A new United Nations science report on climate change says cutting down trees is making the world hotter and hungrier.
Although the report doesn’t pinpoint any country, scientists, when asked, pointed a finger at Brazil’s recent stepped-up deforestation of the Amazon.
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The Senate’s majority leader, Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell, is getting more heat for not bringing to a vote legislation that would expand background checks for gun purchases.
More than 200 mayors have signed a letter calling for McConnell to bring senators back to Washington from their August recess to pass measures approved this year by the Democratic-run House.
Two of the mayors are from cities in Texas and Ohio where deadly mass shootings occurred last weekend.
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Some Austin City Councilmembers and the City’s Mayor are backing a resolution up for debate today, that demands the Texas and Federal law makers enact some anti gun violence laws.
Councilmember Alison Alter says like many parents this matter hits close to home.
“I’ve held my breath when my daughter stepped out of my car in the school parking lot. This spring, I had to figure out how to let go after an active shooter threat at her high school here in Austin,” she said.
Alter also says she struggles to explain gun laws to her child.
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City Hall’s vision of thousands of new low-income housing units in Austin continues to take shape.
This morning, council will vote on using money from last year’s voter-approved $925-million bond package to fund construction of 300 new low-income houses.
Many will be planned for more affluent neighborhoods with little-to-no low-income housing currently.
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The Austin Police Department has joined more than 200 other groups across the nation to launch a program called ‘Safe Place,’ which aims to protect people from hate crimes.
Chief Brian Manley says Austin businesses will be given a rainbow sticker for their building to let LGBT people know it’s a safe haven if they’re being harassed.
“It lets them know that the propriators of that business will be there for them, will help them call 911 if necessary, and give them a safe place to stay,” Manley says.
The business will provide comfort to the person as he or she waits for police to arrive.
