Virginia voters enshrined marriage equality into the state’s constitution
Virginia voters decisively approved a constitutional amendment to repeal the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and enshrine marriage equality into state law.
Twenty years ago, Virginia voters opted to add a ban on same-sex marriage into the state constitution, though it’s been unenforceable for nearly a decade due to federal precedent.
The newly approved amendment establishes marriage as a fundamental right for consenting adults regardless of sex, gender, or race, and requires the state to equally recognize marriages.
Why is this good news? While federal precedent still protects same-sex marriage rights nationwide, these laws remaining on the books at the state level still cause harm. Plus, if federal precedent were to ever change, Virginia voters made it clear where they stand in protecting marriage equality.
Newsom can commute about 40% of the death sentences on his own, but the rest will require the high court’s approval in order to be finalized.
If the California Supreme Court approves the commutations, reducing them to life without parole, it would be the largest mass commutation of death sentences in U.S. history. The number of people sentenced to death nationwide would drop by nearly a third.
Why is this good news? The death penalty is irreversible, and the margin of error is unacceptably high — and after decades of research, there is no evidence that the death penalty is more effective than life imprisonment in reducing crime. Even police say its use is an inefficient use of taxpayer dollars to fight crime.
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Global health
Bel Trew/The Independent
The US approved the cheaper, generic version of a breakthrough HIV prevention drug
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the first generic version of Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly HIV prevention drug administered via injection, considered the closest thing the world has to a vaccine.
The approval paves the way for the breakthrough drug to reach millions of people who need it, particularly in the countries hit hardest by the AIDS epidemic.
According to the United Nations, the drug could be the key to ending the AIDS epidemic globally by 2030.
Why is this good news? Manufactured and available in the United States, Lenacapavir costs $28,000 a year, but the generic version will cost just $40 per person per year, and will be made available to 120 low- and middle-income countries through a global partnership.
The Netherlands pledged $500 million to help conserve tropical forests
Brazil launched the Tropical Forest Forever Facility at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference a year ago to fund long-term conservation of tropical forests.
The TFFF brings together countries that need funding to protect their forests, with investors and donor countries that want to address climate change and biodiversity loss by mitigating deforestation.
Why is this good news? The TFFF could protect 800 to 900 million hectares of tropical forests — an area about 200 times the size of the Netherlands — but it needs to stay funded so revenue will incentivize countries to prioritize permanent forest conservation over unsustainable development, including logging, mining, and ranching.
The feature shows voters, based on the address where they’re registered to vote, both nearby early voting locations and their Election Day polling place — complete with hours and directions.
Voters won’t have to switch between websites or navigate often cumbersome local election sites, so they can get the information they need quickly and easily.
Why is this good news? People use Google, Apple, and other mapping services to get around nearly every day — but they don’t regularly use voter information websites. This tool brings the information to a platform they already know, making it easy to get to the polls and make their voice heard.
New Jersey is putting 10 megawatts of community solar on warehouse roofs. Putting panels on large, flat warehouse roofs gives the same building the job of generating electricity without taking up additional land — and it will help participating households save money on their electricity bills.
Introducing the Newest Goodnewspaper
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While it’s easy to get swept up in the doom and gloom about the world we’re leaving for the next generation, there are actually a lot of reasons to feel hopeful. And for every headline that paints a picture of a generation in crisis, young people bring fearless imagination, fresh ideas, and an unstoppable drive to tackle tomorrow’s challenges today.
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This week’s essential stories, selected by Healthline’s Head of Global News
In nutrition news, a new modeling study estimates that swapping regular table salt for a potassium-enriched salt substitute could prevent nearly 105,000 U.S. deaths a year from heart disease and stroke.
There’s also encouraging news on blood sugar management. Early research presented at the American Heart Association (AHA)’s annual meeting linked GLP-1s to better results than metformin for people with prediabetes and obesity, including a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and fewer heart attacks and strokes. And in a small trial, more than half of younger adults reversed their early onset type 2 diabetes after six months on a closely supervised low calorie diet and exercise program.
Finally, “Saved by the Bell” star Mark-Paul Gosselaar shares why cancer biomarker testing is personal for him after watching people in his life face cancer. He also talks about how he’s rethinking his health in his 50s, from better sleep to prioritizing recovery.
Which of these stories caught your eye this week? Tell us about it by emailing me.
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Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Healthline does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice from a healthcare professional. Healthline encourages you to make any treatment decisions with your healthcare professional.
Every product we recommend has gone through either Healthline’s or Optum Now’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Now are owned by RVO Health.
