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Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Reggio Meets Axolotls
DETROIT, Michigan, April 25 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on April 24, 2026, by Kelsy Achtenberg, educator and the director at The Innovation School in Bismarck, North Dakota:
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Reggio Meets Axolotls
Understanding grows with connected learning.
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Recently, our school's younger class was given miniature axolotl figurines. If you aren't familiar, axolotls are cute salamanders that are all the rave right now. What began as a simple, fun surprise quickly turned into something much more.
Students started by designing homes for their axolotls. They
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, April 25 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on April 24, 2026, by Kelsy Achtenberg, educator and the director at The Innovation School in Bismarck, North Dakota:
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Reggio Meets Axolotls
Understanding grows with connected learning.
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Recently, our school's younger class was given miniature axolotl figurines. If you aren't familiar, axolotls are cute salamanders that are all the rave right now. What began as a simple, fun surprise quickly turned into something much more.
Students started by designing homes for their axolotls. Theystarted thinking about habitat, environment, and what their creatures might need to live. Then the ideas grew. Those tiny figurines became characters. Each student began creating a story about who their axolotl was, where it came from, and what adventures it might have. Soon, those individual ideas expanded even further as students began building entire communities. They started connecting their axolotls' worlds, creating shared spaces, relationships, and systems within them. Our teacher didn't hand them a worksheet or assign a prompt. Instead, she stepped in as a guide to help shape their ideas into stories, naturally weaving in lessons on story elements, spelling, and grammar along the way. What could have been a quick activity became a rich, integrated learning experience driven naturally and entirely by curiosity.
And it started with a small plastic axolotl.
Before we can improve school, we have to ask a deeper question: What is school actually for? For us at The Innovation School, that question didn't lead to a packaged curriculum or a scripted program. It led us to a philosophy that has shaped how we see children, learning, and the role of a teacher. That philosophy is the Reggio Emilia approach. It began after World War II in a small town in Italy, when a community led by educator Loris Malaguzzi set out to reimagine what education could be. After the destruction of the war, they wanted a system that wasn't built on compliance or rigidity. They wanted one built on curiosity, real-life experiences, and human potential. The belief is that children are already full of ideas, questions, and theories about the world. It means that we don't simplify learning; we trust that our students are capable, and we listen just as much as we teach.
It also shifts the role of the teacher. Instead of being the "sage on the stage" delivering information, the teacher becomes a guide who observes, asks questions, and provides materials and structure when needed. The classroom itself becomes part of the learning. In Reggio Emilia, it's often called the "third teacher." Spaces are intentionally designed to invite curiosity, materials are accessible, and learning is actually visible. You'll see projects in progress, collaboration happening naturally, and thinking documented everywhere. Learning isn't something that happens to students; rather, it's something they actively build.
Learning often begins with student interest instead of a fixed curriculum. We call this inquiry. A question during play can turn into a full inquiry. A small idea can grow into weeks of exploration. Students take on the role of researchers, designers, and problem-solvers. This is what happens when learning is allowed to grow instead of being rushed. Learning in this model is deeply social. Students aren't just absorbing content; they're also learning how to work through disagreements, listen to different perspectives, and build ideas together. In a mixed-age environment like ours, this happens even more naturally. Older students lead, and younger students observe and contribute. At the same time, learning is made visible through documentation. Teachers capture progress through photos, videos, and written reflections so that students and families can see what they are working on, and also to help students revisit and deepen their thinking. It sends a clear message: your thinking matters, and your learning is your own.
Another core idea from Loris Malaguzzi is the "hundred languages of children." This is the belief that students express understanding in many different ways. This isn't just through writing or tests, but through art, movement, building, storytelling, and discussion. Not every child shows what they know on a worksheet, and not every child thrives in silence and stillness. When we expand how students can show understanding, we expand who gets to feel successful in school.
Of course, this approach isn't without its critics. Some argue that without a fixed curriculum, students will have gaps in their learning. Others worry that it lacks structure, or that it depends too heavily on student interest. There's also a concern that this kind of environment doesn't prepare students for the "real world," where expectations, deadlines, and standards exist. These are fair concerns. But what we've found is that structure and flexibility are not opposites. They can, and should, exist together. Our students are still learning standards. They are still building foundational skills in math, reading, and writing. The difference is how they get there. Skills are taught in context, not isolation. One example of this in action is our students writing reviews of local food. They've been trying different bites and drinks from local restaurants and writing honest, yet respectful, reviews. Along the way, they're learning how to form opinions, support those opinions with reasons, and communicate clearly to an audience. What looks like a fun activity is actually rich literacy work where they are practicing writing structure, grammar, vocabulary, tone, and purpose in a way that feels real and meaningful. When learning is connected and meaningful, retention deepens and understanding grows.
As for the idea that students need constant external direction to succeed, we would argue the opposite. The real world doesn't hand you a worksheet and tell you exactly what to do next. It requires problem-solving, adaptability, collaboration, and initiative. These are the very skills this kind of environment develops. And while it may look less controlled from the outside, there is a great deal of intentionality behind it. Teachers are constantly observing, adjusting, guiding, and ensuring that students are progressing. It's not a lack of structure. It's a different kind of structure that is responsive rather than rigid.
Being inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach gives us a foundation we continually return to. It provides a way to ground our decisions and reflect on our practices. Not everything we do follows the approach exactly, but it offers a clear path forward. It reminds us to see children as capable, to let curiosity lead, and to design learning that is active, social, and meaningful.
And sometimes, it starts with something as small as an axolotl.
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Kelsy Achtenberg is an educator and the director at The Innovation School in Bismarck, North Dakota. With 15 years of teaching experience and a Master's degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, she specializes in hands-on, project-based learning that helps students connect classroom learning to the real world.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/reggio-meets-axolotls/
Virginia Lawmakers Affirm Critical Legislation on Conservation, Clean Water
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 24 -- The Chesapeake Bay Foundation posted the following news release:
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Virginia Lawmakers Affirm Critical Legislation on Conservation, Clean Water
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Virginians will see new protections against "forever chemicals," bolstered climate resilience, and new funding for efforts like flood prevention-but still await a final budget-after lawmakers this week formally acted on Governor Abigail Spanberger's proposed amendments to and vetoes of legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session..
Governor Spanberger this month signed into law a number of bills on topics
... Show Full Article
ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, April 24 -- The Chesapeake Bay Foundation posted the following news release:
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Virginia Lawmakers Affirm Critical Legislation on Conservation, Clean Water
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Virginians will see new protections against "forever chemicals," bolstered climate resilience, and new funding for efforts like flood prevention-but still await a final budget-after lawmakers this week formally acted on Governor Abigail Spanberger's proposed amendments to and vetoes of legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session..
Governor Spanberger this month signed into law a number of bills on topicsranging from chemical pollution to wetlands protection that the Chesapeake Bay Foundation supported during the 2026 session. Those include:
* PFAS. Measures the governor signed into law ahead of the reconvened session include bills that will require sewage sludge used in fertilizer to be tested for PFAS, or "forever chemicals," and banned if they test positive for certain thresholds, will require wastewater treatment plants to monitor PFAS, and will allow localities to test for PFAS in biosolids.
It is now up to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and other agencies to implement and enforce measures like these.
Lawmakers and the general public also need to stay vigilant: the Virginia Department of Health just this month issued a fish consumption advisory for the Occoquan watershed due to elevated PFAS levels in certain fish species like largemouth bass and bluegill sunfish.
* RGGI. The governor this month signed a measure that ensures a swift re-entry into the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional carbon trading program for power plants that generates revenue used for priorities like flood preparedness that former Governor Glenn Youngkin exited in 2023.
Commonwealth officials are currently working to formally re-join the group in the coming months. Virginia could rejoin quarterly auctions, which generate proceeds from participating states from emissions allowances purchased by power plants, later this year.
RGGI has been a vital source of funding for priorities like flood preparedness and energy efficiency for low-income residents. CBF will closely monitor the Commonwealth's return to the program after its unfortunate - and legally dubious - exit during the previous administration.
Unfortunately, the biennial budget process has been delayed, putting key investments into clean water priorities at risk. We are urging lawmakers to include sufficient funding for the following items, among others:
* Menhaden. CBF supports including funding for long-overdue research into the menhaden population in the Chesapeake Bay amid intensifying warning signs and the high amount of harvest from the industrial fishery. Virginia has put off this research for nearly three years amid industry delay tactics. Atlantic menhaden are a critical food source for a variety of species including striped bass, redfish, humpback whales, and birds like osprey and bald eagles. Their abundance directly affects commercial and recreational fisheries, tourism, and coastal communities.
* Wastewater treatment plant funding. These investments that have enabled ongoing modernization of wastewater treatment plants have greatly reduced pollution to the Chesapeake Bay.
* Virginia Conservation Assistance Program. VCAP helps private property owners and community groups install a host of conservation that cut stormwater pollution.
* Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program. The Virginia Agricultural Cost-Share Program helps farmers install projects that reduce pollution to local waterways and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.
* Community forestry. CBF urges lawmakers to include funding for two community forestry positions within the Department of Forestry. Federal funding cuts have threatened Virginia's Urban and Community Forestry program, which administers grants, provides expertise, and supports community efforts to plant and protect trees.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Policy Manager Jay Ford issued the following statement:
"Virginia's elected leaders notched major wins during the 2026 session on cutting down toxic pollution in our waterways and bolstering climate resilience, but now comes the heavy lifting.
"On PFAS, we must ensure that DEQ and other state agencies properly implement and enforce the new regulations on the books. Virginia must continue to strengthen the law to keep the harmful chemicals out of our fertilizer and waterways.
"On RGGI, Virginia must ensure that the Commonwealth is getting its fair share from quarterly allowance auctions - and that the proceeds are directed where they are needed most for efforts like making homes more energy efficient and steeling communities against flood risk.
"Lawmakers also have a tremendous opportunity, through the biennial budget, to include new investments in priorities like menhaden research, wastewater treatment, and conservation programs. Investing in these now will be good for the economy and our public health, and will help protect what we all love about the Commonwealth over the next two years and beyond."
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Original text here: https://www.cbf.org/news/virginia-lawmakers-affirm-critical-legislation-on-conservation-clean-water/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Trump's Medical Marijuana Rescheduling is Historic--But Many Questions Remain
LOS ANGELES, California, April 24 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 23, 2026, by Managing Director of Drug Policy Michelle Minton and Research Director Geoffrey Lawrence:
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Trump's medical marijuana rescheduling is historic--but many questions remain
In a move that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago, the Trump administration has officially rescheduled state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order Thursday, delivering on President Trump's December directive and bypassing the
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LOS ANGELES, California, April 24 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 23, 2026, by Managing Director of Drug Policy Michelle Minton and Research Director Geoffrey Lawrence:
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Trump's medical marijuana rescheduling is historic--but many questions remain
In a move that would have seemed unthinkable a decade ago, the Trump administration has officially rescheduled state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the order Thursday, delivering on President Trump's December directive and bypassing theusual Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) review process via an international treaty provision.
The move is historic and arguably the most significant federal action on marijuana since Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in 1970. It legitimizes 40 state medical marijuana programs, allows medical marijuana companies to claim federal tax deductions on the same basis as other companies, and eases research barriers. But it does not imply full legalization and leaves a number of unanswered questions for state-licensed marijuana businesses, vendors, investors, patients, and consumers of marijuana products.
The order sidesteps a potentially significant obstacle by including "marijuana in any form covered by a state medical marijuana license." Normally, a Schedule III designation is reserved for pharmaceutical products that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the order does include "FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana." Since the FDA requires years of testing and typically allows only one potentially active molecule to be tested at a time, restricting FDA approval to only FDA-approved products would have effectively left almost no pathway for the majority of existing products to become legal.
Medical marijuana operators receive equitable tax treatment from the order, which will allow them to deduct ordinary business expenses from their tax liability--a practice denied to businesses "trafficking" in Schedule I substances, even with state authorization.
Research into cannabis and cannabinoids will also become easier, allowing universities and other institutions to study these compounds without risking federal funding. In particular, research can be done with the types of marijuana patients actually consume rather than marijuana provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which testing has revealed to be genetically dissimilar. The order also establishes an expedited process for DEA registration, which is now required for any entity that handles Schedule III substances, including dispensaries.
However, recreational marijuana consumers and businesses gain no relief. Cannabis for non-medical use remains Schedule I, and possession without a state-issued medical authorization remains a federal crime.
Many questions also remain, including how the federal law will treat dispensaries authorized by their state to dispense medical marijuana alongside recreational products. In Washington state, for example, 302 of 460 licensed adult-use marijuana retailers are authorized to sell tax-free cannabis to registered medical marijuana patients. The order provides no guidance on inventory segregation or liability. There is also no clear direction on whether licensees could segregate these lines of business in their tax filings, in which ordinary business expenses are allowable under one group of products but not the other. For instance, would a dual licensee be barred from claiming business deductions when they traffic in any amount of recreational marijuana?
The legality of medical marijuana products and their possession also remains ambiguous. For Schedule III drugs, like ketamine, federal law requires a DEA-registered practitioner's prescription for legal possession. But there is no FDA-approved medical marijuana flower, edible, or vape cartridge. The order legalizes sale by state-licensed dispensaries but creates no explicit federal immunity for possession by patients. A patient with a state card may be tolerated, but not legally protected.
Another uncertainty is the degree to which financial institutions will cooperate with the new rules. Moving medical marijuana to Schedule III removes some legal risks and significant compliance costs for banks and insurers who might work with state marijuana licensees. But federal regulators, like the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve, have not yet issued guidance. Until they do, many financial institutions may choose to stay on the sidelines, leaving operators undercapitalized and reliant on cash-based transactions.
How the order will affect interstate commerce is perhaps the most significant uncertainty the order creates. Because medical marijuana is now federally authorized, state laws banning the import or export of such products will likely be deemed unconstitutional under the dormant Commerce Clause. We have argued that these laws were already unconstitutional because only Congress can regulate trade between the states. Federal illegality of the underlying products made this otherwise straightforward conclusion murky, but now that medical marijuana is federally legal, state laws interfering in interstate commerce are unambiguously unconstitutional. A dispensary in Oregon can now argue that it has the right to ship to a registered patient in California, just as a cultivator or manufacturer can argue it can ship to a licensed retailer in a different state. Such claims will likely force federal courts to strike down existing state laws banning interstate commerce in these products.
This is a historic shift--there is no question. It's the end of the era where marijuana is deemed more dangerous than cocaine, and it's a big win for patients and businesses. The order goes as far as it can within the bounds of the CSA and international treaties, but will surely leave recreational consumers disappointed. Going further will require a full rescheduling hearing, which the order also sets in motion to be concluded by July 15. If that hearing doesn't result in broader rescheduling or descheduling, such a move may require an act of Congress. However, Congressional marijuana reform has proven elusive, regardless of which political party is in power.
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Michelle Minton is the managing director of drug policy at Reason Foundation.
Geoffrey Lawrence is research director at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/trump-medical-marijuana-rescheduling-historic-questions-remain/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Bailing Out Spirit Airlines Would Not Help Taxpayers, Travelers or the Airline Industry
LOS ANGELES, California, April 24 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 23, 2026, by senior transportation policy analyst Marc Scribner:
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Bailing out Spirit Airlines would not help taxpayers, travelers or the airline industry
This week, The Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that the Trump administration is in advanced negotiations to provide up to $500 million in government financing to troubled Spirit Airlines. According to the reporting, this taxpayer-backed loan would be secured by warrants that give the U.S. government the option to purchase an
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LOS ANGELES, California, April 24 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 23, 2026, by senior transportation policy analyst Marc Scribner:
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Bailing out Spirit Airlines would not help taxpayers, travelers or the airline industry
This week, The Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that the Trump administration is in advanced negotiations to provide up to $500 million in government financing to troubled Spirit Airlines. According to the reporting, this taxpayer-backed loan would be secured by warrants that give the U.S. government the option to purchase anequity stake in the company at a fixed price.
Bloomberg reported that exercising these warrants could allow the government to own up to 90% of the air carrier when it emerges from bankruptcy.
Bailing out Spirit, or any other failing budget airline, is a tremendously bad deal for taxpayers.
Spirit Airlines has twice filed for bankruptcy in recent years and is weighed down by low customer demand, high debt, and a tarnished public reputation. As a private company, Spirit should bear these risks, since only its shareholders and private lenders stand to benefit if Spirit is able to revitalize itself and avoid liquidation, which appears unlikely. A government loan, or even worse, government ownership, merely transfers these risks to taxpayers.
While noncommittal to the bailout at the time, White House spokesman Kush Desai argued that Spirit "would be on a much firmer financial footing had the Biden administration not recklessly blocked the airline's merger with JetBlue," another troubled budget airline. This is a fair point, but actions have consequences, and this does not justify a bailout that harms taxpayers in a futile attempt to alter the past.
The day before this news leaked, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters, "What we don't want to do is put good money after bad, and there's been a lot of money thrown at Spirit, and they haven't found their way into profitability. And so would we just forestall the inevitable and then own that?"
Secretary Duffy is right, and it is good that a senior administrative official is there to provide clear thinking, but it is little solace to taxpayers if the move goes ahead. What is the benefit of perpetuating a financial zombie like Spirit Airlines? There's certainly none for taxpayers, who would ultimately be responsible for this bad investment.
"This is an absolutely terrible idea," and the "government doesn't know a damn thing about running a failed budget airline," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, tweeted.
The airline industry has long been characterized by low profit margins and volatility. For these reasons, legendary investor Warren Buffett has notably avoided purchasing airline stocks. Former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall famously told his employees not to invest their money in the airline industry.
Low-cost carriers (LCCs) and ultra low-cost carriers (ULCCs) had bucked that trend in recent decades, earning steady operating profits even when their legacy competitors were in the red. This was due to the lean, agile business models of LCCs, and especially ULCCs like Spirit.
The ultra low-cost carriers bet that cutting out creature comforts to trim costs would attract a large volume of bargain-hunting leisure travelers willing to sacrifice convenience for the lowest possible airfares. This worked until it didn't.
When air travel came roaring back after the COVID-19 pandemic, customers tended to demand more premium options. Demand for first- and business-class seating on legacy network carriers surged, as those carriers continued to see major gains from their diversified financial products, such as co-branded credit cards.
The no-frills airlines were poorly suited for this sudden change in customer taste. This may well prove temporary, as the next economic recession is bound to cause consumers to tighten their belts. Adapting to market trends is the job of airline management hired by shareholders, who bear the risks of these decisions. LCCs and ULCCs have responded by offering better bundled amenities at higher prices to varying degrees of success. Bailing out those that fail to succeed is both bad policy and bad business.
The unique features of LCCs and ULCCs make a bailout of these types of airlines especially troubling. The main value of budget airlines stems from their strategy of rapidly entering and exiting routes.
In 1992, the Department of Transportation dubbed the results of this new competition "the Southwest Effect," where entry by an LCC would significantly reduce average airfares while increasing capacity, thereby benefiting all travelers regardless of the airline they chose. Economists such as Goolsbee & Syverson (2008), Resul Aydemir (2012), and Ethiraj & Zhou (2019) have found the mere perceived threat of entry by an LLC or ULCC can cause incumbent network carriers to substantially reduce their prices and adjust service quality to make their offerings more attractive to customers.
Bailing out a failing ultra-low-cost carrier risks short-circuiting these pro-competitive dynamics.
If the White House's Spirit financing deal goes through, there are two troubling potential impacts.
First, Spirit could raise prices in an attempt to limp along and repay its new creditors. This would dilute the competitive benefits of ULCC competition in the airline market.
Second, and worse, if the government takes a substantial stake in Spirit Airlines and decides to run it at a perpetual loss, as it does with Amtrak, it would undercut Spirit's private LCC and ULCC competitors and put this entire pro-competitive segment of the airline industry at risk.
Rather than aggressively intervening in the air travel market, federal policymakers have better options to enhance airline competition and consumer choice. As I discussed in my 2023 Reason Foundation report, Airline deregulation: Past experience and future reforms, existing federal policy imposes substantial barriers to airline entry. Its airport financing restrictions protect incumbent airlines' preferential-use gates and limit airport access.
Likewise, slot controls at the busiest airports encourage incumbent carriers to hoard and underuse scarce airport capacity. And finally, and most significantly, longstanding federal law has prohibited non-U.S. air carriers from serving domestic routes or even launching majority-owned U.S.-based subsidiaries. More competition in the airline industry would benefit travelers, but the barriers are largely due to misguided federal laws.
Bailing out Spirit Airlines would not help taxpayers, travelers or the airline industry. Instead of making this problem worse by undermining the airlines most responsible for the competition that does exist and exposing taxpayers to large financial risk, the White House should call on Congress to pass real reforms that would benefit both consumers and taxpayers.
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Marc Scribner is a senior transportation policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/bailing-out-spirit-airlines-would-not-help-taxpayers-travelers-airline-industry/
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: States React to Nitrous Oxide Deaths With Unnecessary, Unworkable Bans
LOS ANGELES, California, April 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 22, 2026, by senior policy fellow Hanna Liebman Dershowitz:
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States react to nitrous oxide deaths with unnecessary, unworkable bans
State legislatures truly concerned about teen safety should look beyond bans and embrace a regulatory approach that protects and educates consumers.
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In recent years, prompted by concern about danger to teens amid an increase in incidents of deaths associated with nitrous oxide use, states have scrambled to respond with legislative solutions, mostly turning
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, April 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on April 22, 2026, by senior policy fellow Hanna Liebman Dershowitz:
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States react to nitrous oxide deaths with unnecessary, unworkable bans
State legislatures truly concerned about teen safety should look beyond bans and embrace a regulatory approach that protects and educates consumers.
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In recent years, prompted by concern about danger to teens amid an increase in incidents of deaths associated with nitrous oxide use, states have scrambled to respond with legislative solutions, mostly turningto bans. While the dangers of nitrous oxide use are serious and important, there are better ways to dissuade use and provide support for young people using substances.
Colloquially known as "whip its" or "laughing gas," this is the same stuff you may remember from dental visits, assuming you've never tried it for fun.
Nitrous oxide has been used in medicine since the mid-1800s and recreationally even earlier. The short-acting, non-flammable sedative is safe for medical use, and is also widely sold as a propellant in food preparation to conveniently whip cream, and for automotive uses. When inhaled, it produces a euphoric feeling that has attracted young people seeking a cheap, quick high for many decades.
According to a study published in JAMA Network Open, annual deaths from nitrous oxide use in the U.S. increased from 23 in 2010 to 156 in 2023, a development understandably alarming to public officials. The inhalant is predominantly used by youth aged 16 to 30. Long-term use poses serious health risks, and in the rare cases when death occurs, asphyxia is typically the cause of death.
The uptick during the study period reflects a new generation of young people being exposed to this substance and a new generation of products marketing to them. The recent crop has appeared in smoke shops, gas stations, and convenience stores, as well as online, under names such as Galaxy Gas, often with catchy packaging and added flavorings.
Nitrous oxide, by virtue of not being a scheduled drug under the Controlled Substances Act, is not regulated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); rather, it is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In June 2025, the FDA updated its warnings about nitrous oxide, noting the increase in use observed by the FDA and the press.
Instead of practical responses, states have largely responded with bans and regulations that will remove the products from certain locations or impose penalties for selling to minors.
Louisiana was the first state to pass a bill responding to the renewed attention to nitrous oxide, banning retail sales for recreational use of nitrous oxide (and other substances such as butyl and amyl nitrates) in gas form in 2024.
Also in 2024, Michigan banned the sale of nitrous oxide items for recreational use, with greater penalties for selling to kids under 18.
Oklahoma followed with the "Maddix Bias Act" in 2025, criminalizing the use of nitrous oxide and adding harsher penalties for its sale by adults to people under 18. The law was named after and followed the death of a recently graduated high school baseball star who died in a single-vehicle car crash, the driver of which was found to be under the influence of nitrous oxide.
In Washington, House Bill 2532, a bill banning sales of nitrous oxide except for medical, food, or automotive uses, was sent to the governor in March after passing unanimously in both chambers and was signed into law on March 24.
Florida Senate Bill 432, also known as "Meg's Law," at press time was heading to that state's governor's desk. It passed unanimously in both houses in March. This law prohibits the sale of nitrous oxide products by tobacco and nicotine sellers.
New York A09287, which died in committee in March, would have criminalized the sale and possession of nitrous oxide for non-approved uses, and also would have added a crime of "driving while ability impaired by nitrous oxide." The bill would have also provided for education about the harms of nitrous oxide.
Minnesota House File 325 would ban only flavored nitrous oxide for recreational use. It has been introduced but has not yet moved ahead.
In Tennessee, lawmakers are responding after an adult Nashville woman, Kelly Rosenthal, died several months after sharing her addiction story on TV. "You can just walk into any smoke shop if you're over 21" to purchase nitrous oxide, she said. Tennessee's House Bill 1644/Senate Bill 1843 would prohibit vape sellers from selling nitrous oxide products. It is on the governor's desk. Another bill in that state would adopt a full ban on recreational use.
In Mississippi, lawmakers introduced a prohibition on "knowingly" selling the product for use as an inhalant. The bill died quickly before going anywhere.
A big concern of many public officials is that some of these products deploy eye-catching packaging and designs that may be especially appealing to young people, and it's fueled by popular videos on TikTok and other social media sites showing young people inhaling the products. If this is the chief concern, why aren't lawmakers trying to regulate packaging? Why create a whole new regime of prohibition?
The data reflecting greater use and deaths from nitrous oxide call for educating young people about the dangers of addiction, suffocation, and death after inhaling nitrous oxide, not banning their sale or prohibiting their sale to minors. Bans or laws that curtail sales in certain locations are unlikely to eliminate the dangers. These kinds of laws may give some parents a false sense of security, but they might also frustrate people seeking the products for legitimate uses and lead youth into situations with disreputable sellers who are motivated to sell more expensive and possibly more dangerous products.
We know that complete bans are not necessary to dissuade youth, because consumption has been drastically reduced for many more dangerous substances, such as alcohol and tobacco, without criminalizing use. Those substances, although legal for adults, have been successfully regulated by substantial public education combined with age-gating. While limiting the presence on store shelves may serve as a deterrent to some youth who would not seek them out elsewhere, it is unclear whether a ban would be the best way to limit access, especially since one permissible use for nitrous oxide is in baking, rendering these products widely available in grocery stores and online.
Turning away from the moral panic, there are actually many valuable uses of nitrous oxide even beyond dental work, baking, and cars. For example, nitrous oxide, in its low-dose dental preparation, has been used to treat opioid addiction and has shown promise as a treatment for alcohol withdrawal and depression, among other conditions.
It is laudable that policymakers want to stem the use of nitrous oxide among youth. Unfortunately, the outmoded, knee-jerk measures being passed to address nitrous oxide harms give legislators a box to check but don't solve any real problems. State legislatures truly concerned about teen safety should look beyond bans and embrace a regulatory approach that protects consumers through public education, warnings, harm reduction services, and quality controls.
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Hanna Liebman Dershowitz is a senior policy fellow at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/states-react-nitrous-oxide-deaths-unnecessary-unworkable-bans/
OMRF hosts science demonstration event for young professionals
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 23 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF hosts science demonstration event for young professionals
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About 100 young professionals saw biomedical science in action this week during an outreach event at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
The April 21 "Science Lounge" event was hosted by OMRF's Ambassadors group, which was created to generate awareness among their peers about the foundation's work.
Ambassador Kelsey D'Emilio of Edmond said such events are crucial to share the scientific advancements being made
... Show Full Article
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, April 23 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF hosts science demonstration event for young professionals
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About 100 young professionals saw biomedical science in action this week during an outreach event at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
The April 21 "Science Lounge" event was hosted by OMRF's Ambassadors group, which was created to generate awareness among their peers about the foundation's work.
Ambassador Kelsey D'Emilio of Edmond said such events are crucial to share the scientific advancements being madein her home state to an age group that otherwise may have limited knowledge about OMRF.
"I had no idea this place existed until I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and was urged to come home from the East Coast for treatment," she said. "So to come home and discover the best treatment available literally in my backyard and to see my health restored, it's an amazing thing, and I want to share that with others, because this place is worth their support."
Likewise, Ben Coldagelli of Oklahoma City said he had no knowledge of OMRF until he was approached by a former work colleague, Kevin Henry, now senior director of philanthropy and outreach for OMRF. Coldagelli said touring the labs and eventually becoming an Ambassador taught him about "the incredibly important scientific progress taking place here every day."
During the evening's live demonstration, guests watched scientist and avid cyclist Matt Bubak, Ph.D., reach his cardiovascular limit on a stationary bike. As Bubak pedaled against ever-increasing resistance, his mentor, Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., explained why this test, known as a VO2 max, is the best indicator of a person's longevity.
"The VO2 max tells us the maximum rate of oxygen your body can consume and use during intensive exercise," said Miller, an exercise physiologist and head of OMRF's Aging and Metabolism Research Program. "The higher your VO2 max score, the higher your endurance capacity and heart health."
At Miller's urging, guests yelled encouragement as Bubak neared the point of tapping out. His ultimate ceiling was a VO2 score of 47.1. "He's not going to beat Lance Armstrong in a race, but he's really fit," Miller quipped.
Guests also visited two booths at which scientists explained the relevance of their expertise.
At one, Caleb Marlin, Ph.D., showed how artificial intelligence - gained through thousands of human tissue, blood and urine samples - is helping predict kidney damage progression in people with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease.
At the other booth, data scientist Gideon Hallum displayed color-coded images of two lungs - one diseased and one healthy - to illustrate how high-throughput data provides fast, critical context and perspective to researchers.
OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D., told guests about the statewide, grassroots effort that launched OMRF following World War II and noted that the parents and grandparents of some attendees may have been involved in that effort.
"In addition to being a research institution, we're also a training institution that prepares future scientists from all over the world," he said. "We also hope to train the community about who and what we are, and that's where you come in - to help us spread the word."
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Original text here: https://omrf.org/omrf-hosts-science-demonstration-event-for-young-professionals/
FFRF Condemns Trump's Threatened Prosecution of Group Fighting Christian Nationalism
MADISON, Wisconsin, April 23 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release on April 22, 2026:
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FFRF condemns Trump's threatened prosecution of group fighting Christian nationalism
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is denouncing the Department of Justice's criminal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
For more than 50 years, the center has been a leading advocate for civil rights. Its research, of special interest to FFRF, has been indispensable to the nation's understanding of the white Christian nationalist movement that fueled the Jan. 6 insurrection.
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MADISON, Wisconsin, April 23 -- The Freedom From Religion Foundation issued the following news release on April 22, 2026:
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FFRF condemns Trump's threatened prosecution of group fighting Christian nationalism
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is denouncing the Department of Justice's criminal indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
For more than 50 years, the center has been a leading advocate for civil rights. Its research, of special interest to FFRF, has been indispensable to the nation's understanding of the white Christian nationalist movement that fueled the Jan. 6 insurrection.The center's annual "Year in Hate and Extremism" report named white Christian nationalism as the key ideology that inspired the attack on the U.S. Capitol, drawing directly on the February 2022 report co-published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty.
By elevating that work, the Southern Poverty Law Center helped to bring a clear warning about Christian nationalism to the American people, giving it the institutional weight of more than half a century of research on extremism. The center has continued to document how white Christian nationalism stokes anti-immigrant hate through false claims of "Christian persecution" and "white genocide," and how the movement seeks to dominate American political and cultural life.
One year ago, FFRF, along with more than 100 other civil rights organizations, signed the Unity Pact, a commitment organized by The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. The premise is simple: When any of our organizations is unjustly targeted, we will stand as a unified coalition. An attack on one is an attack on all. The Trump administration's threatened prosecution of the Southern Poverty Law Center is precisely the kind of moment the Unity Pact was built for.
"The Southern Poverty Law Center has spent decades doing the work this administration would rather no one do: naming the people and movements that threaten equality and our democracy," says Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president. "If you track and name extremists, now it seems you become the target. This administration pardoned the Jan. 6 insurrectionists and is now going after the organizations that warned the country about them."
Late last year, the House Republicans held an unprecedented hearing focusing on the Southern Poverty Law Center, charging that it coordinated efforts with the Biden administration "to target Christian and conservative Americans and deprive them of their constitutional rights to free speech and free association." That was an absurd accusation. Now the Justice Department has lowered the boom, and it's vital that anyone who cares about civil rights, free speech and saving our democracy condemns its move.
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The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to defending the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters relating to nontheism. With nearly 42,000 members, FFRF is the largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics and humanists) in North America. For more information, visit ffrf.org.
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Original text here: https://ffrf.org/news/releases/ffrf-condemns-trumps-threatened-prosecution-of-group-fighting-christian-nationalism/
[Category: Religion]
