Arizona

Phoenix Council Evaluates Stricter Camping Ban

TL/DR - Phoenix City Council is considering an amendment to their camping ban as part of efforts to manage homelessness. The National Center for Homelessness Law argues that such homeless criminalization laws have proven ineffective, with a study showing that in 100 cities with no camping ordinances, homelessness increased by an average of 2.2%.…
North Carolina

Exploring Tech Opportunities & Challenges: A UNC Asheville Insight

TL/DR - The University of North Carolina (UNC) is increasingly integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its campuses, with the AI Project at the Chapel Hill campus having been in place since 2023. Stephanie O’Brien, a Mass Communication lecturer, is leading the first AI-focused course at UNC Asheville, highlighting the beneficial…
US Economy

Inflation Act Boosts Solar Power in SoCal Public Sector

TL/DR - The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 included a program called Direct Pay, which expands federal support for clean power by allowing non-taxable entities to receive direct funding for new solar power installations. The program covers up to 70% of the cost and has already benefited communities in Southern California, including…
Arizona

Biden’s Climate Law’s Big Flaw Worsened by Dems

TL/DR - President Joe Biden's climate bill is being held back by a lack of comprehensive permitting reform, which allows environmental lawsuits to impede green energy projects subsidized by the legislation. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provided funds for green energy projects but did not include significant reform to the permitting process…