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  • Emergency Preparedness for Prisons Isn't Just Sandbags and Non-perishables

    November 02, 2018 |

    New America Weekly |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

    After Hurricane Katrina in 2005 stranded people incarcerated in the New Orleans jail without food or water, the city used the experience not to question its disaster preparedness but instead to rethink who needs to be incarcerated in the first place. By easing policies in cash bail and arrests for petty offenses, the city cut its jail population by two-thirds and replaced its flooded jail with one less than one-quarter the original size. The new policies helped inspire Louisiana to revise its sentencing standards in an effort to end its distinction for having the world's highest incarceration rate.

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  • This smart outlet uses AI to help you lower your electric bill

    November 01, 2018 |

    FastCompany |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: United States, Palo Alto, California

    Households across the United States are using (and paying) for energy that they're not actively consuming. A new invention that connects to an app helps identify the how much energy is being expended by various appliances so people can actively cut down on their electric utilities.

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  • 100 Years After New York's Deadliest Subway Crash

    November 01, 2018 |

    The New York Times |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    A deadly subway crash in New York in 1918 killed an estimated 100 people and prompted major changes in public transportation because the crash was so preventable. Thanks to lessons from the tragedy, subways banned wooden cars and now have timed signals, headlights, speedometers and brakes that engage automatically if a driver runs a red light. It also prompted major changes in oversight and ownership of the transportation systems, moving away from profit-driven private ventures.

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  • Disappeared

    October 31, 2018 |

    Flathead Beacon |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Crow Indian Reservation, United States, Helena, Montana

    In Montana, officials are taking legislative steps to address the disproportionate number of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Among the bills being introduced is “Hanna’s Act,” which would give the Department of Justice the power to assist with missing persons cases. Also included is expanded access, both to national crime databases and to social services, provided by the Office of Indian Services to more than 50 tribal communities.

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  • In Istanbul, You Can Pay Your Subway Fare with Recyclables

    October 30, 2018 |

    Next City |

    Text |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: Turkey, Istanbul

    A pilot program in Istanbul, Turkey allows subway commuters to pay for their fares with bottles and cans instead of cash. While a one way fare via the "reverse vending machines" costs about 28 1.5 liter bottles, the government is working to make the recycling system more efficient and easy for travelers.

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  • 'A labor of love': Postcard campaign writers seek to increase voter turnout in midterm elections

    October 30, 2018 |

    Local News Matters |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

    After lackluster experiences phone banking during the 2016 presidential election, volunteers altered their strategy to write postcards to citizens to turn out the vote in the 2018 mid-term elections. Writing postcards was seen as a viable, and personal, alternative to door knocking, phone banking, mass leafleting, and even relatively modern techniques like mass texting.

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  • Looking For Innovation In Education? Go To Kenya

    October 30, 2018 |

    Bright Magazine |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Kenya, Nairobi

    In the past decade, Nairobi has established a name for itself in the world of education innovation - entrepreneurial private school models, a growing edtech ecosystem, and reforms in public education have drawn attention to Kenya's work and ushered more students into classrooms. However, learning outcomes haven't improved the way advocates expected and advocates are beginning to acknowledge that deeper systemic change will be necessary for Nairobi to take the next step.

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  • Law & Disorder: Progressive Prosecutors Hope to Dismantle Mass Incarceration

    October 30, 2018 |

    News Beat |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: United States

    Across the United States, individuals and organizations are seeking to shift the criminal justice system through District Attorney elections. From online communities like colorofchange.org, which seeks to support grassroots election efforts, to individuals like Minnesota’s Mark Haase, who is running on a platform of diversity and inclusion, to the Texas Organizing Project that wants to empower Black and Latinx communities, each of these missions seeks to create more equity and transparency in the criminal justice system.

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  • Incinerators bring hygienic disposal of menstrual waste

    October 28, 2018 |

    New Vision |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Uganda

    Uganda’s education ministry requires all schools to have incinerators to burn used sanitary pads. Lack of funding limits schools’ ability to comply. Even when incinerators exist, girls don’t necessarily use them. Educating both girls and boys about menstruation reduces stigma and increases the likelihood that girls feel comfortable enough to collect pads instead of throwing them in pit latrines.

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  • Socioeconomic integration grant founders, but hope remains for diverse schools

    October 27, 2018 |

    Rochester Democrat and Chronicle |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Rochester, New York

    Rochester, NY received a $1.2 million grant to encourage suburban students to enroll in public city schools, but only a few preschoolers moved to different schools and no students in upper grades transferred. Some leaders critique the use of funding on what they see as a futile experiment while others see the pilot as offering important lessons for grants going forward.

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