Florida & Beyond, and All Opinions

In the 125 years since U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. government has controlled the island militarily, politically and economically – with no end in sight or, for Puerto Rico, a clear path to statehood.

The water off South Florida is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in mid-July, and scientists are already seeing signs of coral bleaching off Central and South America. Particularly concerning is how early in the summer we are seeing these high ocean temperatures. If the extreme heat persists, it could have dire consequences for coral reefs.

On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drugmaker’s application for the first daily over-the-counter birth control pill for people seeking to prevent pregnancy, to be available next year. This expanded access could be a significant development in the post-Roe era as individual states further restrict women’s access to abortion.

In the United States, any Black person outside of what someone else determines is his or her socially designated physical or social location is presumed to be out of place, with repercussions ranging from what some might call benign amusement to death.

Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Most have not become law, and many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.

The ability of small suburban municipalities to limit multifamily housing is more the rule than the exception. As proposals for new housing are deflected away from smaller communities, housing either doesn’t get built, thus raising rents by limiting residential supply, or it gets pushed to far-flung exurbs that are distant from most jobs.

While secure attachment is important, ever rising levels of attention won’t necessarily increase it proportionally. Instead, it is important to carefully consider the degree of engagement and balance this with supporting children to reach appropriate stages of resilience and independence.

Meta’s launch of social media app Threads as a competitor to Twitter is a game-changer. It was welcomed almost immediately – especially by hordes of Twitter users that have watched in dismay as their beloved platform crumbles in the hands of Elon Musk.

Existing AI applications execute specific tasks rather than making broad judgments. The technology is far from being able to decide on and then plan out the goals and subordinate goals necessary for shutting down traffic in order to get you a seat in a restaurant, or blowing up a car factory in order to satisfy your itch for paper clips.

There are still political and legal attempts to restrict people’s ability to vote. Social equality remains far off for many people, including undocumented immigrants, for example, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The number of people directly exposed to wildfires more than doubled from 2000 to 2019. Three-quarters of this trend was driven by intense fires growing out of control and encroaching on existing communities. It’s a reminder of what’s at risk from human activities, such as fireworks on July 4, a day when wildfire ignitions spike.

When payments resume in October, the average student loan payment is expected to be between $200 and $500 per month. For those that resume making their federal student loan payments on time, this may lead to an increase in their credit score, while those that miss the first payment after payments resume can expect their credit score to fall.

A bitterly divided Supreme Court held that the free speech clause of the First Amendment prohibited state officials from requiring the designer to create a website that communicates a message with which she disagrees. Ensuring both freedom of speech and civil rights means more litigation is ahead.