Wednesday, February 1, 2023

PNS Daily Newscast - February 1, 2023
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New Mexico legislation would boost protections for LGBTQ students, Idaho makes a big jump in higher-education attainment, and this year's Monarch butterfly winter count showed significant improvement.

2023Talks - February 1, 2023
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The Senate considers police reforms in the wake of Tyre Nichols' killing, members of Congress want a new vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, and George Santos voluntarily steps down from his committee appointments.

The Yonder Report - January 26, 2023
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"Brain Gain?" Research shows rural population is actually growing, especially in recreational areas; other small towns are having success offering relocation incentives like free building lots, cash, complimentary dinners and even internet credits; and researchers say the key is flexibility and creativity.

Massachusetts

Callers to the newly launched Abortion Legal Hotline at 833-309-6301 can leave specific call-back or messaging instructions and someone will call or message that person back within two to three business days to gather information about the caller's legal questions. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

MA Launches Free Legal Advice Hotline Regarding Abortion Care

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has announced the launch of a new hotline for abortion-care providers and people seeking confidential lega…

Facial-recognition technology companies, which originally partnered with law enforcement, are now working with schools and universities to increase safety and prevent shootings by denying campus access to people who have been banned, or to monitor activity inside school buildings. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, January 30, 2023

MA Bill Would Tighten Restrictions on Facial Recognition Technology

Lawmakers in the Commonwealth are considering legislation to ensure police use of facial-recognition technology also protects people's privacy and civ…

The Center for State Policy Analysis found the Massachusetts millionaires' tax would raise about $1.3 billion in 2023 alone, and do so in a
MA Advocates of Higher Ed Set Goals for Fair Share Revenue

Advocates for higher education in the Commonwealth will gather today to collaborate on how to use revenue generated by the Fair Share Amendment which …

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is working to identify cost-effective ways to ensure the state reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85% by 2050 and achieves net-zero emissions. (Adobe Stock)
MA Leads Nation in 'Green' Building Development

Massachusetts ranks number one in the nation for "green" building development. The ranking is based on what's known as LEED certification, which is …

Unburned gas from stoves and building pipelines collected in the greater Boston area contained twenty-one different hazardous air pollutants known as volatile organic compounds, including benzene, which increases risks for asthma, cancer, and other illnesses. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Ventilation Key to Reducing Health Risks from Gas-Burning Stoves

The health risks associated with gas-burning stoves have caused a recent stir and unfounded fears of a government ban on the appliances, but …

A Poor People's Campaign report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic found the 300+ counties with the highest death rates have a poverty rate of 45%, which is 1.5 times higher than in counties with lower death rates. (PPC)
Advancing MLK’s Dream of Economic Justice in MA

Advocates for low-income workers in the Commonwealth said today is a reminder of the need to continue to advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream …

Members of MAPA's Raytheon Antiwar Campaign have participated in dozens of demonstrations at Raytheon facilities, as well as campus career fairs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Northeastern University, where Raytheon works to recruit a new generation of weapons analysts and engineers. (MAPA)
MA Activists Campaign to End Raytheon Weapons Sales to Saudi Arabia

Anti-war activists say one of the world's greatest humanitarian disasters has connections to one of the Commonwealth's largest employers, Raytheon …

The final report of the select committee to investigate the attack on the U.S. Capitol states,
MA Residents Mark Anniversary of Jan. 6 Insurrection

Events to mark the two-year anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol take place today across the Commonwealth, including in …

Starting in 2023, the pay rate for tipped service workers in the Commonwealth will increase from $6.15 an hour to $6.75, while time-and-a-half pay on Sundays and holidays will be eliminated completely. (Adobe Stock)
MA Minimum Wage Hike Not Enough for Costly Housing Market

At least 25 states are raising their minimum wage in the new year - including Massachusetts, where the minimum wage increases to $15 per hour…

A 2021 <a href=study
by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation estimates a gross state product increase of about $25 billion over five-years if the Commonwealth were to eliminate the racial disparities of wages, housing, investments, and wealth. (Adobe Stock) ">
Baby Bonds Aim to Close Racial Wealth Gap in MA

A task force assembled by the state treasurer's office said investing in government-issued Baby Bonds could help close the racial wealth gap in the Co…

The median net worth for white households in the Greater Boston area is $247,500, but for Black households it is just $8, according to a 2015 Federal Reserve study. (Adobe Stock)
Direct Cash Payments Work to Lift Families Out of Poverty

Advocates for low-income families in the Commonwealth said data showed direct cash payments to families helped bring childhood poverty to a record low…

Consumer advocates say the power-wheelchair market is dominated by two national suppliers, both of which are owned by private equity firms, able to increase profits by limiting what they spend on technicians and repairs. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />
MA Lawmakers Urged to Strengthen Wheelchair Warranty Protections

Advocates for people with disabilities say lawmakers in the Commonwealth must strengthen wheelchair warranty protections to ensure wheelchair users ar…

 

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