Philadelphia is testing the use of "virtual" speed bumps to slow down traffic. By embedding flat pieces of colored plastic in the street, the city can create the optical illusion of three-dimensional triangles on the roadway to oncoming motorists, causing most to slow down to assess what they are seeing. In contrast to their $1,000 concrete cousins, the $100 virtual bumps are significantly less expensive, do not restrict surface water flow, and do not pose a threat to speeding emergency vehicles.

In a challenge to the 40-year-old federal poverty measure, New York City's Mayor Bloomberg has unveiled a new model for determining poverty levels. The formula will factor in the costs of housing, clothing, and childcare, as well as government aid like food stamps and tax credits. While the change will not immediately affect program funding or eligibility criteria, it will help the city to develop targeted policies for combating poverty.

With the help of a new Web site, the California School Finder, parents can quickly view and compare local school performance in 18 categories, including test scores, support services, advanced placement courses, and graduation rates. By making all of this information easily accessible from a single online destination, it is expected that this site will increase accountability and transparency in the state's school systems. School Finder was developed in partnership with Microsoft and Google.

Following the lead of Washington State, the states of New York and Vermont are set to introduce "enhanced" driver's licenses that serve as proof of citizenship. These licenses are being developed in anticipation of the federal law that will require US citizens to provide proof of citizenship each time they enter the US by 2009. A growing number of states that share borders with Mexico or Canada, including Arizona and Michigan, are considering such licenses to expedite border crossings for business and leisure travelers.

The Social Security Administration has unveiled a simplified online calculator to help Americans assess their options for retirement benefits. Unlike previous calculators that required users to recall and input extensive earnings data, the new tool pulls accurate earnings information directly from the SSA database. The calculator provides more ways to compare benefits based on different retirement ages and future earnings projections than the annual benefit estimate that is mailed to adult workers.

Connecticut is promoting the benefits of taking a "staycation" this year to its residents, as the public adjusts to such financial strains as soaring gas, food, and airline costs. Under the Staycation campaign, more than 300 Connecticut tourist attractions will offer day-trippers discounts or gifts this summer to help keep travel dollars in the local economy, while also fortifying the state's cultural attractions.

Connecticut has established a portable licensing system to ensure that eligible inmates are released from prison with a state-issued identification card to ease their transition back into society. Lack of proper identification can be an obstacle when applying for a job, opening a bank account, and securing housing. It is expected that this measure will help to reduce the risk of recidivism.

Florida's legislature has created a pilot "state college system" to create more programs that award bachelor degrees. The state university system is not able to meet the rising demand for bachelor degree programs from state residents. The new system will transform community colleges into accredited four-year institutions that will still offer two-year associate degrees. Tuition fees will remain lower than those of the state universities. Critics fear that the degrees, though cheaper, may not be attractive to students because they will view the state college programs as inferior in quality to the state universities; supporters argue that the high demand for bachelor degree programs will ensure the new program's success.

In an effort to slow down the spread of the Sahara desert, several African nations have begun working together to plant trees along the desert's southern edges. The Great Green Wall will span 4,500 miles from Djibouti in the east to Mauritania in the west, and will consist of sections of trees that are 10 miles deep. The $3 million project is expected to take two years to complete.

Public officials in Pittsburg, California, are considering the development of a city-controlled nonprofit organization to promote literacy. Among the organization's first endeavors would be to bring a bookstore to "Old Town," where it has not been economically viable to sustain a private bookstore for many years. Another goal is to open a children's reading center in the same area. The governance structure of the nonprofit would be unique as its leadership would include the city government at the highest levels. Proponents of the plan argue that the organization would not require public dollars—funding would come from private individuals, corporations, and foundations.