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Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Disaster Recovery Should Not Be Complicated by Politics
LOS ANGELES, California, May 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by senior policy analyst Christina Mojica:
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Disaster recovery should not be complicated by politics
The distribution of federal disaster aid has drawn renewed scrutiny as approval rates have varied sharply across states. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, about 23% of aid requests from Democratic-led states were approved, compared to nearly 89% for Republican-led states. In some cases, requests were denied even when federal officials agreed the damage deserved help.
Under the current
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LOS ANGELES, California, May 23 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary by senior policy analyst Christina Mojica:
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Disaster recovery should not be complicated by politics
The distribution of federal disaster aid has drawn renewed scrutiny as approval rates have varied sharply across states. Since President Donald Trump returned to office, about 23% of aid requests from Democratic-led states were approved, compared to nearly 89% for Republican-led states. In some cases, requests were denied even when federal officials agreed the damage deserved help.
Under the currentsystem, the Executive Branch has broad authority to approve or deny disaster aid requests. That means the final decision over whether communities receive support is not governed by fixed rules or timelines, but by discretionary judgment at the federal level. The problem is not any one political outcome. The problem is a system that leaves decisions that should be as data-driven as possible vulnerable to political discretion.
Concerns about political influence over disaster aid decisions are not new. Economists and policy analysts have long documented how political incentives shape the allocation of disaster aid. A 2020 review found that federal disaster spending often followed electoral considerations more than actual need, a pattern visible from New Deal programs to modern Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declarations.
No matter the reason for these differences in how disaster aid is approved across states, the system produces the same result: recovery becomes slower, less consistent, and harder to plan. That lack of consistency affects recovery at every stage, especially in housing, where rebuilding depends not only on federal decisions, but on how quickly systems at every level can respond.
Housing recovery is usually the slowest and most fragile part of disaster response. Delays or unclear federal decisions slow down rebuilding at every step. Local governments can't start repairs without clarity regarding funding. Insurance companies respond to prolonged uncertainty by raising premiums, tightening coverage, or delaying payouts, and people who lost their homes compete for limited housing, which pushes rents higher. Lower-income families feel these pressures the most, often for years.
The FEMA was created in 1979 to help coordinate disaster response. The idea was simple: big disasters can overwhelm states, so the federal government steps in to help. But over time, the process for declaring disasters has become less predictable. There are no binding timelines for these decisions, and no requirement that presidential determinations follow FEMA's recommendations. The process ultimately depends on judgment at the federal level. This setup leads to uneven results, no matter who is in office.
Disaster recovery is not handled through a single, straightforward process. It moves through multiple agencies, programs, and funding streams, each with its own requirements and timelines. This complexity makes coordination harder and delays aid reaching communities, a problem researchers have pointed out for years.
Federal decisions are only one piece of the recovery process. Those decisions are further constrained by local rules that determine how quickly housing can be rebuilt. Even when funding or emergency authority exists, zoning restrictions, permitting requirements, historic review, shoreline rules, infrastructure assessments, and limits on temporary or replacement housing can prevent damaged units from coming back online. Delayed federal decisions can stall funding while local approvals can slow construction, and insurance uncertainty can delay investment. Each layer extends the timeline, and together they determine how much housing is restored and how quickly.
Puerto Rico demonstrated a different version of the same problem after Hurricane Maria. Although Congress approved billions in disaster recovery funding, disbursement was delayed for years by administrative and bureaucratic obstacles, sparking national controversy and multiple federal investigations. The consequences extended far beyond infrastructure. Housing reconstruction moved slowly, and many residents were unable to access assistance. Strict documentation requirements, including proof of homeownership, led to widespread denials of FEMA aid in a context where informal housing arrangements are common. As a result, some residents were forced to abandon damaged homes altogether. The effects were long-lasting, contributing to displacement and persistent housing vacancy across parts of the island.
Maui faced a different set of constraints, driven more by state and local rules than federal decisions, but the result was the same. In 2023, wildfires forced thousands of people out of their homes on the island of Maui, including in the town of Lahaina, where housing was already scarce. Recovery depended on both funding and how quickly the recovery process could move homes through approvals and back into construction. More than a year later, the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii reported that few buildings had been rebuilt and many Lahaina residents were still waiting, slowed down by state and county approvals, unclear guidance, and permit issues. The report listed several hurdles, including historic reviews, infrastructure checks, shoreline rules, and limits on temporary housing. Maui County did make some changes, such as setting up an emergency permitting office and relaxing some rules, but many obstacles stayed in place. The slow recovery showed the limits of the recovery process as much as the damage itself. Housing reconstruction stalled, and roughly 90% of Lahaina burn-area residents were still displaced more than a year after the fires.
In Puerto Rico and Maui, recovery slowed because too many layers of approval could not keep up with the need to rebuild. The recovery process is structured in a way that produces these delays.
Large disasters often exceed what states can handle on their own, and federal support plays an important role in recovery. But that role should not extend to controlling the timing and distribution of aid through discretionary decisions. The federal government can provide funding, coordination, and technical support without acting as the central gatekeeper of recovery. Clear rules and set thresholds would make recovery more predictable and consistent, instead of leaving critical decisions to discretion. Those thresholds could be tied to measurable factors such as housing loss, displacement, and the extent of infrastructure damage, rather than left to case-by-case judgment.
A more resilient system would also rely less heavily on post-disaster federal intervention in the first place. States that face recurring disasters should maintain stronger reserves and planning systems before emergencies occur, rather than depending primarily on federal approval after the fact. Private insurance markets also play an important role in recovery, particularly when pricing and coverage better reflect long-term risk. A system that places all recovery responsibility on federal disaster aid encourages risks and creates delays that become even more damaging when housing supply is already limited.
A better system would make those rules operational. States would keep stronger disaster reserves so recovery could start right away. Federal help would kick in automatically when damage passes certain limits. Timelines for action would be set ahead of time. Housing recovery would be a top priority, with faster permits and pre-approved rebuilding plans that don't require waiting for federal approval.
Housing recovery needs certainty and speed. The first weeks and months after a disaster determine whether a community can recover. If that time is spent waiting for federal approval, the long-term effects go far beyond the original damage.
The real problem is how the system is set up, not any one decision. Disaster recovery should follow clear, predictable rules instead of relying on individual judgment. Communities recover faster when decisions are made closer to the ground.
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Christina Mojica is a senior policy analyst at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/disaster-recovery-should-not-be-complicated-by-politics/
Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation.
More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regional
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SAN FRANCISCO, California, May 23 -- The Asia Foundation issued the following news:
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The Asia Foundation Co-Convenes Asia Symposium in Wellington on Regional Transition and Cooperation
Wellington, May 21, 2026 - The Asia Foundation partnered with the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whitau Tuhono to convene Asia in Transition: The Middle Power Moment, a full-day symposium examining the forces shaping Asia and the growing role of small and middle powers in advancing regional stability, economic resilience, and cooperation.
More than 150 policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and regionalpractitioners gathered on May 20 for a series of timely foreign policy conversations focused on regional security, supply chain resilience, technological transformation, climate change, and the geopolitics of aid.
For The Asia Foundation, the partnership reflects a shared commitment to connecting grounded regional knowledge with decision-makers navigating a complex and rapidly changing landscape.
Asia New Zealand Foundation chief executive Suzannah Jessep said the symposium comes at a critical time for New Zealand's relationship with Asia.
"The Asia region is central to New Zealand's future, economically, strategically, and diplomatically. The symposium creates an important opportunity for New Zealand decision-makers to engage directly with experts from across Asia, helping to build the relationships and understanding needed to navigate a complex regional environment."
She added that partnering with The Asia Foundation brings deep regional insight and expands the networks and perspectives available to New Zealand audiences.
"Partnering on this symposium reflects our commitment to connecting on-the-ground knowledge with decision-makers who need it most," said Thomas Parks, vice president for strategic partnerships at The Asia Foundation. "We see this symposium as part of a longer-term effort to strengthen dialogue, relationships, and regional understanding between New Zealand and Asia."
From supply chain resilience and regional security to governance, economic transition, and geopolitics, these are issues The Asia Foundation's country offices and regional teams engage with every day through research, dialogue, partnerships, and policy-focused programming.
Anthea Mulakala, senior director at The Asia Foundation, shared regional perspectives on governance, development, and shifting geopolitical dynamics across Asia and the Pacific. Kathline Tolosa, director for governance and resilience in The Asia Foundation Philippines, discussed community resilience, democratic governance, and the importance of locally grounded approaches in responding to regional uncertainty. Todd Wassel, country representative in Thailand, contributed insights on regional cooperation, political transitions, and evolving economic and strategic relationships across Southeast Asia.
The event underscores The Asia Foundation's longstanding role as a bridge between local insight, regional expertise, and practical policy engagement across Asia and the Pacific.
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Original text here: https://asiafoundation.org/the-asia-foundation-co-convenes-asia-symposium-in-wellington/
Foundation for Economic Education Posts Commentary: Curiosity Isn't Enough
DETROIT, Michigan, May 22 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by entrepreneur-in-residence Jennie Jones:
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Curiosity Isn't Enough
But control isn't, either.
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In a recent interview, David Bidler, founder of the non-profit Physiology First, asked an important question: Should our brains follow what they are interested in, or what we are told to pay attention to? One could argue that this is the central question that defines the variety of educational philosophies in our world today. It is essentially asking, "Who leads? The teacher or the student?"
I
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DETROIT, Michigan, May 22 -- The Foundation for Economic Education issued the following commentary by entrepreneur-in-residence Jennie Jones:
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Curiosity Isn't Enough
But control isn't, either.
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In a recent interview, David Bidler, founder of the non-profit Physiology First, asked an important question: Should our brains follow what they are interested in, or what we are told to pay attention to? One could argue that this is the central question that defines the variety of educational philosophies in our world today. It is essentially asking, "Who leads? The teacher or the student?"
Istarted my agile learning community (a center for self-directed learning) two years ago, feeling pretty adamant that the answer to that question was the child. However, after four years of unschooling my own kids, and two years of running my community, I am convinced that this is a false dichotomy. The middle place I am trying to land is relationship-centered learning, where both the mentor and mentee's experience is valid and useful.
Four years ago, when I first told my kids that our new homeschool plan was to learn the things we are interested in, I envisioned that they would naturally get curious about things that fit into nice subject boxes like math, science, and reading--things that would look like my childhood school days. Instead, the question that came up right away was: "Does Minecraft 'count' as an interest?"
The kids didn't ask that question, but I did. Over and over. Should kids' brains really follow what they are interested in?
This is a centuries-old question, but asking it in our modern, attention-driven economy is perhaps more nuanced than it was for the pioneers of the child-led learning movement. Handing kids full autonomy to follow whatever captivates their interest now feels a bit like selling them to the loudest bidder.
I am not a neuroscientist, but I have read enough to understand a bit about how our brains, with their novelty-seeking reward pathways, are naturally drawn to engage with our digital devices. And sure, there is a lot we can discover and even "learn" on digital platforms. However, the skill of processing and assimilating that information into applicable uses in our lives is mostly an off-screen task requiring our higher-level thinking, focus, and sustained effort. I can't tell you how many amazing skills I have "learned" from Instagram that I still struggle to use--or even remember, for that matter.
One of the criticisms of traditional, teacher-led instruction is that kids are incentivized to memorize and regurgitate, making it difficult for deeper engagement, real-world application, and long-term retention. On the other end of the spectrum, allowing unfettered access to the Internet and calling it "educational" possibly gives kids a similar barrage of new (and often disjointed) information. It is interest-led and "self-directed" (although I would probably call it algorithm-directed), so kids appear engaged. But how much is retained? What part is applied? When the project is harder than the video looks, do we sustain effort long enough to troubleshoot, or do we just go back to scrolling for something else new and flashy? Do kids even try the experiment? After all, they just saw it unfold before their eyes in living color. And there's plenty more where that came from.
We live in the tension of two truths: Kids learn best when they can engage with something that interests them, and kids today are bombarded with constant digital novelty bidding for their attention.
I have found that while I believe strongly in giving kids space to explore their interests, my goals as an educator are twofold:
* I want kids who are capable of following their curiosity and sustaining attention and effort to get to the deeper levels of meaning or higher-level skills within their interests.
* I want to teach kids how to persevere when something stops being fun because they still want what is on the other side of the hard or the boring.
* In our attention economy, I really want kids to know how to direct their own attention. This requires getting clear about what they want, making some sort of plan to get there, and then maintaining focus long enough to follow through on the plan.
One thing I love to teach my kids is that good questions lead to better ones. If we stay stuck in the false dichotomy of teacher versus student, we miss the more important question: How do kids learn to direct and sustain their attention?
An algorithm keeps a child engaged--that's its goal. It can appear to be sustained attention. A mentor's goal is actually the opposite: to help the child no longer need them. So curiosity is not enough, but control isn't, either.
Curiosity is natural and easily led by the child. But focus and sustained effort are skills, and they don't develop on their own. They require supported practice in the right environment. Kids need someone who can ask good questions, model reflection, and help them break big ideas into manageable steps. Over time, when extended in a caring relationship, that external guidance becomes the internal voice of a self-directed learner. That is the relationship-centered dance led by a guide who knows when to lead and when to follow.
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Jennie Jones is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence in FEE. She is former professional ballerina, turned homeschooling mom of four, turned education entrepreneur. She runs the Treehouse Agile Learning Community in St. George, Utah. A home-based microschool that uses agile learning tools to foster intentional community, natural learning, and independence, The Treehouse currently serves homeschooled students ages 5-12.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/curiosity-isnt-enough/
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Partners With Jed Foundation to Strengthen Mental Health Support of Members, Community
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 22 (TNSrpt) -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release on May 21, 2026:
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Partners with The Jed Foundation (JED) to Strengthen Mental Health Support of Members, Community
Initiative offers expert support and guidance to promote young adult emotional health and prevent suicide.
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[BALTIMORE, MD & NEW YORK] -- Fraternities and sororities shape the college experience for hundreds of thousands of students, and they can have a powerful impact on the emotional well-being of their members and broader campus communities.
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 22 (TNSrpt) -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release on May 21, 2026:
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Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Partners with The Jed Foundation (JED) to Strengthen Mental Health Support of Members, Community
Initiative offers expert support and guidance to promote young adult emotional health and prevent suicide.
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[BALTIMORE, MD & NEW YORK] -- Fraternities and sororities shape the college experience for hundreds of thousands of students, and they can have a powerful impact on the emotional well-being of their members and broader campus communities.Today, The Jed Foundation (JED) announced its new partnership with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. to protect the mental health and prevent suicide among its members through participation in The JED Greek-Letter Organizations (GLO) programs. The Fraternity is a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), also known as the Divine Nine (D9), comprising nine historically Black Greek-Letter Organizations.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people ages 20-24. Among young Black men ages 20-24, the suicide rate increased by 47% between 2018 to 2024, and for the first time in history, the suicide rate among young black men surpassed that of their white peers in 2024.
JED GLO provides evidence-informed guidance to fraternities and sororities committed to promoting emotional well-being and preventing suicide. JED's GLO partnerships with fraternities and sororities -- including Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, alpha Kappa Delta Phi International Sorority, Inc., Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. -- and other university partners represent nearly 1.2 million lifetime and college members. These partnerships aim to:
* assess and strategically plan organizational needs and priorities.
* strengthen substance misuse and hazing prevention training for staff, volunteers, alumni, and members using JED-developed workshops.
* support implementation tools, strategies, and techniques for measurable mental health improvements.
Founded at Cornell University, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. is the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established by African American men. The fraternity was initially established as a study and support group for minority students. Since its founding in 1906, Alpha Phi Alpha has grown to a membership of over 290,000 and more than 1,000 chapters nationwide.
"As part of our promise to confront mental health challenges within our Brotherhood, we have partnered with The Jed Foundation to create programs designed specifically for Alpha men," said Lucien J. Metellus, Jr., general president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.. "When the opportunity was presented in December, we acted quickly and secured Board approval in January. We are now moving to address these real issues impacting our members. This partnership gives us hope, strength, and a path to support every Brother."
JED GLO builds on the JED report, Fraternities and Mental Health: Supporting Emotional Well-Being Among Members and Across Campus, which highlights how fraternities can impact mental health on college campuses. The report provides key recommendations for improving the emotional well-being of fraternity members and other students on campus. While fraternities can positively impact mental health by providing belonging and social connection, fraternity membership can also increase certain risky behaviors such as alcohol misuse and hazing participation, highlighting the need for programming that provides support for building healthy fraternity environments.
"The Jed Foundation recognizes that fraternities and sororities are powerful communities for connection, leadership, and identity development. This makes them essential partners in advancing student mental health and well-being on and off campus," said Dr. ShirDonna Lawrence, senior manager of JED's Greek-Letter Organization Programs. "This partnership strengthens Alpha's enduring mission and advances JED's work in culturally responsive, community-centered mental health promotion. Together, this collaboration demonstrates how intentional engagement with fraternity and sorority life can drive meaningful impact at both the individual and organizational level."
To learn more about JED's Greek-Letter Organizations Programs, email greek@jedfoundation.org or visit JED's website.
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About The Jed Foundation
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation's teens and young adults. We're partnering with high schools, colleges, school districts, and youth-serving community-based organizations to strengthen their mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. We're equipping teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We're encouraging community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
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About Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc.
The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity established for African American men, was founded on December 4, 1906, at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and is headquartered in Baltimore, MD. The Fraternity has long stood at the forefront of the African American community's fight for civil rights through Alpha men such as Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; late former Congressman Adam Clayton Powell; late former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; legendary activist, actor and performer, Paul Robeson, former Ambassador Andrew Young; late former Senator Edward Brooke; scholar, Cornel West; Senator Raphael Warnock; Congressman Steven Horsford, former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; General CQ Brown, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; seven other members of the U.S. Congress, numerous state, and local lawmakers across the United States, as well as President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Boakai, Sr. The fraternity, through its more than 720 college and alumni chapters and general-organization members, serves communities in the United States, and other parts of North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
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REPORT: https://jedfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Fraternities-and-Mental-Health-Report_Final_Dec-3-2024.pdf
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Original text here: https://jedfoundation.org/alpha-phi-alpha-fraternity-inc-partners-with-the-jed-foundation-jed-to-strengthen-mental-health-support-of-members-community/
WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
WASHINGTON, May 21 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court order allowing an unconstitutional state proceeding against two energy producers, Suncor and ExxonMobil, to go forward. WLF was joined on the brief by the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
The
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WASHINGTON, May 21 [Category: Law/Legal] -- The Washington Legal Foundation issued the following news release:
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WLF Urges Supreme Court to Stop Boulder, Colorado from Subverting the Constitutional Order
Washington Legal Foundation (WLF) today urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a Colorado Supreme Court order allowing an unconstitutional state proceeding against two energy producers, Suncor and ExxonMobil, to go forward. WLF was joined on the brief by the National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.
TheCity and County of Boulder, Colorado wants to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions and "tax" the energy industry by obtaining a multi-billion-dollar verdict under Colorado tort law against the targeted companies for contributing to global climate change. And Boulder isn't alone-thousands of local governments stand ready to bring copycat suits against the whole worldwide energy industry if this gambit succeeds.
Although the Constitution gives the power to regulate interstate and international commerce solely to Congress, the Colorado Supreme Court denied an effort by the companies to shut down the litigation on constitutional grounds. The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review that decision earlier this year-but Boulder argues that the Court made a mistake is agreeing to hear the case before Boulder secured a verdict from a jury.
WLF's amicus brief explains why that's wrong. The Colorado Supreme Court decision wrongfully deprived Suncor and Exxon of a valid and correct constitutional defense to vexatious litigation. That's sufficient injury for the Court to hear the case now and end Boulder's unlawful regulatory ambitions. As the brief notes, doing otherwise "would have cataclysmic consequences for the Nation-indeed, the world."
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Click here to read WLF's brief (https://www.wlf.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/WLF-NFIB-NAW-Amicus-Brief-Suncor-21may2026.pdf).
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Original text here: https://www.wlf.org/2026/05/21/communicating/wlf-urges-supreme-court-to-stop-boulder-colorado-from-subverting-the-constitutional-order/
OMRF Board welcomes new directors, recognizes scientists
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 21 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF Board welcomes new directors, recognizes scientists
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At its spring Board meeting and honors celebration on May 20, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation welcomed two new Directors and recognized scientists for their work.
Additionally, OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D., honored a retiring school superintendent for his district's longtime support of OMRF.
The new OMRF Board members are Gary Brooks of Oklahoma City and Dori Smith of Duncan.
Brooks is a commercial real
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OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma, May 21 -- The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation posted the following news:
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OMRF Board welcomes new directors, recognizes scientists
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At its spring Board meeting and honors celebration on May 20, the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation welcomed two new Directors and recognized scientists for their work.
Additionally, OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D., honored a retiring school superintendent for his district's longtime support of OMRF.
The new OMRF Board members are Gary Brooks of Oklahoma City and Dori Smith of Duncan.
Brooks is a commercial realestate developer whose work includes the restoration of the downtown First National Center.
"My understanding of OMRF and its mission became much more intimate through my passion project of helping Oklahoma City become one of the healthiest cities in the nation," Brooks said. "That passion aligns perfectly with the goals of OMRF's healthy-aging research."
Smith is chief executive officer of Inland Empire Tech Center, a real estate investment company. She also is president of the H.M. Lewis Medical Research Foundation, which has provided significant philanthropic support to OMRF.
"The ability to serve OMRF, where research and clinical applications can move directly to the patient, is both exciting and deeply rewarding," Smith said. "I have worked with other research institutions where that has not been the case, which makes this opportunity especially meaningful to me."
Also rejoining the Board is Gary Pierson, who previously served from 2004 to 2019. Pierson, an attorney, served as president and chief executive officer of OPUBCO.
The Board gave its Distinguished Service Award to Harrison Levy, an OMRF Director since 1995. Earlier this year, Levy's $1 million gift established the Levy and Ray Family Laboratory for Alzheimer's Research at OMRF.
In addition, the Board honored the following Directors for their service: Dee Replogle, 50 years; Barbara Braught, 30 years; and Virginia Groendyke, 25 years.
OMRF presented the following awards to foundation scientists:
* Fred Jones Award for Scientific Achievement: Jacquelyn Gorman, Ph.D.
* J. Donald & Patricia H. Capra Award for Scientific Achievement: Tommy Lewis Jr., Ph.D.
* Merrick Award for Outstanding Medical Research: Courtney Montgomery, Ph.D.
* Stephen M. Prescott Award for the Best and Brightest David Hughes, Ph.D., and Amanda Sharpe, Ph.D.
* Edward L. & Thelma Gaylord prize for Scientific Excellence: Michael Beckstead, Ph.D.
Weyrich presented the President's Award to Dr. Fred Rhodes, who is retiring after a 50-year career in public education, primarily in the Putnam City School District. Since 2013 he has served as its superintendent.
OMRF's partnership with Putnam City Schools dates to 1975, when the district designated the foundation as beneficiary of its annual cancer drive. Since then, the effort has raised $4 million for research at OMRF. That research has led, among other things, to an experimental brain cancer drug now undergoing clinical trials.
"Dr. Rhodes has been an amazing advocate for biomedical research at OMRF that advances human health," Weyrich said. "We are extremely grateful to him and to everyone from the Putnam City district who has supported our efforts to make meaningful progress in the fight against cancer and other chronic diseases."
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Original text here: https://omrf.org/omrf-board-welcomes-new-directors-recognizes-scientists/
Boston Foundation: ADUs are Growing in Popularity in Mass., Report Finds, But Issues With Cost, Local Codes Blunt Statewide Permitting Impact
BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 21 -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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ADUs are growing in popularity in Mass., report finds, but issues with cost, local codes blunt statewide permitting impact
A new report from Boston Indicators, the research center at the Boston Foundation, and Abundant Housing Massachusetts finds that Massachusetts' new statewide permitting pathway for accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs, has sparked notable growth in the number of ADU permit applications and built units. But the report, ADUs Turn One: Regulatory Barriers to Production in Massachusetts
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BOSTON, Massachusetts, May 21 -- The Boston Foundation issued the following news release:
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ADUs are growing in popularity in Mass., report finds, but issues with cost, local codes blunt statewide permitting impact
A new report from Boston Indicators, the research center at the Boston Foundation, and Abundant Housing Massachusetts finds that Massachusetts' new statewide permitting pathway for accessory dwelling units, known as ADUs, has sparked notable growth in the number of ADU permit applications and built units. But the report, ADUs Turn One: Regulatory Barriers to Production in Massachusettsand Ideas for Further Reform, also notes that ADU production still lags the pace needed to reduce the state's housing shortfall, with construction costs compounded by local regulations that delay or derail homeowners' plans.
"The statewide approach to zoning reform has proven necessary to spark concrete results at a pace to make a real impact on housing supply," said Amy Dain, Senior Fellow at Boston Indicators and lead author of the report. "But while statewide ADU permitting is making ADU construction more possible, our fragmented, complex system of local fire, septic, stormwater and other regulations creates challenges that discourage homeowners and make ADU construction less likely."
The Commonwealth reformed the state Zoning Act as part of the 2024 Affordable Homes Act to legalize ADUs "by right" statewide, partially overriding local zoning prohibitions and other restrictions for ADUs of no more than 900 square feet of floor area or half the floor area of the principal dwelling, whichever is smaller. However, the Act does allow for "reasonable" local zoning regulations and for other local regulations.
The Act's passage unquestionably sparked an increase in ADU applications and permitting. To measure the impact, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities surveyed building officials in all 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. 293 responded, reporting receiving a total of 1,639 applications for ADU building permits and issuing 1,224 permits. Those numbers underestimate the real counts - as 58 communities did not respond and 65 others only provided numbers for the first half of the year. But they give some sense that the legalization did spark a wave of interest in ADUs across Massachusetts.
Boston, Plymouth, Lawrence, Nantucket, Lowell, Milton and Somerville led the list of communities granting the most permits in the survey, with at least 32 communities granting more than 10 ADU permits under state and local regulations in 2025.
Even with the progress, there are clear obstacles to ADU construction that have emerged which are slowly the process for applicants, particularly at the local level, where each of the state's 351 municipalities has its own sets of building, fire, septic, wetlands, energy and stormwater codes that complicate the permitting process for both property owners applying to build ADUs and communities managing the approval process.
"If we are to truly unlock the potential of ADUs to create new and much-needed housing in Massachusetts, we must recognize that the Affordable Homes Act was just a first step," said Jesse Kanson-Benanav, Executive Director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts. "Homeowners seeking ADU permits face a tangled web of local barriers related to zoning, building codes, fire codes, septic systems, stormwater, and wetlands that vary from community to community. Standardizing, regionalizing and coordinating regulations around ADUs are necessary next steps to build upon."
The report makes a series of recommendations to sustain the gains underway. They include:
* Clear, uniform state regulatory standards for ADUs, with minimal opportunities for municipal-level variation
* A review of state regulatory standards for ADUs and revision to support ADU production while protecting health, safety, and the environment.
* Regionalization of permit review processes to reduce the burden on applicants and the staffing and technical expertise requirements for cities and towns.
* Improved cross-departmental coordination at the local and state levels to make the system easier to navigate for applicants.
The report also spells out a series of recommendations for state-level regulatory reforms to clarify ADU requirements, reduce unnecessary or redundant regulations and provide consistent and strong safety, health and environmental protections.
The report is available now at bostonindicators.org.
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REPORT: https://www.bostonindicators.org/-/media/indicators/boston-indicators-reports/report-files/2026/adus-turn-one.pdf
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Original text here: https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/press-releases/2026/may/adu-one-year-report
