California bans gun sales to people under 21
The bill will prevent people under 21 from buying rifles and other types of guns.
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.
Pennsylvania to toughen gun laws in domestic violence cases
The bill will force people in Pennsylvania with a domestic violence ruling against them to more quickly surrender their gun.
Amazon agrees to $15 an hour for warehouse workers
Amazon will begin paying hundreds of thousands of warehouse workers a minimum wage of $15 per hour, the company said Tuesday, following criticism from lawmakers that some employees at one of the country’s wealthiest companies are dependent on public assistance.
California becomes first U.S. state to require women on corporate boards
California will be the first state to require publicly traded companies to have at least one woman on their board of directors.
California becomes first U.S. state to ban sale of animal-tested cosmetics
The bill prohibits manufacturers from trying to “import for profit, sell, or offer for sale” any cosmetic that is tested on animals. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020.
U.S. Court restores federal protections for Yellowstone-area grizzly bears
A U.S. District Court judge restored federal protections to grizzly bears in and around Yellowstone National Park, overturning a Trump administration finding.
Paralyzed patients walk again with help from new, revolutionary pain stimulator
The new research shows that electrical stimulation of the spine can re-educate the body and help move the legs even though signals from the brain are cut off.
The Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative debuts a bottle that can be cleaned, refilled, and resold without being broken down
It’s the first such system in the country, according to the report, and could vastly decrease the environmental impact of beverage sales.
State of Wisconsin ordered to cover surgeries for transgender University of Wisconsin employees
U.S. District Judge William Conley concluded that there was no legally valid reason to exclude medically necessary care for the workers and called some of the state’s arguments “unhinged from reality.”
Starbucks to design, build and operate 10,000 ‘greener stores’ globally by 2025
The stores would run on 100 per cent renewable energy, ensure waste was reduced by donating unsold food to local banks and use state-of-the-art technology to ensure that annual water consumption is reduced by 30 per cent.