Clips
I’ve written quite a few articles on a variety of topics, ranging from media policy to international politics. Below are the most memorable; the rest are available elsewhere on the blog.
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My most notable stories, interactives and opinion pieces
Sales tax breaks erode state revenues — Stateline.org (story and graphic)
As shoppers in 15 states rush to buy tax-free clothing and school supplies this August, some lawmakers are experiencing buyer’s remorse: Their “sales-tax holidays” are pinching revenues at a time when state coffers are hurting
Minimum wages to rise in 31 states — Stateline.org (story and graphic)
Minimum-wage earners in 31 states and the District of Columbia can soon expect slightly bigger paychecks thanks to the third and final installment of a federal rate hike that raises the wage floor from $6.55 an hour to $7.25 an hour effective Friday (July 24).
Energy stimulus could see lower returns — Stateline.org.
Congress expects its nearly 70-fold increase in State Energy Program funding to save consumers $22.3 billion, but experts argue lax oversight could generate a much lower return on investment.
Recession ushers in more tobacco taxes — Stateline.org
For lawmakers scrounging to balance state budgets in a recession, tobacco taxes were one of the most popular options on the table this year.
Politics Daily — My Porfolio
Click to visit my author page at Politics Daily, an AOL news publication.
Government Jobs Generate Interest Among College Seniors — Washingtonpost.com
For years, some college students have turned up their noses at the mere thought of federal employment, citing poor pay, a low professional ceiling and a deficit of interesting opportunities. Their reluctance, however, may be changing in light of mounting unemployment in the private sector and growing opportunities in the federal workforce, according to college job placement offices.
We FCC You: The Future of Internet Regulation — American Observer
The political debate over net neutrality is incredibly nuanced. On one hand, Web absolutists argue that free choice is the unique appeal of the Internet. On the other, Internet service providers insist that the net neutrality movement is merely a solution without a problem.
Health Insurance Series: Over the course of my senior year, I wrote a series of articles about benefit exclusions from AU’s student health insurance plan. The result: AU To Expand Health Insurance to Include HPV, Transgender Care . [Read its precursors here: Health Insurance Fails Checkup (Part 1) and AU Insurance Lacks Transgender Coverage (Part 2)]
The post-media president — The Eagle/UWire/CBS News
It is post-Baby Boomer, post-partisan, post-racial, and most importantly, post-Bush. And add to that list of unfounded hyperboles one new construction: “post-media.”
Battleground States — Washingtonpost.com
As the 2008 presidential contest enters its final stretch, the candidates have revved up their campaigns, seeking to redraw the electoral map in their favor. Nine states in particular — because of their swing status — are worth watching. These “battlegrounds” offer either candidate a chance at 115 total electoral votes — almost half of the 270 votes needed to win.
Explainer: Why would hackers program a virus to look at kiddie porn? — Slate.com
So that other people can look at it too.
Spring 2009 Crime Map — The Eagle
With the help of the Google Map API, I converted our Police Blotter, normally a text-based listing of all crimes in the Tenleytown area, into something considerably more visual and interactive.
The Costs of Financial Illiteracy — The Eagle
For many college students, debt is commonplace – a reality most do not face until long after graduation. But what role should the Office of Financial Aid, Student Accounts and the Registrar play in educating students about debt? In this special report, The Eagle examines the effectiveness of the university’s debt education, the consequences of bureaucracy and the costs of financial illiteracy. [NOTE: This is part of a large investigation I did of students' knowledge of financial aid at my college, American University. Also check out the Web site's debt calculator, glossary and message board, all of which I also created and wrote]
Election Scorecard: Those Fickle Youth (.pdf) — Slate.com
Clinton makes solid gains in North Carolina among young voters, once Obama’s base
Election scorecard: A bittersweet reaction (.pdf) — Slate.com
The first polls are in following Obama’s controversial comments
Beware of election opinion polls — The Eagle
“Obama bolts ahead of Clinton in new poll,” read a New York Times headline two days before the seminal New Hampshire primary that “reaffirmed” the New York senator’s status as front-runner.
