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Law enforcement, authorities still reeling from Harvey impact
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityRecent weeks have shown the world exemplary efforts to save lives in Texas, both by the police and residents. The Houston metro area, which covers about 10,000 square miles, is crisscrossed by miles of water bodies like creeks, channels and bayous that drain into the Gulf of Mexico. These contributed to the devastation, leading to an epic scale of flooding.
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Delaying vote on California’s Delta Tunnels gives estuary hope
Megan Martens Waste Management & EnvironmentalOn Aug. 28,the Central Basin Water Board voted 5-2 to postpone a decision on California Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed Delta Tunnel project, also known as California Water Fix, until rate impacts of the project can be clarified. Specifically, officials are concerned about the burden citizens from poorer areas of Los Angeles County will bear without seeing an increase of water supplies.
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Trump ends DACA — Will Congress save it?
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentFulfilling a campaign promise, President Donald Trump ended the Obama-era executive order known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) on Sept. 5. The immigration protection program will be phased out over time, giving Congress six months to save it.
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Houston floods: Exclamation points in the debate over urban…
Lucy Wallwork Waste Management & EnvironmentalWhile climate change is a global topic, events like the catastrophic floods we have seen in Houston after Hurricane Harvey remind us that the consequences can be very local.
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Outdoors community steps up to help in Harvey aftermath
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureOur thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who suffered a loss of any kind due to Hurricane Harvey. However, the dedication, generosity and bravery of everyone helping their neighbors in their time of need are some of the few bright spots during Texas' darkest hours.
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‘Textalyzer’ may be the new breathalyzer
Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIn 2015, 391,000 individuals were injured and 3,477 were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In New York state, 2,784 were injured and 12 people were killed in cellphone-related crashes from 2011-2015. During that time, 1.2 million tickets were issued for cellphone violations, according to The Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.
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Texas prepares for Hurricane Harvey
Damon Sayles Waste Management & EnvironmentalWith the expected arrival of Hurricane Harvey, the state of Texas is in disaster-preparation mode. Harvey, which has become a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to hit the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm in the early morning hours Saturday — the first Category 3 hurricane to hit the U.S. in over a decade.
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Tactical urbanism: Tweaking the source code of cities
Lucy Wallwork Civil & GovernmentStrategic documents like master plans have long guided the direction of our cities. But now tactical interventions into city life are becoming increasingly popular.
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Pressure from business leaders kills Texas ‘bathroom bill’
Suzanne Mason Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementThe so-called "bathroom bill" in Texas has finally met its end — at least for now. The bill died quietly Aug. 15, after the House adjourned its special 30-day legislative session. This was in part thanks to the pressure that big business put on lawmakers in opposition to the bill.
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Federal DACA program faces uncertainty under Trump
Seth Sandronsky Civil & GovernmentThe federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program turned five Aug. 15. The policy lets immigrant youth under 30 who arrived stateside to apply for legal living and working status — provided they have no criminal record — and, crucially, to avoid deportation.
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