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Is Burying Power Lines Fire-Prevention Magic, or Magical Thinking?

Angela K. Evans

July 11, 2022 |

Inside Climate News |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Colorado

Burying electrical lines underground — a process called undergrounding — can prevent wildfires and mass power outages. Most of the country’s existing electric infrastructure is above ground and outdated, which is something cities at risk for wildfires are beginning to address.

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One Small Step for Democracy in a ‘Live Free or Die' Town

Dan Barry

July 10, 2022 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Croydon, New Hampshire

We Stand Up for Croydon Students formed as a backlash to severe school budget cuts that resulted from a lack of civic participation among residents. The nonpartisan group collected enough signatures to set a special meeting to overturn the budget and, to get at least 50% of the town’s residents to participate in order for a new vote to be binding, volunteers organized community members through door knocking, phone banks, and lawn signs.

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Farmers are trying new water-saving tech in Utah's drought

Ben Winslow

July 07, 2022 |

KSTU-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tremonton, Utah

Farmers are upgrading to automated irrigation systems with 50-50 matching grants from the Utah Department of Agriculture. The systems save farmers’ time and water.

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Climate change: 'Sand battery' could solve green energy's big problem

Matt McGrath

July 05, 2022 |

BBC |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Finland, Kankaanpää

A team of Finnish engineers havevinstalled the first commercial battery made of sand, which can store green energy in it for months. Solar panels or wind turbines generate electricity, which is then stored as heat in the sand battery. When needed, the battery can discharge hot air to heat up water which is then used to heat homes, offices, and a swimming pool. This solution may be difficult to scale, but it’s a low-cost storage idea that could be useful when it’s cold and energy is more expensive.

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How Sacramento County is bucking the national trend of murder cases going unsolved

Julie Watts

June 29, 2022 |

CBS News |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Sacramento, California

Sacramento County has achieved one of the best homicide clearance rates in the country after the sheriff's department implemented smart staffing techniques, the use of national databases, a citizen video surveillance registry, tip lines, and other assistive technologies. These changes led to arrests in 8/10 homicide cases in 2022, or 20% above the national average.

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How Pennsylvania keeps its voter rolls clean and updated

Denise Clay-Murray

June 28, 2022 |

Votebeat Pennsylvania |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania uses a comprehensive approach to maintain accurate voter roles. The state is a member of the Electronic Registration Information Center, which is a cross-state database that updates records of voters every 60 days based on interactions with the DMV. In addition, when a registered voter doesn’t vote in two consecutive federal election cycles, they are marked inactive and sent a request to confirm their residency. Those that do not respond with 30 days are removed from the rolls. All 67 counties are required to do annual maintenance of their voter rolls.

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A study in contrasts: Low-turnout runoffs vs. Alaska's top-four, all-mail primary

David Meyers

June 23, 2022 |

The Fulcrum |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alaska

Alaska’s first primary election since it instituted a “top four” election system that places all candidates – regardless of party –on the same primary ballot, resulted in a less partisan campaign because people have to appeal to a more diverse group than their base in order to win. The all-mail primary also led to higher voter turnout, the highest since 2014.

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Residents 13 and up get another pick of city projects to receive funding

Ted Glanzer

June 20, 2022 |

Hartford Courant |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford residents 13 and older can decide how some public funds are spent. The Hartford Decides participatory budgeting initiative considers public input on small capital projects that cost between $10,000 and $25,000 and have a useful life of at least five years. City officials vet the projects for feasibility and those that pass are put on a ballot for the public to vote on. Previous winning projects include improvements to libraries, schools, and other publicly accessible resources. Residents can vote online or in-person and, depending on available funding, two to four projects can win approval.

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D.C. Residents Are Voting from Prison This Week

Kira Lerner

June 20, 2022 |

Bolts |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, District of Columbia

In July 2020, the District became one of three places in the country to grant people who are incarcerated the right to vote. Officials have conducted outreach to people in DC jails to make sure the are aware of their rights and the Board of Elections has provided staff with information and documents they need to ensure people can register to vote.

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Public Art Project Is Reimagining Philly's Budget, One Poster at a Time

Connie Aitcheson

June 17, 2022 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“A People’s Budget,” produced by Mural Arts Philadelphia, uses art to engage residents in reimagining how the city spends public funds. In addition to public art installations, the group holds teach-ins, organizes gatherings, and brought together local artists to research different sections of the budget and create 30-plus posters, in English and Spanish, that are handed out at events and other public spaces. The group has increased awareness, sparked important conversations about participatory budgeting, and brought together residents to collaborate for change.

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