Women created almost half of all new businesses in the U.S. last year
5 million businesses were founded in the U.S. in 2022. 47% of those new businesses were founded by women. Before the pandemic, just 29% of American entrepreneurs were women.
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.
Maryland passes bill protecting gender-affirming care access for trans people on Medicaid
“While other states are dead set on ripping away reproductive rights and attempting to erase the existence of trans and nonbinary individuals, we’re doing the opposite: We’re making Maryland a state that is welcoming, inclusive, and that safeguards the rights of all people.”
New York passes U.S.’s first statewide ban on gas in new buildings
Starting in 2026, new buildings under seven stories won’t be allowed to include stoves, furnaces or water heaters that burn gas and other fossil fuels. Larger buildings are required to comply starting in 2029.
Washington state becomes 10th U.S. state to ban assault weapons sales
The ban applies to all semiautomatic rifles less than 30 inches in length, as well as other semiautomatic firearms with features such as thumbhole stocks and additional hand grips.
Funders launch pledge to support tribal-led restoration & conservation efforts in the U.S.
Tribal-led conservation is finally getting the funding it deserves — and the scale of this commitment reflects how seriously some funders are taking that responsibility. Fifteen philanthropic organizations have pledged $102.5 million over five years to support Indigenous-led stewardship, a meaningful shift given that less than 0.5% of philanthropic dollars have historically reached Native communities. The 574 federally recognized tribes already manage more than 140 million acres, yet annual funding for that work has remained strikingly thin. Because the pledge is voluntary and self-determined, sustained follow-through will matter far more than the launch itself.
Machine learning model accurately predicts stroke using existing data
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon, Florida International, and Santa Clara Universities have developed an automated screening tool using machine learning that can predict strokes with 84% accuracy, outperforming existing diagnostic models.
Washington State passes “shield law” to protect people from out-of-state seeking gender-affirming care and abortions
H.B. 1469 prohibits Washington legal authorities from cooperating with out-of-state subpoenas, court orders, warrants, and extradition requests regarding gender and reproductive health care.
Alzheimer’s proteins beaten back by sleeping pill in small study
The pills showed promise in combating the substances that lead to the harmful tangles and plaques in the brain that contribute to the disease.
Apple will use 100% recycled cobalt in batteries by 2025
In addition, all Apple-designed printed circuit boards will use 100% recycled tin soldering and 100% recycled gold plating by 2025, and magnets in its devices will be made completely of recycled rare earth materials.
Convictions cleared for nearly 850K Michiganders as ‘Clean Slate’ program takes effect
The bipartisan “Clean Slate” legislation, as advocates call it, wipes clean a range of convictions from people’s records after a defined waiting period.