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The Dutch are giving rising rivers more room. Should we follow suit?

Tristan Baurick

March 09, 2020 |

The Times-Picayune |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Netherlands, Noordwaard

The Dutch government bought out and relocated 200 households in high-risk areas as a way to create more space for rising water levels instead of building bigger levees. The program is called Room for the River, and more than 60,000 people now have much lower flood risk. The program also built new roads, bridges, and pumping stations, one of which doubles as a wildlife-watching tower. This, along with the green spaces, bike paths, and plazas, is credited for building public approval for the project.

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In Baltimore, parents owe hundreds of millions in child support. Here's how other states have made changes for the better.

Yvonne Wenger

March 09, 2020 |

The Baltimore Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Maryland

Maryland's punitive child-support policies, which have piled $233 million in largely uncollectable debt on the state's poorest residents and destabilized families and neighborhoods, could be improved by adopting reforms other states have used to increase payment compliance. In Colorado, for example, more support payments have meant healthier families and communities, after the state stopped offsetting welfare payments by whatever child support had been paid. Other states have stopped revoking driver's licenses and work permits as a non-payment penalty, in order to make steady employment more attainable.

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What Singapore's coronavirus tactics can and can't teach world

Kentaro Iwamoto

March 08, 2020 |

Nikkei Asia |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Singapore

Although many hesitate to applaud Singapore's efforts in containing the coronavirus pandemic due to the aggressive measures taken, the country's methodology has shown success. Based on "scientific knowledge, empirical data and medical research," the country has implemented measures such as contact tracing, stay-home orders, hygiene campaigns, and monetary bonuses for health care workers, all of which work to slow the spread of the virus.

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Paid to Stay Home: Europe's Safety Net Could Ease Toll of Coronavirus

Liz Alderman

March 06, 2020 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: France, Paris

Europe's generous social policies, such as allowing employees to retain their salaries while taking sick time to care for themselves or family members, may help to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak while also safeguarding the economy. Although the long-term impacts are yet unknown, in the short term, government-provided incentives are helping people and businesses stay afloat.

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South Korea has tested 140,000 people for the coronavirus. That could explain why its death rate is just 0.6% — far lower than in China or the US.

Aria Bendix

March 05, 2020 |

Business Insider |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: South Korea

South Korea's nationwide coronavirus testing measures are showing that the death rate for the virus may not be as high as initially reported while also offering lessons to other countries about the best practices for mitigating epidemics. Although the United States is now beginning to utilize partnerships to address limited testing procedures, South Korea's response allowed for patients to be diagnosed an an earlier and faster rate.

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Why Taiwan Has Just 42 Coronavirus Cases while Neighbors Report Hundreds or Thousands

Ralph Jennings

March 04, 2020 |

Voice of America (VOA) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Taiwan

Because of drastic and proactive steps, Taiwan has been able to keep their number of positive COVID19 cases low. Preemptive actions like stopping flights from China and an early stimulus bill has helped the country get ahead of the public health and economic impacts.

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Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren want a wealth tax. Wealthy Swiss say their model could work for America.

Michael Birnbaum

March 03, 2020 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Switzerland

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren see Switzerland's wealth tax as an inspiration for an equitable model of taxing the rich. America's current model taxes income tax on a sliding scale but rates in the U.S. are low compared to the rest of the world. The biggest obstacle is the negative public perception, even though it would only impact those who make more than $32 million. Experts advising Warren and Sanders say the highest amount of wealth per adult in the world exists in Switzerland, proving that taxing wealth instead of income tax does not negatively impact the ability to accumulate wealth.

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Is South Korea's approach to containing coronavirus a model for the rest of the world?

Jason Strother

March 03, 2020 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: South Korea, Seoul

In order to effectively manage the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, government officials have stepped in by increasing transparency, subsidizing home medical equipment such as face masks, and rapidly distributing testing kits. The efforts have resulted in many more people already being tested than anticipated and behavioral changes taking effect within the population.

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Meet the Detectives Solving Crimes Against Trees

Klaus Sieg

February 28, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Germany, Hamburg

The Center of Competence on the Origin of Timber in Germany is using innovative methods to help determine timber products’ origins in order to stop illegal wood trading. Scientists can identify wood’s anatomical features and compare them with microscopic samples in the center’s digital database to determine where a piece of wood originally grew. While the process can sometimes take a while, the center has had some successes in detecting illegal logging from some manufacturers.

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Singapore contained Coronavirus. Could other countries learn from its approach?

Philip J. Heijmans

February 28, 2020 |

Fortune |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Singapore

Singapore has seemingly been able to contain the coronavirus outbreak by relying on quick actions taken by the government and lessons learned from both the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks that impacted the region years ago. With "ready-made government quarantine facilities and a 330-bed, state-of-the-art national center for managing infectious diseases," the region has yet to see a death from this novel coronavirus despite 96 people identified as infected.

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