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Cities Closely Watching Chicago's Version of a Fitbit

Tod Newcombe

November 15, 2016 |

Governing |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Already a model for the 'Smart City Trend', Chicago is now continuing its innovative streak by launching an "urban sensing" project, which will gather, analyze and publicize sensory data on the city’s air quality, traffic flow, and hyperlocal weather conditions. These sensors will not only provide the public with immediate and practical information about traffic, air and weather safety, but also guide city planners’ in designing energy efficient infrastructure.

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How Raton got its groove back

Staci Matlock

November 15, 2016 |

Small Towns Big Change |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Raton, New Mexico

By investing public money, developing a branch of a local community college, and encouraging locals to invest in their own hometown, the small city of Raton, New Mexico has begun to turn their economic hardships around. City officials have looked beyond cyclical extraction businesses like coal mining in order to think about long-term financial success for their community members.

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Can Metro Detroit's municipalities cooperate?

Ellen Vial

November 14, 2016 |

Model D |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

Faced with insufficient revenue to fund key services like fire departments thanks to state laws limiting tax rates, two communities in Southeast Michigan used another state law to form a regional services authority that levies a property tax to fully fund both cities' fire departments. The authority is looking to mentor other communities on how to do this. Similar regional cooperative agreements are in place at a larger scale in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Pittsburgh addressing things like transportation, regional planning and affordable housing.

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A Renewable Energy Revolution in Small-Town America

Nicolas Pollock Deborah Fallows James Fallows

November 03, 2016 |

The Atlantic |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Spearville, Kansas

Small towns across America are leading the shift towards renewable energy. Part of a series called "American Futures", this video visits Kansas, Pennsylvania, and California to learn more about green initiatives in biofuel, wind, and solar power. Although each solution is different, each are a new way of generating income for the residents of the towns and often comes with societal acceptance as well.

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There's No Business Like Snow Business

Marlene Cimons

October 28, 2016 |

Popular Science |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Japan, Tokyo

Instead of treating fallen snow as waste, several countries are using it as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel for cooling and air conditioning applications. Countries like Japan and Sweden collect snow and use snow cooling systems during warmer months.

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There's a Message for City Planners in Cape Town Plumbing Poll

Ann Babe

September 26, 2016 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: South Africa, Cape Town, Western Cape

If you’ve ever been to a music festival, you’ve probably stepped inside a chemical toilet. The blue, plastic toilets, are meant to be temporary. However, in post-Apartheid, Cape Town, they are permanent fixtures for a large population of mostly black, poor residents.

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The City That Unpoisoned Its Pipes

Anna Clark

August 08, 2016 |

Next City |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lansing, Michigan

The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has left the city in dire straits without funds or political will to replace its lead pipes. Less than fifty-miles away, the city of Lansing has managed to replace almost all of its pipes, even during the Great Recession. Between Flint and Lansing, divergent approaches to management of utilities, funds, and citizen health provide extraordinary lessons about what worked and what caused the failures.

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Among Both Visitors and Staff, National Park Service Looks to Grow Diversity

Safia Samee Ali

August 07, 2016 |

NBC News |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

As the National Park Service celebrates its 100th Anniversary, employees and rangers are turning their attention towards maximizing diversity and increasing a culture of inclusiveness amongst park visitors and employees. From taking a concrete political stance to recruiting a diverse group of celebrity park ambassadors, the national parks hope to bridge the gaps between what America looks like and the story our parks tell of our history.

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Taking a conservative approach to clean energy

Elizabeth Dunbar

July 25, 2016 |

Minnesota Public Radio |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

As consumers across the country increasingly demand access to cleaner, more affordable energy and traditional coal plants become more expensive to operate, a new group is working to give conservatives a voice in natural gas, wind, and solar energy policies. Though any bi-partisan agreement on climate change has so far seemed impossible to broach, a growing number of Republicans are in agreement about clean energy, and aim to reframe the debate to get conservatives back to the table.

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How Congress made micro-hydro easier for mountain towns

Allen Best

July 25, 2016 |

Mountain Town News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Grand Lake, Colorado

Micro-hydro projects in the United States have become much more accessible and more financially viable since Congress passed a law in 2013 making it easier for small hydroelectric projects to get federal approval. Specifically, water treatment plants that can retrofit their systems to generate electricity are an excellent energy opportunity. The plant in Grand Lake now produces more electricity than it consumes.

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