Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Read New NCFR Journal Research From Late Dec
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 10 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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Read New NCFR Journal Research from Late Dec
Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
>>Sign up for email alerts of new journal content. Visit the Wiley homepages for JMF, FR, and/or JFTR and look for the "Sign up for email alerts" box near the top right of each page.<<
JFTR December 2025 special
... Show Full Article
ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Jan. 10 -- The National Council on Family Relations issued the following news:
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Read New NCFR Journal Research from Late Dec
Keep up with the latest research from NCFR's three scholarly journals -- Journal of Marriage and Family (JMF), Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR), and Journal of Family Theory & Review (JFTR).
>>Sign up for email alerts of new journal content. Visit the Wiley homepages for JMF, FR, and/or JFTR and look for the "Sign up for email alerts" box near the top right of each page.<<
JFTR December 2025 specialissue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/fare.13048): This special issue, themed "Theorizing and Doing Critical Intersectional Family Science" and guest edited by NCFR Fellow April L. Few-Demo, Ph.D., and NCFR members Veronica R. Barrios, Ph.D., and Dana A. Weiser, Ph.D., "invited interdisciplinary scholars to consider how intersectionality has evolved and expanded, to examine tensions and challenges with applying an intersectional lens, and to address how intersectionality has been utilized in pedagogy, research, and praxis."
FR December 2025 Issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/fare.13048): Explore articles on families during the COVID-19 pandemic, experiences in adoptive families, cross-generation family systems, and much more.
JMF October 2025 Issue (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jomf.13008): Explore articles on parental leave, parenting and parent-child relations, partnered relationships, and more.
New Early-View Articles Published Online (Dec. 14-Jan. 3):
Journal of Family Theory & Review:
* Fathers Are Frightened but May Not Know It: Considering Masculinity and Attachment When Working With Fathers in Family Therapy (open access) -- Allen K. Sabey, Jakob F. Jensen, Brandon Jacobs
* Grandmothering While Black: A Twenty-First-Century Story of Love, Coercion, and Survival. By Lashawnda L. Pittman. -- Elliana McKinney
* Parent Financial Socialization and Financial Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis -- Ashley B. LeBaron-Black, Nathan D. Leonhardt, Sofia C. Suxo-Sanchez, Elise Rich, Fangyuan M. Broadbent
* A Bioecological Framework for Supporting Mothers From Pregnancy to Workforce Reintegration -- Leticia Barbano
Journal of Marriage and Family:
* Parental Divorce and Children's Partnership Dynamics -- Ruth Eva Jorgensen, Arno Van Hootegem, Torkild H. Lyngstad
* Gender Norms in Transition? Parents' Housework and Childcare Time in the COVID-19 Era (open access) -- Jennifer March Augustine, Kate Prickett
* Compromising Fatherhood: Expansion Versus Constriction in Fathers' Gender Identities and Role Performances -- Casey Scheibling, Jillian Sunderland
* Parental Racial-Ethnic Socialization and Competence in Asian Families (open access) -- Frances M. Lobo, Gabriela Livas, Rashmita S. Mistry, Richard M. Lee, Charissa S. L. Cheah, Virginia W. Huynh, J. Abigail Saavedra, Asian American Families Study Collaborative
Family Relations:
* Gender attitudes, women's intra-household decision-making power, and fertility intentions -- Xiaojun Yang, Ying Yue, Jie Ma
* A coparent intervention to prevent prenatal stress and depression symptoms in families with lower incomes -- Rachel J. Herman, Alexandrea L. Craft, Christina A. Rowley, Maureen Perry-Jenkins, Sally I. Powers, Marsha Kline Pruett, Robert B. Straus, Alice E. Coyne, Nancy Byatt
* Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of racial discrimination in Asian Americans' intimate relationships (open access) -- Chengfei Jiao, Kayla Reed-Fitzke
* Recovery from severe mental illness in the family: The role of intrapersonal and interpersonal differentiation (open access) -- Netta Galmidi, Ron Shor
* Expanding theoretical perspectives on the associations between relationship satisfaction and suicidal ideation -- Preston C. Morgan, Heather A. Love, Garrin Morlan
* Redefining closeness: Family resilience after sibling loss among individuals who had siblings with disabilities -- Minhae Cho, Ji Sun Lee, Susan Neely-Barnes, Melissa Hirschi, Keena Gilbert, J. Holden Brimhall, Tracy Humphrey
* Understanding revenge cognitions among Jewish women survivors of intimate partner violence in Canada (open access) -- Anat Vass
* Parent-child stress, quality of life, and relationships in pediatric atopic dermatitis: An actor-partner interdependence model -- Cynthia Sze Ling Fung, Celia Hoi Yan Chan, Yat Lui Fung
* Validation of the Chinese Family Strength Measure (CFSM) Among Hong Kong Families with Young Children -- Shiying Fang, Ya-ting Teng, Kurt Nan, Chi Hung Leung
* From business to legacy: The strategic role of Family Offices in family life (open access) -- Monica Villanueva-Villar, Elena Rivo-Lopez
* Intergenerational coparenting relationship patterns and grandparents' psychological well-being: Evidence from the China Family Panel Studies (open access) -- Meihua Wang, Xinrui Yin, Suyun Chen, Xiangyu Chen
* In good days, in "disaster" days: Grounded theory of couple dynamics post-2023 Turkiye earthquake --Aysegul Bakir, Turkan Dogan
* Impact of Type 1 diabetes on couples' health, well-being, and relationship: An Interpretative phenomenological analysis study (open access) -- Anastasia Akepu Asongafac, Jackie Sturt, Emma Rowland, Mette Due-Christensen
* Building stronger families: A resilience-focused conceptual framework to family life education in Saudi Arabia -- Sarah A. Almalki
* Contemporary parenting norms and coparenting coordination: Exploring narratives of parents of adolescents (open access) -- Gaelle Venard, Elli-Anastasia Lamprianidou, Cindy Eira Nunes, Maria del Rio Carral, Stijn Van Petegem, Gregoire Zimmermann
* Associations between coparenting and child adjustment: Universality and specificity across four countries (open access) -- Weiman Xu, Mark E. Feinberg, Lindsey R. Gedaly, Elizabeth Barham, Elena Camisasca, Thais Ramos de Carvalho, Maham Khawaja, Tamkeen Ashraf Malik, Clarisse Mosmann, Michael B. Wells
* The mediating role of value-driven decision-making in the association between relationship quality and internalizing experiences -- Benjamin Jones, Glade Topham, Amber Vennum, Jared Durtschi, Kristen Kremer
* Does child care weaken household financial resilience? Evidence from China under the life cycle perspective -- Yuanyuan Li, Yunqi Cao, Xiaojie Gu
* Who attends and appreciates Parent Cafes: A peer-learning program centered around family protective factors (open access) -- Stephanie J. Mitchell, Letechia Holmes, Amanda Feinberg, Nia I. Bodrick
* A scoping review of e-health interventions for the well-being of preterm parents: Current evidence and future directions -- Federico Paleardi, Giacomo Lauritano, Alessandra Decataldo, Maria Francesca Figlino, Brunella Fiore, Giulia Ciuffo, Chiara Ionio
* Who benefits: Health effects of marriage matching patterns -- Yiwen Shangguan, Yang Yi
* Maternal autonomy, caste system, and children's school enrollment in India (open access) -- Poulami Chatterjee, Saikat Ghosh, Lahari Chakraborty
* Perceptions of the impact of operational stress in emergency first responder families: A qualitative analysis (open access) -- Kelly Dean Schwartz, Michelle Redekop, Hanna Duffy, Daranne Harris, Andrea Stelnicki, Megan McElheran
* "Long illness, no filial children?" Offsprings' care for older adults with disabilities in China -- Xuehao Huang
* The myth of independence: A nature-based family therapy intensive with emerging adults -- John Souza Jr., Mark G. Downey
* Age at first marriage and divorce risk: Analysis based on social clock theory -- Ting Yang, Tingshao Zhu, Tianli Liu
* Fatherhood in transition: How extended parental leave shapes the quality of life for Danish fathers (open access) --Maja Thot Kruger, Christina Louise Lindhardt
* Breaking the cycle of socioeconomic disadvantage: Parental reflexivity and motivation for change (open access) --Lucia Fortio, Alda Portugal, Cicero R. Pereira, Telma M. Marques, Ana C. Polido, Isabel Gomes, Isabel Narciso
* Catalyzing collective action in evidence-based parenting support: A model for effective research alliances (open access) -- Matthew R. Sanders, Carys Chainey, Jan M. Nicholson, Sophie S. Havighurst, Alina Morawska, Daryl J. Higgins, Sharon Dawe, Mark R. Dadds, Warren Cann, Trevor G. Mazzucchelli, Ben Mathews, David J. Hawes, John W. Toumbourou, Chris Hatherly
Access articles: NCFR member journal subscribers can access articles by logging into their NCFR account.
Submit your manuscript: Learn more about NCFR's scholarly journals prior to submitting your manuscript.
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Original text here: https://www.ncfr.org/news/read-new-ncfr-journal-research-late-dec
[Category: Sociological]
Progress Michigan: ICE Killing In Minneapolis is the Predictable Outcome of a Lawless Immigration System
LANSING, Michigan, Jan. 10 -- Progress Michigan, an organization that says it holds public officials and government accountable and assist in the promotion of progressive ideas, issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2026:
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ICE Killing In Minneapolis is the Predictable Outcome of a Lawless Immigration System
On Thursday, Progress Michigan released the following statement following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the false narrative being spun by the administration:
"Yesterday's horrific killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE
... Show Full Article
LANSING, Michigan, Jan. 10 -- Progress Michigan, an organization that says it holds public officials and government accountable and assist in the promotion of progressive ideas, issued the following news release on Jan. 8, 2026:
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ICE Killing In Minneapolis is the Predictable Outcome of a Lawless Immigration System
On Thursday, Progress Michigan released the following statement following the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the false narrative being spun by the administration:
"Yesterday's horrific killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICEin broad daylight in Minneapolis was not an accident," said Levi Teitel, Progress Michigan's communications coordinator. "It was the predictable outcome of an immigration system that rewards aggression, shields agents from accountability, and is built on a system of racial violence."
"This is not public safety. When ICE is given free rein and oversight is stripped away, routine encounters escalate into deadly force," continued Teitel. "The agent who pulled the trigger did not act in isolation. He acted within a system designed to excuse misconduct and dehumanize immigrant communities. It is reprehensible that this administration is now spreading lies about what happened, as if the video evidence does not directly contradict their claims. The footage clearly shows an unarmed person attempting to move out of the way before an ICE agent fired point-blank through the windshield. Distorting the truth to protect violence only deepens the harm and erodes any remaining trust in federal authorities."
The organization is also calling attention to a January 8 tweet from Michigan's Republican Senate Minority Leader and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Aric Nesbitt, in which he pledges to "stand 100% with ICE."
"Nesbitt's stance of unquestioning support for ICE would be dangerous and unacceptable in the best of times," continued Teitel. "Choosing to post it while the nation is still reeling from news of a gruesome murder by ICE is despicable, and shows once again that Nesbitt will do or say nearly anything to ingratiate himself with Trump and the far right.
"We stand with the Minnesota communities that continue to show what real safety looks like by organizing, documenting, and defending their neighbor's constitutional rights, standing in sharp contrast to the fear and violence imposed by this administration and acted upon by ICE."
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Original text here: https://progressmichigan.org/2026/01/ice-killing-in-minneapolis-is-the-predictable-outcome-of-a-lawless-immigration-system/
[Category: Political]
National LGBTQ Task Force Releases Statement Regarding Minneapolis Shooting of Renee Nicole Good
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The National LGBTQ Task Force (formerly the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) issued the following statement on Jan. 8, 2026, by President Kierra Johnson:
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National LGBTQ Task Force Releases Statement Regarding Minneapolis Shooting of Renee Nicole Good
"We recognize and mourn the loss of Renee Nicole Good and extend our condolences to her family, loved ones, and community. This loss of life was preventable and reprehensible , particularly coming at the hands of federal agents.
We condemn in the strongest terms the actions taken by ICE, under circumstances that
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- The National LGBTQ Task Force (formerly the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force) issued the following statement on Jan. 8, 2026, by President Kierra Johnson:
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National LGBTQ Task Force Releases Statement Regarding Minneapolis Shooting of Renee Nicole Good
"We recognize and mourn the loss of Renee Nicole Good and extend our condolences to her family, loved ones, and community. This loss of life was preventable and reprehensible , particularly coming at the hands of federal agents.
We condemn in the strongest terms the actions taken by ICE, under circumstances thatthe world has witnessed. Like the public, we watched in disbelief and anger as the current administration and Homeland Security officials then lied to the media and the American public about what really happened.
The fact that this killing occurred mere blocks from the murder of George Floyd should give us all pause and is a wake-up call to connect the dots - all marginalized communities are under threat as authoritarianism grows, and a police state is created in our streets by Federal agencies like ICE.This is also just one of the more visible ways that ICE has demonstrated their abuse of power, leaving us deeply concerned about the treatment of individuals who are in the detention centers at this time. All to say, you saw this happen to someone in public and yet inside the neglect and the violence is just prolonged and exacerbated. The tragic reality here is about much more than a blatant murder documented and now seen by millions. A child lost his mother. A wife lost her spouse. A family has lost a daughter. A community has lost a caring person, yet another innocent person put danger by the occupation of our cities against the will of the people of Minneapolis - as we have seen in Chicago, Los Angeles and more.
We support Governor Walz and the people of Minnesota who are demanding a state investigation into this incident. Finally, we are now extremely concerned about what ICE agents may do in Minneapolis and at other protests across the country, given their lack of training and particularly in their interactions with civilians exercising their First Amendment right to protest.
Protest is still our constitutional right and yet we have seen what lies get woven and given wings to give cover and permission for lives surveilled, detained, demeaned and taken. We encourage vigilance and caution."
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About The National LGBTQ Task Force:
The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action, and creates change to achieve freedom, justice, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. As the progressive voice of the LGBTQ movement and the LGBTQ voice of the progressive movement, the National LGBTQ Task Force organizes people and money in pursuit of liberation for all.
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Original text here: https://www.thetaskforce.org/news/the-national-lgbtq-task-force-releases-statement-regarding-minneapolis-shooting-of-rachel-good/
[Category: Political]
Job Creators Network Statement on December Jobs Report
ADDISON, Texas, Jan. 10 -- Job Creators Network issued the following statement on Jan. 9, 2026:
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Job Creators Network Statement on December Jobs Report
Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of Job Creators Network, released the following statement on the December jobs report, which showed 50,000 jobs created and the unemployment rate fall to 4.4%:
"The falling unemployment rate, strong real wage growth, and private-sector job creation suggest the labor market is solidifying and setting the stage for a big 2026. Government jobs are down by nearly 300,000 over the past year, and the number of discouraged workers
... Show Full Article
ADDISON, Texas, Jan. 10 -- Job Creators Network issued the following statement on Jan. 9, 2026:
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Job Creators Network Statement on December Jobs Report
Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of Job Creators Network, released the following statement on the December jobs report, which showed 50,000 jobs created and the unemployment rate fall to 4.4%:
"The falling unemployment rate, strong real wage growth, and private-sector job creation suggest the labor market is solidifying and setting the stage for a big 2026. Government jobs are down by nearly 300,000 over the past year, and the number of discouraged workersdeclined by nearly 200,000 last month. Combined with the increased quits rate, this data shows workers are increasingly confident they will find jobs.
"And the real labor market is stronger than the topline figures suggest. The job market is a lagging indicator of economic conditions. Pro-growth Republican policies such as tax cuts, deregulation, and low gas prices have supercharged economic growth in recent months, giving small businesses more ability to expand and hire. As these economic benefits begin being felt by Main Street, the labor market will significantly strengthen in the months to come, boosting affordability and living standards for all Americans."
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Original text here: https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/job-creators-network-statement-on-december-jobs-report/
[Category: Human Resources/Personnel]
Direct Relief: Medical Aid Supports Displaced Communities in South Sudan, Strengthens Care in Ghana and Haiti, and More
SANTA BARBARA, California, Jan. 10 -- Direct Relief issued the following news:
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Medical Aid Supports Displaced Communities in South Sudan, Strengthens Care in Ghana and Haiti, and More
Direct Relief's Humanitarian Activity for the week of 01/02/2026 - 01/09/2026
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Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 556 shipments of requested medical aid to 47 U.S. states and territories and 14 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 2.5 million defined daily doses of medication
Medications and supplies shipped this week included treatments for chronic conditions, infectious diseases,
... Show Full Article
SANTA BARBARA, California, Jan. 10 -- Direct Relief issued the following news:
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Medical Aid Supports Displaced Communities in South Sudan, Strengthens Care in Ghana and Haiti, and More
Direct Relief's Humanitarian Activity for the week of 01/02/2026 - 01/09/2026
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Over the past week, Direct Relief has delivered 556 shipments of requested medical aid to 47 U.S. states and territories and 14 countries worldwide. The shipments contained 2.5 million defined daily doses of medication
Medications and supplies shipped this week included treatments for chronic conditions, infectious diseases,surgical and clinical care supplies, cold-chain storage equipment, and more.
2025 Year in Review
Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2025, Direct Relief delivered 29.9K shipments to 2,778 partner organizations in 54 U.S. states and territories and 93 countries. These shipments contained 320.2 million defined daily doses of medication, valued at $2 billion (wholesale), totaling approximately 4.7 million pounds.
These metrics reflect the scope of Direct Relief's operational activity throughout 2025. As the organization enters 2026, Direct Relief remains committed to meeting ongoing and emerging humanitarian needs worldwide.
Emergency Medical Aid Dispatched to Displaced Communities in South Sudan
This week, Direct Relief dispatched an emergency medical shipment to support displaced communities in South Sudan, where ongoing conflict has forced thousands of families from their homes and severely limited access to essential care.
The shipment will support Transformation of the World in Christ, a partner providing medical and humanitarian services to internally displaced people and refugees across Twic County and Warrap State. Many of those displaced have fled from other parts of South Sudan, including the Sudan border, with Twic County serving as a critical place of refuge.
These supplies include personal care items for displaced people, insect repellent, solar lights, and other essential medical items to help prevent infection and support clinics serving six IDP camps.
The shipment builds on Direct Relief's ongoing deliveries to health providers working to sustain care amid complex and evolving challenges.
Cold-Chain Equipment Supports Breast Cancer Care in Ghana
Breast Care International -- a longstanding partner of Direct Relief working to expand early detection, treatment, and breast cancer care across Ghana -- recently received five refrigerators and five universal power supplies that will enhance the organization's ability to safely store life-saving medicines and better serve patients.
BCI's mission focuses on breast health education, screening, counseling, and treatment support to reduce breast cancer mortality and improve the quality of life for women at risk across the country.
Direct Relief has supported BCI and its network of health facilities for more than a decade, contributing over $154 million in medical resources since 2014, and will continue to support efforts to strengthen access to essential care across Ghana.
Medical and Hurricane Relief Supplies Delivered in Southern Haiti
Direct Relief partner Hope for Haiti delivered hurricane relief supplies and other donated medical supplies in southern Haiti, including a rapid distribution to one of its healthcare partners, Nova Hope for Haiti. The delivery was supported through Direct Relief's ongoing gift-in-kind partnership, which helps strengthen access to essential medicines and medical supplies for healthcare providers across the country.
The distribution was built on prepositioned emergency supplies that allowed partners to respond quickly following Hurricane Melissa. "Having all of these healthcare hurricane kits prepositioned really allowed us to act immediately after Hurricane Melissa," said Linda Thelemaque, Hope for Haiti's Chief Program Officer.
The delivery is part of Direct Relief's ongoing partnership with Hope for Haiti to support healthcare access in Haiti through local partners.
Operational Snapshot
UNITED STATES
Direct Relief delivered 539 shipments containing 1.1 million doses of medication this past week to organizations, including the following:
* indley Foundation Inc., dba Findley Medical Clinic, Wisconsin
* The Agape Clinic, Texas
* Outreach Health Services, Inc, Mississippi
* HealthRIGHT 360, California
* Community Health Centers, Inc, Utah
* Open Door Health Center, Florida
* Community Medical Wellness, California
* Tarzana Treatment Center, California
* Open Arms Health Clinic, Texas
* The Hearts and Hands Clinic, Inc, Georgia
Around the World
Globally, Direct Relief shipped over 1.5 million defined daily doses of medication, totaling 24,826 lbs., to countries including the following:
* Syria
* Ukraine
* Armenia
* Papua New Guinea
* Tanzania
* Bolivia
* Eswatini
* Rwanda
IN THE NEWS
Direct Relief's New CEO Commands the Spotlight - Montecito Journal
SoCal Wildfires: How You Can Help - ABC7
More than $15 million Directed Toward Fire Relief One Year After Los Angeles Wildfires, as Musicares Continues Long-Term Recovery Efforts - RecordingAcademy.com
MusiCares Details $15 Million Distributed for Los Angeles Fire Relief - Variety
5 Best Humanitarian Charities to Donate to in 2026 - Sapa-Usa.org
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Original text here: https://www.directrelief.org/2026/01/medical-aid-supports-displaced-communities-in-south-sudan-strengthens-care-in-ghana-and-haiti-and-more/
[Category: Health Care]
Archive of Tom Verlaine, Frontman of Television, Has Been Acquired By The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
NEW YORK, Jan. 10 -- The New York Public Library issued the following news release:
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The Archive of Tom Verlaine, Frontman of Television, Has Been Acquired By The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The archive spans six decades of Tom Verlaine's working life and includes lyric drafts, notebooks, correspondence, and hundreds of hours of unreleased music, demos, rehearsals, and live recordings by the Neon Boys, Television, and solo work.
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The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has acquired the archive of Tom Verlaine musician, poet, and New York celebrity, primarily
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Jan. 10 -- The New York Public Library issued the following news release:
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The Archive of Tom Verlaine, Frontman of Television, Has Been Acquired By The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
The archive spans six decades of Tom Verlaine's working life and includes lyric drafts, notebooks, correspondence, and hundreds of hours of unreleased music, demos, rehearsals, and live recordings by the Neon Boys, Television, and solo work.
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The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has acquired the archive of Tom Verlaine musician, poet, and New York celebrity, primarilyknown as the frontman for the influential band Television. The archive encompasses nearly every facet of Verlaine's working career, as well as unreleased music and unpublished poetry. Comprising approximately 40 linear feet, the materials also include photographs, ephemera, handwritten notebooks, correspondence with other influential musicians such as Richard Hell and Patti Smith, short stories, abandoned lyrics, and more. This acquisition comes at the end of an important yearlong celebration of the Library for the Performing Arts' 60th anniversary.
Verlaine, who passed away in 2023 at 73 years old, was not only an influential figure in the world of rock music, he was a well known New York personality until the end of his life. There has been almost no significant scholarship specifically on him as yet, and his archive will undoubtedly become a key resource to begin the biographical and musical evaluation and analysis that he is due.
The Library for the Performing Arts and its Music and Recorded Sound Division is proud to serve as the home for Verlaine and his work, alongside other musicians such as Lou Reed, John Cage, Leslie Gore, Arthur Russell, Wayne Shorter, and more.
In a letter to the Library, Patti Smith wrote: "It is impossible to speak of Tom Verlaine without giving prominence to his deep relationship with books. It was through a shared passion for books that we forged an enduring friendship, collecting volumes on everything from poems of Rumi, French literature, ufology, detective novels, to mystical and spiritual literature. We spent hours in used bookstores and loved the Public Library. I well remember mounting those steps with him and whistling a hello to Patience and Fortitude, the library's magnificent guardian lions. I cannot imagine a more fitting place for Tom's precious papers than the New York Public Library. There he will be in the company of so many beloved writers from Virginia Woolf to William Burroughs to Lou Reed."
The archive includes:
* Hundreds of hours of released and unreleased music with previously unknown demos, rehearsals and live recordings by the Neon Boys, Television, and Verlaine during his solo years
* audio tapes in all formats which document live performances, rehearsal, demos, and song ideas
* 145 personal notebooks and journals spanning six decades
* an early 1970s lyric drafts for "Marquee Moon," and many other handwritten notes
"Tom Verlaine was an artist inspired by literature, and the musicians and artists around him--so, we feel that the Library for the Performing Arts is a perfect home for his archive. We look forward to welcoming the scholars, musicians, and the artists of today and tomorrow who will gain inspiration from Verlaine's life and work," said Roberta Pereira, Barbara G. and Lawrence A. Fleischman Executive Director of the Library for the Performing Arts.
"We're grateful that the Music and Recorded Sound Division at the Library for the Performing Arts was selected to preserve Tom Verlaine's archive. Verlaine's extraordinary music and its impact is worthy of wider attention and consideration. There will be much for artists and researchers to study in this wonderful collection. It is an honor to steward these materials and we can't wait to make them widely and freely available to artists and researchers the world over," said Kevin Parks, curator of the Music and Recorded Sound Division at the Library for the Performing Arts.
Tom Verlaine, born Thomas Joseph Miller, was an influential American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known as the frontman of the pioneering New York rock band Television. Emerging in the early 1970s, Television played at the vanguard of the emerging punk and new wave scene that centered around the legendary CBGB club.
Television's debut album, released in February 1977, Marquee Moon, is widely regarded as one of the most important and innovative records in rock history. Though Television only released two albums during their initial run, their influence extended far beyond the brief lifespan of the original run of the band, inspiring generations of indie, alternative, and post-punk musicians. Television reformed in 1992 and released a self-titled third album and toured extensively. In 2007, Lloyd left and was replaced with Jimmy Rippetoe (a.k.a. Jippy Rip) and the band continued to tour intermittently till Verlaine's death in 2023. They recorded about 10 songs for a projected fourth album that was left unfinished.
Following Television's initial breakup in 1978, Verlaine embarked on a solo career that further showcased his lyrical sensibility and distinctive approach to the guitar. He released several critically acclaimed albums, including his self-titled debut (1979) and Dreamtime (1981). These were followed by seven more albums under his own name including the Avant-pop landmarks Words from the Front (1982), Cover (1984) and The Wonder (1990).
While commercial success largely eluded him, he remained a revered figure in underground music circles. Artists such as R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Interpol, The Strokes, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Go-Betweens and many others have cited Verlaine as an important influence. Avowed fan David Bowie famously covered Verlaine's "Kingdom Come" on his 1980 album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). Verlaine's legacy is that of a quiet visionary--one of rock's true originals.
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About The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Since 1965, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has been dedicated to enhancing access to its rich archives of dance, theater, music, and recorded sound--to amplify all voices and support the creative process. As one of The New York Public Library's renowned research centers--and one of the world's largest collections solely focused on the performing arts--the Library's materials are available free of charge, along with a wide range of special programs, including exhibitions, seminars, film screenings and performances. The collection at the Library for the Performing Arts includes upwards of eight million items, notable for their extraordinary range and diversity--from 11th-century music, to 20th-century manuscripts, to contemporary hip-hop dance. In 2025, the Library for the Performing Arts celebrated its 60th anniversary with a range of programming and special exhibits.
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Original text here: https://www.nypl.org/press/archive-tom-verlaine-frontman-television-has-been-acquired-new-york-public-library-performing
[Category: Libraries]
Americans United for Separation of Church & State Urges Federal Appeals Court to Protect Religious Freedom, LGBTQ+ Workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news on Jan. 9, 2026:
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AU urges federal appeals court to protect religious freedom, LGBTQ+ workers
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, joined by nine other religious and civil rights organizations, today urged the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm that religious freedom does not give employers a blanket license to discriminate against their workers. In an amicus brief filed in the lawsuit Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, AU and allies explained that the First Amendment
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10 -- Americans United for Separation of Church and State issued the following news on Jan. 9, 2026:
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AU urges federal appeals court to protect religious freedom, LGBTQ+ workers
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, joined by nine other religious and civil rights organizations, today urged the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to affirm that religious freedom does not give employers a blanket license to discriminate against their workers. In an amicus brief filed in the lawsuit Doe v. Catholic Relief Services, AU and allies explained that the First Amendmentdoesn't exempt religious employers from non-discrimination laws and doesn't allow Catholic Relief Services to discriminate against an LGBTQ+ worker by compensating him less than other employees.
Religious freedom is not a license to discriminate or harm LGBTQ+ workers
"Religious freedom is not a license to discriminate or harm LGBTQ+ workers," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. "Employers don't have a right based on their religious beliefs to dock the compensation of an employee who happens to be LGBTQ+ -- that's not how religious freedom works.
"Religious extremists continue their crusade of urging courts to grant them immunity from civil rights and anti-discrimination laws," Laser added. "The lower court's decision in this case is consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court, which has said religious freedom 'does not mean that religious institutions enjoy a general immunity from secular laws.' We urge the court to protect religious freedom for all and reject the employer's demand for a religious exemption from Maryland's non-discrimination laws."
Religious & civil rights groups join AU in brief to court
Organizations joining AU on the brief include the American Civil Liberties Union; Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice; Central Atlantic Conference United Church of Christ; DignityUSA; Global Justice Institute, Metropolitan Community Churches; Hindu American Foundation; Methodist Federation for Social Action; Sadhana: Coalition for Progressive Hindus; and Society for Humanistic Judaism.
The brief was authored for AU by Litigation Counsel Jenny Samuels and Associate Vice President and Associate Legal Director Alex J. Luchenitser.
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Americans United is a religious freedom advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, AU educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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Original text here: https://www.au.org/the-latest/press/lgbtq-worker-catholic-relief-services/
[Category: Political]
