In today’s edition of Squirrel News, a Kansas City programme helps the unhoused, the US Postal Service begins its transition to a fully electric fleet and a library in Pennsylvania has mailed more than a million books to children.
Illinois to get rid of cash bail in win for criminal justice advocates
Grassroots advocacy groups have successfully petitioned the state government to remove cash bail, helping to keep lower-income individuals who are awaiting trial out of jail.
New Zealand PM turns heated exchange in parliament into donation for charity
Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of NZ was recorded insulting an opposition MP in parliament. Now a charity auction to buy a signed copy has raised NZ$100’000 for a prostate cancer foundation.
Scotland has passed a law easing the process of legally changing one’s gender
People as young as 16 will now be able to legally change their gender in Scotland, the nations Parliament has ruled, allowing the decision to be self-declared, independent of a medical diagnosis.
Telehealth services assist rural sexual assault victims to get justice
In sparsely populated areas, gathering biological evidence from sexual assault victims can be difficult. Now telehealth services collect and record data to help prosecute abusers.
Protected area designations help manta ray populations recover
Across Indonesia, certain locations are designated as marine protected areas, limiting human exploitation. Now reefs and endangered manta rays are recovering.
Promoting local enterprise found to drive down poverty rates
In Na Po, Vietnam, locals produce “black jello” to use in cooking and cosmetic production. Government promotion of their enterprise has seen poverty rates drop across the region.
A Pennsylvania-based library has mailed more than a million books to children
The Imagination Library helps children build their own libraries of books, mailing one book a month. After a decade of work, they have reached their millionth book sent out.
