Results from a new study of Lowell, Massachusetts, have bolstered the "broken windows" theory that poor conditions breed criminal activity. Researchers and police identified crime "hot spots" in Lowell. In half of the hot spots, preemptive measures were taken to discourage crime, such as removing trash from the sidewalks, fixing streetlights, and securing abandoned buildings. These actions yielded 20 percent fewer calls to police from these areas than from the hot spots in which no measures were taken. While many police departments have incorporated elements of the broken windows theory, law enforcement officials are looking for additional lessons that this study can offer for their own jurisdictions.

Adams 50, a school district serving the Denver area, is responding to persistent low test scores and low graduation rates by eliminating grade levels. Beginning next fall, students will be grouped according to ability, not age. The traditional K-12 system will be replaced by a standards-based model with assessment levels of one through ten. Students will move on to the next level when they meet proficiency standards in skills for their current level. The model, first developed by smaller school districts in Alaska, is designed to allow students to learn and advance at their own pace.

Freddie Mac will begin offering month-to-month leases to let renters and homeowners temporarily stay in homes after they face eviction due to foreclosure. The government-chartered mortgage company will rely on property managers and some real estate agents to collect rent and maintain homes. The program is expected to provide thousands of families with relief, giving them more time to find a new place to live while also keeping homes occupied. This will benefit surrounding neighborhoods, as the foreclosure crisis has created areas of vacant, unmaintained, and vandalized properties across the country.

As part of Mayor Bloomberg's efforts to modernize vocational and trade schools, the New York City Department of Education is working with ESPN to create the city's first high school dedicated to the sports business. In September, the Business of Sports Schools will open its doors to 81 ninth-graders. The curriculum will include core classes like English and math, advanced computer training, and real-world experience through mandatory internships at sports-related companies.

Many Massachusetts communities have adopted the Senior Property Tax Work-Off Abatement program, which gives eligible seniors an opportunity to reduce their tax burden. Under the program in Millbury, participants working for the town who perform 200 hours of community service can receive up to $1,500 in tax abatements or real estate tax deductions. Officials expect that the flexibility of the program, the monetary incentives, and the mutual benefits of community service will continue to attract more seniors.

The Dallas City Council has taken steps towards the creation of districts that would give private developers the authority to issue public debt and to levy taxes and fees to pay it back. These "municipal management districts" are forecast to bring millions of dollars to the city for infrastructure and services, with little risk or cost to the city. Critics argue that such districts could place significant new tax burdens on property owners who are not part of the majority of residents who vote to create such a district. More than twenty districts of this type are currently in use in Houston.

To give the public a stronger voice in shaping their neighborhoods and a better idea of the size and scale of proposed building projects, New York City will become the first city in the nation to post diagrams of development plans online. Mayor Bloomberg announced that the reform will include a 30-day "public challenge" period, during which the public can object to proposals. Depending on the validity of the challenge, a review process will proceed further. The current process has no formal timeframe, leading to what city officials determine to be confusion and unintended costs. The goal is to increase the transparency of the process for the public while increasing certainty for developers. Critics argue that the process will place a burden on the public, and limit their right to object to projects after the 30-day challenge period.

College students needing a little midday shut-eye can head over to the University of Colorado's student center, where a room replete with eye masks, ear plugs, and various bedding options await. The nap center, run by the school's Community Health program, is currently open only on Tuesdays, but student groups want to expand those hours. Sleep deprivation has become an increasing concern for higher education health professionals.

The Dallas Public Library has launched the StreetSmart Express program for patrons who want to borrow popular book and media releases right away. For $5, patrons can avoid wait times as long as eight weeks, and avoid paying full price at retail. Not every bestseller or top-selling movie is part of the program, and users can still get copies at no charge if they happen to spot one on the shelf or are willing to join the waitlist. Officials say that consumers have spent $10,405 on 2,081 items from October to December of 2008.