Internet Explorer 11 is not supported

For optimal browsing, we recommend Chrome, Firefox or Safari browsers.
1901_Brian 27a

J. Brian Charles

Contributor

J. Brian Charles, is a journalist who writes about urban affairs, education, criminal justice, race and inequality. His work has appeared in The Trace, Vox, Governing, Playboy, Wired and the Baltimore Beat. 

Thanks to a generation of underfunding, many big-city school districts now face deteriorating buildings and billions of dollars in maintenance needs.
Housing experts predict that the tax overhaul will spur home values and property tax revenues to drop, forcing cities to find new ways to raise money -- or to cut spending.
As rents and demand for renting increase, millions of Americans are being evicted -- sometimes with only a few days' notice.
The recount on Thursday confirmed Keisha Lance Bottoms' lead, likely keeping the city's decades-long tradition of black mayors alive. But shifting demographics will change how people lead it.
After four years in office, the New York mayor has a mixed reputation among liberals. But he seemingly has a chance to change that.
The city is eliminating short-term jail sentences for low-level misdemeanors. Other cities will undoubtedly be watching the impact.
The Trump administration's latest reversal of Obama policing strategies instead puts an emphasis on tough-on-crime policies. But the shift will undermine efforts to rebuild relations between communities and police, say many law enforcement officials and experts.
When Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, it hit one of the country's biggest gateways for refugees -- a population that has already had to rebuild their lives and will now struggle to do it again.
Houston is the nation's fourth largest city. While all urban areas present unique evacuation challenges, some are bigger than others.
A coastal North Carolina city ranks first in the nation in opioid abuse. Now it wants to become an innovation hub for battling the crisis.