Seattle becomes the first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws
Seattle has become the first major city in the U.S. to ban plastic straws and utensils. Businesses that don’t comply with the ban can now face a $250 fine.
North & Central America
This archive covers progress stories from North and Central America, spanning the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the countries of Central America. The 1,760 articles here track milestones in areas such as public health, conservation, policy, and community-led initiatives across the region. Browse to find reported evidence of what is working and why.
Iowa Supreme Court blocks 72-hour abortion waiting period law
The judge sided with Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa in a lawsuit.
Virginia and New York enact first laws demanding mental health education
The Empire State’s law, which was reportedly written in 2015, says mental health is “an integral part of our overall health and should be an integral part of health education in New York schools.”
California passes sweeping law to protect online privacy
The new law grants consumers the right to know what information companies are collecting about them, why they are collecting that data and with whom they are sharing it.
Massachusetts governor to sign bill on $15 minimum wage
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) will sign a bill on Thursday to gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2023.
U.S. Supreme Court rules that police will need a warrant for cell phone location data
The motion, which was passed in a 5-4 majority on Friday, is a definitive stepping stone to setting up a framework that protects Americans from law enforcement and government officials taking advantage of our technological lives.
Record number of LGBT candidates running for governor in the United States
2018 is the first time in American history that more than one open LGBT person has won a gubernatorial nomination in any given year.
Hawaii bans use of toxic pesticide chlorpyrifos
Hawaii governor David Ige signed a bill banning the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, which has been linked to increased risk of learning disabilities, lower IQs, developmental delays, and behavior problems in children.
Uber announces premium pay for drivers of hybrid & electric vehicles
The one-year pilot program gives drivers of electric vehicles in a handful of cities extra pay and incentives to drive an electric vehicle.
Canada becomes second nation in the world to legalize marijuana
Recreational marijuana use will soon be legal in Canada after the Senate passed a “historic” bill on Tuesday with a vote of 52-29.