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EPA Rollback Could Bring Dirtier Air To Black Communities

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a decision to delay or adjust stricter diesel emission standards, a move the agency projects will save the trucking industry billions. However, public health advocates contend that this rollback disproportionately harms Black communities, who are already overexposed to traffic-related pollution near freight corridors due to historical inequities.

We Expect More From Jay-Z. Why Not BET?

Journalist Julienne Louis-Anderson highlights a perceived inconsistency in public scrutiny, contrasting the lack of political discourse at the recent BET Awards with the intense criticism directed at Jay-Z for his collaboration with Target, a retailer that faced a Black consumer boycott over its revocation of DEI policies.

Saving Black Mothers Starts Outside The Hospital

A recent Word In Black livestream event convened experts, including Dr. Kaytura Felix and Tamara Mason, to address the disproportionately high maternal mortality rates among Black women. The panel concluded that systemic issues, rather than biological factors, drive these disparities, advocating for community-based solutions such as expanded midwifery care, mental health support, and financial stability initiatives.

The Growing Cost Of Homelessness

San Francisco residents and hotel owners have initiated legal action against the city, alleging the Tenderloin district has been permitted to become a containment zone for rampant illegal drug use and other illicit activities. This development coincides with analyses, such as that by author David W. Marshall, which link the modern homelessness crisis to policy shifts under the Reagan administration, including significant reductions in affordable housing funding and social safety-net programs.

Meet the 2026 candidates for Washington State Supreme Court Position #7: Todd Bloom

The Navy veteran is campaigning for Position #7 on a promise to “uphold and apply the law impartially and fairly,” but is running behind incumbent Justice Debra Stephens, NPI's Civic Heartbeat research has found. Meet the 2026 candidates for Washington State Supreme Court Position #7: Todd Bloom is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (July 13th-17th, 2026)

The week's major votes included House passage of legislation to make daylight saving time permanent and fund the State Department, as well as barring foreign donations to ballot measure campaigns, and Senate confirmation of more Trump judicial nominees. The Senate failed to take up the National Defense Authorization Act due to an unsuccessful cloture vote. Last Week In Congress: How Cascadia’s U.S. lawmakers voted (July 13th-17th, 2026) is a post from NPI's Cascadia Advocate, the journal of the Northwest Progressive Institute. Published continuously since March of 2004, NPI's Cascadia Advocate provides thoughtful commentary and analysis on regional, national, and world politics. Keep The Cascadia Advocate going by making a contribution to sustain NPI's research and advocacy here.

DOOM LOOP: Gettin' Stuff Done!

Counclimembers share their ideas for the mayor's Transit Measure.

This Week on PubliCola: July 18, 2026

A marathon debate over transit funding, Katie Wilson’s flight patterns, a bill that would limit endless land-use appeals, and more… The post This Week on PubliCola: July 18, 2026 appeared first on PubliCola.

The Roundup: Black Panthers Had It Right — Feed All Kids

In this week's edition of The Roundup, Mike Davis talks to Councilmember Dionne Foster and Mayor Katie Wilson about free meals for schoolchildren.

Seattle Nice: Taxing for Transit, Nude Beach Ruling, and Mayor Wilson’s Frugal Flights

By Erica C. Barnett Unlike the Seattle City Council, we sped through several local topics on Seattle Nice this week,… The post Seattle Nice: Taxing for Transit, Nude Beach Ruling, and Mayor Wilson’s Frugal Flights appeared first on PubliCola.

After Marathon Meeting, Council Committee Passes Wilson’s Transit Measure Mostly Intact

By Erica C. Barnett It took three hours and 37 minutes—45 minutes longer than the new film The Odyssey—but a… The post After Marathon Meeting, Council Committee Passes Wilson’s Transit Measure Mostly Intact appeared first on PubliCola.

Indigenous Violence Survivors See Fewer Services After Federal Cuts