Nation Nov 11 Can an entire town run on solar? In an attempt to “do it the right way,” developer Syd Kitson is building Babcock Ranch, an 18,000-acre planned community just north of Ft. Meyers, with hope that it can operate almost entirely on solar power. So far about 200…
Education Oct 30 Where support for college students is ‘high-tech, high-touch’ Florida is one of 35 states that tie college funding to graduation rates. But a new study,“The Pell Divide,” finds a difference in graduation rates between students who receive funding assistance from Pell Grants and those who don’t. Hari Sreenivasan…
Education Oct 23 Turning soldiers into scholars by turning military experience into college credit Despite years leading troops and managing equipment on the front lines, soldiers returning to school may have to start from the beginning, alongside teenagers who have never held a similar level of responsibility. Now, a new Colorado law awards college…
Politics Oct 21 Will conservative Nebraska vote to expand Medicaid? Nebraskans will vote in November on whether to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The state’s Republican legislature and governors have refused to expand Medicaid after states were given that option in 2012 by the Supreme Court. The ballot…
Education Oct 16 At this college, academic excellence requires passion for the social good At New Jersey’s Rutgers University, a new honors program for undergraduates is redefining academic excellence. Students accepted into the highly competitive Honors Living Learning Community (HLLC) study critical social issues and prove their commitment to becoming “change-makers." While the program…
Education Oct 09 Aging Maine repays college debts to attract younger workers Maine, land of lobsters and lighthouses, is also the nation’s oldest state. With a median age of 43, roughly a third of its population is in or approaching retirement. To counter its aging workforce, the state is attempting to attract…
Nation Sep 15 Can blockchain help fill journalism’s funding gaps? The New York-based startup Civil launched last year with the goal of using blockchain -- the same technology that powers the cryptocurrency Bitcoin -- to help to build a network of independent news organizations with a sustainable business model. Civil…
Nation Aug 19 Will regulation of rideshare apps leave passengers stranded? In New York City, an influx of vehicles using rideshare apps like Uber has caused the value of the city's taxi medallions to plummet, along with drivers' wages. This month, New York became the first U.S. city to regulate rideshare…
Nation Aug 15 ‘The Problem with Apu’ and the American immigrant stories that aren’t being told Hari Kondabolu has been thinking about how he fits into America for some time. Growing up the son of Indian immigrants, he has experienced cultural exclusion and negative stereotypes, reflected most potently in the character of Apu from "The Simpsons."…
Nation Aug 04 Police face new challenges when determining if someone is too high to drive As states across the country legalize marijuana, efforts to determine whether someone is too high to drive is becoming a thorny public health issue. From brain functioning analyses and phone apps to training police officers on looking for signs, Hari…