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Trash sucks: A Norwegian city uses vacuum tubes to whisk waste away

Nicolás Rivero

June 11, 2025 |

The Washington Post |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Norway, Bergen

Bergen, Norway’s pneumatic waste system uses high-powered vacuum tubes to suck trash and recycling from central receptacles to nearby waste stations, reducing the need for garbage trucks and helping to keep the streets cleaner. According to city officials, the system, which is still in the process of being built out, has helped to reduce air pollution, cut diesel emissions, and save the city money on waste collection.

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How a California County Eliminated PFAS From the Water Supply

Carl Smith

May 15, 2025 |

Governing |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Yorba Linda, California

The Orange County Water District’s treatment plant uses ion exchange, a process that draws PFAS “forever chemicals” from the supply using positively charged resin beads. The plant distributes water with no detectable PFAS to roughly 80,000 customers.

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Despite Political Complaints, Congestion Pricing Is Working in NYC

Jared Brey

May 12, 2025 |

Governing |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City’s congestion pricing program charges drivers $9 to enter Lower Manhattan during peak traffic hours, with funds raised from the toll going to support public transit initiatives. Though there’s been fierce opposition to the program, 8 million fewer cars entered Lower Manhattan in the first four months since its launch, and average travel times have sped up by about 15 percent.

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Balcony solar took off in Germany. Why not the US?

Akielly Hu

April 25, 2025 |

Grist |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Germany

Utah legislators passed a bill exempting small-scale balcony solar installations from utility interconnection regulations to replicate Germany's successful approach, but the absence of national electrical standards and safety certifications have so far prevented widespread adoption and impact in the U.S.

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Where Art Thou, Rebuild?

Malcolm Burnley

January 22, 2025 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia’s Rebuild project leveraged revenue from a new tax on soda along with philanthropic funding to renovate parks, recreation facilities, and libraries throughout the city. Because of its focus on equity, the program funneled roughly 20 percent more funding into disadvantaged areas compared to the city’s previous capital projects, but due to delays in the process and the level of repairs and renovation needed, the city was ultimately only able to tackle about half the number of Rebuild projects it originally projected.

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How New York Made Big Diversity Gains in Transportation Contracts

Jared Brey

January 03, 2025 |

Governing |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York City’s “small purchase” program allows the city’s Department of Transportation to offer government contracts up to a certain spending limit specifically to minority- and women-owned businesses, with the goal of diversifying the city’s pool of contractors and suppliers. In fiscal year 2024, 32 percent of the department’s contract spending went to these businesses, compared to 24 percent in 2023 and 11 percent in 2022.

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Millions in rural America lack reliable internet. How Massachusetts towns got online.

Cameron Pugh

November 19, 2024 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Otis, Massachusetts

The town of Otis, Massachusetts leveraged state and federal grant funding alongside a municipal bond to build out its own fiber-optic network, increasing access to high-speed broadband in a rural area that has historically had little. Since it’s a municipal network, the town has more control over how it’s run, and prices are typically lower than those offered by private internet providers.

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In Warsaw, Falling Road Deaths Signal a Traffic Safety Turnaround

Agnieszka Barteczko

November 01, 2024 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Poland, Warsaw

In an effort to reach Vision Zero, the Swedish safety strategy that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, Warsaw has implemented measures that have dropped the number of road deaths by 55% over the last 10 years. Strategies like upgraded crosswalks, increased fines for lawbreaking drivers and the creation of roundabouts are just some of the methods that have helped make the roads safer, and the city plans to double its investment over the next four years.

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El Campell: la antigua mansión del narco Franky que ahora busca nuevas vidas para mantener un uso social

Álvaro García

October 02, 2024 |

Maldita.es |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Spain, Alicante

Poco a popo, el Fondo de Bienes Decomisados por tráfico ilícito de drogas, que el Plan Nacional sobre Drogas se creó en 2003, se han desviado los bienes confiscados a entidades con fines sociales. La asociación por la Salud Mental-Marina Alta es una de las organizaciones que se ha beneficiado hasta ahora.

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'Our plan worked': How Vienna prepared itself for a 5,000-year flood

Sophie Hardach

September 20, 2024 |

BBC |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Austria, Vienna

Vienna’s flood risk management strategy and flood defense system are critical to protecting the city as Europe experiences one of its most flood-plagued periods. They consist of a flood control channel that eases water pressure on the river and plenty of emergency drills.

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