Irrigating the (Food) Desert: A Tale of Gentrification in D.C. | Vann Newkirk, August 11, 2014
Are grocery stores and farmers markets common components of gentrification? Newkirk examines what the new Safeway and WalMart in the Petworth area of the District mean for development going forward.
A spin with the D.C. bicycle crowd leads to a tad more sympathy | Courtland Milloy, August 10, 2014
After a testy response to his column about bicyclists in the District, Milloy goes on a ride with some advocates to see the road from their point of view. He’ll likely stick with his car going forward, but has a bit more sympathy for bicyclists after his experience.
Lunch lady rises to teachers union leader and takes on all comers, bluntly | Lyndsey Layton, August 11, 2014
Layton profiles Lily Eskelsen Garcia’s unlikely rise to the top of the National Education Association, the nation’s largest labor union representing three million educators. Many challenges await her, but she’s up for the battle.
Protestors use hands-up gesture defiantly after Michael Brown shooting | Matt Pearce, August 12, 2014
One thing has been consistent in the protests in Ferguson, MO over the past few days – the use of the hands-up gesture and the chant “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot.” This article takes a look at its impact and the deeply personal meaning the protest has for many black men. Phillip Agnew, the Director of Dream Defenders, also speaks about the hands-up gesture on MSNBC.
Center City team romps, earns berth in Little League World Series | Max Cohen, August 12, 2014
We love this story out of Philadelphia where female pitcher Mo’ne Davis led her team into the Little League World Series after throwing a three-hitter on Sunday. She will become the 18th girl to play in the Little League World Series in 68 years.
Can You Fight Poverty by Paying Kids to Go to School? | Glenn Thrush, August 12, 2014
This article takes a look at the Memphis Family Rewards Program, a pilot that provides cash incentives to poor parents and their high school-age children. Modeled after conditional cash transfer programs seen in places like Mexico, Brazil, and Indonesia, students can receive checks for attendance, grades, doctor’s visits, and taking the SAT/ACT. Parents are rewarded for simply working full-time. Is it working?
Cops or soldiers? America’s police have become too militarized | The Economist, March 22, 2014
War Gear Flows to Police Departments | Matt Apuzzo, June 8, 2014
A couple of throwback articles, but as we watch the pictures coming out of Ferguson, MO we’ve seen a blurred line between cops and military. How have local enforcement agencies been able to afford such high tech gear? The Department of Defense and the war on drugs.