National News - Page 116

Bill for gender, racial representation signed into law

By Rob Polansky A multifaceted bill that encourages equitable gender and racial government representation, as well as helps parents running for office, has been signed into law. Gov. Ned Lamont signed the legislation on Tuesday. First, the bill promotes greater gender and racial diversity of appointments on state boards and commissions. It creates a statutory requirement for appointing authorities to consider recommendations from organizations that represent the interest of gender and racial diversity when seeking people to serve on state boards and commissions. It also codifies a transparent process for people to express interest in serving on boards and commissions

Randy Moore to become US Forest Service’s first African American chief

By Devan Cole Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will appoint Randy Moore as the new chief of the US Forest Service, making him the first African American to lead the agency once sworn in, Vilsack announced Monday. Moore, a longtime employee of the Forest Service, will take the agency’s reins just as it braces for the 2021 wildfire season, which officials say could be longer this year due to record-high temperatures in the Southwest and an intensifying drought in the region. Vilsack said in a statement that Moore, who had been serving as regional forester in the Pacific Southwest Region in California since 2007, “has

US lawmakers launch investigation into FDA approval and price of new Alzheimer’s drug

By Jacqueline Howard Two House committees have launched an investigation into the approval and pricing of the Alzheimer’s disease drug aducanumab, made by the company Biogen and sold under the brand name Aduhelm. The US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug earlier this month under its “accelerated approval” program, although an FDA advisory committee concluded last year that there was not enough evidence to support the effectiveness of the treatment. Biogen announced in early June that the wholesale cost of treatment — which requires an infusion once every four weeks — is about $4,312 per infusion, making the annual cost about

UN rights chief urges US to ‘stop denying and start dismantling racism’

By Leah Asmelash The United Nations’ human rights chief is calling on the US to reform its criminal justice system, reimagine policing nationwide and provide reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans. In a report published on Monday, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet urged the US to make “transformative change for racial justice and equality.” “I am calling on all States to stop denying, and start dismantling, racism; to end impunity and build trust; to listen to the voices of people of African descent; and to confront past legacies and deliver redress,” Bachelet said in a statement. The report

This Iowa county used to be named for a slave-holding former vice president. Now, it’s named after a Black academic

By Leah Asmelash A county in Iowa was named after a slave-holding vice president. Now, it’s named after the first Black woman to earn a PhD from the University of Iowa. The Board of Supervisors of Johnson County in Iowa, home to Iowa City and the state university, voted unanimously on Thursday to recognize Lulu Merle Johnson as the official eponym of the county, rather than Richard Mentor Johnson. “Today was touching and I am so happy,” said Royceann Porter, the board’s vice chairperson, in a statement. “It was amazing to include Lulu Merle Johnson’s family in the recognition. I look forward

More people looking for — but not taking — jobs after their unemployment benefits end early

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By Tami Luhby Jason Smith thought he’d have an easier time filling jobs at his three auto repair shops after Indiana’s governor announced that pandemic unemployment benefits would end in mid-June. But it hasn’t worked out that way so far. While he is getting more applications for the auto technician, service consultant and administrative assistant postings, the job seekers haven’t responded to his requests for interviews. Smith has reached out to more than three dozen people in the last month, but he only heard back from a few, who said they weren’t interested in the position. “I thought it was going to be

Passenger frustration mounts as lines grow at understaffed airports

By Kelsey Kushner The busy summer travel season is in full swing. No matter where your vacation plans take you, if you’re flying, you might want to listen up. People are having trouble making their flights. From TSA shortages to plane delays, passengers say they’re beyond frustrated. “I didn’t expect too many delays,” said traveler Susan Goldstein. It’s another busy weekend at BWI and the level of frustration with passengers is high. “I made sure I got here early. Almost two hours early,” said passenger Jay Charles. TSA officials said as air travel skyrockets, so do the wait times to

Cincinnati’s first statue of a named woman honors civil rights activist Marian Spencer

By Rachel Trent Historical statues dot the landscape of Cincinnati, Ohio, but the city has been notably lacking any that feature a named woman. Until now. A new statue to be unveiled Sunday honors Marian Spencer, the first Black woman to be elected to the Cincinnati City Council. Spencer also served as vice mayor and fought for the desegregation of Coney Island and YWCA summer camps and pools nationwide, according to a Cincinnati Parks news release. The life-sized sculpture will be unveiled Sunday night at John G. & Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park. It shows the civil rights pioneer with two young children,

The UK should be having a racial reckoning. Instead, Black Lives Matter activists say they fear for their safety

Analysis by Salma Abdelaziz Aima, 19, is one of Britain’s most prominent Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists, but at a protest in London she is nervous. She has her hood up and, while a pandemic-mandated mask covers most of her face, she keeps her head down for fear of being recognized. Her eyes constantly dart to check the location of the police. She has reason to be scared. Campaigners say that standing up for the rights of Black people in the UK comes at a high price. They say they’ve seen an angry backlash and have even received death threats.

Department of Education has let colleges off the hook for $1 billion owed to taxpayers

By Katie Lobosco The federal government has failed to collect more than $1 billion in fines and other money owed by colleges, most of which is owed by for-profit institutions, according to a report released Thursday by a non-profit advocacy group. There are nearly 1,300 colleges that owe money to the Department of Education as of February, according to the National Student Legal Defense Network’s review of a series of documents it obtained over two years through Freedom of Information Act requests. The group, founded by former Department of Education officials, asserts that the agency has failed for years to use all the

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