Social networking sites, which connect friends and acquaintances in a virtual environment, have branched into electoral politics. Candidates are targeting college-age voters by maintaining profiles on two such sites, MySpace and Facebook, which let supporters read a candidate's platform, track upcoming events and campaign news, and join as volunteers. Political experts predict networking sites will take a greater electoral role in 2008, helping candidates to mobilize the college-voting bloc and tap into millions of web visitors per month without significant financial investment.

Aviation officials are using birds of prey to chase potentially hazardous birds from a greater number of airports. Bird strikes continuously threaten air travel, and collisions can damage the aircraft's frame, break windshields and engines, and force pilots to make emergency landings to inspect the craft. In contrast to man-made scare tactics such as sirens, paintballs, and lasers, trained falcons are environmentally friendly and more effective, as birds instinctively flee from natural predators. Aviation officials in San Francisco have begun the widespread use of trained raptors to keep other birds at bay near airports. Birds strike U.S. airplanes about 4,000 times a year, costing $500 million annually in damages.

To meet graduation requirements, Maryland's high school students can opt to use their Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam scores to bypass the state's assessment exam. Maryland is one of the first states in the nation to let students substitute requirements. Education officials expect that by minimizing their test load more students will choose to participate in these rigorous college-level courses. Algebra, biology, government, and English will be among the eligible subjects that students can take qualifying exams in.

The combination of rising energy prices and government incentive programs, such as state grants and federal tax credits, continue to encourage consumers to switch to alternative fuel. For example, some sources will pay up to 50% of the cost of adding wind and solar power devices to homes and businesses. Other tax credits will pay for energy-efficient upgrades, such as installing new windows, replacing old appliances, and adding new insulation. Payback time for some upgrades is estimated to be six years or less as energy prices go up.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation continues to expand its signature economic development program, "With Ownership, Wealth" (WOW), to different communities across the country. WOW has most recently arrived in Hampton Roads, Virginia, and unlike many other home ownership assistance programs, is committed to each family from start to finish. Founded on the belief that home ownership gives minority families the best opportunity to build and bequeath wealth, WOW and its corporate and community-based partners offer credit counseling, basic financial literacy courses, and workshops that address the special challenges of first-time homebuyers.

State and local leaders are partnering with conservation groups to promote ecoregionalism, a shift in conservation strategy positing that contiguous tracts of land, even if not specifically labeled as designated protected areas, are preferable to spectacular but isolated parks and refuges. Ecoregionalist principles seek to stitch together landscapes and watersheds to guard against disturbance and species loss, relying less on expensive outright acquisitions and more on easements that bar development and voluntary agreements with private landowners. One major initiative being discussed by leaders in the U.S. and Canada is Yellowstone to Yukon, a wildlife corridor that would extend from west-central Wyoming to just below the Arctic Circle. Florida, too, has established a multi-billion dollar land acquisition program to establish conservation corridors in different parts of the state.

Wisconsin's Dane County will bolster professional emergency resources by creating a corps of citizens trained in lifesaving, preparedness, and search and rescue to help during an emergency. The Department of Homeland Security has provided initial funding; the initiative will include a medical reserve corps and a program to train dogs in disaster relief and recovery. The Citizens Corps is inspired by a similar effort in Houston, Texas, where volunteers aided Hurricane Katrina evacuees in the AstroDome.

Virginia has embarked upon an ambitious plan to use discarded oyster shells to build artificial reefs in rivers near the Chesapeake Bay.  The Save Oyster Shell program seeks to reverse the decline of oyster stocks, caused by disease, lost habitat, fishing pressures, and water pollution. Workers collect, clean, and dry the shells, which are then placed in a large depot for use in shaping a new reef. Oysters--which attach themselves to hard surfaces--tend to attract not only other oysters, but other sea life, leading to greater biological diversity within the reef. Similar projects in other areas of the state are expected to launch this fall.

To alert firefighters to the presence of pets, the Panhandle Animal Welfare Society in Florida is distributing stickers that list the number and types of animals inside a house, as well as their veterinarian's name. In addition, the stickers give instructions on what to do with the pets if the owner is not home. The society is also providing wallet cards on which to list similar information should a pet owner become incapacitated away from home. Fire officials who support the initiative suggest that the stickers be placed at the front door entry.

The IAG award offers $100,000 grants to creative and effective government initiatives. Learn how to apply. The deadline is September 12, 2006.

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