Category: US

  • Nonprofits find unusual funding from marijuana sales

    Similar to how states fund children’s programs using taxes from cigarette sales, California uses sales tax from marijuana sales to give grants to community organizations that serve people and communities harmed by the war on drugs. Not all nonprofits think it’s a good idea, however. The Associated Press has the story: California providing grants to…

  • Does Derek Chauvin have a chance appealing?

    After being convicted on three counts in the death of George Floyd, former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin now has a chance to appeal. There are several grounds he will likely use for his appeal, but he probably doesn’t have a good chance at getting the convictions reversed. The Associated Press has the story: Analysis:…

  • Mental health counselors replacing police with feds’ funding

    President Joe Biden’s recent coronavirus relief bill contained funding for states to provide mental health counselors who can be used in place of the police. In Eugene, Oregon, these teams handled 24,000 calls in the area in 2019, which the vast majority would have otherwise fallen to police. The Associated Press has the story: Transition…

  • Tons of plastic out of remote Hawaii atolls

    Tons of plastic out of remote Hawaii atolls HONOLULU (AP) — A crew returned from the northernmost islands in the Hawaiian archipelago this week with a boatload of marine plastic and abandoned fishing nets that threaten to entangle endangered Hawaiian monk seals and other animals on the uninhabited beaches stretching more than 1,300 miles north…

  • When do COVID-19 vaccines wear off?

    The COVID-19 vaccines haven’t been around long enough to determine when their effects will wear off. So far, they appear to last at least six months, and researchers believe it will end up being a year before they begin wearing off. The Associated Press has the story: Experts assess how long COVID-19 vaccines last for…

  • Police kill black teenage girl who was swinging knife

    Just minutes before the verdict came out in the George Floyd killing case, police in Columbus, Ohio, fatally shot a 16-year-old black girl who was threatening two people with a knife. Video footage of the shooting has been released. The mayor is defending the officer. The Associated Press has the story: Ma’Khia Bryant, 16-year-old black…

  • Third-grader holds food drives to help in pandemic

    Third-grader holds food drives to help in pandemic CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — Neighbors walked by during their morning stroll, passing families waved from their bikes and drivers slowed down long enough to read the hand-drawn sign — “Dylan’s Food Drive.” The poster was taped to two PVC pipes that were stuck inside construction cones for…

  • Sikh community in the U.S. traumatized by another shooting

    Sikh community in the U.S. traumatized by another shooting INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ajeet Singh had to steel himself for a return to work at a FedEx warehouse in Indianapolis on Tuesday for the first time since a former employee shot dead eight people, including four members of Indianapolis’ tightly knit Sikh community. “I’ve been scared…

  • George W. Bush slams GOP as ‘nativist’ and more

    During an interview with NBC’s Today, former President George W. Bush had some harsh words for the Republican Party as it exists after his tenure. While he didn’t mention former President Donald Trump by name, his criticisms of the GOP’s stance on immigration seemed directed at him. The Associated Press has the story: Former President…

  • Biden bringing in 22k more seasonal workers

    As the economy improves, President Joe Biden is bringing in an extra 22,000 seasonal non-agricultural workers to enter the country. Of those, 6,000 will be set aside for the Northern Triangle countries of Central America. The Associated Press has the story: Biden increases cap on seasonal foreign workers from 66,000 to 88,000 WASHINGTON (AP) —…