New California budget offers two free years of community college
The new California budget spends $280 million in total to make college more affordable.
States & provinces
Illinois is expunging marijuana convictions from nearly 800,000 criminal records
In addition to legalizing marijuana, Illinois HB 1438 offers relief to the roughly 770,000 residents of the state with marijuana-related offenses on their criminal records.
Maine and Vermont ban plastic bags
Governors in Vermont and Maine signed bills on the same day that will ban plastic bags in their states in 2020.
Pride flag flies over California Capitol for the first time
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the rainbow flag would be flown over the California State Capitol through July 1 in recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month.
Nevada become first in the U.S. to ban employers from refusing to hire those who fail marijuana tests
Starting in 2020, Nevada employers cannot refuse to hire a job applicant for failing a marijuana screening test, making it the first state to pass such a law.
California becomes the first state in the U.S. to expand health coverage to undocumented residents
The plan will provide Medicaid coverage to approximately 90,000 undocumented residents between ages 19 and 25.
Washington State becomes first in the United States to allow human composting
The practice reduces the environmental impact and saves land from being taken up by cemetery plots and headstones.
Indian state Madhya Pradesh breaks Guinness World Record, plants 66 million trees in just 12 hours
Madhya Pradesh created a new Guinness World Record after 1.5 million volunteers planted more than 66 million tree saplings within half a day along the Narmada river.
Illinois to legalize marijuana sales, expunge criminal records for pot crimes
State lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Friday and Gov. JB Pritzker said he will sign the measure, which make Illinois the first state to legalize marijuana sales via its legislature.
Colorado governor signs bill defelonizing single-use drug possession
Under the newly passed law, those caught with small amounts of drugs would face a misdemeanor instead of a felony charge.