By Jeffrey L Garceau Moving the nation’s economy forward is a joint effort of governments and business at all levels. Municipal efforts on the whole do not get enough national attention. By building strong communities and cities, we make our country stronger....
Maps
5 Interactive Maps and the Questions They Answer
by Mardee Handler Dating back to the early explorers, maps were tools used to help uncover buried treasures... Now, many maps have become treasures in their own right. If a picture is worth a thousand words, an interactive map can often encapsulate an entire story,...
Immigration and Domestic Migration Affect U.S. States Differently
by guest contributor Peter Fugiel, Ph.D. After years of stalemate, it appears likely that immigration will be debated seriously in the U.S. Congress. The current law’s favoring of close relatives rather than employment-related immigration will likely be examined, and...
In the U.S., Biggest States Are Hot, While Biggest Cities Are Not
As the trend in U.S. politics will be to recognize the huge population growth of the nations’ very largest states, the reverse is true for our largest cities. In American culture, living in large cities is not a life style preference. In fact, the most recent census...
GIS Serves the Public in More Ways than Meets the Eye
by guest contributor Ted Steinbrecher Thanks to online mapping tools such as Google Maps or MapQuest, even the “map-challenged” among us can access driving directions from Point A to Point B, whether cross-town or across the country. Navigation systems can help...
Mount Rushmore: The Pinnacle of a South Dakota Roadtrip
What better way to celebrate Mount Rushmore’s 65th birthday than a visit out west …. ? The Black Hills and Badlands area offers a variety of tourist attractions throughout the year.
Live Help Enhances Customer Service Orientation of State Web Site
In an effort to help online visitors increase the ease and efficiency in using its web site, the state of Colorado recently introduced a “live help” feature. Visitors to the site can have an online conversation with a state employee who functions, in many ways, like a customer service representative.
Striving for Online Excellence – Part 1: Function
Increasing government accountability, educating citizens, and providing financial disclosure are among the key functions of today’s best municipal web sites. This first installment in MuniNet Guide’s “Striving for Online Excellence” three-part series examines these and other objectives of top-notch state, county and local government sites.
Millenium Park
Millenium Park, Chicago’s ambitious new park off the lakefront and Michigan Avenue has opened to rave reviews and has become a top destination for tourists and residents alike.