Latest Things That Work headlines

Students stood in silence for 17 minutes as they participated in a walkout to protest gun violence, in Hagerstown, Md., on Wednesday.

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Here’s one of the best things schools can do to prevent mass shootings

There is a broad consensus that well-run threat assessment teams have proven to be an effective step for improving school safety.

FOR ONLINE ONLY 17sneckdowns -- Philadelphia has since redesigned the intersection of Baltimore Avenue, Florence Avenue, and S. 48th Street to reserve more space for pedestrians in spots that drivers weren't regularly using. (University City District)

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Could we transform dirty snowpiles into sidewalks and bike lanes?

Leftover snow highlights areas of pavement that aren’t regularly used by drivers, and allows cities to think about how the space could be used instead.

An example of the text message reminders used by courts in New York City.

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Some court systems are texting people to get them to show up. Could it work here?

A growing number of court systems around the country are using software to automatically send reminders to people about their upcoming court appearances.

If a vehicle that’s too tall to fit in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel gets too close to its entrance, a holographic-like image of a giant stop sign is projected onto a curtain of water.

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Here’s one idea to make ‘Storrowing’ a thing of the past

In Australia, a sheet of water pours from the ceiling of the tunnel entrance, with a holographic image of a massive, red stop sign.

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It turns out vodka and icy roads can be a good mix

It turns out the liquor — or at least by-products of the distilling process — can be used to help keep roads clear and safe during winter weather.

GoodGym, which operates in the UK, organizes sessions that have people exercise while simultaneously doing good deeds in their own community.

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How you can tackle two New Year’s resolutions at once

At the start of each year, many people vow to get in better shape and give back more. A London-based charity offers a chance to do both.

A doorman checked a woman’s identification outside the Royale and Candibar nightclubs on Tremont Street.

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Could a ‘night mayor’ awaken Boston’s sleepy night life?

Boston’s reputation for a sleepy, sometimes underwhelming night life has long been a buzzkill.

Liz Walker started the Cory Johnson Program for Post-Traumatic Healing. More than 1,500 people have attended its events.

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Trauma group offers a community in pain a place to heal

A Roxbury-based program has seen promising signs in trying to help residents cope with psychological trauma.

In West Vancouver Canada, a nonprofit installed a 3-D decal on a road near a school to raise awareness about drivers speeding through school zones.

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Can optical illusions trick drivers into slowing down?

A handful of cities around the world have painted optical illusions on roadways — think raised beams and even images of children — that appear, at first glance, to be blocking motorists’ paths.

Among the possible Moving Day disruptions is a moving truck getting stuck on Storrow Drive.

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Sept. 1 Moving Day is a nightmare. What if we changed it?

A look at other moving day traditions in cities around North America.

Construction crews are building a two-floor parking garage with 600 spaces for vehicles and 60 spots for bicycles underneat the Boerenwetering, a canal in the heart of the Oude Pijp neighborhood.

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Could underwater garages solve Boston’s parking shortage?

At least three other cities, all in Europe, have constructed parking garages under waterways.

Bears ate from a trash can in Hanover, N.H., in April.

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This N.H. town couldn’t ‘bear’ it any longer — so it passed an ordinance

Complaints have plummeted since Lincoln, N.H., adopted a law that allows it to fine business and residents that attract bears.

A voter in Montpelier, Vt., cast a ballot for the Republican presidential primary in 2012.

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States with Election Day registration see bonus for democracy

Following a court decision last week, Massachusetts is under pressure to join more than a dozen other states — including Connecticut, Maine, and Vermont — that have the policy.

With help from the Chelsea Hub, Nicole Castro has moved into a new home in Revere.

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In Chelsea, coalition aims to save lives on verge of unraveling

“Maybe I can’t help, but now I can connect you to someone who I know can help you. One person can’t lift a car off a person, but 10 people can.”

Riders got on and off trains in the Downtown Crossing station.

THINGS THAT WORK

A simple way to make Boston’s subway a bit less chaotic

MBTA officials recently tested markings that remind waiting passengers to line up next to — not in front of — the train doors. They were impressed by the results.

Renderings of swim area being built in Paris.

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Paris offers a model to bring swimming to Charles River

Paris next month will unveil three public swimming areas in a once-polluted canal. Can Boston learn from that model?