Juneteenth 2019: An Essential Reading List
Highlights from Pacific Standard's coverage of racial inequality and the state of reparations in America.
New York Is Poised to Pass Unprecedented Climate Legislation. Will Other States Follow?
The bill outlines clear goals for decarbonization, stipulating a 40 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050.
The Supreme Court Won't Review the Oregon Gay Wedding Cake Case
The case has reinvigorated a heated debate about anti-discrimination, freedom of religion, and First Amendment speech rights.
Will Non-Binary Gender Options on State IDs Reduce Discrimination?
More states are including a gender option that isn't male or female on IDs. Advocates believe the changes might have mixed effects.
Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month (in Photos)
Here's how communities across the world are celebrating Pride Month.
New York Advances a Bill to End Gender Discrimination in Product Pricing
Prices for women's products, when compared to equivalent products for male counterparts, cost 7 percent more on average.
Does Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Decrease Homophobia?
Botswana decriminalized homosexuality, and Ecuador just legalized same-sex marriage. Here's how research suggests LGBTQ policy might impact antigay bias.
Why Did Trump Invoke Executive Privilege in the Fight Over the Census Citizenship Question?
Here's what you need to know about Trump's assertion of executive privilege and what's ahead in the debate over the citizenship question.
The Trevor Project's New Report Finds High Rates of Mental-Health Issues and Discrimination Among LGBTQ Youth
More than 75 percent of survey respondents reported that the current political climate has affected their mental health or sense of self.
Green Jobs and New Technology: A Look at Biden and Warren's Latest Climate Plans
Both plans draw on the progressive Green New Deal, prioritize environmental justice, and would be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
Do Climate Marches Encourage Others to Take Action?
When it comes to changing people's perceptions, a study suggests that the climate movement may be different from other causes.
Counter Demonstrations Overwhelmed a KKK Rally in Dayton, Ohio (in Photos)
The demonstrations were ultimately peaceful—but expensive.
The Wettest Part of Alaska Is Experiencing Extreme Drought. Is Climate Change to Blame?
The drought has had damaging economic and ecological impacts.
House Republicans Continue to Block a Disaster Aid Bill
Over the past week, Republicans have blocked the passage of the $19.1 billion disaster relief bill on three separate occasions.
Harriet Tubman Won't Be Featured on the $20 Bill Just Yet. Here's a Look at Currencies That Already Feature Women.
While the U.S. features mainly white men, many countries highlight a more diverse range of people on their currencies.
Damaging Tornadoes Hit Missouri (in Photos)
On Wednesday, tornadoes caused severe damage in the state's capital and killed multiple people in Golden City. Now, the state—and the rest of the Midwest—is bracing for further flooding.
Washington State Faces a Drought Emergency While Much of the U.S. Is Having a Wet Spring. Is This Normal?
A research scientist explains where to draw the line between normal variability and climate change.
America's Most Polluting Incinerators Disproportionately Affect Low-Income Neighborhoods and Communities of Color
For decades, the federal government has attempted to better prioritize equity in environmental initiatives. A new report highlights one area in which those efforts have fallen short.
The Fatal Shooting of Muhlaysia Booker Is Part of a Larger Trend of Violence Against Black Trans Women
Five black transgender women have been killed in the United States so far this year.
An Air Pollution Emergency in Mexico City (in Photos)
Authorities in Mexico City declared an environmental emergency on Tuesday after pollution reached potentially hazardous levels.
Air Pollution May Negatively Affect 'Every Organ' in the Human Body
A new report finds that inhaling air pollution doesn't just impact the heart and lungs: It can damage all parts of the body, and cause or worsen diseases.
A New Report Documents the Carbon Footprint of Plastics
Here's what some cities, states, and countries are doing about it.
House Democrats Unveil a Broad Infrastructure Package Targeting Climate Change
The proposal allocates tens of billions of dollars in funding to combat a variety of issues, including drinking water, broadband access, and health care.
The Future of Abortion Access: An Essential Reading List
The Alabama Senate on Tuesday voted in favor of a measure that would effectively ban abortion in the state. Here's a selection of Pacific Standard stories about recent challenges to abortion access.
San Francisco Police Raided a Freelance Journalist's Home. Was It Legal?
An expert on First Amendment rights weighs in on what happened to Bryan Carmody last Friday.
Ramadan Begins (in Photos)
More than a billion Muslims around the world began to observe Ramadan this week.
Unhealthy Air and Hazy Skies: How Pollution Is Affecting National Parks
The National Parks Conservation Association's new report recommends mitigating pollution and transitioning to clean energy, with an emphasis on fair solutions.
Six Months Later, How Are the Communities Affected by the Camp Fire and Woolsey Fire Recovering?
Both Butte County and Los Angeles County are still dealing with the social, environmental, and financial costs of the fires.
The U.K. Has Declared a Climate Emergency—but a New Report Advocates More Aggressive Action
A new report pushes for zero carbon emissions by 2050, more electric vehicles, and retrofitting urban buildings.
Cory Booker's Gun Control Plan: An Essential Reading List
Booker's proposal includes a gun licensing program, an assault weapons ban, and more support for victims and communities of gun violence.
Cyclone Fani Hits India (in Photos)
The cyclone could be one of the strongest storms to hit the Indian subcontinent in decades.
Stories You Might Have Missed This Week
California tap water is linked to thousands of cancer cases, Indonesia is moving its capital city, and a beluga whale spotted by fisherman may be a Russian spy.
Maine Is the First State to Ban Styrofoam
Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, and Connecticut are also considering polystyrene bans as resistance to single-use plastic increases.
Trump's Tax Plan Provided Massive Tax Breaks to the Oil Industry
A new report highlights the tax benefits of 60 of the largest American corporations.
A Bill to Honor Paris Agreement Goals Could Be the First Climate Legislation to Pass the House This Year
Though the vote is expected to be along party lines, the bill is more likely to gain the support of some Republicans than previous climate legislation.
Protesters Demonstrate Against a Proposed Coal Mine in Australia (in Photos)
Protesters are concerned that the proposed coal mine would pollute local resources and remove Native land title claims.
An Oil Company Is Being Fined More Than $3 Million for the 2015 Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Plains All American, the company responsible for the spill, said the fine would not damage the $17 billion company's bottom line.
More Than a Third of Tech Industry Employees Have Experienced or Witnessed Sexism, a New Survey Finds
Other research suggests that women are more likely to experience both sexism and sexual harassment in male-majority workplaces.
New Protections Will Prevent Fossil Fuel Activity in Canada's Marine Protected Areas
Meanwhile, a proposal to expand offshore drilling in U.S. waters has been halted indefinitely.
Democratic Senators Announce the Creation of an Environmental Justice Caucus
Could it provide a path to bipartisan—and inclusive—climate change legislation?
Why Climate Experts Are Worried About Trump's New Panel on Climate Change and National Security
Multiple proposed panelists have publicly expressed their skepticism of human-caused climate change.
Elizabeth Warren Wants Her Proposed Tax on the Ultra-Rich to Alleviate Student Loan Debt
Warren's plan includes proposals for the elimination of student loan debt for most students, an expansion of grants for low-income students, and free public education.
Celebrating Earth Day in 2019
For Earth Day, we selected some of our favorite stories about environmentalism in the 21st century.
Extinction Rebellion Stages Demonstrations Around the World (in Photos)
Climate change protests around the world are stopping traffic and leading to widespread arrests.
A New Study Reveals Diesel Filters' Unintended Effects
The study shows that the chemical reaction used in diesel filters can increase the presence of nitrogen dioxide—and worsen common allergic reactions.
Trump Just Signed a New Plan for the Colorado River. There's Already a Lawsuit to Halt It.
The Imperial Irrigation District in California has sued to halt the plan, arguing that it wrongly ignores the Salton Sea.
Elizabeth Warren's Plan to Protect Public Lands Highlights Environmental Justice Issues
Warren's plan includes ending fossil fuel drilling on public lands, eliminating entrance fees for national parks, and mandating spending for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Researchers Discover Microplastics in the Air of the Pyrenees Mountains
According to a new study, scientists found as much microplastic pollution in the air in this remote area as in densely populated cities like Paris.
The Sudanese Military Removes President Omar al-Bashir (in Photos)
Protests in Sudan continued following President Omar al-Bashir's ouster, after the military dissolved the government and suspended the country's constitution.
President Trump Signs Two Executive Orders to Speed Approval of Fossil Fuel Projects
In two new executive orders, Trump seeks to expand executive power over pipelines and make it harder for states to block oil and gas projects.