Ban

Berkeley Reaches Settlement, Putting an End to Natural Gas Ban in New Buildings

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Berkeley, California – The city of Berkeley has settled a lawsuit and agreed to put an end to its ban on natural gas in new buildings. The ban, which would have required all new construction projects to use electric power instead of natural gas, has faced opposition and legal challenges since it was initially implemented in 2019. The settlement comes after the city faced legal pressure from a group of restaurant owners and the California Restaurant Association. Under the terms of the settlement, Berkeley will rescind the ban on natural gas and will instead focus … Read more

College Recruiters Outside of Alabama Offer a Welcoming Home for Black Athletes Amid DEI Ban

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Birmingham, Alabama – Mayor Randall Woodfin of Birmingham, Alabama, took to Facebook earlier this year to express his concerns over Alabama’s proposed anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bill. In his post, Mayor Woodfin stated that if the bill became law, he would consider organizing Black parents and athletes to seek educational opportunities outside of the state where diversity and inclusion are valued. On March 20, Alabama Governor Kate Ivey signed SB 129 into law, effectively banning colleges in the state from implementing DEI programs and instruction on “divisive concepts.” Although it remains to be seen … Read more

Florida Enacts Law to Ban Homeless from Public Property, Sparks Controversy and Concerns of Forced Encampments

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Tampa, Florida – Stephanie Bennett has called a tent in the woods her home for the past eight years. Recently, she learned about a new law that could make living in her tent illegal. The legislation, known as “Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping” (HB 1365), has been sent to Governor Ron DeSantis to sign. If passed, the law will prohibit people from camping or sleeping on public property in local municipalities. Under the proposed law, municipalities will be required to designate a specific public space for camping and sleeping, provided they receive approval from … Read more

Public Opinion Divided: Iowa Book Ban Law Receives Mixed Reactions as Over a Thousand Books are Removed

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Des Moines, Iowa – A new poll conducted by the Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll reveals that half of Iowans believe the state’s controversial book ban law, which has led to the removal of over a thousand books from public schools, goes too far. Meanwhile, a third of respondents view the law and subsequent removals as “about right.” Only 13% of those surveyed felt that the law did not go far enough, while 3% were undecided. The book ban law, known as Senate File 496, was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds in May 2023. This … Read more