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Cellphones made it harder for Denver's 911 call takers to track people down. Finally, that's starting to change.

Jesse Paul

November 23, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

The same technology that helps companies like Uber find their customers is now available to public safety agencies to ensure accurate location detection from cell phone calls. Denver is among the first cities to implement the updated technology and since the city launched it in mid-2018, it has delivered an accuracy percentage in the 90s, which means first responders don't waste precious time trying to find someone in crisis. The key is for cell phone users to have updated operating systems.

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Better Local Journalism, by Local Reporters, Is the Goal of a New Database

Matthew Sedacca

November 18, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Shoeleather is a database that connects editors across the country with local journalists. So far, 400 people have joined. Rather than relying on journalists from large media outlets to cover local communities, the database is aimed at using the knowledge and expertise of local reports to cover their own communities.

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Colorado is only state testing military tech to keep firefighters safe

Matt Mauro

November 15, 2018 |

KDVR-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Colorado

Colorado is adapting a military technology to help crews fight wildfires. The Android Team Awareness Kit, or ATAK, was designed to keep Special Forces safe in combat zones by showing pilots their locations, and now firefighters will be able to use the free app on their phones to find where they are and assess what kind of fire they are seeing on the ground. Colorado is the only state allowed to tweak the app for use in fires, but the plan is to roll it out nationwide after modification.

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This tool helps you make sure your 401(k) is supporting gender equality

Adele Peters

November 13, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

Gender Equality Funds is a tool that makes it possible for people to know if the mutual fund companies in their 401(k)’s are gender inclusive. The tools pulls data from 4,000 mutual funds companies and gives them a gender score. The aim is to empower people to invest their money in socially responsible funds. “I believe this is going to be a tsunami of capital shifting away from companies that are not responsive on gender equality.”

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Heart attack-detecting smartphone app almost as accurate as an ECG

Rich Haridy

November 11, 2018 |

New Atlas |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Researchers are working to develop an app that can detect certain deadly heart attacks. In trials, the ECG app was almost as accurate as traditional ECGs. It can correctly identify a heart attack and does not report a heart attack when one is not happening. Doctors will be able to review ECG data instantly once its uploaded from the cloud.

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These ChatBots Help Zimbabweans Find Fuel During a Shortage

Christine Ro

November 07, 2018 |

New York Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Zimbabwe

Hashtags and chat apps can notify users when items of vital necessity become available during times of severe shortage. Despite the Zimbabwean government’s pushback against social media, Zimbabweans are turning to platforms like Twitter and WhatsApp to share information about gas availability amid a severe nationwide shortage. Automated chat bots and hashtags used on Facebook and Twitter deliver real-time information to people across the country about fuel deliveries and queue lengths, helping to circumvent group size restriction in chat apps.

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Undocumented Black Migrants Build an Informal Organizing Network

Carla Pineda

November 06, 2018 |

Law at the Margins |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Los Angeles, California

Grassroots organizers use mobile technology to spread information and resources to underserved immigrant communities. Groups like the Haitian Bridge Alliance and UndocuBlack mobilize legal and social resources for immigrants who belong to groups often characterized as “invisible” in the public discourse, because they represent such a small percentage of the migrant population. Mobile tech enables these nonprofits to publicize individual cases and quickly connect immigrants to appropriate social networks.

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The Pirate Cell Towers of Rural Mexico

Martha Pskowski

November 01, 2018 |

New York Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, Talea de Castro, Oaxaca

Indigenous communities in rural Mexico have typically faced challenges accessing internet and cell phone service. This is changing thanks to TIC, a nonprofit cell service provider. Lower costs, local community management, and open source technology keep the service affordable. After overcoming several legal battles, the nonprofit cell model is spreading to other areas in Mexico, Brazil, and more.

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Borderwise

Meerabelle Jesuthasan

October 30, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Borderwise is an online interface that makes it easier to apply for a green card or naturalization in the United States. Since Borderwise was created in 2016, more than 80.000 immigration forms have been prepared using the interface. In addition to streamlining immigration paperwork, the startup also offers low or no-cost legal aid to applicants.

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In Chula Vista, Calif., Drones Now Respond to 911 Calls

Gustavo Solis

October 29, 2018 |

San Diego Union-Tribune |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Chula Vista

Police in Chula Vista, Calif., are using drones to respond to some emergency calls as part of a pilot program between the Federal Aviation Administration, Chula Vista and the city of San Diego. It’s an idea from Ensenada, Mexico, where use of drones prompted a 10 percent drop in crime, and on its first day in Chula Vista drones responded to 30 emergency calls that led to three arrests. The FAA is working with police to rewrite regulations as the program evolves to adapt to police needs.

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