Why is the Virginia House of Delegates rejecting a proposal to replace diesel school buses with electric ones? It seems that they’re not opposed to the idea itself, but to the utility company tied closely to the bill. Dominion Electric will not only profit greatly from the proposal — to the tune of $108 million — but it will also cement its power over lawmakers, especially after they were accused of authoring the bill. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
