Oklahoma voters approve Medicaid expansion
At least 200,000 Oklahoman adults will be newly eligible for Medicaid, but program enrollment may climb even higher as the state’s unemployment rate has surged to nearly 13 percent.
Citizens
Two-thirds of Americans think the government should do more on climate change
A majority of Americans continue to say they see the effects of climate change in their own communities and believe that the federal government falls short in its efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center.
Black-owned bookstores in the U.S. are flooded with orders for anti-racism titles
Black booksellers around the United States were worried about coronavirus shutdowns hurting their business. Now they’re being deluged with orders of anti-racist titles following protests against police brutality around the world.
European soccer players wear ‘Black Lives Matter’ kits, kneel at start of games
The English Premier League returned Wednesday with Aston Villa taking on Sheffield United and Manchester City playing Arsenal. “Black Lives Matter” stretched from end to end on the back of each player’s jersey, rather than displaying a name.
Ella Jones elected first black mayor of Ferguson, Missouri
Six years ago, before the nation was gripped by the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, it was Ferguson that served as the nation’s epicenter for protests against law enforcement.
Gay weddings boost U.S. economy by $3.8 billion since landmark ruling
Some $3.2 billion has been spent on weddings, while thousands of traveling wedding guests spent $544 million. The events generated an additional $244 million in state and local taxes, the research found.
Tens of thousands around the world protest George Floyd’s death in global display of solidarity
Tens of thousands of protesters have marched in the US for six consecutive nights over the death of George Floyd at the hands of a police officer. Demonstrators now have gathered in London, Berlin and Auckland, among other cities, in solidarity with the US crowds.
23,000 adults and counting volunteer to contract COVID-19 in order to accelerate research
The “1 Day Sooner” campaign is rallying for healthy, low-risk adults to participate in a “human challenge trial” for developing a coronavirus vaccine. Now, almost 24,000 adults and counting across 102 countries have expressed interested.
Japan suicides decline as COVID-19 lockdown causes shift in stress factors
April’s 20% drop compared with a year earlier may be the result of delays to start of school year, less commuting and more time with family
Landslide victory in South Korean elections sets the stage for EU-style Green New Deal
South Korea, well ahead of the curve compared to many countries in its COVID-19 response efforts, also leads the way in touting renewable energy investments as a way to lead us back to thriving, secure economies.