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What Hospitals Waste

Marshall Allen Tristan Spinski

March 09, 2017 |

ProPublica |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Maine

U.S. hospitals waste an estimated $765 billion every year (National Academy of Medicine), and a large portion of this is wasted in the form of discarded medical supplies. Usually, these supplies are still in their original packaging and aren't even close to expiring. An organization called Partners for World Health collects these supplies from hospitals near Portland, Maine and ships them to other countries and medical clinics in need.

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How China is Cleaning its Air

Mukul Devichand

March 05, 2017 |

BBC |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: China, Beijing, Jingjinji

Air pollution is a huge problem for China, but surprisingly, the Air Quality Index in several cities is improving because of a variety of experimental projects that are being rolled out and a number of clever pollution solutions from around the country.

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A dilemma for renters in Nashville

David Plazas

February 22, 2017 |

The Tennessean |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is trying out creative ways to help residents deal with rising rent. While state policies do not always favor rent control and mixed-income housing units are still years away, several solutions are being implemented right now. Neighborhoods are creating tenant unions and community benefit agreements to ensure that tenants stay up-to-date about housing information. The mayor’s office is also providing financial support to first-time homebuyers.

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School funding reform: Ideas and challenges aplenty

Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

February 06, 2017 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

Schools in Connecticut are facing serious challenges with allocation of finances and resources that have dramatically affected their ability to provide programs such as after school curriculum to students, disproportionately in poor neighborhoods. There are several potential solutions, including more just distribution of funding and increased transparency in the system.

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To create meaningful change, apparel brands need to pursue sustainability at the industry level

Mary Hable

February 06, 2017 |

Ensia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

In the past, apparel companies were not given financial rewards for acting sustainably, and therefore, on the whole, saw no reason to encourage customers to do so. But now, by investing in industry-level research and developments to clue consumers into their sustainable behaviors, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition is working to change this. The Coalition provides clothing store customers with the sustainability equivalent of a nutrition label, hoping to both encourage sustainable consumption from consumers, and incentivizing environmentally-friendly practices for producers.

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Street lights are out but you're still footing the bill; how can we prevent wire thefts?

Maureen Wurtz

February 02, 2017 |

KTUL-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

After chasing street light wire thieves who have left Tulsa streets in the dark, city officials look to Salt Lake City, who solved their city's stealing problems by investing in their infrastructure. SLC officials replaced copper wire, which was easier for thieves to take, with aluminum, buried light boxes, and placed sensors on their street lights to ensure neighborhoods and highways remained safe and well-lit.

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In Kansas City, a lesson in transforming closed schools

Kalyn Belsha

January 24, 2017 |

Chicago Reporter |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Missouri

When public schools close, what can communities do with the buildings? Kansas City hired an urban planner to help repurpose school buildings to better engage the community and enabled non-profits a chance to purchase the old properties. This school reuse excelled from increasing the transparency of the decision-making process and “creative financing.”

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Years with no nation, 90 days to become a Minnesotan

Mila Koumpilova

December 31, 2016 |

Minneapolis Star Tribune |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thousands of refugees are navigating hurdles of integration in the United States. Organizations like the Minnesota Council of Churches provide comprehensive support in a number of areas - from housing to job applications to health insurance paperwork - but all with the end goal of helping the relocated families towards independence and sustainability in their new life.

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Drowning in Dysfunction

Rob Powers

December 22, 2016 |

WEWS-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Faced with abysmal customer service during a spate of incorrect, excessive usage bills from Cleveland's municipal water department, residents turned their attention to the nation's top-ranked utility, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department. Unlike Cleveland, the Miami department has a customer-oriented business model from top-to-bottom: not only does it provide credits in cases of underground or inexplicable leaks, but its leaders focus on supporting employees in providing responsive service, proper usag

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Gerrymander reform opens up Florida politics

Hedrick Smith

December 01, 2016 |

Sacramento Bee |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Orlando, Florida

For the third election in a row, House Republicans got bonus seats in 2016, through gerrymandering. Thanks to a grassroots citizen movement and computer sleuthing, Florida admitted to breaking the law and has replaced state maps with more competitive, voter-friendly districts.

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