San Francisco creates world’s first ever transgender cultural district
The creation of Compton’s Transgender Cultural District is to stop the displacement of trans people from a place they were traditionally welcomed in, and to teach trans history.
North & Central America
This archive covers progress stories from North and Central America, spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the nations of Central America. Readers will find reporting on health, environment, community resilience, and policy advances across the region.
Michigan becomes first state in Midwest to allow recreational cannabis
Michigan is now the first Midwestern state to legally allow recreational cannabis. It’s the 10th state to legalize recreational pot.
Cost of carbon capture plummets thanks to two new techniques
A new study says the latest technology is 67% less expensive that it was just a few years ago and can remove 97% of carbon dioxide emissions at one third the cost of similar technology in 2014.
District of Columbia lawmakers vote for 100 percent clean power by 2032
The D.C. City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted “yes” in a preliminary vote to require 100 percent of electricity in the district to come from renewable sources by 2032.
The U.S. establishes its first cybersecurity defense agency
President Donald Trump signed into law the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Act of 2018, thereby establishing the first agency devoted to defending U.S. infrastructure from both cyber and physical attacks.
New peanut allergy drug shows ‘lifesaving’ potential
The results of a new study may lead to approval of what could be the first oral medication that ameliorates reactions in children with severe peanut allergies.
Gun control groups eclipse NRA in U.S. election spending
Amid a numbing succession of mass shootings, gun control groups outspent the National Rifle Association in the midterm election cycle.
The U.S. FCC approves SpaceX’s plan to launch 7,518 internet satellites
Elon Musk says that the Starlink satellite constellation will maintain a line of sight to everyone on Earth, providing global internet connectivity.
B.C. government to provide transgender surgery
The British Columbia government announced Friday it will provide reconstructive lower surgery for transgender people.
Massachusetts voters uphold transgender rights law
The Yes on 3 campaign described Massachusetts as the first state in the nation “to successfully defend transgender rights by popular vote.”