Midwestern Attitudes on Political Reform

Presents findings from a survey in five Midwestern states of the level of trust in state government, issues of concern, attitudes toward corruption, hope in reform efforts, and proposals for better government. Compares data to 2006 survey results

Midwesterners Consider State Government Reform

Provides results from a survey of Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin residents. Includes views on the impact of money in state politics and the choice of available candidates, and support for education, healthcare, and jobs reform

A Priority for California's Future: Science for Students

Based on a survey and focus groups, examines Californians' views on science education, including priority relative to other subjects, timing, amount, quality of instruction, adequacy of resources, and conditions required for improvement

A VIEW FROM THE GROUND: A REFORM GROUP’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE ONGOING EFFORT TO ACHIEVE MERIT SELECTION OF JUDGES

This article describes the history of judicial selection in the state of Pennsylvania. It describes the judicial selection reform movement and the growth of the organization Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts ( PMC ) which devises solutions to meet the various challenges to judicial integrity in Pennsylvania. It focuses on the merit system that PMC has been trying to achieve for Pennsylvania\u27s appellate courts

How to Work With Public Opinion Research: A Guide for Human Rights and Civil Liberties Advocates and Their Funders

Presents arguments and tools for integrating public opinion research into communications work. Includes case studies, research methods, consultant information, and a guide to help grantmakers evaluate grant proposals to conduct public opinion research

Americans Want Growth and Green: A Smart Growth Policy Agenda

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute co-hosted a Congressional briefing entitled "Americans Want Growth and Green: A Smart Growth Policy Agenda" with the Senate Smart Growth Task Force and the House Livable Communities Task Force. The briefing was held to showcase the results of a national poll and report recently released by Smart Growth America, a new national coalition of more than sixty public interest groups concerned about sprawl. The results of the poll, which was conducted by Beldon, Russonello and Stewart in September 2000, shows that Americans strongly support policies encouraging smart growth strategies. According to Don Chen, director of Smart Growth America, 78 percent of those surveyed said they favored smart growth. In the report, Smart Growth America states that the coalition's goal is to help develop smarter growth strategies that protect open spaces, revitalize neighborhoods, keep housing affordable and make communities more livable

Closing the Gap: An Analysis of the Musical Elements Contributing to Hip-Hop’s Emergence into Popular Culture

This paper explores the musical evolution of hip-hop and the techniques that have influenced such growth. Hip-hop music’s pioneers established a genre that would not only prove to be self-sustaining, but allow for a diverse array of influences to contribute to its growth. An art form that was once preserved for minorities and often considered a lower form of intellectual art is growing closer to mainstream music. Topics such as the orchestration and production of music, influence of other genres, harmonic analysis, and the diversity within the genre itself are discussed with an emphasis on hip-hop artists of the previous two decades. While the concept of musical analysis in hip-hop is relatively young, current progress reflected in this analysis shows the increased popularity of hip-hop music and that there is room for scholarly study in the near future

Print News Media and Prisoner Reentry: An Exploratory Study of Local Newspapers in 2018

In hopes to fill gaps on this subject, the current study uses ethnographic content analysis on newspaper articles while investigating the following research questions: (1) How does local news media portray recidivism by reentering prisoners? and in turn, (2) What are some characteristics of those news articles associated with the likelihood of local media using specific portrayals or “frames”? There are several reasons to examine these research questions. First, this research aims to convey how local news media might use their positions to create narratives for public consumption that foster worry and panic. This study can shed light on the overall narrative of risk that is provided for public consumption, including the differences in prevalence of different kinds of narratives. Second, in describing how media might create fear of those released from the criminal justice system, the current project also aids in understanding why more or less restrictive prison release policies may be adopted in certain communities. In some cases, this may mean that communities pursue policies that lack empirical evidence and, in turn, can lead to more harm to the community than good. Broadly, this project addresses disparities in support of reentry initiatives by focusing on both how it is portrayed across different local media sources and some of the factors associated with that portrayal. In doing so, the current project can help to shed light on public receptiveness that, subsequently, shapes the prospects and reception of returning prisoner

Suburban Sprawl Alternatives: Retrofitting Residential Neighborhoods for Community Growth

As a city‘s population grows, a need is created for increased housing. A traditional way to meet demand is to build new housing and commercial developments at the city‘s edge. As cities sprawl outward, limitless greenfield development becomes standard practice. The developed areas become predominantly low density residential areas that are reliant on automobiles. Increasing concern for suburban lifestyles in terms of health, transportation, environmental issues, etc. have validated exploration for alternative forms by numerous organizations. After being developed, homes often have little connection to community resources and are occupied solely for private use until they fall out of favor for newer developments. The objective of the project is to improve existing efforts of alternative community design by providing methods to improve residential neighborhoods. The project aims to encourage community aspects while increasing the longevity and prominence of communities. In retrofitting existing residential neighborhoods, considerations for housing demands can also be addressed; directing growing populations to existing neighborhoods rather than continually sprawling away from cities. This project intends to create a design alternative to sprawling development and provide comprehensive techniques to retrofit suburban neighborhoods for community growth