Contest Produces 5 Outside-The-Box Ideas To Change U.S. Cities

The Mayor's Challenge is a contest run by Bloomberg Philanthropies to find the best ideas bubbling out of our cities--from data mining to turning foreclosed houses into urban farms. New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg is funding the best ideas of local governments using the competition that will result in the winner taking home $5 million and four runners-up getting $1 million each.

By Jeanne Goddard

04 March 59 Views

New York City Pay Phones Get 21st Century Makeover

You can still see more than 10,000 coin-operated phones around New York City today. What seems a relic of the past in this age of mobile technology, became a vital link in an emergency for those who had no power to charge their devices during Hurricane Sandy. Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a design contest to reinvent the lowly payphone and bring it into the 21st Century.

By Jeanne Goddard

26 March 58 Views

Paris Employs Sheep to 'Mow' Lawn at City's Gardens

Officials in Paris this week looking for a greener way to keep its lawns mowed, replaced the fleet of noisy gas-guzzling lawnmowers with a small flock of sheep that are grazing the city's open spaces. The scheme also cuts down on the need for chemical herbicides.

By Jeanne Goddard

06 April 54 Views

Amazing Laser Gadget for Bike Safety Projects Warning Image on Road

A University of Brighton student has developed a safety device that projects a bright green laser image of a bike onto the road ahead – alerting motorists to their presence.

By Madison Masters

06 June 64 Views

US Air Pollution Hits 10-year Low, Report Finds

A report by the American Lung Association finds that air pollution has fallen to its lowest levels since the group began collecting data in 2000. The nonprofit organization credits the Clean Air Act for the cleanup of major air pollution sources, such as coal-fired power plants and the fleet of older, dirtier trucks.

By Jeanne Goddard

28 April 59 Views

Bright Is The New Black: NYC White Roofs Bringing Down Summer Temps

On the hottest day of the summer last year in New York City, a white roof was measured to be 42 degrees (F) cooler than the traditional black roof it was being compared to by NASA scientists studying the city's unprecedented effort to brighten rooftops and cool down the city.

By Jeanne Goddard

01 April 68 Views

'Invisible Bike Helmet' Is Airbag for Your Head

Two graduate students are getting global attention after creating an "invisible bike helmet" - actually a mini airbag designed to protect bicyclists' heads from injuries.

By Jeanne Goddard

16 November 57 Views

Washington DC: From Murder Capital to Boomtown in 25 Years

A quarter of a century ago, Washington DC had a fearsome reputation for crack abuse and rampant gun violence - it was the "murder capital" of the US. But now, once-blighted neighborhoods close to the centre of the capital are thriving.

By Jeanne Goddard

11 August 58 Views

Seattle Bike-share Program Hits 4,000 Rides in First Week

In the first week of Seattle's bike-share program, the 500 green bikes were rented around 4,000 times with 1,450 cyclists signing up as member, according to Pronto Cycle Share's executive director.

By Jeanne Goddard

25 October 75 Views

Swimming Off Mogadishu, a Sense of Hope Returns to Somalia

With almost a thousand newly trained government troops, augmented by thousands of African peacekeepers, Mogadishu, the war torn capital of Somalia, and former jewel of the Indian Ocean, has a newfound sense of liberation these days, since al Qaeda-linked rebels were forced out last year. The economy has recovered somewhat from the civil unrest, and the white-sand beaches, among the most beautiful in the world, are now seeing the return of swarms of swimmers to the turquoise waters.

By Jeanne Goddard

13 June 61 Views

Healthiest Cities in US: Lincoln, Nebraska is #1

The top four healthiest cities for 2007 according to the US Centers for Disease Control are: Lincoln, Nebraska, Fargo, North Dakota, Boulder, Colorado, and Burlington, Vermont.

By Bob Burns

18 November 63 Views

The 15 Most Healthy And Happy Cities in The US Are…

Head west and south toward affluent towns with lively culture if you want to find the healthiest and happiest cities in America.

By Jim Stout

23 February 71 Views

Spreading the Message of Nonviolence to Inner City Kids: A CNN Hero

After Lisa Fitzpatrick found her street blocked by police tape when someone her daughter knew had been killed, she knew she had to do something. She quit her job, downsized her life and created the APEX Youth Center (Always Pursuing Excellence). Since 2010, more than 460 children and youth have come for the free pizza and fun, and in the process learned conflict resolution skills.

By Jeanne Goddard

19 July 70 Views

Elderly Woman Leaves her $400,000 Condo to the Homeless

Before she died last September, Lelia Boroughs, 84, told her attorney she had no family to whom to leave her estate. So she crafted her will to leave her $400,000 condo to the city to turn into a homeless shelter.

By Jeanne Goddard

08 February 68 Views

Hero Grandmother Helping Chicago Kids to Get 'Off the Block'

In one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods, one grandmother has opened her door and invited gang members to come inside. She hoped that by providing them with support and a place to go, she would ensure that her own daughter and other kids would be safe and able to focus on their future instead of gangs.

By Jeanne Goddard

08 April 65 Views