Cumberland, Md., rests in the center of Maryland’s panhandle, a short distance, at least as the crow flies, from the bordering states of Pennsylvania to the north and West Virginia to the south. Unlike the more well-known region of … Continue reading →
A few years ago, Thomas Dufour attended a Brook Park, Ohio, City Council meeting as an interested citizen and left with the realization that his local government needed his help. Council members were unsure of how to discover who owned … Continue reading →
Since the early 1990s, thousands of roundabouts have popped up across the United States, creating free-flowing traffic at intersections once plagued by frequent congestion during rush hour. Many Americans still seem to oppose the circular intersection — perhaps due to its European … Continue reading →
An early prison sentence can often become the first step to a lifetime of trips in and out of the United States justice system. In fact, most people convicted of a crime will become a repeat offender, creating a vicious … Continue reading →
Rio Rancho Estates was a large housing development with distant mountain views established in the 1960s to serve families looking to escape Albuquerque, N.M., in favor of a suburban lifestyle. About 20 years later, in 1981, Rio Rancho, N.M., was … Continue reading →
As people throughout the world scrambled to protect themselves from the COVID-19 pandemic by staying inside in mid-March, one particularly vulnerable group was left without the means to do so. On any given night in the United States, 553,742 people … Continue reading →
On the Kansas side of Kansas City’s metropolitan area is Gardner, one of the poorest cities in Johnson County, according to Mayor Steve Shute. With an estimated population of just over 21,000 people, the largest employers are United School District … Continue reading →
While water is often taken for granted by the average consumer, members of public works departments know the immense value water has to a community and there is a finite amount available in a given year. For decades, municipalities have … Continue reading →
Bordering three Great Lakes and covered with forests, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula is 30% larger than the state of Maryland in terms of landmass but with a population 20 times smaller. While the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge is the more celebrated entrance … Continue reading →
With heavy rainfalls a normal part of life in the Pacific Northwest, one of Washington’s largest cities recently completed a roughly $190 million project to protect the health of its river. As part of an initiative to clean the Spokane … Continue reading →
In cities across the United States, industries that were thriving decades ago are dying off and leaving large facilities unoccupied and unkempt. Eventually, developers or municipalities take it upon themselves to tear down old buildings and start anew. But in … Continue reading →
