Chicago has set lofty goals to become a leader in the next-generation technology and infrastructure of the global future.
"Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced the launch of Current, a joint effort that brings together public and private partners from across the Chicago area, to solve the toughest water challenges facing the nation and the globe," according to a press release posted on the World Business Chicago Website.
" The effort will be led by an unprecedented partnership between the City of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) and World Business Chicago (WBC) and is designed to leverage the strength of the Chicago region’s water industry to drive critical research forward and generate greater economic impact."
Jen Kinney picked up the news for Next City, noting that Chicago's water economy is the forth largest in the United States, "with water infrastructure and technology accounting for $14 billion of the gross regional product."
An official website also has more information about the Current initiative.
FULL STORY: Mayor Emanuel and Regional Partners Launch Joint Effort to Address International Water Challenges

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Connecting Communities to Nature Close to Home
Los Angeles County’s Nature in Your Neighborhood program brings free, family-friendly wellness and nature activities to local parks, making it easier for residents to enjoy and connect with the outdoors.

Palmdale’s Beloved Water Park Gets $2 Million Upgrade
To mark its 20th anniversary, DryTown Water Park has undergone major renovations, ensuring that families across the Antelope Valley continue to enjoy safe, affordable, and much-needed water-based recreation in the high desert.

Help Stop the Beetle Killing Southern California’s Oak Trees
Claifornia residents can join a volunteer “blitz” this June to help detect and map infestations of an invasive beetle that is killing thousands of oak trees across Southern California.
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