Maine passes 2 bills to reduce ‘welfare cliff’
The bills aim to keep families transitioning from welfare to work from losing health, financial, and education benefits until they are earning enough to fully support themselves.
Good News Links
48% of the new cars sold in Norway in 2019 are fully electric
Almost half of new cars sold in Norway in the first six months of 2019 were fully electric, up from just over 25% in the same period last year.
Air New Zealand to remove around 55 million plastic items from flights
The plastic-free initiative was initiated in 2018, with the company replacing five single-use plastic products across its domestic services.
Minnesota Methodists resolve to allow officiating of same-sex unions, LGBT ordination
Members of Minnesota’s United Methodist Church voted to commit to full inclusion of LGBT people.
Nestle creates wrapper that degrades in the sea within six months
“We know it will degrade in a marine environment within six months, which, compared to the flow wrap that it’s currently in, it’s about 450 years.”
New California budget offers two free years of community college
The new California budget spends $280 million in total to make college more affordable.
The Co-op Group commits to reducing GHG emissions 50% by 2025
The U.K. retail company’s Annual General Meeting 2019 saw 98% of Co-op Members vote in favor to take action against the climate crisis.
New York City begins enforcing Styrofoam ban
The city banned Styrofoam because the material can’t be “recycled in a manner that is economically feasible” or “environmentally effective.”
Scientists eliminate HIV in animal genome in historic first
Existing HIV treatment used antiretroviral therapy, which is not a cure for HIV and requires lifelong use. In this study, researchers used a gene editing system to remove large fragments of HIV DNA from infected cells, along with a new drug regimen called long-acting slow-effective release. This approach eliminated HIV DNA from about one-third of the mice, marking the first time that HIV had been eradicated from the genomes of living animals.
Lightyear unveils the world’s first long-range solar car
Lightyear’s solar-powered EV boasts a range of 450 miles on a single charge – far more than the 370 miles of Tesla’s market-leading Model S.