Lawmakers in Congress are urging the Government Accountability Office to investigate so-called "zombie mines," abandoned mine lands on hold indefinitely, rather than being safely closed and reclaimed. According to the Center for Public Integrity, Ohio and other Appalachian states are littered with hundreds of zombie mines, allowing companies to avoid paying for environmental cleanup. Erin Savage, senior program manager for Appalachian Voices, explained permit transfers allow companies to shed their responsibilities and the region has seen many go bankrupt in the last decade. .
A new poll finds in Arizona, an overwhelming majority believes increasing the number of adults with college degrees, certificates, and credentials would help many people reach a better quality of life and prevent economic hardships. Rich Nickel is the president and CEO of Education Forward Arizona, the group that commissioned the poll. He said most Arizonans support the Achieve60AZ goal of at least 60% of working-age adults completing education beyond high school by the year 2030. .
One Utah woman is sharing her story during American Heart Month to spread awareness about how important preventive heart health care is. Claire Larson, a cardiac arrest survivor, was a 28-year-old aerobics teacher in April 2000, who said she felt healthy and "on top of the world," until she experienced cardiac arrest and was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Larson explained her heart condition eventually led her to needing a transplant in 2016. .
Immigrants whose cases are heard in Omaha s Immigration Court are often denied their due process rights, according to a report from the ACLU of Nebraska. Data were collected from more than 500 pretrial hearings between April and August 2023. Due process violations included judges not informing people of their rights more than 80% of the time. .
More than 7,000 people age 50 or older are serving time in Alabama prisons, and prison reform advocates have said the system is ill prepared for their needs. Overcrowding and understaffing are even tougher on older prisoners, and this legislative session, the group Alabama Appleseed is urging lawmakers to reconsider the state laws for "second chances" for such offenders. Carla Crowder, executive director of the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, said House Bill 29 would allow judges to review previous sentences, even in cases where the district attorney might oppose a review. .