Community
Stay informed about local news, initiatives, and the people who make our community thrive.
Top 5 Community Initiatives & Volunteer Opportunities in 2026
Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office just poured $500,000 into 46 local non-profits, directly funding summer camps and athletic programs for youth.
Local news is vital for community accountability and information.
Slippery Rock University student Josie Hart recently completed a media writing project, producing five original articles about her hometown of Greenville and the nearby Slippery Rock area.
Local government budget cuts will cripple public services without transparency in 2026.
Mayor Wu proposed a 27 percent cut to the FY27 budget for the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture, leaving programs in limbo despite calls for greater fiscal transparency, according to the Boston Art Rev
Local businesses can fund emergency services without breaking the bank.
In Springfield, a volunteer fire department serving a bustling commercial district nearly shut down last year.
Cities Hide Budgets, Eroding Trust: The 2026 Transparency Crisis Looms.
In Boston, a $1.4 million payroll cut for the Transportation Department was initially approved, only to be reallocated at the eleventh hour to save social services, revealing the high-stakes, last-min
Orlando's Historic Preservation Board review suspended
On June 8, the Orlando City Council advanced an ordinance to suspend all Historic Preservation Board review for three years across its Downtown Historic District, including for demolitions.
Resilient infrastructure for inland flood mitigation is vital by 2026.
In Montego Bay, rainfall exceeded 350 millimeters in just 24 hours, causing the Montego River to swell to a 500-year return period flow, according to the Jamaica Information Service .
Tourism's Hidden Cost: How It's Erasing Your Town's Identity
Despite town officials' assurances that a surge in visitors ultimately supports local businesses, the 75-year-old 'Corner Bakery,' a cherished community staple, was replaced last month by a chain coff
Youth mental health initiatives will fail without local trust.
At just 18, while studying at Harvard, Tom Osborn founded Africa's largest youth mental health provider, reaching over 100,000 young people annually, according to Child Mind Institute .
Pharmacies' evolving public health role: Who's watching?
In a rural county where the nearest public health clinic is an hour's drive, 85% of residents now receive their annual flu shot at their local pharmacy—a service unavailable just five years ago.
Local Budget Processes: Rigged, With Suppressed Citizen Scrutiny
Councilors in some local governments are explicitly barred from asking questions during budget presentations that demand background or longer responses, reports Concord Monitor .
Local businesses are building community resilience and identity
In a small Vermont town, a single independent bookstore hosts more community events annually than the local library and town hall combined.
Community support for mental health crisis services is failing in 2026.
Federal student loan policies, including the elimination of Grad PLUS loans and new borrowing limits, are creating significant barriers to financing graduate education for social work students, direct
AI Travel Planners Threaten Authentic Experiences
A tourist's anticipated trek to Peru's 'Sacred Canyon of Humantay' ended abruptly when they found themselves stranded on a rural road, with no guide and no such destination existing.
Local journalism's decline erodes community ties and accountability
Montclair's Township Council is considering a $52,500 contract for a community engagement platform that culls social media, even as local newsrooms shrink.
Local volunteers save communities billions
Between September 2022 and 2023, over 75.
Racine's 2026 Budget Passes: Lower Rate, Higher Levy
In Racine, Wisconsin, the Common Council approved a 2026 budget that reduces the property tax rate to $11.
Santa Monica's Tourism Boom Threatens Neighborhoods, But a Solution Exists.
Despite generating an estimated $917 million in annual spending for its local economy, Santa Monica faces a projected structural General Fund operating deficit of $29.
Commercialization is changing local festivals, eroding community identity.
At the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, over 70% of attendees now come from out-of-state, a stark increase from 40% two decades ago, fundamentally shifting who the festival serves (City of New Or
Tulsa Imposes Moratorium on New Data Centers Until 2026
Despite a citywide moratorium on new data center developments in Tulsa, Project Anthem remains exempt.
Local governments hide urban development plans from citizens
Anti-data center protests erupted in downtown Kansas City and Independence, Missouri, revealing widespread citizen frustration with urban development decisions made without adequate public input.
Local Action to Boost Civic Engagement & Resilience in 2026
In a recent experiment, simply asking participants to consider their feelings about their town increased donations to local problems by a remarkable 600%.
Local volunteer initiatives are key to community resilience in 2026.
Globally, the volunteer workforce is larger than the employed population of more than half of the world's 10 most populous countries.
San Diego's Arts Funding Cuts Threaten Community and Economy
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has proposed slashing arts funding from $13.
Supporting local volunteers sustains community resilience
In Central Texas, researchers at Texas State University are now studying the emotional and mental health of disaster recovery volunteers.
Local News Disappearance Threatens Civic Engagement, Papers Decline
Up to 4.4 million citizens in the UK now live in 'news deserts,' communities with no dedicated local print, online, TV, or radio outlet, according to GOV UK . These vast information voids leave entire
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Nearly Died. Local News is Critical for Democracy.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, one of America's oldest newspapers, was reportedly due to shut down in May, signaling a critical moment for local news.
City planning failure: Resident voices ignored, despite transparency efforts.
A proposal to reinstate annual winter parking restrictions in Geneva, New York, with overnight bans from 2 a.
Cities Are Investing Billions in Sustainable Transit for 2026. Is It Enough?
Illinois lawmakers recently approved a $1.
Local News: Reclaiming Community Engagement by 2026
Between 2009 and 2019, over 320 local newspaper titles in Britain vanished, leaving communities without vital civic information.