a hard time solving civic problems efficiently and holding its leadership accountable. In response, a team in the Mayor's office was charged with "making Boston better through clever, low-cost hacks" such as a mobile app that allows residents to send government service requests to City Hall.

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Can Government Play Moneyball?

David Bornstein

April 16, 2014 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The pressure is on for the federal government to spend tax money more wisely. Evidence-based policy making is gaining in popularity as a way for the government to spend tax money wisely. While not quite as flashy or exciting as past ways, this has a proven track record of positive impact.

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