This year, the highly pathogenic avian influenza hit the U.S. again. Some of the first confirmed cases popped up in Northwestern states, although flocks throughout the country were affected. Urban farmers with small flocks felt the effect particularly hard. Common … Continue reading →
Jimmy Smith Jr. makes you feel you’ve always known him, and all it takes is a few minutes of conversation. As the solid waste and landfill superintendent of Thomasville, Ga. — and having worked for the city since 1995 — … Continue reading →
When living near the ocean, a hurricane preparedness plan is integral for a municipality to have in order to help take care of and support the residents should a natural disaster strike. Ensuring the community is informed, sharing best practices … Continue reading →
When a major tornado or earthquake rips through a community, local leaders and residents need to know quickly what homes and buildings are safe for use and what structures remain a risk for collapse. The magnitude of the damage can … Continue reading →
Nine years ago, the Lynn Lane Wastewater Treatment Plant in Broken Arrow, Okla., was using 220,000 gallons of potable water per day in its processes. Through a new sustainability process called the Water Reuse Project, it has gone from using … Continue reading →
Those of a certain age might remember a public service announcement from 1971. The Clio Awards-winning spot was named one of the top 100 advertising campaigns of the 20th century. This unforgettable spot, most commonly referred to as the “Crying … Continue reading →
Getting public input on municipal projects is generally a good idea, but sometimes city officials might shy away from it for a variety of reasons. With waste and recycling, the officials we spoke to said community engagement is the key … Continue reading →
Remember playing in the woods and coming across a little pool? It seemed almost magical, because they came and went. The cool, flower-child thing to do if you found a stream or any other small body of water was to … Continue reading →
A city in Massachusetts with a history of pioneering recycling efforts has again developed a program to ease the effects of sustainability policies on its residents. Massachusetts’ mattress waste ban will go into effect Nov. 1. The ban is part … Continue reading →
Three years ago, Amarillo, Texas, implemented a new program called Coming Home to address the increasing homeless population. Using a point in time count, city-coordinated volunteers sought out individuals living in locations not meant for human habitation during a 24-hour … Continue reading →
The public is used to thinking of firehouses, police departments and other city agencies as separate entities that serve and protect them through countless needs and issues. That’s the way it’s always been, but that doesn’t mean it must always … Continue reading →
