Community
Stay informed about local news, initiatives, and the people who make our community thrive.
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.
Independent Bookstores Thrive: Hundreds Open as Community Hubs Grow
In 2025, approximately 422 new independent bookshops opened across the country, marking a significant 31% increase from the previous year, according to theguardian .
Citizen Advocacy Shapes City Planning in 2026
After public and city council concerns mounted, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson ended the city's contract with surveillance company Flock Safety, demonstrating the direct power of citizen advocacy in
Your City Council Race Matters: Local Decisions Shape Your Life
Between 2017 and 2018, a chilling statistic emerged from Washington D.
Local Events Are Key to Building Community Cohesion and Civic Engagement
In South Dallas, rival high school football seniors will unite to distribute fresh produce to older adults.
Investigative journalism donations rose 70% in Feb 2017
The Center for Public Integrity and its International Consortium of Investigative Journalists saw a 70 percent rise in individual donations in February 2017 compared to the same period in 2015.
Community health engagement: The challenge of measuring lasting change
In 2026, Linda Lara-Jacobo will receive a prestigious AAAS award for her work reducing health disparities.
Local news is vital for democracy. Most outlets are failing.
Almost 200 counties across the United States currently have no newspaper at all.
Local Government Budgets: Transparency Challenges by 2026
Outdated fiscal transparency systems at state and local levels obscure billions in future liabilities, making it difficult for citizens to understand their local government's true financial picture.
Midsize Cities See Slow AI Adoption Amid Public Service Concerns
The Falmouth Select Board is set to consider its first-ever AI policy for town government this year, signaling a new era where even midsize cities grapple with smart technology’s implications, accordi
How to Engage With Local Community Initiatives
Most factors influencing community engagement relate to project organization, not community engagement itself, according to a study published in PMC .
Local Government Operations and Citizen Participation
Community opposition to local projects, often driven by a vocal few, has cost America over $1 trillion annually in the past decade.