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Youth Mental Health in the Age of AI Featured at The Jed Foundation (JED) Third-Annual Policy Summit
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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Youth Mental Health in the Age of AI Featured at The Jed Foundation (JED) Third-Annual Policy Summit
National leaders across mental health, education, philanthropy, policy, and youth advocacy sectors unite to advance sustainable solutions and protect the emotional well-being of young people.
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The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults nationwide, gathered mental health experts, policymakers, advocates, educators, and young people
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 -- The Jed Foundation issued the following news release:
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Youth Mental Health in the Age of AI Featured at The Jed Foundation (JED) Third-Annual Policy Summit
National leaders across mental health, education, philanthropy, policy, and youth advocacy sectors unite to advance sustainable solutions and protect the emotional well-being of young people.
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The Jed Foundation (JED), a leading nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults nationwide, gathered mental health experts, policymakers, advocates, educators, and young peoplefor its third-annual policy summit in Washington, D.C., on October 15. The summit, "Meeting the Moment: Sustaining Progress in Youth Mental Health," focused largely on the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the role of legislative policies on the local, state, and federal levels in shaping mental health support, investments, and resources for students in the digital age.
The summit began with an inspiring introduction and framing of the moment by Dr. Zainab Okolo, JED's senior vice president of policy, advocacy, and government relations, who reflected on the national policy landscape and what it means to sustain progress. She debuted JED policy framework, AI Policy Levers for Youth Mental Health, which calls for:
* Regulation: Establishing ethical guardrails for how AI interacts with youth in schools, health systems, and digital spaces
* Funding: Investing in innovation that is youth-informed and in evidence-based tools that support connection rather than replace it
* Coordination: Creating alignment across education, technology, and public health so that AI expands access to mental health resources rather than exacerbating gaps.
"The mental health and safety of our young people is not a partisan issue. It's a shared national priority. JED's summit underscored the absolute necessity of bipartisan collaboration," said Dr. Okolo. "We must work across the aisle -- among policymakers, technology leaders, or advocates -- to forge solutions that secure resources and investments in vital mental health services and establish ethical, protective guardrails around emerging technologies. Our youth deserve nothing less than a united front dedicated to their well-being."
Michael Satow, JED's board chair, offered opening remarks grounded in heartfelt thoughts about his brother, Jed, after whom the organization is named, while praising the summit for leaning into conversations about safeguarding the emotional health of youth in digital and school spaces.
"More than two decades after losing my brother Jed, our family continues processing a loss that may never fully make sense, but what we can do is ensure no other family endures this pain alone. This summit represents the kind of forward-thinking dialogue we need, examining how emerging technologies like AI intersect with youth mental health and suicide prevention, and translating those insights into actionable pathways that strengthen communities and save lives," Satow said. "By sustaining these critical conversations and implementing evidence-based frameworks -- like JED's Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention -- that build connection, reduce risk, and expand access to care, we move closer to a future where every young person has the support they need to thrive."
Summit participants also discussed new National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data that offers hopeful signs about youth mental health trends, showing declines in depression, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts among many demographics of teens and young adults from 2021 to 2024. While these findings underscore the impact of dedicated efforts in youth mental health and suicide prevention, this progress is being challenged. Federal budget cuts have put mental health services and adjacent supports at risk, from Medicaid and school-based programs to 988 crisis line services and youth-specific resources. Simultaneously, AI and evolving technologies are presenting significant safety issues to the mental health and well-being of youth.
"Recent national data from 2024 and 2023 shows overall declines in youth depression and suicidality, offering a powerful beacon of hope, validating the tireless work of so many dedicated to youth mental health. However, these improvements were not experienced across all groups of youth, showing that youth suicide prevention remains an urgent priority, and that the progress made is uneven and fragile. Therefore, we must remain committed in our resolve to this work and mission," said John MacPhee, JED's CEO. "As we face federal budget cuts to essential services and confront the alarming new risks for youth posed by unregulated AI development, JED's third-annual summit was more vital than ever. JED remains committed to working with leaders across sectors to ensure that young people's safety is a top priority."
Congresswoman Becca Balint (VT-AL) highlighted a bipartisan bill, co-sponsored with Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), that aims to strengthen youth mental health supports by expanding access to care, aligning federal resources, and incentivizing cross-sector partnerships. Her remarks underscored how federal legislation can sustain progress, advance equity, and provide practical solutions for states, campuses, and communities.
"Despite the strides we have made to normalize mental health, this topic can still be incredibly hard for people to talk about, especially for young people. It's complex. It's personal. It can be scary and overwhelming," said Rep. Becca Balint. "Today, I'm so proud to join JED for their policy summit to bring together experts, advocates, and young people with a common goal of addressing mental health challenges and the impacts of social media and AI. It's more critical than ever that we take real steps to require technology companies to implement safeguards and provide our youth with the resources they need and deserve."
Members of JED's Youth Advocacy Coalition, including the 2025 JED Texas Youth Advocacy Coalition Fellowship Cohort, shared insights and recommendations rooted in what they identified as disconnects between youth needs and adult-led policy agendas.
"As a JED Texas Youth Advocacy Coalition fellow and event panelist, the policy summit felt like a true seat at the table," said Rohan Satija, 2025 JED Texas Youth Advocacy Coalition fellow and 2025 JED Student Voice of Mental Health Award high school honoree. "I felt like my lived experience was heard and taken into account, helping shape policy. I'm excited to implement the insights I learned from the summit in my own community."
Additional discussions and priority topics at this year's summit included:
* Youth mental health and the role of AI: Experts in suicide prevention and public health highlighted how federal research and surveillance data are informing prevention strategies, and how AI-driven tools intersect with broader public health priorities and risks.
* Guardrails for the future of AI, mental health, and responsible innovation: Panelists explored and evaluated frameworks to understand AI's risks and benefits, alongside tech-related policy recommendations.
* State systems in action: State education leaders offered blueprints for scaling behavioral health models and prioritizing youth mental health in their strategic planning and budgeting to address youth mental health.
Featured policy summit speakers, panelists, and participants also included:
* United States Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
* Dr. Harold S. Koplewicz, president of the Child Mind Institute
* Rafael Campos, former deputy director of public engagement at the Office of the Surgeon General
* Nicole "Nikki" Clifton, president of The UPS Foundation
* Kody Kinsley, former Secretary of Health and Human Services for the state of North Carolina
* Dr. William A. Smith, chief executive administrator at Huntsman Mental Health Institute
* Hollie Chessman, director and principal program officer at American Council on Education
* Jennifer Wang, senior director of policy and communications at Fountain House
* Dr. Tony Walker, JED's senior vice president of school programs and consulting; Dawn Thomsen, JED's senior vice president of youth strategies and chief engagement officer; and Martha Sanchez, JED's director of policy
* Representatives of organizations including Active Minds, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Annie E. Cassie Foundation, Common Sense Media, Gates Foundation, Mental Health of America, One in Five, RAND Social and Economic Well-Being, State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, Third Way, and Trellis Foundation
The policy summit was sponsored by the Trellis Foundation (https://www.trellisfoundation.org/) and the Lumina Foundation (https://www.luminafoundation.org/).
View photos (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1228870042614935&type=3) from the summit. For more information on JED's policy, advocacy, and government relations work, please visit our website.
Interviews available with John MacPhee, JED's CEO, and Dr. Zainab Okolo, JED's senior vice president of policy, advocacy, and government relations, as well as with youth voices from the summit.
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About The Jed Foundation (JED)
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, and school districts 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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Original text here: https://jedfoundation.org/youth-mental-health-in-the-age-of-ai-featured-at-the-jed-foundation-jed-third-annual-policy-summit/
Could Clearance Rates Be Key to Addressing Criminal Justice Failures?
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 22 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news on Oct. 21, 2025:
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Could clearance rates be key to addressing criminal justice failures?
Clearance rates are the closest metric we have to evaluating how well the criminal justice system does at catching people who commit crimes.
By Hanna Liebman Dershowitz, Senior Fellow
Introduction
There is a poorly understood criminal justice metric that might just be a key component of fixing a faltering system that has gotten more expensive and, arguably, less effective at protecting public safety over decades.
... Show Full Article
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 22 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following news on Oct. 21, 2025:
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Could clearance rates be key to addressing criminal justice failures?
Clearance rates are the closest metric we have to evaluating how well the criminal justice system does at catching people who commit crimes.
By Hanna Liebman Dershowitz, Senior Fellow
Introduction
There is a poorly understood criminal justice metric that might just be a key component of fixing a faltering system that has gotten more expensive and, arguably, less effective at protecting public safety over decades.Clearance rates are the closest metric we have to evaluating how well the criminal justice system does at catching people who commit crimes. Clearance rates measure the percentage of reported crimes that result in a suspect being arrested, in an attempt to approximate the effectiveness of police agencies at that critical job. This brief is particularly interested in how effective the police are at solving violent crimes, a top concern of the public.
The effectiveness of the U.S. criminal enforcement system in solving violent crimes--as reflected by clearance rates--has been flat with a slightly downward trend over time. When focusing just on homicides, those rates have suffered a decades-long slide since the mid-1960s, with an even more pronounced decline in the years since 2019. Even as crime rates have trended down fairly consistently since 1993, and even though police spending has dramatically increased, not declined, since 1982, the percentage of violent crimes reported that get "cleared" (solved) has been stagnant at best since about the mid-1960s.
To put a finer point on the increased spending on police, the Urban Institute concluded from analyzing census data that "[f]rom 1977 to 2021, in 2021 inflation-adjusted dollars, state and local government spending on police increased from $47 billion to $135 billion, an increase of 189%." In addition, a study by ABC-owned television stations examining budgets of more than 100 cities and counties determined that 83% spent at least 2% more on police in 2022 than they spent in 2019.
Early indications suggest that some of the steeper declines in clearance rates that were experienced after 2019 bounced back somewhat in 2023 and 2024, but there is no conclusive data yet, and the long-term trend since the 1980s remains in place. The chaos of the pandemic years likely plays an outsize role in the data for those years so, looking back in hindsight, the accelerated decline in rates may prove those years to be outliers. Even so, the long-term trends demonstrate that vast improvement can be had in clearance rates across the criminal system.
In the mid-1960s, more than 90% of murders were solved nationally (Figure 1). By 1990, that percentage had dropped into the 60s. In 2022, only 37% of violent crimes were cleared, and just over half of murders, according to FBI data. These are historic lows for a statistic that has been collected using the same methodology since at least 1960. Meanwhile, peer nations in Western Europe and Asia reportedly performed as well as the U.S. did in the 1960s, and their numbers have remained much higher than the figures for the U.S. Note that though clearance rates for property crimes and lower-level offenses are typically much worse than those for violent crimes, they have also remained more stable over time (Figure 2). As an example, in 2022, 36.7% of violent crimes reported to police were cleared, compared with 12.1% of property crimes.
When violent crimes are not prosecuted, or perpetrators don't face punishment, it harms public safety and causes fear in the community; if left unchecked, this can lead to rampant disrespect for the law and eventually produce chaos. The perpetrator remains unidentified and loose in the community, able to commit further crimes.
Allowing cases to languish unsolved has additional implications for deterrence. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "Research shows clearly that the chance of being caught is a vastly more effective deterrent than even draconian punishment." So even as our prisons and jails are bursting with people being confined for ever-longer time periods, there is evidence that our policy choices are not yielding effective deterrence, let alone crafted to achieve optimal results. Indeed, the evidence is well-established that long sentences are not the only or even best way to address crime. When roughly half of murderers can expect to get away with it, the deterrent effect of amping penalties without increasing the likelihood of being caught will be limited. With property crime, those incentives are even worse since those are less likely to be cleared.
Failing to solve cases is also a severe disservice to victims, who are rarely healed or compensated by our present system. In fact, surveys show that victims of violent crime prefer prevention strategies to long prison sentences.
So why aren't clearance rates the most important criminal justice metric we have? Why have many members of the public not even heard of them? This brief will discuss clearance rates, their merits, and their decades-long downward trajectory. Why do clearance rates matter? How can the abysmal rates seen today be improved? Can public awareness of this crisis lead to action? What are the solutions?
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Hanna Liebman Dershowitz is a senior policy fellow at Reason Foundation.
Project Director: Vittorio Nastasi is the director of criminal justice policy at Reason Foundation.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/policy-brief/could-clearance-rates-be-key-to-addressing-criminal-justice-failures/
AmfAR Will Honor Jeremy Renner at AmfAR Las Vegas
NEW YORK, Oct. 22 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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amfAR Will Honor Jeremy Renner at amfAR Las Vegas
Event to Be Hosted at Wynn Las Vegas in Partnership with Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
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amfAR will honor actor and philanthropist Jeremy Renner at its Las Vegas gala on Friday, November 21, 2025. The event will be presented in partnership with the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX and will take place at Wynn Las Vegas. The evening will feature a seated gala dinner, musical performances, and a live auction of rare classic and contemporary automobiles,
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 22 -- AmfAR-the Foundation for AIDS Research issued the following news release:
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amfAR Will Honor Jeremy Renner at amfAR Las Vegas
Event to Be Hosted at Wynn Las Vegas in Partnership with Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix
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amfAR will honor actor and philanthropist Jeremy Renner at its Las Vegas gala on Friday, November 21, 2025. The event will be presented in partnership with the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX and will take place at Wynn Las Vegas. The evening will feature a seated gala dinner, musical performances, and a live auction of rare classic and contemporary automobiles,exquisite works of art, and luxury experiences in support of amfAR's lifesaving research.
Renner will be presented with amfAR's Philanthropic Leadership Award for his generous commitment to a range of charitable causes, particularly those that support the needs of foster children and at-risk youth.
"We are thrilled to be able to recognize Jeremy Renner at this year's gala," said amfAR incoming CEO Kyle Clifford. "Throughout his career, he has inspired people through his art and lifted them up through his generosity of spirit."
As an official partner of the FORMULA 1 LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX, amfAR is able to offer gala attendees access to exclusive premium race weekend packages, including Wynn Grid Club (3-day) and Formula 1 Paddock Club(TM) (1, 2, or 3-day) packages.
Last year's inaugural event, also hosted at Wynn Las Vegas, raised over $3 million. The event was hosted by renowned comedian Jay Leno and featured a special performance by the legendary Diana Ross. Academy Award-nominated actor, writer, and director Sylvester Stallone and accomplished entrepreneur, philanthropist, and model Jennifer Stallone were honored with amfAR's Award of Inspiration.
HIV/AIDS is far from over in the U.S. and Nevada has one of the highest infection rates in the country. Effective treatments, many of them developed with the help of amfAR's groundbreaking research, have rendered HIV a manageable condition for many people but it still requires lifelong adherence to medication. Funds raised at benefit events like amfAR Las Vegas are a vital source of support for amfAR's efforts to develop a cure for HIV that could help end the AIDS epidemic once and for all. They will also help amfAR leverage its expertise and expand its research focus to address other pressing global health threats.
Wynn Las Vegas is the official hotel and resort partner for amfAR Las Vegas. The event is also supported by 101 Studios.
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About amfAR
amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has raised nearly $950 million in support of its programs and has awarded more than 3,800 grants to research teams worldwide.
For ticket and table information, please visit https://www.amfar.org/lasvegas
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Original text here: https://www.amfar.org/press-releases/amfar-will-honor-jeremy-renner-at-amfar-las-vegas/
Targeted Drug Prolongs Survival in Breast Cancer Patient Group
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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Targeted drug prolongs survival in breast cancer patient group
Patients with HR+ and HER2- node positive high-risk early breast cancer experience improved long term overall survival seven years on following two years of taking a targeted drug alongside standard hormone therapy, according to research presented at ESMO.
The seven-year data from the international monarchE trial was simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology and presented at ESMO by the study lead Professor
... Show Full Article
LONDON, England, Oct. 21 -- The Royal Marsden National Health Service Foundation Trust issued the following news:
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Targeted drug prolongs survival in breast cancer patient group
Patients with HR+ and HER2- node positive high-risk early breast cancer experience improved long term overall survival seven years on following two years of taking a targeted drug alongside standard hormone therapy, according to research presented at ESMO.
The seven-year data from the international monarchE trial was simultaneously published in Annals of Oncology and presented at ESMO by the study lead ProfessorStephen Johnston, Head of the Breast Unit and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Breast Cancer Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research, London.
The monarchE Phase III trial examined whether adding a targeted drug called abemaciclib to standard hormone therapy could reduce disease recurrence and improve the overall survival rate for women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor 2-negative (HER2-), node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer.
Statistically significant reduced risk of death
The data presented showed patients who took adjuvant abemaciclib and hormone therapy combined had a statistically significant and clinically meaningful 15.8% reduced risk of death compared to those patients who received hormone therapy alone.
Additionally, fewer patients in the abemaciclib arm of the trial developed, or were living with, metastatic disease compared to those in the hormone therapy only arm. 32% fewer patients treated with abemaciclib combined with hormone therapy were living with metastatic disease compared to those receiving hormone therapy alone (6.4% versus 9.4% respectively). Continued long term follow up will determine if this translates into further improvements in overall survival.
Approximately 70% of breast cancer patients have HR+ and HER2- tumours, and of those a proportion of patients will have a higher risk of relapsing in the first two years. Patients with disease that has spread to lymph nodes, with either a large size or high grade of tumour were considered to be at 'high-risk' of recurrence and recruited to the study.
"It is wonderful to see patients able to live their lives fully"
"The most recent data from our monarchE study reaffirms that this is the first medicine in over two decades to deliver a clear improvement in overall survival for patients in the adjuvant setting," said Professor Stephen Johnston, Head of the Breast Unit and Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Professor of Breast Cancer Medicine at The Institute of Cancer Research.
"It is wonderful to see these patients in my clinic who continue to remain disease free and are able to live their lives fully."
The monarchE trial was funded by Eli Lilly and Company. Breast cancer research at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust is funded by The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).
Safety data from monarchE were consistent with the known safety profile of abemaciclib and no new safety signals were observed. For full safety information, please refer to the abemaciclib Summary of Product Characteristics (https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/search?q=verzenios).
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Original text here: https://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/news-and-events/news/targeted-drug-prolongs-survival-breast-cancer-patient-group
Reason Foundation Issues Commentary: Ohio Lawmakers Consider Bill to Promote an Independent Childhood
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 21 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Oct. 20, 2025:
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Ohio lawmakers consider bill to promote an independent childhood
Senate Bill 277 would assure parents that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities without mandated adult supervision.
By Zachary Christensen, Managing Director
A new law currently under consideration in the Ohio legislature, Senate Bill 277, would grant parents much-needed assurance that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities like walking to the store or playing
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LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 21 -- The Reason Foundation issued the following commentary on Oct. 20, 2025:
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Ohio lawmakers consider bill to promote an independent childhood
Senate Bill 277 would assure parents that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities without mandated adult supervision.
By Zachary Christensen, Managing Director
A new law currently under consideration in the Ohio legislature, Senate Bill 277, would grant parents much-needed assurance that they can let their children engage in safe, reasonable activities like walking to the store or playingaround the neighborhood without mandating around-the-clock adult supervision. If passed, the Buckeye State would join 11 other states--red, blue, and purple--that have already adopted this type of legislation, commonly called "Reasonable Childhood Independence" laws.
Parents around the U.S. have had concerning interactions with law enforcement because their kids had engaged in seemingly innocuous activities without direct supervision. Brittany Patterson, a mother from Georgia, was arrested last year after her 10-year-old son ventured to the store alone in her small town of 370 residents while she was at a doctor's appointment with her other son. A concerned passerby noticed the boy walking alone and contacted the police, which ultimately culminated in her being arrested and handcuffed in front of her kids. Then came a lengthy legal process between Patterson and the authorities.
A single mother in Pennsylvania, responsible for two children and her 13-year-old brother, faced severe legal consequences when she briefly left her 1-year-old in the young brother's care to run an errand. Intervention by authorities resulted in the mother's placement on the state's child abuse registry, which subsequently made it almost impossible for her to secure employment as a home health aide.
The constant threat of government intervention has had a significant chilling effect on parents who wish to give their children space to develop through independent activities. Why would someone allow their child to play outside unsupervised--an activity that used to be considered normal and safe--when there is a chance that it could result in punishment?
Experts are gaining a better understanding of how excessive parental protection negatively impacts both children and families. A study published in The Journal of Pediatrics in 2023 established a causal link between declining childhood independence over several decades and a rise in anxiety and depression among children. One of the authors of that study and professor of developmental psychology at Boston College, Peter Gray, testified before a Pennsylvania committee that the way children develop a robust sense that they can handle challenges is through regular independent opportunities without parents hovering over their every decision.
But parents must feel comfortable to grant these opportunities for independent activities. At the heart of the issue lies the imprecise and subjective nature of child neglect laws, which allow considerable discretion to law enforcement and social workers to decide what qualifies. Although government safety workers undoubtedly act with what they believe to be the child's best interests at heart, in most situations, a child's own parent remains the most suitable judge of what is appropriate.
This legislative session presents Ohio lawmakers with a crucial chance to tackle this issue head-on. SB 277 aims to remove subjective language and sharpen the definitions of neglect and abuse within Ohio's current laws. The bill will clearly permit specific activities, such as children walking to and from school or stores, engaging in outdoor play, and remaining home alone for appropriate durations, all while continuing to forbid genuinely harmful neglect or endangerment. This legislation would empower Ohio parents to make sound choices for their children without the fear of inconsistent interpretations of what constitutes appropriate parenting. It would provide them the liberty to foster independence confidently during a vital stage of development.
This bill would have Ohio join several other states (including Georgia, Florida, and Missouri just last year) in adopting "reasonable childhood independence" laws. Through close partnership with the nonprofit Let Grow, whose president, Lenore Skenazy, writes for Reason magazine, Reason Foundation has promoted this same type of bipartisan law in over 10 states.
Ohio lawmakers have a chance to send a clear message to parents that they have their back when it comes to nurturing independent and resilient children. The legislature should seize this opportunity to promote childhood independence by passing SB 277.
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Zachary Christensen is a managing director of Reason Foundation's Pension Integrity Project.
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Original text here: https://reason.org/commentary/ohio-lawmakers-consider-bill-to-promote-an-independent-childhood/
Heavy Equipment Operators File Federal Charges Against Operating Engineers Union for Illegal Retaliation
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Oct. 21 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
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Heavy Equipment Operators File Federal Charges Against Operating Engineers Union for Illegal Retaliation
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IUOE union officials unlawfully threatened "internal discipline" fines against workers who continued employment with nonunion contractor
Lawrenceville, GA (October 21, 2025) - A group of construction industry employees of Dennis Taylor & Co. have filed federal charges at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the International Union of Operating Engineers
... Show Full Article
SPRINGFIELD, Virginia, Oct. 21 -- The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation posted the following news release:
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Heavy Equipment Operators File Federal Charges Against Operating Engineers Union for Illegal Retaliation
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IUOE union officials unlawfully threatened "internal discipline" fines against workers who continued employment with nonunion contractor
Lawrenceville, GA (October 21, 2025) - A group of construction industry employees of Dennis Taylor & Co. have filed federal charges at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the International Union of Operating Engineers(IUOE) Local 926 alleging IUOE union officials subjected them to illegal post-resignation discipline after the employees legally resigned their union memberships.
The workers' charges were filed at the NLRB with free legal aid from the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. The NLRB is the federal agency responsible for enforcing the National Labor Relations Act and adjudicating disputes between employers, unions, and individual employees.
The employees, Michael Mitchem, Billy Johnson, David Johnson, and Chris Oaks resigned their IUOE memberships months or years ago. Despite this, union officials are threatening the workers with fines, apparently for working at Dennis Taylor & Co., which once was part of a "hiring hall" arrangement with IUOE, but no longer is.
The resignations came after Dennis Taylor & Co. removed itself from an arrangement to hire employees through an IUOE union boss-controlled hiring hall. In theory, both union members and nonmembers can utilize union-run hiring halls to find employment with employers that have decided to utilize the hiring hall to fill openings. However there is a long history of union officials using hiring halls to discriminate against nonmembers and coerce workers into formal union membership in order to attain employment.
The charges filed by Michael Mitchem, Billy Johnson, and Chris Oaks each state that even before formally resigning from the union, the employees were never voluntary union members, as they had been misled into believing that union membership was mandatory. Though union officials frequently mislead workers into believing that formal union membership is required, the problem is especially prevalent when employment involves union hiring halls.
Under longstanding law, only fully voluntary union members can be subjected to internal union discipline, which often involves fines levied against workers at odds with union boss demands. Workers cannot face discipline for actions that occur after a worker has resigned from such voluntary union membership.
"Contrary to the apparent wishes of IUOE Local 926 union bosses, formal union membership cannot be required as a condition of employment, a precedent in place since the early 1960s," commented National Right to Work Foundation President Mark Mix. "It is outrageous that IUOE union officials are attempting to barge back into the lives of these workers years after they've legally exercised their rights, and are now illegally threatening them with fines simply for working to provide for themselves and their families."
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The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation is a nonprofit, charitable organization providing free legal aid to employees whose human or civil rights have been violated by compulsory unionism abuses. The Foundation, which can be contacted toll-free at 1-800-336-3600, assists thousands of employees in about 200 cases nationwide per year.
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Original text here: https://www.nrtw.org/news/georgia-dennis-taylor-co-iuoe-10212025/
Foundation for Economic Education Issues Commentary: Capitalism Connected Guatemala
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 21 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Oct. 19, 2025:
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Capitalism Connected Guatemala
How free markets transformed Guatemala's telecom industry.
By Valeria Vasquez
Can you imagine having to drive for 12 hours just to make a phone call? Or being on a 20-year wait-list to be able to buy a landline? That was the reality of telecommunications in Guatemala at the beginning of the 1990s. There were only 23 public phones per 100,000 inhabitants. These numbers were more than poor service; they represented a barrier to economic growth
... Show Full Article
DETROIT, Michigan, Oct. 21 -- The Foundation for Economic Education posted the following commentary on Oct. 19, 2025:
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Capitalism Connected Guatemala
How free markets transformed Guatemala's telecom industry.
By Valeria Vasquez
Can you imagine having to drive for 12 hours just to make a phone call? Or being on a 20-year wait-list to be able to buy a landline? That was the reality of telecommunications in Guatemala at the beginning of the 1990s. There were only 23 public phones per 100,000 inhabitants. These numbers were more than poor service; they represented a barrier to economic growthand everyday life.
Telecommunications are a crucial sector for a country's development. An effective system attracts external investors by ensuring reliable communication across the territory, helping to develop the most isolated areas. But the state-owned Guatemalan Telecommunications Company (GUATEL), which was in charge of phone lines, was not keeping up with expectations.
Telecommunications originally arrived in Guatemala in 1881 through US companies, but the system was nationalized in 1921, after the original concessions granted to those companies were not renewed. Since GUATEL operated under government control, it was vulnerable to the political instability caused by the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996).
Frequent changes in government, combined with partial military control of the company due to security reasons, meant that changes in management were constant, with a new manager every six or eight months. Managerial decisions didn't reflect the needs of the market; instead, they followed the priorities of whichever government was in power.
Meanwhile, demand for telephone lines kept growing, but GUATEL lacked the resources and efficiency to meet it. In 1994, only 2 out of 100 people had access to a phone, and 80% of lines were concentrated in the capital, leaving the rest of the country disconnected. Faced with this failure, and with the increasing demand for access, the decision was made to privatize GUATEL.
But why privatize? The answer lies in the proven benefits of a free-market system.
For starters, a free market fosters competition, which drives companies to be constantly innovating to attract new customers. In a monopoly such as GUATEL, there is no incentive to innovate, which resulted in an obsolete and inefficient telecom system. Why improve service when people were forced to buy from them at astronomical prices anyway?
Private property also generates incentives for efficiency. A state-owned company is tied to political interests and faces no consequences for poor decisions. It is entirely insulated from the effects of the market. In contrast, a private company faces monetary losses when it makes mistakes, which forces it to act responsibly and adapt to consumer needs. In state-run firms, these losses are simply paid by taxpayers.
Because they are subject to political interests and cycles, public enterprises suffer from a short-term view, blinding them to potential growth opportunities. Politicians are inclined to look for immediate results to secure elections, overlooking opportunities that might be better in the long run.
On top of all that, an investment of $1.147 billion was necessary to install 900,000 phone lines, the bare minimum required, an amount the Guatemalan state could not afford. Installation costs fell significantly after privatization, demonstrating that private investment was essential. A market economy generates new wealth through trade and innovation, while the State only redistributes what already exists.
This change was essential for Guatemalan society; privatizing GUATEL could greatly accelerate economic development. Studies have shown that a mere 10% improvement in phones could lead to a 0.5% growth in GDP. When people have better access to communication, businesses become more efficient, information flows faster, and their quality of life improves.
Some groups vehemently opposed this privatization. Union leaders claimed that this sale would benefit only the elite, harming the workers in the process. They argued that the private sector cares only about profits, not people, so they would see no reason to improve service for the general population.
However, what actually happened after the sale disproves these concerns. Before privatization in 1998, there were only 400,000 phone lines, but by 2009, there were 1.3 million, a 225% increase. The newly formed private Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala (TELGUA) achieved in a few years what the state-owned company had failed to do in decades. The benefits reached everyone, not just the elite.
Today, Guatemala's telecom market is a duopoly dominated by Tigo and Claro, two major brands operating across Latin America. But this reflects regulatory constraints, not market failure. For example, the 5G spectrum is currently held by these two companies exclusively, but only because there is a Telecommunications Superintendence (SIT) restricting new entrants. The industry could improve further if entry barriers were lowered.
Similar examples can be found across the region. In Brazil, before the 1990s privatizations, phone lines were scarce, and each one cost more than $940. Today, there are more than 276 million lines, each costing less than $2 on average.
The powerful effects of the free market aren't limited to telecoms. In the '80s, Chile privatized its electric company. Access to electricity went up from 66% of households to 96%, with prices dropping around 20%.
Guatemala's case offers a clear lesson: when markets are freed, innovation and competition can create massive benefits for all. GUATEL, as a state-owned company, was a disaster, characterized by low coverage, high prices, and poor service. Traveling 12 hours just to make a call may sound absurd today, but that was the reality only a few decades ago. It was a systematic inefficiency that lasted generations.
Once privatized, service became substantially better in just a few years. If the telecom industry was able to undergo such a radical, positive transformation, imagine what could happen if we freed other industries still trapped under state control.
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Valeria Vasquez
Valeria is an engineering student at Universidad Francisco Marroquin and is involved with several freedom-oriented organizations. She is a Mises University alumna and a Students for Liberty Coordinator.
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Original text here: https://fee.org/articles/capitalism-connected-guatemala/
