Trump to declare opioid crisis a ‘public health emergency’
President Trump on Thursday will announce he is directing his Department of Health and Human Services to declare the opioid crisis a public health emergency
United States
This archive collects solutions-journalism stories and milestones from the United States — covering policy wins, community-led efforts, scientific advances, and social progress happening across the country. Each entry highlights what’s working and why it matters.
California becomes first state to legally recognize a third gender
SB 179 helps people of all gender identities be their authentic selves.
California passes first cleaning product chemical disclosure law in U.S.
On Sunday, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill No. 258, otherwise known as the Cleaning Products Right to Know Act.
California DISCLOSE Act signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown to combat dark money
Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the landmark California DISCLOSE Act (AB 249), the nation’s most comprehensive election disclosure law.
Oregon’s new motor voter law is registering more young people
Since registered voters skew older, Oregon’s automatic voter registration law is correcting the age bias and giving people of all ages access to the ballot.
Breast-cancer death rate in the United States drops almost 40 percent, saving 322,000 lives
Breast cancer death rates declined almost 40 percent between 1989 and 2015, averting 322,600 deaths, the American Cancer Society reported Tuesday.
L.A. City Council replaces Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day on city calendar
Over the objections of Italian American civic groups, the council made the second Monday in October a day in L.A. to commemorate “indigenous, aboriginal and native people.”
U.S. wind and solar power helped prevent up to 12,700 deaths
The lower carbon emissions were worth billions of dollars as a result of the avoidance of the range of problems caused by fossil fuels.
Orlando becomes 40th U.S. city to commit to 100% renewable energy
The Orlando City Commission unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday establishing a goal to move Orlando to 100 percent clean and renewable energy by 2050.
Rhode Island becomes fourth U.S. state to make community college free
The Promise Scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and fees at the Community College of Rhode Island for new students starting this fall regardless of their income.