The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in partnership with the online mapping system Google Earth, has created Crisis in Darfur. By showing the consequences of four years of fighting in Darfur--a bird's eye view of burned villages and refugee camps combined with photos, data, and eyewitness testimony in pop-up windows--the Museum and Google hope to sensitize more citizens to the situation in the Sudanese region. The project is the first of the Museum's Genocide Prevention Mapping Initiative, which will provide information on potential genocides and encourage individuals and governments to respond.

Congressional representatives are debating legislation to expand wage insurance, a program offering older, displaced workers half of the difference between their old and new salaries for two years. Touted as a free market solution to unemployment and outsourcing, wage insurance first became available in 2003 and has thus far benefited about 7,000 Americans. Critics argue that the program pushes workers into low-paying jobs and gives short shrift to professional training.

In response to rising retail crime by organized gangs, the FBI and the retail industry have teamed up to launch the Law Enforcement Retail Partnership Network, a secure national database that keeps tabs on thieves. Retailers can enter crime incidents, share information with other members, and use reporting and analysis tools to identify criminal trends by sector, product, and geographic region. 

The city of Gainesville, Florida, in collaboration with the St. Francis House homeless shelter, has created the Homeward Bound Program (HBP) to reunite homeless persons with family and friends. On behalf of homeless clients, HBP staff will contact family members in other cities who would be wiling to offer a place to live and support in transitioning from homelessness. The city then purchases a bus ticket for the individual to travel to their new homes. While critics of the program charge that this simply exports the homelessness problem, supporters argue that the program, based on a similar one in San Francisco, has led to many participant success stories.

On the lookout to reduce the danger of high-speed pursuits, law enforcement officials in Los Angeles and Florida are field-testing an air-propelled dart, consisting of a plastic ball with a GPS locator, that attaches to a fleeing car. Once affixed, central dispatch can track the suspect vehicle in real-time, allowing police to intercede at a later time and place. 

The Pet-Assisted Therapy Program in Jacksonville, Florida, uses trained therapy dogs to comfort children and sex crime victims as they give testimony in court proceedings. Supporters argue that the presence of the animals can be the crucial factor that encourages victims to take the witness stand.

Gateway to College gives students ages 16 to 20 who have dropped out of school the opportunity to earn a high school diploma while acquiring college credits. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at ten community colleges nationwide, the program instructs students in study and interpersonal skills in addition to a traditional academic course load. Program officials hope that the prospect of working with peers and advisors will rekindle their desire to learn.

Alexandria, Virginia, has become the first city to use the First Responder Authentication Credentials (FRAC) system to verify the qualifications of emergency professionals in crisis situations. The cards are encoded with the credentials of the holder, allowing commanders to dispatch appropriate personnel. The cards also facilitate more effective collaboration between state, local, and federal officials. The FRAC system was devised following 9/11 when civilians mingled with professionals, sometimes impeding rescue efforts. The initiative will eventually be expanded nationwide.

Mount Prospect, Illinois, now mandates that rental property owners learn how to keep their properties safe from criminal elements with the Crime Free Housing Program. Owners must successfully complete a seminar on preventing problems through active property management and cooperation with community policing resources. They must also attend yearly residential safety meetings, and submit to police inspections to ensure that the properties meet security requirements.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is awarding $23 million per year for seven years to establish six Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance. Created to bolster influenza research in how the virus causes disease and how the human immune system responds to infection, the newly funded centers will inform the development of effective public health strategies.

Although letter carriers across the country often notify authorities regarding homes on their routes with uncollected mail, New York City's Carrier Alert Program recognizes the role postal workers can play in offering aid to those in distress, including seniors and people with disabilities. Homebound individuals, whose only regular human contact may be with letter carriers, can register with the City and place an orange sticker inside their mailbox to indicate their participation in the program.

Minneapolis Public Schools and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers have partnered to develop and implement programs offering alternative compensation for education professionals. Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System rewards teachers for continuous improvement, giving teachers the choice to participate in a salary schedule pegged to student achievement, skill mastery, and leadership initiative.

Columbia, Missouri, is joining a number of other cities in instituting the Walk a Hound, Lose a Pound program, which brings together two populations in need of regular exercise--local citizens and shelter dogs. In addition to offering companionship for both groups, the program encourages pet adoption and is ideal for people, like college students or senior citizens, whose circumstances prevent them from keeping a pet.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is devising a pilot program to reduce the use of payday lenders--institutions providing small-dollar short-term loans a very high cost--by unbanked citizens. The program will provide financial incentives to banks offering loans as small as $300 combined with low rates, small fees, and long-term amortization.

Leadership Montgomery County and the North Harris Montgomery Community College District have combined to offer Leadership High School for high school juniors. Selected students meet monthly to learn and discuss critical issues that affect their communities, in areas ranging from education, to health, to criminal justice. By networking with prominent community figures and each other, the students can develop skills and interests that will make them effective leaders and volunteers.

Concerned with the high divorce rate in their state, Arkansas public officials are enlisting faith-based groups to be part of the solution. More than 100 religious and community leaders will attend training sessions on creating strong marriages and receive free books on the subject. They will also be eligible for $10,000 awards to hold marriage-strengthening activities in their congregations.

Based on analysis of 18 major policies, Full Disclosure by Archon Fung, Mary Graham, and David Weil, is the first book that offers a comparative analysis of public disclosure laws designed to benefit citizens.

Newsletter produced by: Brendan St. Amant and Vanessa Ruget (researchers and writers); Joellen Secondo (editor).