Insights

Charter Schools Do Little To Combat Racial Segregation, Says National Study

A new study looked at poverty, race and performance in charters and traditional public schools across the country.

Richard Florida: Houston Has an Inequality Problem

Houston may be an economic juggernaut, but the world's most famous urbanist says the city is leaving many behind.

Study: Trump is Wrong About Immigrants Being Violent Criminals

"No evidence links Mexican or undocumented Mexican immigrants specifically to violent or drug-related crime," a new study concludes, undermining the candidate's claims.

Houston Is a "Knowledge Capital," According to a New Report. But Is It a "Global Giant?"

A new report from the Brookings Institution seeks to categorize major cities. It says Houston's a "knowledge capital." But it's not a "global giant" (or at least not yet).

As Austin, Dallas Housing Markets Heat Up, Houston Cools

A new index ranks the top 25 most active housing markets looking at the year ahead.

What Makes a Great City? Great Public Spaces. And These 6 Rules

A new book explains the six steps needed to create amazing spaces.

Houston Mayor Announces Pension Reform Package

Mayor Sylvester Turner says the plan will immediately reduce the city's unfunded liability by $2.5 billion. But not all the stakeholders are on board quite yet.

Weekly Roundup: A Plausible Alternative To High School Suspensions

Historically, when a student acted out in school, he'd faced suspension. Today that's no longer the case, with more districts instead experimenting with 'restorative justice.'

Weekly Roundup: The Air We Breathe (When We're in Our Cars)

Think you're safe from pollution when you're inside your car with the windows rolled up? Think again.

Weekly Roundup: How Welfare Reform Changed the Nation

Twenty years ago, Bill Clinton signed welfare reform into law. Though fewer people are on welfare today, the reforms haven't saved the federal government money, and poverty is higher than it was 20 years ago, according to Washington Post analysis.

New Recommendation Says Every School Should Have a Nurse. Many Don't

Health experts and data researchers agree: school nurses are good for students. So why don't all schools have them?

Not Just Food: Book Deserts Also Characterize Poor Neighborhoods

In poor neighborhoods, there are few places where parents can purchase books for their kids. That matters, since reading at home is closely tied to academic success.

Weekly Roundup: How Parking Became One of Urban Planners' Biggest Enemies

More than 30 percent of the area in many downtown cores is taken up by parked vehicles. Today, many planners are hellbent on doing something about it.

Weekly Roundup: Atlanta Hopes Its New Traffic Signals Are a Game Changer

The city will spend $250 million to improve its traffic system. Much of that will go towards its first traffic signal upgrade since the 1996 Olympics.

Data-sharing Efforts Aim to Improve Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice Outcomes

"Unless we know the scope of what we’re dealing with," one nonprofit says, "there’s no way to develop solutions to it."