The Advocate

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed nine bills expanding reproductive and maternal health care in the state. The legislation broadens access to reproductive services and strengthens maternal care protections, positioning California as one of the most protective states on these issues. Advocates have welcomed the move as national debate over reproductive rights continues following the overturning of federal abortion protections.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission can approve massive spaceflight projects on its own, even ones that could permanently change how the night sky looks for everyone on Earth. Space law experts note that despite protests from astronomers and dark-sky advocates, the agency is effectively the only gatekeeper, leaving little room for other authorities to block or shape such projects.

A federal memo under discussion would exempt accidental killings of endangered species from the Endangered Species Act, according to reporting by the Flathead Beacon. If adopted, the interpretation would mean unintentional deaths of protected wildlife could no longer trigger liability or enforcement. Conservation advocates are expected to challenge the change, while industry and landowner groups have long sought narrower application of the law.

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has reportedly been directed to stop arresting immigrants who do not have criminal records. The instruction, if carried out, would mark a significant shift in enforcement priorities and could affect workplace and neighbourhood operations across the United States. Immigration advocates and officials are reacting sharply, with supporters calling it a return to focused enforcement and critics questioning its scope and enforcement.

Pacific women are pressing global climate advocates to listen to their priorities before the COP31 negotiations. Writing on the Devpolicy Blog, the piece argues that women from Pacific island nations, who face some of the most severe impacts of rising seas and extreme weather, want their frontline experience reflected in climate policy and funding decisions rather than being treated as an afterthought in global talks.

The Joy and Justice Tour concluded in Columbia, South Carolina, where advocates argued that period poverty — the lack of access to menstrual products — takes a measurable toll on girls' mental health. Speakers called attention to the shame, stress and missed school that many girls face when they cannot afford basic hygiene supplies.