Sustainable Communities

• New York Town Built by Guns Worries About Calls for Stricter Laws
• Source: New York Times   |   Ilion, N.Y.   |   August 24, 2012
• Recent mass shootings have galvanized advocates of tougher gun laws in Albany, and residents of a community whose economy are indelibly linked to one of America’s more celebrated gunmakers are starting to worry.
• 2 Comments

• Farm Bill Struggles for Support Outside Agriculture-producing Areas
• Source: Des Moines Register   |   Nation   |   August 23, 2012
• As the farm bill languishes in Congress, much of the blame is being hoisted on lawmakers from small or non-agricultural-producing districts who have been unwilling to throw their support behind the half-trillion-dollar legislation.
• 1 Comments

• Value Engineering: Saving Money While Enhancing Quality of Life
• BY: Stephen Goldsmith   |   August 22, 2012
• In dealing with its combined-sewer-overflow problem, Philly is demonstrating a better approach to big infrastructure projects.
• 7 Comments

• Tampa Improves Its Look for Republican Convention
• BY: Ryan Holeywell   |   August 22, 2012
• The city is spending millions to improve its aesthetic appeal before hosting the national convention next week.

• Unemployment Rates Rise in 44 States
• BY: Mike Maciag   |   August 17, 2012
• The July jobs report shows an uptick in unemployment for nearly every state. View current and historical data for each state.
• 1 Comments

• Arizona Gov. Defies Obama, Denies Work Benefits to Illegal Immigrants
• Source: Politico   |   Arizona   |   August 16, 2012
• In response to the Obama administration’s decision to allow eligible illegal immigrants under 30 the chance to apply for a work permit, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed an executive order to deny benefits to young illegal immigrants who qualify under the White House’s new deferred action policy.

• New 'Roll Your Own' Cigarettes Rule Cuts Arizona Stores' Business
• Source: Arizona Republic   |   Arizona   |   August 16, 2012
• Change is forcing business owners to comply with a set of new, and costly, state and federal regulations.

• Can a Very Determined Mayor Save Gary, Indiana?
• BY: Mark Funkhouser   |   August 16, 2012
• The declining industrial city has tried all the usual economic-development approaches. Mayor Freeman-Wilson has other ideas.
• 2 Comments

• Maryland Gambling Bill Passes During Special Session
• Source: Washington Post   |   Maryland   |   August 15, 2012
• Voters would get the final say in November on whether the plan goes forward, following what is expected to be a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign.

• USDA Buys Meat to Help Farmers During Drought
• Source: Wall Street Journal   |   Nation   |   August 14, 2012
• President Barack Obama used his first stop in Iowa to announce that the Agriculture Department would purchase $170 million of pork, chicken, lamb and catfish in an attempt to alleviate the burden put on U.S. farmers from the drought.

• Gambling Bill Passes Maryland Senate
• Source: Washington Post   |   Maryland   |   August 13, 2012
• The Maryland Senate signed off on Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposal for a Prince George’s County casino, capping a contentious day-long debate over its impact on the state’s five other gambling venues.

• Illegal Immigrants Get More Work Opportunities Under New Rule
• Source: New York Times   |   Nation   |   August 10, 2012
• The work permits that young illegal immigrants can begin applying for next week under a new government policy will let American employers tap a generation of educated workers who have been confined until now to the shadowy corners of the economy.
• 1 Comments

• Maryland Gambling Plan Clears 1st Legislative Hurdle
• Source: Washington Post   |   Maryland   |   August 10, 2012
• A fight over the bill looms in the House of Delegates, where similar legislation died during this year’s regular legislative session.

• Atlanta Considers Raising Development Fees
• BY: McClatchy News   |   Atlanta   |   August 8, 2012
• Small signs of life in metro Atlanta's real estate and construction industries have local governments asking whether they should charge developers more to build homes, commercial properties and offices.

• Obama Offers Additional $30M to Drought-Stricken Farmers
• Source: Bloomberg BusinessWeek   |   Nation   |   August 8, 2012
• President Barack Obama said the administration will provide an additional $30 million to aid farmers and ranchers who are dealing with the worst drought in 56 years.