Microsoft Pledges to Become Carbon Neutral by July 1
Weeks after coming under fire for using excessive energy for cloud computing, Microsoft announced it will become carbon neutral across all of its operations starting July 1.
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London Raises Bar on Greening the Games
A new Olympic Park arose in a once derelict and contaminated industrial area of east London turning neglected waterways into wildlife havens. Almost 500 acres of land (200 hectares) have been razed and redeveloped for the 2012 Olympic Games, and 45 of those have been given over to creating new wildlife habitats for kingfishers, bats, otters and snakes -- while much of the rest has been left as parkland.
Veterans Volunteer for One More Mission, a Hurricane Sandy Response Team
Armed simply with chainsaws, a corps of military veterans has arrived on the Jersey Shore to help Sandy-stricken residents trapped by a maze of downed trees and debris.
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.
Chicago Youth Program Fights Violence With Employment
Nearly 700 children were hit by gunfire last year in Chicago. In an effort to reduce the violence, a program called CeaseFire is working to curb gang activity by helping at-risk youth find employment. CeaseFire also patrols the streets of poorer, urban neighborhoods to stop crimes before they happen.
Vacant Storefront Becomes Home To Post-It Tribute Notes
The windows of an empty storefront on one corner of Harvard Square are covered with colorful Post-it Note tributes, personal messages about those who inspire us most, from fourth-grade teachers to Tim Tebow to Aunt Lindsay. It all started with one, simple little message: "Who Inspires You?"
City Tries to Curb Panhandling With Puppies and Stipends
When it comes to tackling San Francisco's entrenched panhandling problem, City Hall has tried just about everything. But it's never tried puppies - until now. Starting Aug. 1, the city - in a program believed to be the first of its kind in the country - will exchange a small stipend for fostering problematic puppies, readying them for adoption
Chicago Will Pay Cab Companies to Go Green
Chicago Mayor Richard Daley launched a new Green Taxi Program Friday that will encourage the taxi industry to purchase cost-effective hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles. More green cabs will help the city move closer to reaching carbon emission goals set out in its Chicago Climate Action Plan, while also improving air quality.
Detroit: The Next Silicon Valley?
Tech job openings rose 82% in Detroit, with companies like Google and Ford hiring engineers in droves. And, college grads in Detroit say they are set on an immediate career path upon graduation.
Suburbs Encourage Artists to Dress Up Vacant Buildings
More suburban downtowns are burdened with empty storefronts, but a growing number of Chicago area communities are encouraging artists to dress up the vacant buildings' windows with art under glass.
Many US Cities Still Thriving Despite the Economy
Newsweek rated American cities on their job creation, sustainability, livability and transportation-infrastructure, to cull a list of the nation's top performing metropolises. And, the 10 cities topping the list represent diverse areas of the country.
Bicycle Transports Mini Library to Brazil's Homeless
Created one year ago by a 61-year-old librarian who became homeless, a large red tricycle that carries a small library through the city of São Paulo, Brazil encourages reading among people who live on the streets and cannot otherwise access libraries typically requiring ID and proof of residency.