THE FUTURE OF Community Design
While Latinos are only 13 percent of Washington’s population, they make up 43 percent of the state’s positive COVID-19 cases. Public officials are struggling with why the rate is so high and what can be done to reduce it.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
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.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
There are approximately 325,000 rural Marylanders and 40 percent of households in Baltimore that can’t access high-speed Internet. While digital equity isn’t a new issue, it’s now urgent as many work and learn from home.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
While the city’s Wi-Fi service will not be available ahead of this school year, officials hope that it will be ready before next year’s academic schedule. “We are getting closer to closing the digital divide.”
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
The focus has been on ensuring hard-to-count neighborhoods are included in the 2020 Census. But now wealthy neighborhoods aren’t responding due to COVID-19. Census workers have until Sept. 30 to get the full count.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
As voters stay home to avoid COVID-19 risks, the amount of absentee ballots has greatly increased. But election clerks must also prepare in-person precautions for the Tuesday primary. “You have to be prepared for the unknown.”
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Courts across the state made major hardware and software upgrades as the pandemic forced people to stay home and socially distance. After seeing the benefits, many courts will keep the improvements after the pandemic.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
The city’s school district superintendent has pledged Internet connections for thousands of students by September. The current plan will continue virtual learning at least through Nov. 17.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Private investors want to build bullet trains across America, but in too many cases they're having trouble finding right-of-way. There's a lot that state and local governments could do to help them along.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
Voter-mobilization groups are utilizing the pandemic and the protests following the death of George Floyd to encourage voter registration, and it’s working. In June, one nonprofit registered nearly 15,000 new voters.
THE FUTURE OF Community Design
In New Mexico’s deaf schools, e-learning loses the immersive environment that helps students learn American Sign Language. But even for in-person lessons, masks hide many of the facial expressions that ASL relies on.