A new study suggests laws in New Mexico and 22 other states to protect school-aged LGBTQ youth are having a positive impact. According to research by the Trevor Project, suicide attempts in states with specific protections for LGBTQ youth were 18% lower, and physical violence reported by those youth was 3% lower. Katalina Hadfield, a member of Equality New Mexico s board of directors, said she believes the state s progressive protections are due to a community-centered culture. .
Wisconsin women have made progress in closing gaps when it comes to being elected to public office. But some voices worry the movement might slow down as candidates see increasing levels of threats and harassment. The Brennan Center for Justice recently issued findings that detail the threatening behavior those in the political arena are experiencing now. .
Late Friday, a majority of Volkswagen workers in Chattanooga overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers. The vote is historic, as they are the first workers in the South outside the "Big Three" automakers to be successful. Among the more than 3,600 workers, 73% voted for the UAW to represent them. .
New York towns are reaping many benefits since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed. Along with funds for larger clean energy projects, the state was awarded $158 million for the IRA s Home Energy Rebates program. Smaller towns and villages use these grants to implement their climate action plans. .
By Brian DeVore for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service Collaboration Under pewter-colored skies, Alan Bedtka tramps through the snow and past a stand of sorghum-sudangrass, its chest-high stems rattling in the harsh wind. The tall forage stands out in southeastern Minnesota’s corn and soybean fields, which this time of year have been reduced to stubble poking through the snow. Bedtka is in his mid-30s and working to raising a small cow-calf beef herd profitably. .