Recent articles by Andy Kim from governing.com http://www.governing.com/authors/rss/rss/?a=91055504 Andy Kim is a former GOVERNING staff writer. Time to Ban BPA? http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/Time-Ban-BPA.html While the feds struggle with their own assessment of the chemical, several states enact bans. Time to Ban BPA? http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/Time-Ban-BPA.html While the feds struggle with their own assessment of the chemical, several states enact bans. Packing Pistols and Pulling Pints http://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/Packing-Pistols-and-Pulling-Pints.html More states are allowing patrons to bring guns into bars, but what effect will the laws actually have? Streets Become Seats http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Streets-Become-Seats.html Akin to many other large U.S. cities, streets and public rights-of-way take up about one-fourth of San Francisco's land area. As part of a... Ads on School Buses? http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Ads-on-School-Buses.html In this current state of the economy, school districts across the country are trying to offset budget cuts by generating new streams of revenue. A... Green Energy Illuminates Streets http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Green-Energy-Illuminates-Streets.html A hybrid-powered streetlight system, the first of its kind in a residential community, was recently installed in a Downers Grove, Illinois neighborhood. The 25 streetlights are... Using GPS to Fight Domestic Violence http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Using-GPS-to-Fight.html Earlier this month, Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced that the state will launch a pilot program, using GPS monitors to track the movement of... Converting Pig Poo to Crude Oil http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Converting-Pig-Poo-to.html What can pig poo do? Apparently, it can be turned into one of the nation's biggest imports: crude oil. At the University of Illinois in... Help From Above http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Help-From-Above.html The days of 911 operators only knowing callers' street location are over. They now visually inspect the area of an inbound caller's location through 3-D-like images. Cloud-Computing Goes to School http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Cloud-Computing-Goes-to-School.html Oregon's K-12 classrooms now have access to Google's cloud-computing system. Using Voices to Fight Medicaid Fraud http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Using-Voices-to-Fight-Medicaid-Fraud.html Find out how Florida plans on using voice-recognition technology to fight health-care fraud. Prisons Sustain Themselves http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Prisons-Sustain-Themselves.html Prisons across the country are implementing self-sufficient food programs to save money. Cigarette Bans: Lost Tax Revenue? http://www.governing.com/blogs/view/Cigarette-Bans-Lost-Tax.html More and more states across the country are adopting tobacco bans in their prisons. In fact, half of the states in the U.S. have ... Keeping Track of Rental Cars’ Tickets http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Keeping-Track-of-Rental-Cars-Tickets.html Hawaii's Vehicle Monitoring Service saves car rental companies' time and money in keeping tabs on tickets. Drive Less, Win Prizes http://www.governing.com/idea-center/Drive-Less-Win-Prizes.html Arvada, Colo., residents now have an online resource to help them find alternative methods of transportation – and win prizes.