Advanced filters

Search Results

You searched for:  -

There are 1051 results  for your search.  View and Refine Your Search Terms

  • The Flaw in America's 'Holy Grail' Against Gerrymandering

    January 26, 2018 |

    The Atlantic |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States

    A statistic called the efficiency gap seems like a simple way to measure partisan gerrymandering. It’s easy to calculate and relies on actual election results, not hypothetical results, something called for back in 2004 and 2006 when alleged cases of gerrymandering were found by the U.S. Supreme Court to be too speculative to be ruled unconstitutional. However, the efficiency gap fails to account for key factors such as political geography, making it less of a silver bullet than originally hoped.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Taking Police Reform to Trump Country

    January 24, 2018 |

    The Marshall Project |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Volusia, Florida

    The sheriff of Volusia County, Florida, Michael Chitwood, has instituted reform across the conservative county. With a frank and honest demeanor, Chitwood has put into place measures like de-escalation training and requiring officers to keep their body cameras on at all times. While many of his policies receive pushback from fellow officers, the community has responded well to his balance between being tough on crime and providing space for redemption and forgiveness.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Putting the Voters in Charge of Fair Voting

    January 23, 2018 |

    The New York Times |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Michigan

    Politicians across the country draw voting maps to favor their own political parties. In Michigan, a state with extreme congressional gerrymandering, voters are saying enough is enough. A nonpartisan group called Voters Not Politicians has collected 425,000 signatures in support of a ballot measure to create an independent commission to determine voting districts. The all-volunteer force gathered proposals at town hall meetings and spoke with voters at parades, football games, and even highway rest stops.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • This Map of New Orleans Might Save a Life

    January 19, 2018 |

    Next City |

    Multi-Media |

    Under 800 Words

    Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

    By relying more heavily on data analysis, New Orleans officials decreased ambulance response time in many parts of the city from 12 minutes to 8 minutes. This is just one successful project of many from the non-profit group Results for America. The group works with local governments to use data and evidence to solve urban issues, and it has seen successes in New Orleans, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • In push to 'fast track' women into office, gender quotas gain traction

    January 17, 2018 |

    The Christian Science Monitor |

    Multi-Media |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Costa Rica

    Starting in the mid 1980s and 1990s, African and Latin American countries began to implement “gender quotas” to integrate more women in politics. Now, “12 of the top 20 countries in the world for women’s legislative representation are in Africa and Latin America.”

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Colombia's peace agreement is the world's first to have gender at its core

    January 12, 2018 |

    Apolitical |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: Colombia

    Colombia’s 2016 peace accord has a chapter on gender and sections specifically responsive to women’s needs, such as an affirmation of women’s right to own land and the establishment of a special unit to investigate conflict-related sexual violence. These provisions, a result of trailblazing inclusion of women and LGBTQ groups in the peace process, break new ground in recognizing the gendered impacts of armed conflict.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • A Year of Pushback to Save Social Innovation

    January 09, 2018 |

    The New York Times |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

    When the federal government fails to stimulate social change, local areas step up. Tennessee is giving more structure and funding to community college education, and it’s drastically increasing graduation rates. Alaska and other states are getting rid of money bail. All around the country, citizen activists are becoming advocates and attempting to make our political system accessible to everyone. Despite partisan politics in Washington, D.C., the country is nonetheless experiencing social progress.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Can an Algorithm Tell When Kids Are in Danger?

    January 02, 2018 |

    The New York Times Magazine |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Wrongly assessing risks for children in potentially abusive or dangerous homes has dire consequences, but a new predictive analytics system is assisting screeners to help those who need it most.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Ohio Is At the Center of a National Debate Over Drawing Political Lines

    December 22, 2017 |

    WKSU |

    Multi-Media |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United States

    Gerrymandered Congressional districts, drawn using evermore individualized voter data, are set up to tip elections across the United States. Lawmakers and voting advocates are pushing back and creating new methods of making the maps. From independent commissions to constitutional amendments, here’s what’s happening in California, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, South Dakota and Utah.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

  • Harvey overwhelmed some levee systems. Future storms could do worse.

    December 14, 2017 |

    Houston Chronicle |

    Multi-Media |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Houston, Texas

    The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey left many Houston residents questioning the efficacy of one of the city’s only protections, the Levee Improvement Districts (LID), responsible for providing flood protection. In neighborhoods prone to flooding, there has been much debate about the actual protection the current levees provide, leading many to call for solutions like the expansion of the LIDs through elections (rather than appointees) or raising the levees.

    Read More


    Go to Original Story

Solutions In Focus

Discover curated content about themes that matter to you, exclusively from the Solutions Story Tracker. Explore collections, resources and more.


Go to All Solutions in Focus