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Taking Police Reform to Trump Country

Simone Weichselbaum

January 24, 2018 |

The Marshall Project |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Volusia, Florida

The sheriff of Volusia County, Florida, Michael Chitwood, has instituted reform across the conservative county. With a frank and honest demeanor, Chitwood has put into place measures like de-escalation training and requiring officers to keep their body cameras on at all times. While many of his policies receive pushback from fellow officers, the community has responded well to his balance between being tough on crime and providing space for redemption and forgiveness.

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Putting the Voters in Charge of Fair Voting

Tina Rosenberg

January 23, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Michigan

Politicians across the country draw voting maps to favor their own political parties. In Michigan, a state with extreme congressional gerrymandering, voters are saying enough is enough. A nonpartisan group called Voters Not Politicians has collected 425,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure to create an independent commission to determine voting districts. The all-volunteer force gathered proposals at town hall meetings and spoke with voters at parades, football games, and even highway rest stops.

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Can an Algorithm Tell When Kids Are in Danger?

Dan Hurley

January 02, 2018 |

The New York Times Magazine |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Wrongly assessing risks for children in potentially abusive or dangerous homes has dire consequences, but a new predictive analytics system is assisting screeners to help those who need it most.

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Ohio Is At the Center of a National Debate Over Drawing Political Lines

M.L. Schultze

December 22, 2017 |

WKSU |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Gerrymandered Congressional districts, drawn using evermore individualized voter data, are set up to tip elections across the United States. Lawmakers and voting advocates are pushing back and creating new methods of making the maps. From independent commissions to constitutional amendments, here’s what’s happening in California, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, South Dakota and Utah.

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Build, flood, rebuild: flood insurance's expensive cycle

David Hunn Ryan Maye Handy James Osborne

December 09, 2017 |

Houston Chronicle |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

What was originally conceived of to help protect homes from flooding has instead trapped homeowners in an endless cycle of filing claims and rebuilding their homes. The National Flood Insurance Program was supposed to discourage development in flooding zones and ease the costs after disasters. With lobbying money and power from developers, realtors associations, and others with vested interests, any opportunity to redesign the system through Congress have haven’t gone far.

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Why New York City Created Its Own Fund to Bail People Out of Jail

Teresa Mathew

December 01, 2017 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Bail reform is a difficult process largely out of the hands of municipalities. Charitable bail funds allow individuals who can't afford bail to be free until their trial, in the hopes of changing the bail system from the inside.

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Take the Power Back

Sylvia Rowley Russell Beard

November 22, 2017 |

Al Jazeera |

Multi-Media |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Germany, Cologne

In the face of climate change as a result of increased CO2 emissions, millions of concerned citizens have grown frustrated at the lack of change from more traditional forms of civil engagement such as petitions, protests, and campaigns against the behemoths of the oil industry. But some have found hope in a growing movement that pushes governments and large corporations to leverage a more effective tool: divestment - or withdrawing financial support from the fossil fuel industry.

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Why Cities Shouldn't Bend Over Backwards for Corporations

Rick Paulas

October 18, 2017 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas City, Kansas

Flirting with a corporation can end badly. In exchange for city-wide wireless broadband, Kansas City gave Google near-free rein including fast permitting, free office space, low fees, and taxpayer funds. A few years later, Google restructured to become Alphabet and started cancelling hundreds of hook-ups.

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The Hang Out Cure: Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld Has An Idea Local Politicians Need To Hear

Larry Platt

July 18, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Rare are the days of cordiality towards opposing party politicians within American government. Specifically, a shift has occurred in which politicians no longer know each other, which can have detrimental effects on governing and deal-making. To this end, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld has recently promoted the importance of spending time with fellow politicians, in order to increase bipartisanship and function better in government. This is exemplified by his proposal and seven year old practice of “hangout sessions,” weekly meetings in which politicians with opposing viewpoints come together.

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What happened when Camden started rethinking policing to build trust

Hari Sreenivasan

June 30, 2017 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV Programs |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Camden, New Jersey

Police reform in Camden, New Jersey has centered on de-escalation and increased surveillance. With these reforms, the city has seen a decrease in violent and nonviolent crime and a decrease in the use of and complaints of excessive force by police. While not without concerns of the increased surveillance, the department says the shift of role from warrior to guardian is showing impact.

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