Featured Stories
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce: Top 16 Products Advance in Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
Top 16 Products Advance in Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest
MADISON - Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and BMO announced on Wednesday the Top 16 products advancing in the 11th annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. Thousands of votes were cast to determine which of the 100+ Wisconsin-made nominated products will go head-to-head in Manufacturing Madness, a tournament-style bracket competition.
"Wisconsin manufacturers continue to lead through
... Show Full Article
MADISON, Wisconsin, Oct. 1 -- Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce issued the following news release:
* * *
September 30, 2026
Top 16 Products Advance in Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Contest
MADISON - Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and BMO announced on Wednesday the Top 16 products advancing in the 11th annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest. Thousands of votes were cast to determine which of the 100+ Wisconsin-made nominated products will go head-to-head in Manufacturing Madness, a tournament-style bracket competition.
"Wisconsin manufacturers continue to lead throughinnovation, producing world-class products that make a difference both here and around the globe," said Kurt R. Bauer, President/CEO of WMC. "This contest celebrates the creativity, craftsmanship and problem-solving that fuel our state's manufacturing success. We're excited to shine a spotlight on these outstanding products and the people behind them."
The Top 16 products were announced by WMC via video on social media. The announcement video can be viewed by clicking here.
2026 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin Top 16:
#1 Seed: 4800XPC Electric Rope Shovel
Komatsu | Milwaukee
#2 Seed: Comfort Unite Back Support
Permobil Inc | New Berlin
#3 Seed: Gravely ZT HD STEALTH 60
AriensCo | Brillion
#4 Seed: CliC Smart Privacy Glass
Cardinal IG | Tomah
#5 Seed: ORION Cellular Endpoint
Badger Meter | Racine
#6 Seed: Meltaway Candy Bars
Seroogy's Chocolates | De Pere
#7 Seed: 4-Post FreeSpan Shelving
Spacesaver Corporation | Fort Atkinson
#8 Seed: LU-Series Lightweight Electric Torque Pump
Enerpac Tool Group | Milwaukee
#9 Seed: Giddings & Lewis Vertical Turning Centers
Fives Giddings & Lewis | Fond du Lac
#10 Seed: Aspex Printed Wall Protection / GrooveLine
Inpro | Muskego
#11 Seed: Barrel Collection
Muza Sheet Metal Co. | Oshkosh
#12 Seed: Custom Pool Cues
Jacoby Custom Cues | Nekoosa
#13 Seed: Scag Turf Tiger
Metalcraft of Mayville | Mayville
#14 Seed: Carmex
Carma Laboratories, Inc. | Franklin
#15 Seed: M157 Small Arms Fire Control
Vortex | Barneveld
#16 Seed: Help Alert Staff Protection Pendant
RF Technologies | Brookfield
Voting in this first round of the Manufacturing Madness tournament begins at 8:00am on Thursday, Oct. 1 and goes through 5:00pm on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Manufacturers, consumers, and the public are encouraged to vote once per day per email address to help determine the Top 8, which will be announced Wednesday, Oct. 7. Ultimately, this year's Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin will be announced at WMC's Business Day event in Madison on Oct. 27. Learn more and vote at www.madeinwis.com.
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Original text here: https://www.wmc.org/press-releases/top-16-products-advance-in-coolest-thing-made-in-wisconsin-contest/
[Category: Business]
Save the Sound: Community Planting Celebrates Rain Garden at Alice Peck Learning Center
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Oct. 1 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Community planting celebrates rain garden at Alice Peck Learning Center
September 30, 2026
Green infrastructure improves water quality, strengthen community resilience, and provide hands-on environmental education
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New Haven, CT - Last Friday, volunteers came out to plant native flowering plants and shrubs in a 2,640-square foot rain garden at the Alice Peck Learning Center in Hamden. The garden both filters stormwater runoff and serves as a living outdoor classroom, giving students the opportunity
... Show Full Article
NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Oct. 1 -- Save the Sound issued the following news release:
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Community planting celebrates rain garden at Alice Peck Learning Center
September 30, 2026
Green infrastructure improves water quality, strengthen community resilience, and provide hands-on environmental education
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New Haven, CT - Last Friday, volunteers came out to plant native flowering plants and shrubs in a 2,640-square foot rain garden at the Alice Peck Learning Center in Hamden. The garden both filters stormwater runoff and serves as a living outdoor classroom, giving students the opportunityto learn firsthand about the water cycle, native plants, pollinators, and the role green infrastructure plays in protecting local waterways.
"It's so exciting to see families and students learning firsthand how green infrastructure can clean our rivers and Long Island Sound, and developing an appreciation for the role they can play in protecting the natural environments they experience every day," said Nicole Davis, watersheds project manager at Save the Sound and its Alexander Center for Ecological Action.
Unique to the rain garden at the Alice Peck Learning Center is the nearby stormwater- and environment-themed little library, donated by a community member and stocked with books from Possible Futures, and a reading bench along a nearby access path, installed by Hamden Public Works with bricks donated by the Hamden Rotary Club.
The rain garden, built earlier this summer, was designed by Hamden Engineering and constructed by the Hamden Public Works Department, based on concept designs developed as part the UConn Stormwater Corps program. It is one of 41 residential and community rain garden installations completed through funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administered by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Installation of the rain gardens helped to strengthened local capacity in New Haven and Hamden for long-term green infrastructure stewardship by engaging over 300 community volunteers and collaboration with EMERGE CT, Urbanscape's Native Plant Nursery, G.R.O.W.E.R.S., CPEN, and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of New Haven, who led the installation of 12 rain gardens.
Rain gardens capture and absorb stormwater where it falls, allowing water to filter naturally into the ground instead of carrying pollutants into nearby rivers, streams, and coastal waters. They also provide attractive landscaping, support pollinators, and help communities become more resilient to increasingly frequent heavy rain events.
With all the rain Connecticut has seen this summer, the rain gardens installed as part of this project are expected to manage stormwater runoff and infiltrate more than 585,000 gallons of water annually, helping to reduce localized flooding and mitigate the impacts to local waterways.
Learn more about the project: https://www.savethesound.org/stay-informed/press-releases/save-the-sound-celebrates-new-rain-garden-installation-at-alice-peck-school/
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Original text here: https://www.savethesound.org/stay-informed/press-releases/community-planting-celebrates-rain-garden-at-alice-peck-learning-center/
[Category: Environment]
Natural Resources Defense Council: California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following news release:
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California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
AB 2313 gives Californians the option to install non-polluting appliances with the help of funds that would otherwise have been used to replace the old gas line to their home
September 30, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, Governor Newsom signed the Home Energy Choice Act (AB 2313), authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) into law. This popular, commonsense legislation will offer California homeowners the choice and the support needed to
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 1 -- The Natural Resources Defense Council issued the following news release:
* * *
California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
AB 2313 gives Californians the option to install non-polluting appliances with the help of funds that would otherwise have been used to replace the old gas line to their home
September 30, 2026
SACRAMENTO, CA - Today, Governor Newsom signed the Home Energy Choice Act (AB 2313), authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) into law. This popular, commonsense legislation will offer California homeowners the choice and the support needed toelectrify their homes. When a gas service line (the pipe connecting a home to the gas main line) is due for replacement, utilities will offer a voluntary incentive to electrify instead. This entirely optional program will enable more Californians to determine what energy powers their home appliances. Both owner-occupied and rental properties are eligible, and there will be additional support provided for families in disadvantaged communities. Earthjustice and NRDC co-sponsored the legislation.
"AB 2313 is a win for ratepayers, a win for the environment, and a win for public health," said Assemblymember Marc Berman. "Rather than being forced to have their gas hookups replaced, homeowners will get the choice to receive funds to electrify their homes while overall utility infrastructure spending goes down, lowering rates for all gas ratepayers. I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this commonsense, cost-effective way to help California meet its climate goals while giving more power to homeowners, not utilities."
"With the Home Energy Choice Act signed into law, thousands of Californians will get the option and the funds to upgrade to non-polluting appliances instead of replacing their gas line," said Matt Vespa, senior attorney on Earthjustice's Right To Zero campaign. "We're incredibly grateful to Assemblymember Berman and the California Legislature for their keen judgement in advancing the Home Energy Choice Act, and we encourage other states to take a look at this savvy solution to help more households make the big shift to better technology and clean air while keeping bills down."
Californians are currently not given a choice when their gas line is scheduled to be replaced. Instead, the system works like an auto-renewed subscription where the utility automatically replaces gas lines even as more customers want to electrify and shift to nonpolluting appliances. This way of doing things is driving up costs: UCLA estimates that gas customers will be expected to pay $43 billion by 2045 to maintain the gas system in California.
The Home Energy Choice Act, on the other hand, will bring down costs for everyone. The legislation will reduce bills for all customers because the money that a homeowner receives through the program will be less than what their gas utility would spend replacing the gas service line to their home. As energy rates skyrocket and Californians look for relief, AB 2313 will help make energy more affordable while giving people access to cleaner and more efficient appliances.
"Californians now have the ability to choose the energy sources that are delivered to their homes," said Merrian Borgeson, director of California climate & energy policy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Replacement of fossil-fueled appliances will now be more affordable for households and a healthy by-product of this new regulation is cleaner indoor air."
On top of major clean air and climate benefits, all-electric appliances are better products: heat pumps hold a steadier temperature than gas furnaces and they provide both heating and cooling. This is particularly helpful for the quarter of Californians who currently don't have access to air conditioning. Induction stoves offer quicker and more precise cooking and they're easier to clean.
More than 100 organizations around the state have championed AB 2313 and Californians sent over 13,000 letters to their legislators and the Governor supporting the bill.
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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).
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Original text here: https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/california-passes-home-energy-choice-act
[Category: Environment]
Earthjustice: Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Greenlighting of International Deep-Sea Mining Exploration Permit
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 1 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Greenlighting of International Deep-Sea Mining Exploration Permit
The groups seek transparency in NOAA decision to advance The Metals Company application
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Honolulu, HI -- Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) certification of a seabed mineral exploration application from The Metals Company USA.
This is the first certification of an application to conduct deep-sea
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 1 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release:
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September 30, 2026
Lawsuit Challenges Trump Administration Greenlighting of International Deep-Sea Mining Exploration Permit
The groups seek transparency in NOAA decision to advance The Metals Company application
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Honolulu, HI -- Conservation groups filed a lawsuit today challenging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) certification of a seabed mineral exploration application from The Metals Company USA.
This is the first certification of an application to conduct deep-seamining exploration under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA) since President Trump took office. Several other applications are pending. An exploration license is the first step that a U.S. company must take under DSHMRA to obtain U.S. approval to mine in international waters.
The lawsuit (https://earthjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/tmc-noaa-complaint-9-30-26.pdf), filed by Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented by Earthjustice, challenges NOAA for violating DSHMRA's procedural requirements meant to ensure transparency and public participation. Notably, the agency failed to make any relevant materials available for public review, including studies on the effects of the proposed activities and information on whether The Metals Company USA meets the statutory requirements for a license.
"NOAA short-circuited the law in its haste to jump-start an untested, speculative industry seeking to mine our ocean's most undisturbed places. We're asking the courts to pump the brakes to ensure legally required public transparency and accountability before this administration gives mining companies free reign over our oceans," said Earthjustice attorney Chris Eaton.
"Upholding procedural requirements prior to issuing permits for deep sea mining exploration is imperative to the health of the ocean and the communities that depend on its resources. The Pacific Ocean is home to many endangered and unknown species, unexplored ocean floors, and seamounts. These important and fragile ecosystems will be disturbed from noise and light pollution, sediment, and other toxic contaminants. Not only does the planet's marine creatures and plants depend on a healthy ocean: we all do," said Jonee Peters, executive director of the Conservation Council for Hawaii.
"Trump has no right to rush into decisions about plundering international waters. It's especially outrageous that the public hasn't been able to examine the details of this deep-sea mining proposal, which should be completely transparent," said Emily Jeffers, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. "We have so much to lose by unleashing destructive mining practices onto these incredible ocean ecosystems. We have to ensure sea life gets the protection it deserves."
Deep-sea mining proposes to extract metals from some of the deepest parts of the ocean. Scientists believe biodiversity loss and habitat destruction will be unpreventable and irreversible if mining using the proposed methods were to advance at scale. In addition to direct habitat destruction, deep-sea mining and exploration will generate noise and light pollution, sediment plumes, wastewater, and residual toxic heavy metals that could drift far from the actual mining sites and contaminate the water column and nearby ecosystems.
Background on Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Center for Biological Diversity v. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Dr. Neil Jacobs
In 1980, Congress passed DSHMRA to create what was intended to be an interim authority for NOAA to manage U.S. seabed mineral exploration and mining in international waters until they were regulated by an international treaty. When the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea went into effect in 1994, it established the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to regulate seabed exploration and mining in international waters. Since the United States never ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, DSHMRA continues to offer a licensing pathway to U.S. companies.
The ISA has not yet authorized commercial deep-sea mining. The Metals Company USA is seeking unilateral authorization from the United States to conduct deep seabed mineral exploration and mining under DSHMRA. The company applied to NOAA in July 2025 for two DSHMRA licenses to conduct mineral exploration activities in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone -- an area of the Pacific between Hawai'i and Mexico that is under ISA jurisdiction. Before The Metals Company USA's application, no other company had proposed to conduct at-sea exploration activities under DSHMRA.
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Additional Resources
* About the International Program (https://earthjustice.org/office/international)
* About the Oceans Program (https://earthjustice.org/office/oceans)
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/lawsuit-challenges-trump-administration-greenlighting-of-international-deep-sea-mining-exploration-permit
[Category: Environment]
Earthjustice: California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 1 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release:
* * *
September 30, 2026
California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
Victory - AB 2313 gives Californians the option to install non-polluting appliances with the help of funds that would otherwise have been used to replace the old gas line to their home
-
Sacramento, CA -- Today, Governor Newsom signed the Home Energy Choice Act (AB 2313) into law. This popular, commonsense legislation authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) will offer California homeowners the choice and the support needed
... Show Full Article
SAN FRANCISCO, California, Oct. 1 -- Earthjustice issued the following news release:
* * *
September 30, 2026
California Passes the Home Energy Choice Act
Victory - AB 2313 gives Californians the option to install non-polluting appliances with the help of funds that would otherwise have been used to replace the old gas line to their home
-
Sacramento, CA -- Today, Governor Newsom signed the Home Energy Choice Act (AB 2313) into law. This popular, commonsense legislation authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park) will offer California homeowners the choice and the support neededto electrify their homes. When a gas service line (the pipe connecting a home to the gas main line) is due for replacement, utilities will offer a voluntary incentive to electrify instead. This entirely optional program will enable more Californians to determine what energy powers their home appliances. Both owner-occupied and rental properties are eligible, and there will be additional support provided for families in disadvantaged communities. Earthjustice and NRDC co-sponsored the legislation.
"AB 2313 is a win for ratepayers, a win for the environment, and a win for public health," said Assemblymember Marc Berman. "Rather than being forced to have their gas hookups replaced, homeowners will get the choice to receive funds to electrify their homes while overall utility infrastructure spending goes down, lowering rates for all gas ratepayers. I want to thank Governor Newsom for signing this commonsense, cost-effective way to help California meet its climate goals while giving more power to homeowners, not utilities."
"With the Home Energy Choice Act signed into law, thousands of Californians will get the option and the funds to upgrade to non-polluting appliances instead of replacing their gas line," said Matt Vespa, senior attorney on Earthjustice's Right To Zero campaign. "We're incredibly grateful to Assemblymember Berman and the California Legislature for their keen judgement in advancing the Home Energy Choice Act, and we encourage other states to take a look at this savvy solution to help more households make the big shift to better technology and clean air while keeping bills down."
Californians are currently not given a choice when their gas line is scheduled to be replaced. Instead, the system works like an auto-renewed subscription where the utility automatically replaces gas lines even as more customers want to electrify and shift to nonpolluting appliances. This way of doing things is driving up costs: UCLA estimates that gas customers will be expected to pay $43 billion by 2045 to maintain the gas system in California.
The Home Energy Choice Act, on the other hand, will bring down costs for everyone. The legislation will reduce bills for all customers because the money that a homeowner receives through the program will be less than what their gas utility would spend replacing the gas service line to their home. As energy rates skyrocket and Californians look for relief, AB 2313 will help make energy more affordable while giving people access to cleaner and more efficient appliances.
"Californians now have the ability to choose the energy sources that are delivered to their homes," said Merrian Borgeson, director of California climate & energy policy at NRDC. "Replacement of fossil-fueled appliances will now be more affordable for households and a healthy by-product of this new regulation is cleaner indoor air."
On top of major clean air and climate benefits, all-electric appliances are better products: heat pumps hold a steadier temperature than gas furnaces and they provide both heating and cooling. This is particularly helpful for the quarter of Californians who currently don't have access to air conditioning. Induction stoves offer quicker and more precise cooking and they're easier to clean.
More than 100 organizations around the state have championed AB 2313 and Californians sent over 13,000 letters to their legislators and the Governor supporting the bill.
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Additional Resources
* Californians Deserve to Choose the Energy Source for their Homes -- a New Bill Would Give Them the Freedom and Funds to Do So (https://earthjustice.org/experts/matt-vespa/californians-deserve-to-choose-the-energy-source-for-their-homes-a-new-bill-would-give-them-the-freedom-and-funds-to-do-so)
* Assemblymember Berman Introduces Legislation to Electrify California Homes (https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/assemblymember-berman-introduces-legislation-to-electrify-california-homes)
* California Can Thread the Needle on Oil Prices, Heatwaves, and Trump Attacks this Year (https://earthjustice.org/experts/ada-waelder/california-can-thread-the-needle-on-oil-prices-heatwaves-and-trump-attacks-this-year)
* Letter of Support: California Home Energy Choice Act (https://earthjustice.org/document/letter-of-support-california-home-energy-choice-act)
* California Home Energy Choice Act Fact Sheet (https://earthjustice.org/document/california-home-energy-choice-act-fact-sheet)
* Home Energy Choice Act FAQ (https://earthjustice.org/document/home-energy-choice-actfaq)
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About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.
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Original text here: https://earthjustice.org/press/2026/california-passes-the-home-energy-choice-act
[Category: Environment]
CAIR-Pittsburgh Calls for Resignation of School Board Member Over Anti-Muslim and Sexist Social Media Post
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-Pittsburgh Calls for Resignation of School Board Member Over Anti-Muslim and Sexist Social Media Post
September 29, 2026
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of Beaver Area School District board member Luke Berardelli after he reportedly posted anti-Muslim and sexist comments on social media.
The condemnation follows a controversial
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-Pittsburgh Calls for Resignation of School Board Member Over Anti-Muslim and Sexist Social Media Post
September 29, 2026
The Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Pittsburgh), a chapter of the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of Beaver Area School District board member Luke Berardelli after he reportedly posted anti-Muslim and sexist comments on social media.
The condemnation follows a controversialFacebook post by Berardelli in which he targeted women and the Islamic faith, writing in part, "maybe the Islamic faith is the correct way to go considering they give women zero rights at all," alongside derogatory directives instructing women to "Cover your body. Shut your mouth," and claiming they are permitted "No education" and "not allowed to drive."
Berardelli defended his post as "hyperbole" and "sarcasm" during a public school board meeting and refused to resign.
In a statement, CAIR-Pittsburgh Executive Director Christine Mohamed said:
"Public school board members hold a sacred duty to foster safe, inclusive, and equitable educational environments for students of all backgrounds and faiths. Denigrating an entire religious community and promoting harmful gender stereotypes, even under the guise of sarcasm or 'hyperbole,' is completely unacceptable for an official tasked with overseeing the education of our youth.
"Such rhetoric spreads misinformation, fuels bigotry, and alienates Muslim students and families within the district. We stand in solidarity with the community members, parents, and board members who are demanding accountability, and we call on Mr. Berardelli to step down immediately."
She noted thatWashington, D.C.-based CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Educator's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to help school officials provide a positive learning environment for Muslim students. CAIR also offers a booklet outlining the rights of Muslim students.
CAIR's latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 - the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
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CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-pittsburgh-calls-for-resignation-of-school-board-member-over-anti-muslim-and-sexist-social-media-post/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Md. Applauds Sen. Van Hollen's (D-MD) Leadership, Alsobrooks' (D-MD) Support in Historic 47-Senator Vote for Accountability on Israeli Abuses
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Md. Applauds Sen. Van Hollen's (D-MD) Leadership, Alsobrooks' (D-MD) Support in Historic 47-Senator Vote for Accountability on Israeli Abuses
September 30, 2026
Civil rights group says vote signals AIPAC's waning influence as demand for accountability gains ground against obstructionists
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The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded Sen. Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD) leadership in forcing a historic accountability vote last night on S. Res.
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR Md. Applauds Sen. Van Hollen's (D-MD) Leadership, Alsobrooks' (D-MD) Support in Historic 47-Senator Vote for Accountability on Israeli Abuses
September 30, 2026
Civil rights group says vote signals AIPAC's waning influence as demand for accountability gains ground against obstructionists
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The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today applauded Sen. Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD) leadership in forcing a historic accountability vote last night on S. Res.852 seeking transparency into Israeli human rights abuses against Americans and Palestinians pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961.
The group welcomed Senator Angela Alsobrooks' (D-MD) vote alongside 46 Senate colleagues in favor of advancing the resolution.
SEE: S.Res.852 - A resolution requesting information on Israel's human rights practices pursuant to section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/852)
CAIR Action Alert: URGENT: Senate Could Vote Tonight on Demanding the Truth About Israel's Crimes Against Americans and Palestinians (https://www.cair.com/action_alerts/cair-action-alert-urgent-senate-could-vote-tonight-on-demanding-the-truth-about-israels-crimes-against-americans-and-palestinians/)
US Senate votes down motion to advance resolution on human rights practices in Israel (https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-senate-votes-down-motion-to-advance-resolution-on-human-rights-practices-in-israel/4073195)
Introduced by Sen. Van Hollen (D-MD) and championed alongside Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Bernie Sanders (D-VT), the measure would require the State Department to provide Congress with an unclassified report addressing killings and detentions of American citizens, abuses against Palestinian children in Israeli military custody, and U.S. efforts to secure accountability.
The Senate rejected the motion to advance the resolution from the Foreign Relations Committee by 47-51. Although the measure did not succeed, CAIR noted that increasing support for holding the Israeli government accountable represents a significant political milestone and a growing challenge to obstructionist lawmakers seeking to shield the Israeli government from oversight and scrutiny.
In a statement, CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry said:
"Last night's vote sends a powerful message to AIPAC and every organization working to shield the Israeli government's crimes that the days of treating your approval as a prerequisite for defending human rights are ending. We commend Senator Alsobrooks for standing with Senator Chris Van Hollen and 45 other colleagues who recognize their responsibility in demanding Israel not be exempt from accountability over its reprehensible human rights record. We thank her for listening to constituents and voting to demand answers denied to too many families.
"We especially commend Senator Van Hollen for his persistent leadership on the matter of Palestinian human rights, and for forcing the Senate to confront a question that should never be controversial on what our government knows about the killing of Americans and the abuse of Palestinians, and what has it done to secure justice.
"Every senator who voted to strike down this resolution should explain why even a request for basic information was too much to support. Taxpayers have the right to demand oversight, and Palestinian children deserve protection. The political space for challenging Israeli impunity is growing, and our communities will keep organizing until accountability becomes policy."
S. Res. 852 invokes Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. If adopted, it would require a report within 30 days examining Israeli human rights practices and the American government's response, including:
* Information about Americans killed in the occupied West Bank, the progress of investigations, and steps taken to hold those responsible accountable.
* The detention of American citizens by Israeli authorities, including the grounds for detention and credible allegations of mistreatment.
* The military detention of Palestinian children and allegations of torture and abuse.
* Whether American assistance has benefited Israeli units implicated in gross human rights violations and what U.S. officials have done in response.
Failure to provide the required report within the statutory period could trigger restrictions on covered security assistance.
CAIR Maryland emphasized that last night's vote concerned whether to move the resolution out of committee, rather than final passage. The group thanks constituents who called, wrote, and urged Maryland's Senate delegation to demand meaningful oversight.
"Marylanders are making it clear that the lives of Americans and Palestinians cannot be subordinated to political convenience," CAIR added. "We urge our community to build on this momentum through sustained advocacy for independent investigations, enforcement of U.S. human rights laws, and an end to American complicity in Israeli abuses. Congress has a responsibility to investigate, disclose the truth, and ensure that American weapons and taxpayer dollars do not enable violations of human rights."
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CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-md-applauds-sen-van-hollens-d-md-leadership-alsobrooks-d-md-support-in-historic-47-senator-vote-for-accountability-on-israeli-abuses/
[Category: Sociological]
