Arizona

TL/DR - Arizona representative Justin Wilmeth introduced legislation to make the dwarf planet Pluto the "official state planet" of Arizona. Wilmeth stated that he was inspired by a visit to Flagstaff's Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered, and sees the legislation as a nod to the role Arizona plays in astronomy. The bill now needs to…

TL/DR - The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $3,512,180 in grants to increase the availability of domestic biofuels and provide cleaner, more affordable fuel options. The grants, from the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) and funded by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, will be used by the Bulk…

TL/DR - Ileana Salinas, a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, is facing the uncertainty and stress of renewing her immigration status, which is affecting her mental health. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that as many as 1.16 million people in the U.S. could be eligible for DACA protections, but many,…

TL/DR - The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the largest U.S. climate bill in history, allocated nearly $400 billion towards fighting climate change and is expected to fuel a growing number of projects in 2024. The Biden administration protected over 12.5 million acres of public lands in 2023, which included Nevada's Avi Kwa Ame, as part of his…