Local news and analysis from The Conversation

Highlighting emerging research and expert analysis on issues important to four communities in the U.S. Part of a pilot project funded by the Knight Foundation.

Latest stories

A run-down white brick building is surrounded by trash.

Detroit’s lack of affordable housing pushes families to the edge - and children sometime pay the price

Meghan Wilson, Michigan State University and John Kuk, Michigan State University

Hotter and drier climate in Colorado’s San Luis Valley contributes to kidney disease in agriculture workers, new study shows

Katherine Ann James, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Dozens of agricultural workers tend to planted rows with mountains in background.

Dozens of agricultural workers tend to planted rows with mountains in background.

Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year

Laura Dee, University of Colorado Boulder

A Marin County firefighter uses a drip torch during a controlled burn training on June 21, 2024, in San Rafael, California

A Marin County firefighter uses a drip torch during a controlled burn training on June 21, 2024, in San Rafael, California

Miami researchers are testing a textured seawall designed to hold back water and create a home for marine organisms

Sara Pezeshk, Florida International University and Shahin Vassigh, Florida International University

A gray wall with curvy, organic shapes rises out of blue-green water

A gray wall with curvy, organic shapes rises out of blue-green water

The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform

Sonja Dümpelmann, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Black bench in front of brick building with black shutters and black flower-filled window boxes

Black bench in front of brick building with black shutters and black flower-filled window boxes

Detroit

A run-down white brick building is surrounded by trash.

Detroit’s lack of affordable housing pushes families to the edge - and children sometime pay the price

Meghan Wilson, Michigan State University and John Kuk, Michigan State University

The story of the Great Migration often overlooks Black businesses that built Detroit

Kendra D. Boyd, Rutgers University

A faded image shows classic cars parked on the street in front of stores with signs for "Silver Line Cafe" and "Drugs."

A faded image shows classic cars parked on the street in front of stores with signs for "Silver Line Cafe" and "Drugs."

Knocking down abandoned buildings has a lot of benefits for Detroit − but it’s costly for cities

Mark Skidmore, Michigan State University; Camila Alvayay Torrejon, Universidad Católica del Norte, and Dusan Paredes Araya, Michigan State University

Three large houses with brick facades and interesting architectural detail are falling into ruin.

Three large houses with brick facades and interesting architectural detail are falling into ruin.

Bird flu flares up again in Michigan poultry – an infectious disease expert explains the risk to humans, chickens, cows and other animals

Kimberly Dodd, Michigan State University

Hens roam in the dirt on a farm with red barn in background

Hens roam in the dirt on a farm with red barn in background

Almost half of evicted women and families in metro Detroit say they were illegally pushed out of their homes

Shawnita Sealy-Jefferson, The Ohio State University

A Black woman with a bullhorn marches by a sign reading "EVICTION FREE ZONE" in red letters

A Black woman with a bullhorn marches by a sign reading "EVICTION FREE ZONE" in red letters

Read more Detroit news

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Philadelphia

Black bench in front of brick building with black shutters and black flower-filled window boxes

The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform

Sonja Dümpelmann, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

From business exports to veteran care − here’s what some of the 35,000 federal workers in the Philadelphia region do

Todd Aagaard, Villanova School of Law

View of Georgian-style brick building across lawn with leafy trees on side

View of Georgian-style brick building across lawn with leafy trees on side

Medetomidine is replacing xylazine in Philly street fentanyl − creating new hurdles for health care providers and drug users

Kory London, Thomas Jefferson University and Karen Alexander, Thomas Jefferson University

People standing on sidewalk on commercial corridor

People standing on sidewalk on commercial corridor

Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry faces urgent labor shortage − and latest immigration policies will likely make it worse

Hazel Velasco Palacios, Penn State and Kathleen Sexsmith, Penn State

Man holds flashlight in one hand and touches white button mushrooms with other

Man holds flashlight in one hand and touches white button mushrooms with other

Philly Roller Derby league turns 20 - here’s how the sport skated its way to feminism, anti-racism and queer liberation

Colleen English, Penn State

Four women dressed in punk-style clothes roller skate on an indoor rink

Four women dressed in punk-style clothes roller skate on an indoor rink

Read more Philadelphia news

South Florida

A blue and white sign against palm trees and a blue sky says 'Welcome to Florida, the sunshine state'

Florida, once considered a swing state, is firmly Republican – a social anthropologist explains what caused this shift

Alexander Lowie, University of Florida

25 years of Everglades restoration has improved drinking water for millions in Florida, but a new risk is rising

John Kominoski, Florida International University

A wide expanse of wetlands with tall grasses.

A wide expanse of wetlands with tall grasses.

Shark AI uses fossil shark teeth to get middle school kids interested in paleontology and computer vision

Christine Wusylko, University of Florida and Pavlo Antonenko, University of Florida

A hand holds up a shark's tooth in front of an iPad with other teeth visible on a screen. Other shark teeth, paper and pencil are on a desk nearby.

A hand holds up a shark's tooth in front of an iPad with other teeth visible on a screen. Other shark teeth, paper and pencil are on a desk nearby.

Florida is home to about 341,000 immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti who may soon lose residency, work permits

Mercedes Vigon, Florida International University

A woman wears a T-shirt reading 'TPS para Venezolanos'

A woman wears a T-shirt reading 'TPS para Venezolanos'

Amid a tropical paradise known as ‘Lizard Island,’ researchers are cracking open evolution’s black box – scientist at work

James T. Stroud, Georgia Institute of Technology

In a tropical forest, a male scientist looks at a lizard he captured in a plastic bag.

In a tropical forest, a male scientist looks at a lizard he captured in a plastic bag.

Read more South Florida news

Colorado

Dozens of agricultural workers tend to planted rows with mountains in background.

Hotter and drier climate in Colorado’s San Luis Valley contributes to kidney disease in agriculture workers, new study shows

Katherine Ann James, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Controlled burns reduce wildfire risk, but they require trained staff and funding − this could be a rough year

Laura Dee, University of Colorado Boulder

A Marin County firefighter uses a drip torch during a controlled burn training on June 21, 2024, in San Rafael, California

A Marin County firefighter uses a drip torch during a controlled burn training on June 21, 2024, in San Rafael, California

Perfect brownies baked at high altitude are possible thanks to Colorado’s home economics pioneer Inga Allison

Tobi Jacobi, Colorado State University and Caitlin Clark, Colorado State University

Two women sit at a table in a laboratory wearing white clothing

Two women sit at a table in a laboratory wearing white clothing

Egg prices soar as outdated supply chains crack under pressure

Jack Buffington, University of Denver

Person photographed from behind holding package of dozen eggs while standing in front of refrigerator case full of eggs at grocery store

Person photographed from behind holding package of dozen eggs while standing in front of refrigerator case full of eggs at grocery store

Colorado’s early childhood education workers face burnout and health disparities, but a wellness campaign could help

Jini Puma, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Charlotte Farewell, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Woman sits with two small children at a table to do an activity.

Woman sits with two small children at a table to do an activity.

Read more Colorado news

Most read stories

Colorful brain waves on black background

Brain scans of Philly jazz musicians reveal secrets to reaching creative flow

John Kounios, Drexel University and Yvette Kounios, Widener University

Florida’s new condo laws recognize the total price of living on the beach

Bill Hughes, University of Florida

Workers on lifts work on the concrete facade of a windowless building

Workers on lifts work on the concrete facade of a windowless building

Egg prices soar as outdated supply chains crack under pressure

Jack Buffington, University of Denver

Person photographed from behind holding package of dozen eggs while standing in front of refrigerator case full of eggs at grocery store

Person photographed from behind holding package of dozen eggs while standing in front of refrigerator case full of eggs at grocery store

Florida is home to about 341,000 immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti who may soon lose residency, work permits

Mercedes Vigon, Florida International University

A woman wears a T-shirt reading 'TPS para Venezolanos'

A woman wears a T-shirt reading 'TPS para Venezolanos'

Lab tests show THC potency inflated on retail marijuana in Colorado

Anna Schwabe, University of Colorado Boulder

Selection of medical recreational cannabis at a legal retail store

Selection of medical recreational cannabis at a legal retail store

Our team

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