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The U.S. has been pushing the electrification of appliances, cars and other household goods to cut back on carbon emissions. But shifting away from fossil fuels will require expanding the power grid and large upfront costs.
As smoke from nearby wildfires settles on top of the Sacramento region, the air quality has worsened to unhealthy levels. Some are proposing cleaner-air centers to provide some relief for the area’s homeless population.
Election workers were the targets of harassment, threats and intimidation during the 2020 elections. Proposed legislation would make it illegal to harass election workers and would punish offenders with jail time, a fine or both.
Dr. Leonardo Alfonso, an emergency room doctor in Jacksonville, Fla., regarding the surge of COVID-19 patients in Florida that are maxing out hospitals’ capacities across the state, but especially in the Jacksonville area, which has become a major hot spot. (Associated Press — August 20, 2021)
The proportion of Americans that are “extremely” or “very” worried about themselves or their family becoming infected with COVID-19, nearly the same rate as the nation’s last major surge in January. Nearly 6 in 10 Americans favor the idea of requiring people to be fully vaccinated before traveling on airplanes or attending crowded public events.
Increased bus and train frequency coupled with fare cuts will take place next month in a bold move by the transit system to woo back old riders and attract new ones. It could be a model for other transit systems.
Florida Digital Service is currently looking for its third chief information security officer in less than a year, and half of the 10-member response team positions are vacant. Lawmakers are worried about the state's cybersecurity.
The proposed $4.1 billion desalination project would add as much as $90 to the typical Tucson-area monthly water bill, but if the region grows as predicted, it may be necessary. Many expect it could take decades to get approval.
One Ford plant converted into an electrification center and now makes parts for hybrid and electric vehicles, which allowed it to keep its workers. But the conversion hasn’t come without its challenges.
The $1 trillion infrastructure package makes no explicit mention of the state’s efforts to build a high-speed rail, but lawmakers are continuing to analyze if pockets of funding are available from other areas.
The Tennessee utility has promised that its entire fleet of passenger cars as well as at least half of its pickup and light cargo trucks will be converted to electric vehicles by 2030, in an effort to help electrify the region.
The Center for Reproductive Rights president and CEO, Nancy Northup, regarding the ruling by a New Orleans federal appeals court that upheld a Texas law banning a commonly used second-trimester abortion method. (Associated Press — August 19, 2021)
The number of California companies that are being sued by San Francisco for their production and distribution of untraceable, build-it-yourself firearms. The “ghost guns” accounted for nearly half of the firearms that were recovered in the city’s gun killings in 2020.
Health departments are battling not only rising COVID-19 caseloads but restrictions, complaints and second-guessing from politicians and the public.
Tyree Guyton is on a quest to resurrect a forgotten neighborhood. Over the decades his work has turned everyday waste – phones, vinyl records, TVs and more – into art. Visitors love it, but the locals have mixed feelings.
The massive infrastructure bill, if approved, could give the state $100 million for expanding its rural Internet and subsidize services, which would be significant for the nearly 20 percent of households without broadband.
The Unemployment Insurance Agency asked nearly 650,000 jobless aid recipients to resubmit their qualifications due to a system error. While some are being waived, other residents are being asked to pay back their unemployment benefits.
While urban crashes get more attention, approximately half of traffic fatalities occur on rural roads even though only about one-fifth of the population lives in these areas. Lawmakers are considering new safety measures.
A new report claims the city has failed to address longstanding practices of excessive force and racial discrimination. The police department says the report is an ‘attack’ and contains misinformation.
Fulton County, Ga., Board of Commissioners Chairman Robb Pitts, regarding the State Elections Board’s decision to investigate the county’s handling of elections, a move that many see as a power grab by Republicans. (Associated Press — August 18, 2021)
The age at which a child could get married in North Carolina if proposed legislation is passed. The bill aims to raise the state’s marriage age by two years and would limit the age difference between a 16-year-old and their spouse to four years. There are currently 13 states, including North Carolina, that allow children under 16 to wed.
The pandemic tested government’s ability to deliver services with mixed results. Now, the Biden administration wants to give more benefits and rebuild infrastructure. Will government succeed and regain public trust?
The state has instituted a new set of tenant eviction protections that will extend through next summer. Additionally, the state’s Rental Relief Program still has over $700 million for potential renters in need.
Since the beginning of this year, six people have died in jail custody and the county’s sheriff’s office has only publicly announced one of the fatalities. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 10 people have died.
After 16 fare-free months due to the pandemic, the city’s public transportation system will once again start charging for bus fares. But many worry how this will impact homeless or vulnerable populations.
The massive bill has proposed funding to mitigate climate change and incentivize renewable energy. Many are wondering how these plans will impact the state, since it depends heavily on oil and gas production.
Joe Del Bosque, a farmer in California’s San Joaquin Valley, regarding the state’s extreme drought that has forced him to uproot his almond trees years earlier than planned due to the lack of water. California’s almond industry produces about 80 percent of the world’s almonds. (Associated Press — August 17, 2021)
The increase in food stamp assistance for needy families, the largest in the program’s history. The bump will start in October and will be available indefinitely for all 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.
Labor market shortages and private-sector competition compel states and localities to get creative. Removing a major impediment to filling vacant jobs seems worth a look.
The pandemic has given frustrated solo commuters some relief, but history suggests that its effects may not last. Maybe Ebenezer Scrooge actually knew something.
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