Toledo City Council approves medical debt relief legislation
In a 7-5 vote, council members approved legislation to create a partnership between the city and a nonprofit group called RIP Medical Debt to relieve debt for eligible Toledo residents.
North & Central America
Second oil company cancels its oil and gas lease in the Alaskan Arctic
Knik Arm Services has canceled its oil and gas lease for a tract of land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, following fierce opposition by the Indigenous Gwich’in committee and environmental groups.
Jaguar populations in Mexico are rebounding thanks to conservation efforts
In Mexico, the number of jaguars is now growing, increasing to 4,766 animals in 2018 from 4,025 in 2010, a promising sign that conservation strategies are working.
Colorado voters pass historic psychedelic decriminalization act
The measure creates a regulatory framework for psychedelic clinics to operate in the state and completely decriminalizes personal use and possession of several natural hallucinogenic plants.
Millennial fathers in the U.S. spend more quality time with children than in previous generations
Fathers in the U.S. have a growing preference for spending time with their children over working. According to Pew Research, dads spend three times more time with their children than two generations ago. Most of these men now see being a good father as central to their identity.
Prevalence of dementia is declining among older Americans
The age-adjusted prevalence of dementia declined from 12.2 percent of people over age 65 in 2000 to 8.5 percent of people over age 65 in 2016—a nearly one-third drop from the 2000 level, according to a new RAND Corporation study.
“Remarkable” results for new maternal RSV vaccine in Phase 3 trial
Maternal vaccination reduced rates of severe medically attended lower respiratory tract illness due to RSV by 81.8% across the first three months of life.
Trans people in the U.S. can now easily update their gender with the Social Security Administration
The Social Security Administration has announced that it is now possible to self-select sex on Social Security records without the need to provide any legal or medical proof of a gender change.
Radioactive implant wipes tumors in unprecedented pre-clinical success
Across all the models tested, the scientists report a 100% response rate. They deployed the treatment against pancreatic cancer specifically, but believe the results bode well for its wider application.
Marriage equality is now legal in all of Mexico after the final states approve it
In a 23 to 12 vote (with two abstentions), Tamaulipas became the 32nd state to legalize same-sex marriage, after the state of Guerrero did so just the day before.