Public Policy "NEWS"

Listening in on some debates over the future of climate engineering – the deliberate manipulation of the climate system to offset some or all of the warming humans cause by burning fossil fuels – induced wild bouts of déjà vu for a couple of decades. On one side, scientists and other experts might be urging a carefully monitored research program into its potential hazards and advantages; on the other, other scientists would insist that its hazards are too hard to nail down and that playing around with the climate system would give the world an excuse for burning those dirty fuels for as long as it pleased. Déjà vu or not, this has gone on for a while. Read more Is Climate Engineering the Answer? Efforts Commence

This Earth Day (April 22nd), the theme is "Planet vs. Plastics." Let's do our part to reduce plastic use and water waste to keep our oceans and waterways clean! Planning a road trip?  Want to hit the open road but don’t want it to take a toll on the environment? Good news! Here are some tips on how to turn your road trip into an eco-adventure. 1. Get started. 2. Rely on your feet. 3. Slow down or ditch the motor altogether. Fuel Efficiency First: Rent Green Wheels, if possible: hybrid/EV for the settlement score for the best miles per gallon or the lowest amount of emissions. Pack Light: Every pound counts! Less weight means better fuel economy. 1 . Map it Out: If you plan your route, you minimize unnecessary miles driven, maintaining the fastest route. 2 . It’s All About Local Search: Hitting your turn-by-turn directions search button raises a better selection of nearby results. 3 . Real-time Traffic Advisories: This functionality provides timely updates regarding tra...

Case:  Callais et al v. Landry Court:  US District Court for the Western District of Louisiana Case Number:  3:2024cv00122 Filed:  January 31, 2024 Plaintiffs: Twelve white Mississippians Defendant: Nancy Landry Issue: Whether Louisiana's newly enacted congressional map violates the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The plaintiffs allege the map is a racial gerrymander that dilutes the voting strength of white voters. Status: A consolidated preliminary injunction hearing and trial is scheduled for April 8-10, 2024 (today!). This means the court will decide whether to temporarily block the use of the map while the lawsuit proceeds. The Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP and several other individuals and organizations have sought to intervene in the case to defend the map. This case stems from a previous lawsuit, Robinson v. Ardoin, where the court found Louisiana's original congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act. The new ma...

Benefits: Improved Public Transportation:  Bus lanes give buses dedicated space, allowing them to travel faster and more reliably. This encourages ridership, reduces reliance on cars, and reduces overall traffic congestion. Reduced Emissions:  Fewer cars on the road translates to less pollution and cleaner air, contributing to a healthier environment. Accessibility:  Efficient public transportation makes it easier for people who don't own cars, like students, seniors, or low-income residents, to get around. This fosters a more inclusive community. Economic Boost:  Reliable public transport can connect residents to job opportunities and businesses to a wider customer base, potentially boosting the local economy. Drawbacks: Initial Traffic Disruption:  Adding bus lanes often takes up space previously used by cars, which can lead to congestion during the construction and adjustment period. Business Concerns:  Some businesses worry that bus lanes might make it ...

Tracking environmental performance over time can flag when action is needed to improve practices at the facility in light of changing conditions. Aside from regulations, good environmental records reflect responsible management and can only be an asset. They also ensure that companies and other organizations obey the ecological rules designed to safeguard the quality of air, water, and soil and the public's overall safety.  Read more

The United States is becoming increasingly diverse. In the 2020 Census, 57.8 percent of the population identified as ‘white, not Hispanic or Latino’, compared with 63.7 percent in the 2010 Census and 69.1 percent in 2000. Non-Hispanic white people are projected to make up under 50 percent of the population by 2045. Not surprisingly, as the population increases in diversity, so does the electorate. In a new report, US Census data and projections are examined to determine how the demographics of eligible voters and the population have generally changed in recent decades and are expected to continue to change. The report also examines voter turnout trends and congressional districts by race, income, and education level. It looks forward to what the congressional reapportionment and redistricting process following the 2020 Census will mean for US House of Representatives elections over the next decade.  Read more

There’s a significant opportunity to invest in technology to improve efficiency and safety, reduce physical strains, and minimize worker injuries. However, planning is required to ensure these benefits are passed on to workers and businesses alike. Improving farm work will involve bringing farmers, workers, policymakers and consumers together as collaborators and partners to restructure the agricultural system collectively towards greater justice and sustainability.