Solutions Journalism Network

A story explained how farmers in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, figured out that leftover stalks and leaves from their corn crops could feed cattle and reduce air pollution. The head of the city of Cuauhtémoc’s ecology department announced that the city would stop burning leftover corn stalks and leaves, too, crediting the story as one impetus for the policy change.

El Colectivo 506, a grassroots news organization in Costa Rica, hosted a Zoom call in which rural journalists, national and regional authorities and readers discussed the newsroom’s coverage of how communities can better prepare for and prevent climate disasters. As a result, people from different parts of Costa Rica met one another and shared ideas about how national and regional leaders can work together. The richness of the discussion convinced El Colectivo 506 to host more such solutions-oriented conversations.

In Alamosa, Colorado, law enforcement is reducing the jail population and issuing fewer arrest warrants by referring more people to treatment, recognizing that drug abuse is at the root of some criminal behavior. After the Las Vegas Optic in New Mexico wrote about that effort.

To help ensure that defendants out on bond don’t commit crimes while awaiting trial, Bexar County offers them support that can include mental health services, addiction treatment and support in job hunting. Harris County officials learned about Bexar County’s approach from a report on KPRC 2.

During the second half of July 2021, Santa Cruz Local, a two-year-old outlet, launched a reader revenue campaign to support its reporting on homelessness. Within two weeks, staff members raised about $20,000 from roughly 100 local readers, their most successful fundraising campaign to date.