Every day, Patch brings stories to its readers from more than a dozen news and information partners. These organizations contributing to Patch range from Kaiser Health News to the Racine County Eye to Chalkbeat – and others, both local and national.
As much as a news organization, Patch is a publishing platform that would love to share your thoughts, ideas and information, too. Here is just a sample of some recent posts. If you’d like to appear on the Patch platform, and have your work be among the stories that attract more than 80 million reads each month, contact [email protected].
Ann Arbor Discusses New Recreational Marijuana City Ordinances
By The Michigan Daily
Ann Arbor city officials discussed two ordinances that would expand the number of recreational marijuana facilities in the city in a special City Council work session Monday night. Approximately 25 citizens attended the session.
At last week’s meeting, council members gave initial approval to the ordinances that would allow temporary permits for events with onsite marijuana sale and consumption. They are expected to be approved in October, right before the state will begin accepting applications for recreational marijuana licenses from businesses on Nov. 1.
READ MORE HERE
As León Vows Improvements, Here Are 5 Issues Facing Special Ed In Newark Schools
By Chalkbeat
Newark schools chief Roger León has promised to make many long-needed changes, but perhaps the biggest promise he’s made is to fix the city’s special education program.
Even the most thriving school districts can struggle to serve students with disabilities. Complex districts with many needy students often have it harder — and run up against challenges that can stand in the way of getting those students the services they legally are entitled to.
Many of those challenges, including having the right staff in place and being able to get children to the schools that can best serve them, have long plagued Newark, where more than 16% of students in the school district require special education services. The district is still being monitored under the 2012 settlement of a class action lawsuit about its handling of special education.
READ MORE HERE
City Hall: City Council Addresses Recent Police Controversies
By Philadelphia Neighborhoods
Philadelphia City Council heard testimony last week on Resolution 190622 which would authorize council to hold hearings regarding the Plain View Project database on objectionable social media posts of law enforcement officers.
According to its website, “The Plain View Project is a database of public Facebook posts and comments made by current and former police officers from several jurisdictions across the United States.” The posts pertaining to the Philadelphia Police Department were sent to police officials in February.
Councilman Derek Green began the hearing by invoking the history of the connection between the Philadelphia Police Department and the community and describing it as a “complex relationship.”
READ MORE HERE
Jerry Brown Enlists China In His War On Climate Change
By CALmatters
As the Trump administration pulls back on environmental enforcement, former Gov. Jerry Brown and China’s top climate change official have formally launched a California-China Climate Institute. Brown calls it a response to environmental “malfeasance” in Washington.
As world leaders — without President Donald Trump — gathered Monday for a United Nations summit on global warming, former Gov. Jerry Brown and China’s top climate official formally launched a California-China Climate Institute to research ways to combat climate change.
Brown, who was to speak by phone from California, announced the initiative with China’s Special Representative for Climate Change Affairs Xie Zhenhua in New York, where officials from some 60 countries were convened for a United Nations Climate Action Summit in advance of the U.N. General Assembly.
READ MORE HERE
Uber, Lyft Hitch Onto Medicaid In Arizona
By Kaiser Health News
Arizona Medicaid Director Jami Snyder heard many complaints about enrollees missing medical appointments because the transportation provided by the state didn’t show or came too late.
So this summer she hatched a solution familiar to millions of Americans looking for an efficient ride: She turned to Uber and Lyft.
Arizona became the first state to revamp its Medicaid regulations to make it easier for ride-sharing companies to participate in its nonemergency transportation benefit. Under the changes, Arizona eliminated several safety rules such as requiring all drivers to undergo drug testing and first aid training.
Click Here: Fjallraven Kanken Art Spring Landscape Backpacks