California condors return to Sequoia National Park for first time in 50 years
By 1985, only nine condors remained in the wild. This sighting signals that federal efforts to bring the California condor back from near-extinction are working.
States & provinces
15 U.S. states follow California’s push to electrify all trucks and buses by 2045
Fifteen states and Washington, DC have announced that they will follow California’s lead in switching all heavy-duty trucks, vans, and buses over to running on electricity, in what could be one of the most significant efforts to reduce harmful diesel engine pollution in the United States.
Oregon to officially vote on legalizing psychedelic psilocybin therapy
The state of Oregon will officially vote on legalizing psilocybin psychotherapy in the upcoming November election, after well over 150,000 signatures were collected to secure the landmark ballot measure.
Vermont becomes first U.S. state to ban throwing food waste in trash
Residents are now required to compost any unfinished food—including inedible scraps like peels, egg shells, and pits—in their yard or through a professional compost facility.
Mississippi to remove state flag, the last in the United States to display the Confederate battle emblem
The removal of the flag marks the latest Confederate symbol to topple following George Floyd’s death as activists have called for a reexamination of the racism in American society.
California makes zero-emission trucks and vans mandatory by 2045
It’s the first rule of its kind in the United States, and it follows California’s 2018 decision to mandate that transit agencies purchase all-electric buses starting in 2029, as well as its long-standing Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program for passenger cars and trucks.
Minnesota sues ExxonMobil, Koch Industries, & American Petroleum Institute over climate deceptions
The lawsuit, filed in state court, alleges violations of state laws pertaining to consumer fraud, deceptive trade practices, and false advertising. Minnesota attorney general Keith Ellison says the companies devised plans to deceive the public about climate change science.
Nevada plans to adopt California’s fuel economy standards
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has decided to side with California and Tesla, not Donald Trump and certain lagging automakers, on the need for cleaner cars. Governor Sisolak that Nevada will adopt California’s fuel economy regulations.
Colorado passes historic police reforms following protests
Colorado passed one of the most comprehensive police reform packages in the country, setting limits on police use of force and mandating data collection to make sure cops who are fired from one agency don’t get rehired by another.
New Jersey becomes first state to incorporate climate change in K-12 curriculum
New Jersey will become the first in the United States to incorporate climate change into the curriculum of kindergartners through high school seniors. The new standards take effect in September 2021 and 2022 and offer a broad outline on why the planet is warming and what can be done to mitigate it.