So many of us may have taken a beating yesterday, with Supreme Court rulings on the travel ban, fake pregnancy crisis centers, gerrymandering, and the other bad news. I know I did. But there are plenty of bright spots from yesterday, too, and we can’t lose sight of them. Here’s a dozen good news stories to give you hope and the energy to keep resisting!
Family separations must stop:
A judge in California on Tuesday ordered U.S. border authorities to reunite separated families within 30 days, setting a hard deadline in a process that has so far yielded uncertainty about when children might again see their parents. If children are younger than 5, they must be reunified within 14 days of the order issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw in San Diego.
Sabraw, an appointee of President George W. Bush, also issued a nationwide injunction on future family separations, unless the parent is deemed unfit or doesn't want to be with the child. It also requires the government to provide phone contact between parents and their children within 10 days.
If it’s not one thing, it’s another:
Seventeen states, including Washington, New York and California, are suing to force the Trump administration to reunite migrant families who have been separated at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The states, all led by Democratic attorneys general, joined Washington, D.C., in filing the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Tuesday. It's the first legal challenge by states over the practice.
Just as long as they don’t come here:
Vice President Mike Pence announced Tuesday that the United States will provide an additional $10 million in humanitarian aid to Venezuelans who have fled the country.
The additional funds brings the total amount of humanitarian assistance to nearly $31 million for fiscal year 2017, USAID said in a statement.
[…]
The United States is also partnering with Colombia to provide $18.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Venezuelans who have fled to Colombia.
Mueller still mum:
Special Counsel Robert Mueller is preparing to accelerate his probe into possible collusion between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russians who sought to interfere in the 2016 election, according to a person familiar with the investigation.
Mueller and his team of prosecutors and investigators have an eye toward producing conclusions—and possible indictments—related to collusion by fall, said the person, who asked not to be identified. He’ll be able to turn his full attention to the issue as he resolves other questions, including deciding soon whether to find that Trump sought to obstruct justice.
Mueller’s office declined to comment on his plans.
Sessions rants. Y’all, this has got to be the craziest thing ever. But it won’t stay that way.
Mixed reality coming to libraries:
Mixed reality, Microsoft's Windows-based take on augmented and virtual reality, is already making inroads in the enterprise. Now, through the company's new Limitless Libraries grant program, Microsoft is hoping to spark adoption in learning environments and increase engagement by depositing students into immersive experiences.
Open to public libraries, along with middle schools and high schools (grades 6 to 12) in the U.S., approved applicants will receive two mixed-reality headsets and two computers along with technical training for staff. They also get email support, updates on new content and access to other grantees, according to a June 25 announcement.
Microsoft is accepting applications until July 9. Applicants focused on promoting STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and who cater to underserved kids will be given priority.
MJ Okay in OK:
Oklahoma voted Tuesday to legalize medical marijuana, with 56.6 percent of voters approving State Question 788 when the Associated Press projected it would pass. The law makes it legal for Oklahoma adults to grow, sell, and consume marijuana for medical purposes, but doesn’t list specific qualifying conditions for which doctors may prescribe cannabis for their patients. As such, some opponents of the measure are concerned that this law will provide too much latitude to physicians and will ultimately pave a path towards legalizing recreational marijuana in the future.
Polio vaccine finds new job:
A modified version of the polio vaccine, infused straight into aggressive brain tumors, helped some patients live for years longer than they normally would have, doctors reported Tuesday.
It’s no miracle cure — only about 20 percent of patients with gliomas were helped — but some are alive six years later, the team reported in the New England Journal of Medicine.
It’s a hopeful enough finding to move forward and test the vaccine in more people, the team at the Duke University School of Medicine said.
Germany exiting coal:
Representatives from German industry, environmental groups and unions met Tuesday in Berlin to discuss how and when the country can stop using coal to generate electricity.
[…]
The government-appointed committee has six months to agree on a report for Germany's exit from coal. While the report won't be binding, the idea is that with all interested parties involved the government will be able to use the report as a template for its decisions, taking much of the sting out of a politically sensitive debate.
Yes, you can recycle anything:
French water and waste group Veolia has opened what it says is Europe's first recycling plant for solar panels and aims to build more as thousands of tonnes of ageing solar panels are set to reach the end of their life in coming years.
The new plant in Rousset, southern France, has a contract with solar industry recycling organization PV Cycle France to recycle 1,300 tonnes of solar panels in 2018 - virtually all solar panels that will reach their end of life in France this year - and is set to ramp up to 4,000 tonnes by 2022.
Australia one-third powered by renewables soon:
Renewable energy will provide one third of the national electricity market's needs within two years, according to new research from Green Energy Markets (GEM).
The consultancy firm's forecast uses the latest data from the Australian Energy Market Operator and is based on solar and wind farms already under construction or contracted plus rooftop solar maintaining stable installation levels.
"This represents almost a doubling in renewables share compared to 2015 when it met 17.3 per cent of annual electricity consumption," GEM director Tristan Edis said.
Enzymes to the rescue:
A new family of enzymes has been discovered which paves the way to convert plant waste into sustainable and high-value products such as nylon, plastics, chemicals, and fuels.
The discovery was led by members of the same UK-US enzyme engineering team which, in April, improved a plastic-digesting enzyme, a potential breakthrough for the recycling of plastic waste.(Kate to add LINK)
The study published in Nature Communications was led by Professor John McGeehan at the University of Portsmouth, Dr Gregg Beckham at the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Professor Jen Dubois at Montana State University, and Professor Ken Houk at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Take a breath, have a beverage of your choice, and then let’s get back to work! Check out Yosef 52’s daily post for ways to get involved.