Va. Redistricting Plan Approved. Black Florida Rep Resigns. Maternal Health Crisis.

Virginia voters approved a new redistricting plan, expected to result in a net gain of congressional seats for Democrats. This referendum, passing with over 51% support, redraws the state's congressional map and could add up to four Democratic seats to the House of Representatives, potentially impacting national control of Congress.

The referendum, which passed with the support of more than 51% of voters, redraws the state's congressional map in a way that could add as many as four Democratic seats to the House of Representatives.

Calvin Duncan, a Louisiana man who spent 28 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit and was exonerated in 2021, was elected clerk of criminal court. Despite fierce opposition from Louisiana's Republican-controlled state house, which considered eliminating the position, Duncan was sworn into office.

Duncan spent 28 years in prison, convicted of a murder that he always maintained he did not commit. He was exonerated in 2021 and in November was elected to oversee the same criminal court that once sent him to prison.

Georgia faces a severe maternal health crisis, consistently ranking among the top 10 states for pregnancy-related deaths. Restrictive state laws prevent midwives without nursing degrees from practicing and require those with nursing degrees to be overseen and pay physicians, making care inaccessible. This pushes pregnant individuals, especially Black women facing medical racism, to seek alternative, holistic care, leading to a lawsuit against the state.

Georgia has for many years been dealing with a maternal health crisis. We've been in the top 10 of states over the past few years having the highest number of pregnancy related deaths. Midwives who have received training but do not have a nursing degree are not allowed to provide care or practice in the state of Georgia. If they're caught doing that, they could face things like fines and penalties and sometimes even jail time.

Dr. Evan August argues that femicide is patriarchy's most extreme outcome, stemming from a 'suboptimal worldview' rooted in materialism, dominance, and ownership. When men with this worldview experience distress, particularly in situations like divorce, they may resort to violence because they perceive they are losing 'ownership' of women and children, rather than recognizing them as autonomous humans.

Dr. Haid Brown who says femicide is patriarchy's most extreme outcome. When she tries to leave, she's not leaving a relationship. She's escaping ownership. So femicide is that interaction between that suboptimal world view and that that deep distress.

Nearly a year after an EF3 tornado hit North St. Louis, a historically disadvantaged and predominantly Black neighborhood, recovery remains slow. Decades of disinvestment meant homes were uninsured and in poor condition, emergency systems failed, and city/state/federal agencies were unprepared. This resulted in prolonged debris, mold damage, and a massive recovery gap, leaving 64% of the damage unaddressed and residents feeling disrespected compared to wealthier areas.

This is really the first time in modern history that a that a EF3 tornado hit North St. Louis about six miles of a of a disadvantaged neighborhood that has not been invested in within the last 50 years. 64% of the damage that happened May 2025, 64% is still unaddressed.

The Trump administration dismantled dozens of environmental protections, including Executive Order 12898 on environmental justice, which required federal agencies to consider impacts on minority communities. This rollback has devastating consequences for Black and brown communities, which already bear a disproportionate burden of pollution. Black Americans breathe 40% more deadly air pollution than white Americans, and Black children are hospitalized at twice the rate of white children for asthma, leading to compounding issues like chronic absenteeism and educational disparities.

Black Americans still breathe about 40% more deadly air pollution than white Americans. Black children are hospitalized at twice the rate of white children for asthma. The executive order that President Trump revoked 12898 was pulled back days after he got into office. And all work around environmental justice came to a halt.