Virginia bans the gay/trans panic legal defense
It’s the 12th state to ban defendants from arguing they “panicked” when they found out their victim was LGBTQ.
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.
New York must offer vaccine to all prisoners immediately, judge rules
A judge in the Bronx ruled that people incarcerated in the state’s prisons and jails had been arbitrarily excluded from the coronavirus vaccine rollout.
Massachusetts passes sweeping climate legislation to reduce emissions
The law, which was passed last week by Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, sets emission limits at 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 and 75 percent below by 2040 with interim limits every five years.
U.S. announces measures to expand offshore wind energy production
The New Wind Energy Area off the coast of New Jersey will be available for lease to offshore wind companies and the federal government will also make $3 billion in funding available through its loan guarantee program to incentivize wind energy investment.
U.S. Federal Judge blocks further oil and gas extraction in Ohio’s Wayne National Forest
The ruling rebuked the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for failing to consider threats to public health, endangered species, and watersheds before opening more than 40,000 acres of the forest to fracking last year.
Supreme Court Of Canada upholds national carbon tax
The Supreme Court of Canada ruled this week a federal carbon tax that is legal pursuant to the “peace, order, and good government” provisions of the Canadian constitution.
American bald eagle population has quadrupled over the last decade
A recent report conducted by the US Fish and Wildlife Service said that there were over 316,700 bald eagles and more than 71,400 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states documented during the 2019 breeding season.
Dr. Rachel Levine makes history as first trans official confirmed by U.S. Senate
After a bipartisan vote, Dr. Levine will be the assistant secretary of health at the Department of Health and Human Services despite opposition from the religious right.
Virginia bans cosmetic testing on animals
Senator Jennifer Boysko and Delegate Kaye Kory introduced the bill. Its passage makes Virginia the fourth state in the U.S. to make a law prohibiting cosmetic animal testing.
Morehouse College and Spelman College co-create Center for Black Entrepreneurship with $10 million from Bank of America
The Center for Black Entrepreneurship will be the first-ever academic center to assemble, educate, and empower a new class of Black entrepreneurial talent.