| Lowell Good News The Kindred Project has received the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Distinguished Service Award from the UMASS Lowell’s Office of Multicultural Affairs. https://www.facebook.com/LowellTheKindredProject/posts/2318200775091609 . . The Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) received a $5,000 grant for the CMAA After School Program from the Greater Lowell Community Foundation. http://www.glcfoundation.org/2019/02/04/greater-lowell-community-foundation-awards-135500-in-community-grants-to-18-local-nonprofits/ . . Massachusetts Good News The Massachusetts Legislature has filed three bills for its 2019-2020 session to protect the Merrimack River. https://www.merrimack.org/web/mass-lawmakers-file-bills-to-protect-merrimack-river/ . . The Massachusetts Legislature also adopted the gender neutral term “Chairs”, as opposed to “Chairman” and “Chairwoman.” https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/01/shifting-from-chairmen-to-chairs-beacon-hill-changes-gendered-language.html . . Bank of America is adding $750,000 to the $250,000 it donated last year to help build permanent housing for Boston’s chronically homeless. https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/01/31/bank-of-america-state-announce-funding-to-help-homeless/ . . The city of Watertown passed a law requiring solar panels on new buildings. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2019/02/01/watertown-requires-solar-panels-on-new-buildings-and-massachusetts-considers-following-suit-statewide . . National Good News Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced her office would cease prosecuting people for possessing marijuana regardless of the quantity or the person’s criminal history and has also requested the state vacate convictions in nearly 5,000 cases of marijuana possession. https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/bs-md-mosby-marijuana-prosecution-policy-20190129-story.html . . The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act was introduced last week. It would build on a 2010 law that criminalized making or distributing videos depicting the killing or torture of animals. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/us/animal-cruelty-bill-felony.html . . Atlanta, GA threw its own extended Super Bowl concert, filled with the local and diverse talents that were missing from the event’s official halftime show. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/01/arts/music/super-bowl-atlanta-rap-concert.html . . Two senators reintroduced a bill that aims to strengthen protections for Native American women, who face above-average rates of murder, violence and kidnapping. https://abcn.ws/2Gb0v7j . . Amal Awad became the first black, first female, and first LGBTQ police chief of Hyattsville, MD. https://wapo.st/2Rd4x0x . . Girls ages 11 to 17 can now join Boy Scout troops in New Hampshire. https://www.wmur.com/article/girls-ages-11-to-17-can-now-join-boy-scout-troops-in-new-hampshire/26117889 . . Sparked by the wave of #MeToo revelations, companies seeking sexual harassment insurance are facing intense scrutiny and increased vigilance from insurers. https://theintercept.com/2019/02/02/workplace-harassment-insurance-metoo/ . . A federal appeals court has overturned FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s attempt to take broadband subsidies away from tribal residents. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/02/ajit-pai-loses-in-court-judges-overturn-gutting-of-tribal-broadband-program/ . . Nevada’s statehouse begins its legislative session by marking a major milestone. It’s the first time in our nation’s history that any state legislature holds a majority of female lawmakers. https://www.npr.org/2019/02/04/691198416/a-first-women-take-the-majority-in-nevada-legislature-and-colorado-house . . The city of Sandusky, Ohio will no longer observe Columbus Day. Going forward, Election Day will now be observed in its place. https://www.npr.org/2019/02/04/691198416/a-first-women-take-the-majority-in-nevada-legislature-and-colorado-house . . International Good News The Lego Foundation announced it will distribute $100 million of funding over the span of five years to support a collaboration between Sesame Workshop, the International Rescue Committee, and the Bangladeshi relief organization BRAC. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/legos-sesame-street-brac-irc-refugees-education/ . . A Dutch church’s nonstop 96-day vigil finally came to an end after its organizers received confirmation that a family of refugees sheltering inside the church would no longer face immediate deportation from the Netherlands. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/30/world/europe/netherlands-church-vigil-refugees.html . . The International Building Code is changing to recommend gender neutral bathrooms. https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2019/02/international-building-code-changing-recommend-gender-neutral-bathrooms/ . . Canada’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of denying accreditation to a Christian law school that banned students from having gay sex, ruling that LGBT rights come before religious beliefs. https://hopeforourtimes.com/canadas-supreme-court-rules-that-lgbt-rights-come-before-your-religious-beliefs/ . . A judge handed suspended sentences and community service to 15 people who broke into Stansted Airport, north of London, to ground a flight removing migrants from Britain. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/06/world/europe/uk-stansted-15.html |
