Wednesday - October 30, 2024
Public Policy Tipoffs Involving Massachusetts Newsletter for Thursday June 20, 2024 ( 7 items )  

ACLU Massachusetts: Massachusetts for Overdose Prevention Centers Comment on New VT Law Authorizing OPCs
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts issued the following statement on June 18, 2024: * * * Vermont yesterday passed legislation that authorizes and funds an initial overdose prevention center (OPC) pilot in Burlington. Massachusetts for Overdose Prevention Centers coalition today released the following statement in response: "This is a victory for Vermonters, and a signal that Massachusetts can and should be the next state to embrace overdose  more

Community Catalyst Leads 100+ Organizations Pushing Congress to Prioritize Oral Health Equity
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- Community Catalyst issued the following news release on June 18, 2024: Today, Community Catalyst delivered a letter signed by over 100 national, state and local organizations representing a broad range of interests - from community-based organizations, oral health advocates, provider groups and the dental industry - urging Congress to standardize adult dental benefits. This action would address the growing burden of dental debt amongst U.S. households and expan  more

Dangerous and Unnecessary: New Report Finds We Shouldn't Mine the Deep Sea
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 (TNSres) -- Environment America Research and Policy Center issued the following news release: According to a new report released Tuesday, we do not need destructive deep-sea mining operations to meet our critical mineral needs. In fact, the world trashes more copper and cobalt - metals used to build clean energy technologies - in our electronic waste than miners would likely extract each year from the central Pacific through at least 2035. The report, We don't ne  more

Northampton, MA Passes 5th Green New Deal for Schools Resolution in US
NORTHAMPTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- The Sunrise Movement issued the following news release: On Thursday, June 13, Northampton Public School District passed the nation's fifth Green New Deal for Schools Resolution. The resolution supports many ambitious climate goals that add to Northampton's goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. This includes further decarbonization, launching a green jobs pathway program, providing funds for sustainably-sourced lunches in all schools in the district, and imple  more

Simple Test for Flu Could Improve Diagnosis and Surveillance
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, June 19 (TNSres) -- The Broad Institute issued the following news: * * * A low-cost CRISPR-based paper strip test distinguishes between influenza types and can be reprogrammed to recognize different viruses including the H5N1 bird flu virus. * * * Fewer than one percent of people who get the flu every year get tested in part because most tests require trained personnel and expensive equipment. Now researchers have developed a low-cost paper strip test that could all  more

The Greater Boston Food Bank Awards $920,000 in Community Investment Grants to 45 Hunger Relief Organizations in Eastern Massachusetts
BOSTON, Massachusetts, June 19 -- The Greater Boston Food Bank issued the following news release: The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) announced it has awarded $920,000 in Community Investment Grants to 45 hunger relief organizations across Eastern Massachusetts. The funds empower GBFB's partners to expand their services, increase capacity, and deliver more nutritious food to those in need. As the hunger crisis persists, with 1 in 3 Massachusetts residents (1.9 million adults) facing food inse  more

Union of Concerned Scientists: Maine's Climate Impacts Assessment Shows Importance of Slashing Emissions Faster
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, June 19 (TNSres) -- The Union of Concerned Scientists issued the following statement on June 18, 2024: * * * Statement by Steve Clemmer, Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists Maine's updated climate impacts assessment, released today, shows that global warming is posing a growing threat to the state's economy, environment and public health, which indicates that Maine, like all states, must slash global warming emissions as deeply and quickly as possible, acco  more