Civil Rights / Public News Service

Texas is one of only a handful of states that does not allow online voter registration. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Monday, September 18, 2023

TX Joins Momentous Effort to Register Young Voters of Color

The annual National Voter Registration Day returns tomorrow, and a Texas organization has a goal of registering 1,200 new young voters from diverse …

In a new poll from the group A Better Wisconsin Together, 66% of Wisconsin voters say they would rather see the Legislature prioritize education rather than seek the possible impeachment of a liberal state Supreme Court justice. (Adobe Stock)

New Poll: Most Voters Oppose Impeaching WI Supreme Court Justice

Following last spring's election, where Wisconsin voted in a liberal justice to the state Supreme Court, Republican leaders are further exploring a …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Christian Colista/Adobe Stock)

Report Explores Ways to End Mass Incarceration in AL

After 50 years of mass incarceration, the U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% and now advocates are calling for its end in Alabama and …

The City of San Bernardino recently agreed to a settlement requiring that the city update its plans to build more affordable housing and scrap its Crime-Free Multi-Housing Program. (Matt Gush)

Two CA Cities Repeal Crime-Free Multi-Housing Programs

In the past week, two California cities - Riverside and San Bernardino - have repealed most of their "Crime-Free Multi-Housing" programs, which were …

Albuquerque had one of the highest homicide rates in the nation in 2021, according to the Major Cities Chiefs Association. (Artem/Adobe Stock)

Amid Legal Challenges, NM Governor Enacts Gun Restrictions

One day after New Mexico Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham announced a ban on the public carry of guns in and around Albuquerque, a pro-gun group is suing…

Those demanding reforms within Minnesota's correctional facilities say incarcerated individuals in Stillwater have lacked access to such basics as showers and recreation time. (Adobe Stock)

MN Faces Calls to Investigate Prison Conditions

Prison reform advocates in Minnesota continue to speak out following a lockdown at the correctional facility in Stillwater. People incarcerated …

Water Equals Life is a coalition of water justice advocates, environmental groups and social justice groups who have come together in a statewide campaign to ensure everyone's basic human need for access to clean, safe, and affordable water is met, regardless of income. (Bovart/Adobe Stock)

Michigan Residents Pay Among Highest Water Bills in U.S.

Michigan water rates have surged more than 40% since 2010, and it is a trend that's expected to continue as cities and utilities work to upgrade …

The court-ordered map of Alabama voting districts will have specific mandates for data, configuration and other components, to remedy violations of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Advocates Hopeful in Fight for Fair AL Congressional Maps

Grassroots voting rights groups in Alabama said they are delighted by a federal court decision to discard the state's proposed congressional maps for …

An estimated 29 million eligible voters live in states at high risk for election denial, according to the report. (Adobe Stock)

Analysis: AZ at Risk for Election Denialism in 2024

Election denialism in Arizona could interfere with the 2024 presidential race. Analysis from the National Election Denial Risk Index shows Arizona …

New Jersey's Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act requires a physician to determine whether the patient is a New Jersey resident before writing a prescription for the medication. (Jon Anders Wiken/Adobe Stock)

Some Terminally Ill PA Patients Seek Medical Aid Across State Lines

Some Pennsylvania patients with long-term chronic illnesses are hoping to make legal headway, allowing them to seek medical aid in dying across state …

In 2023, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced in 49 states including 65 in Texas, according to Trans Legislation Tracker. (inkdrop/AdobeStock)

TX High Court Not Persuaded to Protect Transgender Health Care

Texas has adopted some of the strictest gender-affirming transgender restrictions in the nation. And the leader of a trans advocacy group says it has …

The voter-turnout rate for young voters in the 2022 midterm election reached 27%, the second-highest youth turnout rate for a midterm election in the past 30 years, behind only the historic 2018 turnout of 31%. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Young People Face Greater Barriers to Voting as Turnout Increases

As youth voter turnout increases, so do the barriers these voters face to participate in elections. Republican-led legislatures - including in New …

Media experts say to avoid being duped by disinformation, double and even triple check the source of a story, and then try to find this information elsewhere in other reputable places, like mainstream news outlets. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tech Companies Scale Back Efforts to Control Election Disinformation

Introduced federal legislation aims to counter the growing threat of election disinformation as social media platforms scale back efforts to control i…

In 2001, Texas became the first state to allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition, but politics have shifted the state's attitude toward migrants and immigrants. (DanielErnst/AdobeStock)

TX Advocates for Immigrant Rights Say Politics Exhausts Needed Donations

Organizations that help immigrants find a community, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and become legal residents or citizens say anti-immigrant …

A 2023 AARP survey found 64% of workers 40 and older reported seeing or experiencing some form of age discrimination in the workplace, and 65% agreed that Americans should not be required to provide age-related information during the hiring process. (Adobe Stock)

New CO Age-Discrimination Law Could Help Fill In-Demand Jobs

Colorado employers will soon be barred from asking questions that could reveal someone's age on a job application. Colorado lawmakers passed the …

When voters sit down and talk to each other about electoral reform, their support for ranked-choice voting increases to nearly 60%, both for state primary and general elections, according to a poll by Stanford University's Deliberative Democracy Lab. (Adobe Stock)

Boston Joins National Ranked-Choice Voting Movement

The push for ranked-choice voting is gaining momentum in cities across the country, including Boston - where organizers say it will help increase …

The number of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in non-family home settings with six or fewer people grew from 27% in 1999 to 82% in 2018. (karelnoppe/Adobe Stock)

Missourians Segregated Due to Disability May Have Discrimination Claims

In Missouri and around the country, people with disabilities are living in institutions who could successfully live in the community with the right …

Effort Grows to Prevent 'Deepfakes' in NH Campaign Ads

As the 2024 presidential hopefuls ramp up their campaigns in New Hampshire, federal officials are considering new rules on so-called "deepfakes" in …

Detroit Action hosts a Black August event where it strives to reimagine a world through an abolitionist point of view and healing-justice policies. (SmartArt/Adobe Stock)

Art Collaboration This Weekend for Black August in Detroit

Communities around the country and in Michigan are celebrating Black August and promoting liberation of all diversities. Anthony Baber, director of …

According to the University of Minnesota's Residential Information Systems Project, in 2019, 16,200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were living in 112 state-run facilities in 33 states. (M.D�rr & M.Frommherz/Adobe Stock)

ADA, Court Ruling Protect Disabled Missourians' Right to Integrated Living

Many Missourians with developmental and intellectual disabilities live successfully in the community, and disability advocates stress this is their …

Matt Fairchild was able to end his suffering in 2022 using California's End of Life Option Act.(Fairchild family)

Changes to CA's Medical Aid-in-Dying Law Spur 47% Jump in Use

A law shortening the waiting period for medical aid in dying has led to a 47% jump in prescriptions for the medication - according to a new report fro…

Idaho lawmakers passed changes to voter registration during the 2023 session. (Mark Bradbury/Adobe Stock)

ID Voter Registration Law Could Hurt Ballot Measures' Chances

Voter registration has changed in Idaho. Along with reducing the number of eligible voters, critics say it could also hurt ballot initiatives' …

Texas groups opposed to a controversial law regulating drag performances say it's unconstitutional and want a preliminary and permanent injunction before it goes into effect Sept. 1. (annne/Adobe Stock)

Texas 'Drag Ban' Headed to Court Ahead of 9/1 Implementation

Opponents of a new Texas law governing drag performances say it's so vague and broad, it could have a chilling effect on all free expression and …

North Carolina farm workers have been organizing in similar fashion to those in Virginia. An Oxfam study found one in four workers is paid less than the federal minimum wage, and more than half aren't paid enough to meet their basic needs. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Rights Group Helps VA Migrant Workers Unionize

Migrant farm workers in Virginia are organizing for better workplace treatment. The Farm Labor Organizing Committee has developed a union with two …

Before the passage of AB 431, Silver State Voices said more than 90,000 Nevada adults were not allowed to vote in 2016. (Adobe Stock)

Voting Access Expanded for Nevadans Serving Time

Starting next year, a Nevada bill will require city and county jails to develop a streamlined process and procedures for inmates to register to vote …

A Pew Research poll finds 70% of voters, and a slightly higher number (72%) cited convenience as a major reason they voted by mail in the 2020 election. (Adobe Stock)

NY Legislation Expands Vote-by-Mail Access

Before New York's legislative session ended, lawmakers expanded vote-by-mail access. The New York Early Mail Voter Act allows registered voters to …

The Center for American Progress reports Black mothers are significantly more likely to be their family breadwinners, with 68% in that role, compared to 37% for white mothers and 41% for Latina mothers. (Adobe Stock)

Black Women's Equal Pay Day: Wage Gaps Persist in Indiana

Today is Black Women's Equal Pay Day. It represents the "extra" months a Black woman, working full time, has to work to earn the same pay as a white …

Alabama has nearly four million eligible voters. (Adobe Stock)

Advocacy Groups in AL Call for Fair Congressional Redistricting Maps

Civic-engagement organizations in Alabama are calling for action against the state's new congressional map, which they say disproportionately impacts …

A new study from Equal Rights Advocates found more than 50% of Black and Latina women struggled to make ends meet during the pandemic. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Black Women's Equal Pay Day Sheds Light on MS Wage Disparities

Black Women's Equal Pay Day on July 27 calls attention to the wage disparity between Black women and white men. In Mississippi, it is even more …

One in five U.S. adults, or nearly 53 million people, lived with a mental illness in 2020, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. (NLawrenson/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

DACA Weighs on Some During BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month

Racism and discrimination act as stressors to increase mental health vulnerability, according to experts, especially for BIPOC individuals; Black…

Almost 500,000 reports of suspected child maltreatment were called into the Texas state abuse hotline in 2022, with 166,000 cases investigated, resulting in 9,600 children being removed from their homes. (IdeaBug, Inc./AdobeStock)

New Texas Law Favors Parents in Child Abuse Investigations

Texas parents under investigation for child abuse by the state will be informed of their rights before their children are removed from the family's ho…

Nearly 30,000 Texas minors would be affected by legislation banning transgender youth health care, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA's School of Law. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Filed Over TX Law Banning Health Care for Transgender Youth

Families and medical providers announced a lawsuit against the State of Texas on Thursday over new legislation that bans gender-affirming medical care…

A 2019 report found that automatically expunging an old conviction after a person has completed a sentence is key to promoting family stability, economic security and public safety. (Iushakovsky/Adobestock)

11 Million CA Criminal Records Expunged in First 6 Months of New Law

The Golden State has permanently expunged an unprecedented 11 million criminal arrest records in the first six months after the implementation of a cr…

The federal civil rights complaint filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights states that nearly 70% of Harvard's donor-related and legacy applicants are white, and they receive a substantial admissions boost based on their status. (Adobe Stock)

Civil Rights Complaint Challenges Practice of Harvard Legacy Admissions

Following the Supreme Court's decision to end race-based affirmative action, a Boston-based civil rights group is working to end the practice of …

According to Movement Advancement Project, 52% of the LGBTQ+ population lives in states prohibiting discrimination in public accommodations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. (Adobe Stock)

What the Supreme Court's Decision on Creative Services Could Mean in AZ

It has been less than a week since the United States Supreme Court ruled businesses which provide expressive goods can pick and choose who they want t…

Expanding access to voting by mail and automatically registering eligible citizens to vote are two paths to boost election transparency, according to the Center for Election Innovation and Research. (Adobe Stock)

IN Voter Turnout Shows Disinterest in Elections, Politics

This July 4th week, Indiana voters may be more interested in family and fireworks than in politics. But the 2024 election run-up is already in full …

According to Ballotpedia, more than 100 bills were introduced in the Minnesota Legislature this year dealing with election policy. (Adobe Stock)

Election Policy Roundup: MN Outlier for 2023

Many state legislatures around the country have wrapped up their work for the year. As expected, election policy changes were adopted, and those …

Indiana House Bill 1015 allows the state to use cameras to capture and ticket drivers speeding through highway construction zones when workers are present. (Adobe Stock)

Hundreds of New Indiana Laws Start This Weekend

More than 250 new laws take effect Saturday in Indiana. They range from legalizing the ninja weapons known as throwing stars, to creating a 25-foot …

In 2022, the FBI noted that American Jews account for 2.4% of the U.S. population, but antisemitism drove 63% of reported religiously motivated hate crimes. (Seventyfour/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania Takes Stand Against Antisemitism

Pennsylvania, like many other states, has not been immune to the recent wave of antisemitic acts and rhetoric - and the state is working to prevent …

According to research from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Virginia police estimate there are 31,000 active protective orders on file at any given time in the state. (Adobe Stock)

VA Group Working to Aid Domestic Violence Victims, Survivors

A Virginia group is working to ensure abusers can't use the courts to keep harming their victims. Commonly called "abusive litigation," these come …

Currently, 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Vows to Block Abortion Restrictions; Reynolds: 'Fight not Over'

Civil liberties advocates in Iowa are vowing to fend off any new legislation to restrict abortion in the state. The Iowa Supreme Court recently …

A bill to repeal Oregon's residency requirement for its aid-in-dying law received bipartisan support. (CameraCraft/Adobe Stock)

OR Repeals Residency Requirement for Aid-in-Dying Law

Legislation that eliminates the residency requirement for Oregon's aid-in-dying law is awaiting the governor's signature. House Bill 2279 repeals …

Preventable injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. (whyframeshot/Adobe Stock)

Workplace Injuries in Spotlight During Safety Month

June is national safety month and workplace injuries are an important focus. What is considered a workplace injury is broader than many workers may …

Researchers from the Equal Justice Initiative have documented 4,075 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in 12 states, including Arkansas, between 1877 and 1950. (Neirfy/Adobe Stock)

AR Racial Justice Essay Contest Open for Pulaski County Students

Summer learning is underway in Arkansas, and there's a unique opportunity for a history lesson open to high schoolers in Pulaski County. The …

Santa Fe, New Mexico's capital city, will mark the 30th anniversary of Pride celebrations on Saturday, June 24, with a festival on the downtown plaza. (unm.org)

NM Touts Prominent Advances in LGBTQ Rights During 'Pride Month'

New laws offering greater protections for New Mexico's LGBTQ+ community are taking effect in the coming days as diversity is celebrated during June's …

George Floyd's murder inspired a wave of global protests to fix 'broken' policing policies, and not just in Minneapolis. Activists and civic engagement leaders have long noted that citizen input is an important part of the process. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Probe of Mpls. Police Propels Talk of Civilian Input

The Minneapolis Police Department is one step closer to a consent decree after a scathing federal report was issued late last week. Around …

The official Juneteenth flag displays a five-pointed star to represent the freedom of slaves, in Texas and in all 50 states. The nova or

Juneteenth Commemorates Important Chapter in Black History

Today marks a historic chapter in American history for Black people. On this date in 1865, slaves in Texas learned they were free from servitude - …

The 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes and culture. (ruslanita/AdobeStock)

SCOTUS Adoption Ruling Delivers Win for Tribal Sovereignty

Native Americans, tribal leaders and other supporters of last week's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding adoption say it affirms their …

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