Ensia
1 September 2015
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Seattle, Washington, United States
The U.S. federal government rarely requires manufacturers to list the chemicals in consumer goods outside of food. Various states are starting to enact legislation requiring greater transparency.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/03/02/cities-saving-states-lagos-nigeria
Seth Kaplan
Foreign Policy
2 March 2015
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Although Nigeria "is arguably the worst-run of the world’s major countries," it's biggest city is providing a model for how to turn poor governance around. Lagos, a historically fragile city like the rest of Nigeria, has devolved more power to civilian rule, which has shown positive results for the health of the city.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/drugs-risk-and-the-myth-of-the-evil-addict
Maia Szalavitz
The New York Times
27 September 2011
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While critics argue that Naloxone isn't safe for over-the-counter use, some cities have found success distributing Naloxone to community members to help save lives of addicts who overdose. Naloxone can be administered to help those overdosing survive and jump-start the withdrawal process.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/for-teenage-smokers-removing-the-allure-of-the-pack
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
1 August 2012
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Adolescent smoking remains a challenging health problem because of the allure of cigarette branding. Australia is piloting the transformation of cigarette packaging with a generic look that reduces the appeal of smoking. In Florida, the Truth campaign has exposed that cigarette companies targeted teenage consumers and, in response, created a set of new advertisements that presented the cigarette industry with transparency.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/27/shutting-modern-debtors-prisons
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
27 March 2015
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Rampant misconduct by judicial systems across the country brought to light a crippling practice of debtors' prisons—where disadvantaged individuals unable to pay fines and fees were continually and wrongfully imprisoned, creating a vicious cycle. The American Civil Liberties Union stepped in to work with governments and private companies to increase transparency, eliminate abuse, and reeducate law enforcement officials. The state of Ohio has emerged as a leader in reforming debtors' prisons, though there is still work to do.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/out-of-prison-into-a-vicious-circle-of-debt
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
9 June 2011
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Many offenders get out of jail owing hundreds or thousands of dollars in court and parole fees but face barriers to financing and job acquisition, sticking them in a punitive, vicious cycle of debt and arrest. A program called the Clapham Set, perhaps paired with conditional cash transfers - may be a solution, as it erases fees for felons who complete rehab and job training upon release.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/05/11/overkill-atul-gawande
Atul Gawande
The New Yorker
11 May 2015
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An investigation reveals a startling percentage of medical procedures provided in the United States are unnecessary or inappropriate - harming patients physically as well as financially. This "profit-maximizing medical culture" can be countered by incentivizing health care facilities to eliminate needless procedures, federal crackdowns, and increasing access to information for patients.
http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/thepulse/item/62231-inside-the-complicated-world-of-medical-billing
Zach Seward
NewsWorks
5 December 2013
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With more and more Americans having to pay medical costs out of pocket, a small company out of Philadelphia called ELAP is on the front lines of the war against escalating charges. By helping overwhelmed patients to de-mystify and negotiate medical bills, they are ensuring patients get the best value and avoid egregious financial distress.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SHAME-OF-THE-CITY-A-WAY-OUT-Solving-San-2525635.php#page-1
Kevin Fagan
SFGate
4 December 2003
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To combat rampant homelessness, cities like New York are investing in supportive housing and comprehensive, consistent services for the homeless population. Although San Francisco has smaller-scale supportive housing programs. political will and regular funding are necessary to grow those initiatives and make a large impact on homelessness in the city.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/13/a-military-manual-for-nonviolent-war
Tina Rosenberg
The New York Times
13 February 2015
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The Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies provides a "blueprint" for peaceful and democratic revolution, busting myths about the process of nonviolent revolt and helping dissidents in countries around the world to accomplish political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-simple-fix-for-drunken-driving-1439564251
Keith Humphreys
Wall Street Journal
14 August 2015
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South Dakota’s “24/7 Sobriety” initiative breathalyzers tens of thousands of people every day in an effort to curb drunk driving. Rather than legislation that takes penalizes offenders by taking away their license, the state addresses the behavioral issue instead. In counties that use the “24/7 Sobriety,” they’ve seen a 12% decrease in repeat drunken-driving arrests.
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