Economics
Many of the reporting projects delved deeply into economic issues linked to policy, education, employment and social needs.
- Farming in the Time of Economic Cholera
California’s farm lands and its workers grapple with a shift from a labor shortage to a labor glut in a time of decreased consumer demand. - Rise and Fall of Service Unions in California: A Timeline
The Service Employees International Union breathed new life into a rapidly decaying labor movement through bringing hundreds of thousands of workers into the movement. Follow the rise and the ‘on hold’ nature of the labor movement in California. - California's Tribal Cleansing
A growing number of California tribes are setting a grim precedent by purging their own members. At stake is who controls both the nation’s richest Indian gaming industry and a powerful new state lobby. Those who have been kicked out are fighting back, but is anyone listening? - Recession's Impact on California Entrepreneurship
Tim Kane, senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation, talks about what the impact of the recession means for California’s competitiveness as a center of entrepreneurship. - Nevada: Battered by a Perfect Storm
In a state that bet its entire social service infrastructure on booming population growth and seemingly unending tourism, an economic perfect storm annihilated what were once the holy trinity of Nevada tax revenue streams: property, sales, and gaming. Even as population growth held steady at 6 percent annually for a decade and fueled unprecedented prosperity, Nevada’s long and storied addiction to its narrow tax base leaves social services scraping by and keeps the creation of a true safety net as an afterthought. - Are For-Profit Schools Dead? Not in Cyberspace
For investors in the education sector, memories of the trials and tribulations of Edison Schools and other early education management companies may still be fresh. Even though doubts may linger, though, for-profit education management companieshave grown steadily over the years. Indeed, reports of the death of education management organizations have been greatly exaggerated. They are alive and thriving in a new realm: cyberspace. - Behind the Newark Charter School Fund
When the Newark Charter School Fund was announced in April 2008, it certainly created a splash. True, Newark schools had been getting increased attention with the election of its young, Ivy-educated mayor, Cory Booker. Several Newark schools had been commended on their own merits. But the creation of the $20 million fund placed Newark squarely on the education reform stage, primed to attract big private money. Since then, Fund officials have immersed themselves in the Newark education scene, getting to know the players and the schools and ascertaining needs. - One Less Bell to Answer: Auditing Charters
It’s been four years since the New York State Legislature authorized the State Comptroller to audit all public schools, including charter schools. And almost two years since the charter schools began their constitutional challenge to that legislation. Now, the charter schools have an answer. Sort of. Yes, the New York Court of Appeals said, the charter schools were right. They don’t have to be audited by the state comptroller. For now, but that could change. - Newark: Welcome to the Renaissance City
Since riots racked the city in the 1960s, Newark has endured several aborted attempts at revival. Recent developments, though, are leading residents and visitors alike to believe that they may now be witnessing a rebirth with traction, stemming from an unlikely place. While investment opportunities in real estate and business have certainly caught the attention of glitterati, it’s the city’s charter schools that have captured the imagination of philanthropists and policy wonks alike. - Gimme Shelter: Story of a Moving School
Money lies at the heart of the battle between charter schools and their public school counterparts, and in New Jersey, the lack of money for school facilities is on the front line. See how one school in New Jersey solved its facilities problem. - Money 101: Financial Literacy Courses Take Root
Much can be learned from a crisis. In classrooms around the country, first-graders learn from Sammy Rabbit that saving is a habit. Middle-schoolers manage bank accounts and high-schoolers develop personal financial plans. In New Jersey, education officials are vetting changes in the K-12 core curriculum, to require more comprehensive instruction of financial-literacy concepts. - Newark Schools Fight Back Against Charters
Challenged by a growing number of high-performing charter schools within its bounds, the Newark, N.J., public school district announced an ambitious plan to turn around its schools to create a system that is bolder, more accountable, more transparent and more innovative. - The New Town Square
Explore with resident from three Northern California towns as they struggle to define community in an increasingly suburbanized landscape. This short introductory video blends old techniques (stop motion animation) with the digital platform. Other elements in the package include an interactive map illustrating how these three towns have grown and changed over the last century, and a series of maps where residents describe the places where they find their community. - Careers: A Diverse Generation Explores its Choices
"What do we want to do when we grow up? Oh, wait, that's now! " This project explores how young people use technology and creativity to start their careers, even in tough economic times. - Latino Kids Show Grit to Gain Education
Building Success turns the tables on most stories about Latinos and education, focusing on programs in Phoenix and Tulsa, Okla., that have won national recognition for helping Latino students close the achievement gap. A Flash video introduces the project, which is then told through video, using a unique player that allows the user to access stories, graphics and data without exiting the video. - Crossing Lines: Staring Down Death in the Desert
Crossing Lines is a three-part narrative that tells the stories of people in Mexico who are trying to build their own economic opportunities so their children won’t feel compelled to leave. Photos and video are imbedded in the text to add to the narrative at key points. - 51st and Telegraph: Exploring a California Intersection
A busy north Oakland intersection provides a glimpse into the issues facing this gentrifying community. A 360-degree “portal” span of the intersection offers macro- and microscopic looks into property battles, commerce, diversity, transportation and urban landscaping. Includes a blog for residents passing through the intersection to post messages. - NYC Charter Schools in Depth
Charter schools have grown rapidly in the city, with notable effects on the public school system. Enrollment data shows that Harlem’s zoned public schools, for example, are now educating more children who live in poverty and more children whose first language is not English. Text stories, photos, graphics, video. - Roping the Wind: Energy Boom or Not?
A mid-20th century boom in oil and gas in central Texas bypassed the town of Roscoe. Now a cotton farmer is cashing in on the emerging west Texas wind boom. Text, video, map, graphic. - Money Matters and the Young
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago has started programs and initiatives targeting young people through interactive workshops, seminars and activities. Text, chart.
