David Kidd
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Photojournalist / Storyteller
Email :
dkidd@governing.com
David Kidd is a photojournalist and storyteller at Governing. He was the art director and staff photographer at Teacher magazine and the American Journalism Review before joining Governing in 2008.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Virginia’s Giant Wind Farm Will Need Lots of Technicians
With an offshore wind turbine complex under construction, the state has set up a unique training school for future technicians, who are learning their trade in an old mill town in need of revitalization.
February 24, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
California’s Unplanned City in the Sonoran Desert
Slab City, a do-it-yourself, free-wheeling community, has been functioning to some degree for decades. Without any infrastructure or civic institutions, such as police or fire services, it exists by defying normalcy.
February 18, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
After the Snowstorm: Finding Food in New York City
With dining-out options already few and far between because of COVID, the recent snowstorm has only made things worse for residents and visitors to the Big Apple.
February 8, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Say Goodbye to the World’s Greatest Indoor Miniature Village
Roadside America has been open since 1953, delighting visitors with its model of a Pennsylvania town frozen in time and full of little cars and trains. But the popular roadside attraction couldn’t survive the pandemic.
January 20, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2021
State legislatures will have a lot on their plates. They’ll deal with issues in wildly differing ways. We set the context for the 2021 session with an overview of everything from abortion to redistricting.
January 19, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Fred Risser, America’s Longest-Serving Legislator, Retires
The Wisconsin state senator has set a record of service that is unlikely to be broken. The 93-year-old lawmaker started his career when Dwight D. Eisenhower was in the White House and Alaska and Hawaii were still territories.
January 4, 2021
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
New York City and Snow: Images from a Winter Storm
Thanks to a major storm in mid-December, New York City has already seen more snowfall than in all of last year. Governing was on the ground as a similar storm descended a few years earlier.
December 25, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
America’s Picnic Table: A Landscape Fixture in Photos
Rendered in wood, steel or cement, the classic picnic table is an ever-present part of America. We explore the many places you can find them.
December 31, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
In Houston, Crime Victims Finally Get Some Attention
A victim’s rights organization advocates on behalf of the only unwilling participants in a criminal justice system that overflows with unsolved and cold cases.
December 14, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
COVID Can’t Stop a 277-Year-Old Town Hall Tradition
Pelham, Mass., has been making democracy work continuously in the same building for nearly three centuries. On a cool day in October, town citizens were determined not to let the pandemic break that record.
November 23, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
How a Virginia Election Official Prepares to Count Ballots
What’s happening in Falls Church, Va., a suburban city outside Washington, D.C., is a microcosm of events underway in city and county election offices around the country on the eve of Nov. 3.
November 3, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
How to Run a Mayoral Campaign in the Era of COVID
Grassroots political campaigns, with their personal touch, are deeply rooted in American politics. But not anymore. A day with a Hagerstown, Md., mayoral candidate shows how it has changed.
October 30, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Have Protests Hurt the Re-Election Chances of Two Mayors?
Portland, Ore., and Richmond, Va., have been rocked by racial justice violence for much of the summer. Both Mayors Ted Wheeler and Levar Stoney face heavy competition as they try to hold on to top office.
October 26, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
West Virginia Goes Back to the Future With Transit Technology
The state has been chosen as the next testbed site for the latest in hyperloop transportation. More than 40 years ago, the state became home for the country’s only fully operational personal transit system.
October 16, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
A Growing Concern: Stress and Suicide on the Family Farm
Farmers are taking their own lives in greater numbers as they cope with falling commodity prices, bad weather and isolation. To help, a small, dedicated group of health-care workers dole out hope and support.
October 7, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
On the Front Lines with the Sioux Falls Public Health Director
It’s the biggest city in South Dakota and when COVID-19 hit a local meat packing plant, Jill Franken had her hands full with a major public health crisis and the stress that goes with it.
September 24, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Canceled Culture: Gerlach, Nev., Without Burning Man
Around this time each year, tens of thousands of “Burners” descend outside a small town in the Nevada desert, turning it into part carnival, part cultural experiment for the 21st century. But 2020 will be different.
August 21, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Route 66: Images of a Fading American Highway Legend
It’s the country’s most famous road, and like so many other iconic pieces of mid-century Americana, it has been nearly obliterated by progress. But a few bits remain if you know where to look.
August 10, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Navajo Nation: A Trip to the Top of Gray Mountain
Phillip Yellow makes the treacherous drive every day, carrying 500 gallons of water up the mountain to a plot of land that’s been in the family for years. “We’ve been here quite a while.”
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
The Adirondacks: Images of America’s Largest Protected Area
Created in 1892 by the state of New York, the park was preserved just when it was on the brink of widespread deforestation. Today, its 6 million acres encompass 105 towns and villages, making it a unique mix of conservation and civilization.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Navajo State Senator's Act of Compassion in an Arid Land
Lack of water is a huge issue for state Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai’s district, one of many she must juggle for the people she represents. It's why she and her partner don't hesitate to help two thirsty horses.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
The Navajos' Only Railroad Reaches the End of the Line
With its one customer — a huge coal-fired plant — shut down, the freight railroad has gone out of business and its tracks lie unused. But some on the reservation hope to revive train service for tourists.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Dispatches from Navajo Nation and Its Battle with COVID-19
Hit hard by the pandemic, the Navajos have turned to their self-run government and strong family ties to overcome health problems, soaring unemployment and financial obstacles that have slowed recovery.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Mississippi’s Emblem of the Confederacy Will Fly No More
A moment captured by Governing’s David Kidd is about to become history. Over the weekend, the state Legislature passed by a large majority a bill to remove the Confederate symbol from the official flag.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
America’s Biggest Park Struggles to Survive the Pandemic
Once a playground for the rich and famous, Adirondack Park today relies heavily on middle-class visitors for business and sustainability. But now, uncertainty reigns, as COVID-19 puts lives and livelihoods on hold.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Nevada’s Lady Justice Has Been Keeping Watch for 143 Years
The figure personifies the moral force of our judicial systems and has been represented as blind since the 16th century. But that’s not the case with the Storey County Courthouse, located in Virginia City.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
A Small Town in Texas Turns to Bitcoin Mining to Survive
Rockdale, once home to one of the largest aluminum processing operations in the country, is now the location of what could be one of the world’s biggest bitcoin computing mines. But nothing is guaranteed.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Protecting the Most Vulnerable in Virginia’s Appalachia
Largely uninsured and medically underserved, the rural population of Virginia’s coal country is at high risk for coronavirus. The task of helping them is up to a small, but popular health clinic.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Virginia and Kentucky’s Beautiful Bridge to Nowhere
In a scenic but neglected area of Appalachia, a $100 million bridge built between two states remains unused five years after completion. Revised plans could bring traffic one day, but for now, it remains pristine.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Where Are We Supposed to Go If We Don't Have a House?
The order to stay at home puts a special burden on the homeless. Residents in one shelter in northern Virginia are doing what they can to keep their distance in a pandemic.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Virginia Craft Whiskey Maker Distills Hand Sanitizer for Cops
Shortages of badly needed hand sanitizer for public safety workers led the owners of the Catoctin Creek Distillery to retool their whiskey manufacturing into a hand sanitizer production line.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Past Pandemics: Stopping the Flu Epidemic in Seattle, 1918
More than 100 years ago, the world struggled with another epidemic, known as the Spanish Flu. In many cities at the time, streetcars were the main form of transportation, so cities set strict rules on social distancing.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Arlington County Opens Drive-Through COVID-19 Testing
Testing has become one of the most important methods for controlling the pandemic known as coronavirus. In the U.S., a nation of car drivers, that means setting up drive-through testing sites to speed along the process.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Happening Now
Before-and-After: Satellite Images Show Coronavirus Impact
The pandemic has radically altered the movement of Americans as government-ordered shutdowns have forced people to stay home. The results can be found by comparing before and after photographs of once-busy locations.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Two Tales of Modern Urban Architecture in the South
Mid-twentieth century modern buildings once flourished in two Southern cities. Thanks to its location in Miami Beach, art deco has prospered in recent decades. But modernism faces a sadder fate in Montgomery, Ala.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Modern Classics: The Rebirth of Civic Architecture
President Trump wants federal architecture to return to its classical past. Meanwhile, many local governments have been going in the opposite direction, providing a public forum for new, modern building designs.
THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
Emergency Communications When Nothing Else Works
Firefighters face an array of obstacles as they relay information in inhospitable situations. But a high-tech vest made from carbon atoms called graphene may be the answer to a serious voice and data transmission problem.
February 21, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Powered by the Mighty Miss: Minneapolis' Flour Milling History
A sleek museum, built within the ruins of what was once one of the largest flour mills in the country, tells the story of how the city flourished thanks to its mills and the waterpower of the Mississippi River.
February 3, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Behind the Lens: Pittsburgh's Bridge of Sighs
The Steel City's splendid architectural gem of a bridge — one of 400 in Pittsburgh — has its roots in Venice, Italy, yet was designed by America’s foremost architect of the 19th century.
January 24, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
A River Runs Through It
Ellicott City, Md., has been devastated twice by flooding rivers that traverse the city. But one man has built a homemade warning system he hopes will save property and lives the next time the flood waters rise.
January 24, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF What’s Next
The Biggest Issues to Watch in 2020
State legislatures will have a lot on their plates. They’ll deal with issues in wildly differing ways. We set the context for the 2020 session with an overview of abortion, election security, housing, immigration, net neutrality, pensions, pre-emption, recession fears, redistricting, vaping, and workforce.
January 13, 2020
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Behind the Lens: Governing Goes on Holiday
From a (reputed) nontraditional location for the penning of one of America's more popular Christmas songs, to a decked-out statue of the founder of Communism, we take a look at some less-than-conventional holiday festivities.
December 23, 2019
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THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Microlending Sparks Hope and Renewal in Rochester, N.Y.
As New York’s third-largest city finds its industrial giants continuing to downsize, a unique, no-interest loan program based on crowdfunding is stimulating a business revival at the grass-roots level.
January 7, 2020
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Archive
Washington, D.C., Showcases the Architecture of Pumping Water
A once-desolate stretch of waterfront has become home to DC Water, a futuristic hub for managing water treatment in the nation’s capital and an architectural symbol of environmental sustainability.
November 18, 2019
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Archive
The History of Minneapolis Through Milling
Photos and musings from our photographer.
September 1, 2019
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The Parking Garages of the Future
As many of them fall into disrepair, some are adapting to cities' changing needs.
August 15, 2019
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Nevada's Official State Element
Photos and musing from our photographer.
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A Bridge at the End of Its Lifespan
Photos and musings from our photographer.
Archive
Love Art Deco Architecture? Check Out This City Hall.
Photos and musings from photographer David Kidd.
December 27, 2018
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A $16 Million Flop
Photos and musings from photographer David Kidd.
December 21, 2018
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The World's First Mountain Cog Railway
Photos and musings from photographer David Kidd.
December 21, 2018
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This Retro Drive-In Isn't What It Seems
Photos and musings from photographer David Kidd.
December 21, 2018
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This Vintage Stoplight Still Keeps Traffic Moving
Photos and musings from photographer David Kidd.
December 21, 2018
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People ‘Love’ This State's Tourism Campaign
Photos and musings from our photographer.
January 25, 2019
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Can a Park Heal Racial Rifts?
Photos and musings from our photographer.
December 1, 2018
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Archive
To Get Rid of Blight, Baltimore Tries Something New
The city, which has more empty and dilapidated houses than most, is making buyers prove that they can afford to purchase a home -- and to fix it up.
November 27, 2018
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Welcome to America's Smallest City Hall
Photos and musings from our photographer.
October 18, 2018
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It Was America’s First Superhighway. Now Much of It Sits Abandoned.
But the Pennsylvania Turnpike hasn't been completely forgotten.
September 26, 2018
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'I'm Somewhere Bettering Myself': Prison Reform Unlike Any Other in America
North Dakota is conducting a prison experiment inspired by Norway, a country with recidivism rates three times lower than in the U.S.
Archive
Behind the Lens: The Oldest Free Music Festival in America
Coachella, Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza may be better known, but this festival has been going strong since 1924.
Archive
Behind the Lens: The Blue Whale of Catoosa
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
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Behind the Lens: Ghost Town
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
Archive
Behind the Lens: Abandoned Homes in Baltimore
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
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Behind the Lens: The Boston Tea Pot
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
Archive
Behind the Lens: The Town That Had No Library
Architecture students transformed an old bank into a library for Newbern, Ala.
February 1, 2018
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Behind the Lens: The Rosenwald Schools
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
December 27, 2017
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Behind the Lens: Ghost Bike
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
January 1, 2018
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Behind the Lens: Changing Lights (and More) in Tulsa
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
December 29, 2017
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Behind the Lens: The Barboursville Ruins
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
January 2, 2018
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Behind the Lens: Subways in the Desert
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
December 28, 2017
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Behind the Lens: Taking the Twin Falls Plunge
Photos and musings from our photographer David Kidd.
December 26, 2017
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Reno's Sign of the Times
When you drive through the city, you can’t miss its slogan. That wasn’t always the case.
October 1, 2017
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Music Rocks! Especially in Denver.
It's home to Red Rocks, “the only naturally occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheater in the world.”
Archive
The Erie Canal Is Getting an 8-Year-Long Birthday Party
That’s how long it took to build one of America’s most ambitious public works projects, and that’s how long its bicentennial will be celebrated.
Archive
In Houston's New Park, Art Goes Green
Smither Park celebrates folk art -- but only if it's recycled or reused.
Archive
All in a Year's Work, Underground
A tunnel-boring machine recently dug a two-and-a-half-mile-hole beneath the surface of the nation's capital. It only took 366 days.
Archive
Going Backwards to the Days of Dirt Roads
In an effort to save money, some governments are unpaving roads.
Archive
How NYC Turned Salt Into Art
The Spring Street Salt Shed has been lauded as one of the city's best public sculptures.
February 1, 2017
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Arcosanti: The Original (and Unfinished) Smart House?
In 1970, an architect began building a self-sustaining town of the future. Now it stands as a lab for environmentally conscious urban planners.
January 27, 2017
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State Capitols: Above It All
Many state capitols were designed to inspire with soaring architecture. The view from the top offers a unique perspective.
Archive
Remembering Cincinnati’s Old Streetcars
As the city prepares to debut new streetcars, here’s a last look at their old ones.
Archive
With NYC's Wi-Fi Kiosks, People Can Practically Go Phoneless
The sleek new stations throughout the city let users make 911 calls and search the web -- all for free.
Archive
The Henhouse at the Executive Mansion
To fulfill a campaign promise, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe stocked his new digs with egg-laying chickens.
February 24, 2016
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Archive
Meet the People Who Run a Tiny Town’s Government
The small, rural town of Gifford, S.C., survives with help from just 12 enthusiastic public employees -- most of whom aren't even paid.
January 15, 2016
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Archive
Iconic Detroit Building Gets Revitalized
The city's main train station, which shuttered its doors in 1988, is getting a makeover.
December 1, 2015
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Why Commute by Road or Rail When You Can Ride in the Sky?
Portland, Ore., is home to one of only two aerial commuter trams in the United States.
November 1, 2015
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Archive
Taking a Break to Celebrate Cops
What began as a day in 1962 has morphed into a weeklong celebration.
Archive
10 Years and Still Waiting for Space Travel's Takeoff
Truth or Consequences, N.M., is hoping space tourism will transform the sleepy desert town.
Archive
What’s All the Buzz About Bees?
The dwindling number of bees has a direct impact on the economy, which is what keeps state beekeepers like Tammy Horn going.
Archive
The Town That Takes the Elevator Everywhere
Residents of Whittier, Alaska, have to take the elevator or stairs wherever they go in the wintertime.
Archive
Once a Vacation Spot, Now an Ecological Nightmare
Southern California’s Salton Sea has been neglected for decades, but there’s reason to hope for its restoration.
Archive
The Battle of the Traffic Light
How Irish nationalism in Syracuse, N.Y., resulted in a world-renowned upside-down traffic light.
January 1, 2015
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Archive
Virginia's Long-Running Page Program Perseveres
The state's legislature has one of the most extensive page programs still running in the country, paying teens to assist and live like lawmakers.
January 1, 2015
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Archive
The Nation’s Last Pre-Revolutionary Intersection
It’s home to four buildings, each dating back to the 18th century.
November 1, 2014
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What's Love Got to Do with Bridge Safety?
What seems like a simple romantic gesture is actually a major maintenance issue for bridges.
October 1, 2014
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Outdoor Art Takes Center Stage
Museums in several cities are hanging art on walls throughout the streets.
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One Building Divided Between Two Countries
The Haskell Free Library and Opera House was intentionally built straddling the border between Quebec and Vermont.
Archive
March 2014 Last Look: Movie-Inspired Architecture
The design for part of one of Los Angeles’ airports was inspired by the spacecraft from the film The War of the Worlds.
Archive
The Sounds of Silence in Prison
In the 1800s, Philadelphia built a prison that isolated inmates so they could meditate and become genuinely penitent. But as views on isolating inmates evolved over time, the prison was forced to close its doors.
Archive
What Makes a Schwinn Bike?
Schwinn bikes first appeared on streets in the 19th century and were built in such a unique way that decades-old Schwinns can still be seen in Chicago and other bike-friendly cities.
Archive
Water-Powered Electricity Flows Through Santa Rosa
In Santa Rosa, Calif., the electricity powering a lamp may very well come from recycled wastewater.
Archive
Boston's City Halls, As Time Goes On
Governing Design Director David Kidd went on assignment to photograph Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. He came back with an architecture review of Boston's old and current city hall.
January 11, 2012
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Shadowing Redlands's Volunteer Corps
Design Director David Kidd followed Staff Writer John Buntin as they experienced life as a volunteer in Redlands, Calif., a place where volunteers take on jobs the city can't afford.
Archive
Players in Wisconsin’s Union Turmoil
The battle over public sector unions in Madison has thrust state legislators into the limelight. Meet some of the players in this slideshow.
February 25, 2011
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Archive
Beach Cities
Photographer David Kidd went with reporters to L.A. and Chicago for stories on police stations and transportation systems respectively, but ended up on the beach in both cities.
Archive
Community Problems and Citizen Help
While touring two vastly different areas of the Bay area last month, GOVERNING's photographer found that both communities have problems and depend on citizens and activists to resolve them.
Archive
Touring the Tenderloin
I was in San Francisco in March, taking pictures for John Buntin's May story about that city's efforts to clean up its roughest neighborhood, the ...
Archive
Finding the Right Spots to Chat
Some conversations tend to be of "high" priority. Photo by David Kidd
As part of Governing's 2009 Public Official of the Year coverage, I spent the ...
November 3, 2009
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Archive
Reporting from the Roller Derby
Writer Rob Gurwitt and I were in Providence City Hall: he to gather information for an upcoming story, and I to take pictures of whomever ...
November 17, 2009
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Hometown History: Syracuse
While on assignment in Syracuse last week, I did what I always do: drive around to see the old neighborhood and my favorite places in ...
January 12, 2010
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Golden Snowballs and Snow Globes in Syracuse
Syracusans have much to be proud of. Their city has a long history of accomplishments. But there is one accomplishment that many of its citizens ...
February 2, 2010
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The Wire(s) in Denver
Governing writer John Buntin and I were in Denver in February to look into that city's use of DNA testing as a means of ...
Archive
Keeping the Streets of America's Snowiest City Clean
There are places nationwide that get more snow, but among cities with populations greater than 100,000, Syracuse's snowfall is supreme.
February 1, 2010
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