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N.J. will eliminate cash bail, speed up criminal trials in 2017

Joe Hernandez

December 21, 2016 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

New Jersey has eliminated cash bail and will instead make a determination, driven in part by computer algorithms, on whether someone is likely to commit another crime or not show up for their court date. This eliminates a system where more than a third of people awaiting trial were behind bars only because they could not afford bail. If a judge does decide to hold someone in jail, another reform kicks in assuring a speedy trial by setting required deadlines for cases to be heard.

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Free Cash in Finland. Must be Jobless.

Peter S. Goodman

December 17, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Finland, Oulu

Monthly unemployment checks are dissuading individuals from finding work for fear that their work will pay less. Oulu, Finland is testing out 'basic income' where everyone receives a government cheque, to encourage people to work without fear of losing their monthly assistance.

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How Ontario's vision of equity for schools contrasts starkly with Pennsylvania's

Kevin McCorry

December 13, 2016 |

Keystone Crossroads |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Canada, Toronto, Ontario

Part 1 of the "Equity or Bust: Are Ontario's Public Schools a Model for Pennsylvania" Series: Ontario has become widely lauded for its education system, celebrated for both high performance and relatively smaller achievement gaps between wealthy and poor students, thanks to the concept of "equity." This manifests, in essence, as more funding per-pupil to the school boards that serve students who face the greatest obstacles. The model contrasts starkly to the school system in Pennsylvania, regarded as "the most inequitable in the nation.”

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The Making of Telluride's Strict Short-Term Regulations

Chad Reich

December 09, 2016 |

KBUT Community Radio |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Telluride, Colorado

Late-night disturbances. Unfamiliar cars. As short-term rentals became common in Telluride, nuisance concerns rose too. In response, the town council passed an ordinance, defining short-term rentals as stays of less than 30 days and instating strict zoning and licensing requirements on rental businesses. Five years later, the policy remains effective and popular.

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Can Mezcal Survive Being Popular?

Alec Jacobson

December 07, 2016 |

Roads & Kingdoms |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Mexico, San Juan Del Rio, Queretaro

The production of mezcal keeps increasing, drawing the attention of big liquor brands who want to invest in the mezcal market. Entrepreneurs in Mexico, are teaming up with rural farmers, their collaboration could potentially push out big companies from taking over the market.

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Nature Might Hold the Secret to Healing Police-Community Relations

Krista Langlois

December 05, 2016 |

Outside |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Baltimore, Maryland

After charged discussions and protests around racial injustice within police departments, Baltimore set out to find a solution to bridge the divide created between the city's police force and the kids that lived in stereotyped neighborhoods. Using nature as a common ground, the Outward Bound Police Youth Challenge was born to bring the two sides together and teach them that they have more in common than they may think.

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This Kansas farmer fought a government program to keep his farm sustainable

Kristin Ohlson

December 05, 2016 |

Ensia |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Kansas

Regenerative farming practices such as cover crops can be environmentally friendly and financially profitable. But federal crop insurance rules and certain characteristics of the agriculture industry have prevented farmers from employing these techniques fully. However, one farmer, Gail Fuller, has been working to broaden access to such techniques.

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Memphis Looks to Medical Manufacturing to Cut Poverty

Johnny Magdaleno

December 02, 2016 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Memphis, Tennessee

A just-announced $6 million federal grant will help end poverty in Memphis, Tennessee.

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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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How reformers beat the Koch brothers in South Dakota

Hedrick Smith

December 01, 2016 |

Los Angeles Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, South Dakota

Ninety percent of Americans believe that the political system is broken and nothing can be done. Yet in 2016, South Dakota a state with low probability for political reform became the first state in a decade to adopt public funding of future political campaigns all thanks to a grass-roots citizens movement.

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