United States

The catastrophic spill of coal ash sludge in Tennessee is a wake-up call: there are more than 1,300 such dumps across the U.S., and, as a result of coal industry lobbying, no federal regulations for safe storage, reuse or disposal of the waste.

January 8, 2009 - New York Times

In the first of two guest posts, UCLA researcher Eric A. Morris blogs on the logic behind congestion pricing.

January 8, 2009 - The New York Times

Last summer in Toledo, former mayoral candidate Keith Wilkowski handed Barack Obama a book, saying it is the most important book about rebuilding cities. Obama responded, 'Is it Jane Jacobs?'

January 7, 2009 - BeyondDC

Cities like Alexandria, VA and Agoura Hills, CA have taken to relaxing sign restrictions for the sake of boosting local business.

January 7, 2009 - USA Today

A panel of experts weighs in. Is rebuilding rail transit the way of the future, or just reviving a system that should stay extinct?

January 7, 2009 - The Hawaii Reporter

Fewer teardowns and new home starts back up the perception that the age of the McMansion is coming to an end.

January 6, 2009 - The Christian Science Monitor

Art Calendar magazine presents its list of towns, cities and districts offering incentives or other benefits for artists living there.

January 5, 2009 - Art Calendar

Exactly a year after the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released its report calling for a fuel tax hike, the National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission calls for much of the same.

January 5, 2009 - Takepart

Research shows that of the ten vehicles most popular with 16-35-year olds, not one comes from the Big Three U.S. manufacturers. CampusProgress.org argues that it will take more than a bailout to attract younger customers.

January 5, 2009 - Campus Progress

This article from Next American City looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the website EveryBlock.com, an automated, geography-based information aggregator.

January 4, 2009 - Next American City

Thousands of transportation projects across the country are being temporarily halted or canceled completely due to lack of funding. More than 40 states have been forced to cut back on transportation projects.

January 4, 2009 - The New York Times

Cities that have fun things to do -- so-called "consumption amenities" -- are more successful at attracting people and growing jobs, according to a recent report.

January 4, 2009 - The Boston Globe

Job growth is slower in areas that don't have enough housing, according to a new study.

January 3, 2009 - The Boston Globe

As President Elect Obama delivers his weekly address via YouTube, half of all Americans don't have the broadband access necessary to watch.

January 3, 2009 - Business Week

James Howard Kunstler predicts the Dow falling to 4000 by the end of the year, more dramatic swings in oil prices, and an overall contraction of services and the economy.

January 2, 2009 - Straight.com

In 2008, RAND Corp. conducted a study on mitigating traffic congestion in Los Angeles. They studied two types of strategies: conventional, e.g. signal timing, and market-based, e.g. increased the price of driving. The results were surprising.

January 2, 2009 - Gristmill Blog

Retail analysts predict a "sea change" in the retail landscape in 2009, with a record number of bankruptcies, closures and vacancies.

January 2, 2009 - CNN Money

This column looks at President-elect Barack Obama's food politics and wonders just how sustainable his administration's food policies will be.

January 2, 2009 - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Cheap gas, great deals, and winter weather resulted in SUV and light trucks resuming their dominance in vehicle sales in December, climbing to 51% of all sales, as Prius sales dipped 48% in November.

January 2, 2009 - CNNMoney.com

A NYT editorial and NYT columnist Thomas Friedman both arrive at the same conclusion - some type of gas tax is essential for both the auto bailout and Obama's goal of greening the U.S. economy.

January 1, 2009 - The New York Times