A new rule, requiring 82% of new car and truck sales in Colorado to be zero-emissions vehicles by 2032, could begin to turn the tide on the state s persistent unhealthy air quality. The transportation sector is the largest contributor to ground-level ozone, a potent combination of pollutants with particulates small enough to lodge in lungs. Sarah Clark - a lead organizer at the Sierra Club - said ozone contributes to multiple health issues, including asthma, lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and even premature death. .
North Dakota s special legislative session on budget technicalities did not bring many surprises. Groups wanting to see more action on child care funding said solutions were left on the table, and they plan to keep the conversation going. Prior to last week s session, the state adopted a child care plan in the spring, which included $66 million to address access and affordability issues. .
For the first time in more than a decade, Washington residents will not see advisory votes on their ballots in this year s elections. Advisory votes asked people if they approved of tax laws passed by the Legislature, although the results had no effect on the tax laws themselves. Critics argued they cluttered ballots, making them harder to understand. .
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has asked Michigan lawmakers to give all workers in the state some "breathing room" by creating a new program to offer them paid family and medical leave. The legislation is expected to come up for a vote and advocacy groups say it s much needed. .
A new report found a troubling rise in health challenges for mothers and children across the country. The United Health Foundation has released its America s Health Rankings Health of Women and Children Report. It found maternal mortality increased 29% between 2014 and 2021. .