Recent articles by Brian Peteritas from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=139027549 Brian Peteritas is a GOVERNING contributor. New Jersey May Pay Students' Loan Debt to Live in Poor Cities http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-new-jersey-looks-to-college-students-for-urban-revitalization.html Lawmakers in New Jersey have proposed paying part of college graduates' student loans if they agree to live in cities in need of revitalization. Ohio to Join 2 Other States with Arsonist Registry http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-ohio-looks-to-create-arsonist-registry.html Looking to reduce the economic and human cost of arson, the state is creating an arsonist registry to make catching repeat offenders easier. South Dakota Pays Lawyers to Practice in Rural Areas http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-south-dakota-subsidizes-lawyers.html To help rural America's drought of lawyers, South Dakota has passed the nation's first law to pay them to live and work in rural areas. Canadian City Seeks to Sell Its Trash Expertise http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-edmonton-looks-to-sell-waste-management-expertise.html The Canadian city of Edmonton has created a for-profit agency to sell its expertise in waste management to other cities around the world. Libraries Start Lending Unusual Items http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-public-libraries-lend-unusual-items.html Seeking to adapt to the changing demands of the digital age, some public libraries are beginning to loan out more than just books and movies. NYC is 1st to Use Volunteer Techies to Improve Disaster Response http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-nyc-makes-use-volunteer-technologists.html New York City has created the country's first municipal program that uses volunteer tech experts, including Facebook employees, to improve its emergency response. Fingerprinting Helps Homeless Shelters Provide Faster Service http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-nj-county-uses-biometrics-aid-homeless.html New Jersey is expanding a local program that helps human services agencies get a more accurate picture of where and when aid is most needed. Using GPS to Track Drug Thefts http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-using-gps-to-track-drug-thefts.html The NYPD will soon begin using 'bait bottles' of fake pain-killers equipped with invisible GPS devices to combat a rise in pharmacy robberies. Paying Property Taxes by Shopping Local http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-paying-property-taxes-by-shopping-local.html A town in New Jersey has created a program that offers residents the chance to earn property tax credits by patronizing local businesses. Public Fitness Parks Aid Income-Health Inequality http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-cities-embrace-public-fitness-parks.html A nonprofit is helping cities across the country fund free outdoor gyms in public parks to help combat the nation's obesity epidemic. Making Airport Waste Profitable http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-making-airport-waste-profitable.html One of the nation's busiest airports is using sustainable practices and a lot of worms to start making money on all the waste it produces. Prisoners Fill in for Researchers During Tough Times http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-training-prisoners-as-researchers.html Washington state trains prisoners to do scientific research. Cities Pushing to Record Conversations on Public Buses http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-cities-add-audio-surveillance-to-buses.html Despite privacy concerns, a growing number of public transit agencies are adding audio surveillance to buses. D.C. Uses Facebook to Grade Government Agencies http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-grading-government-agencies.html Customer feedback on social media has become invaluable to private businesses in recent years. Now, cities like Washington, D.C., are turning to it to grade their agencies. New Female State Legislators Learn from Their Elders http://www.governing.com/idea-center/gov-female-state-lawmakers-mentoring-program.html A nonpartisan nonprofit helps newly elected female legislators learn how to serve their constituents better by pairing them with veteran lawmakers.