Happy Wednesday, muggles. You read that correctly, we’re now a semi-weekly newsletter. We’re singing a new two-note song much like Canadian white-throated sparrows. In a rare move, these birds have switched up their mating song — which is not only unusual, but also rarely spreads beyond a local environment. This new song is catching on throughout Canada and replacing the old melody from the 1960’s. Here’s a few more stories to tune into.

Murders are up, other violent crimes are down

Mon Jul 6

Usually as murders increase, other violent crimes increase as well, but this year is breaking all norms. In a study of 25 large U.S. cities comparing crime stats from last year to this year:

• Murder increased ~16%
• Violent crime decreased 2%
• Overall crime decreased ~5%

How uncommon is this?

Since 1960, there have been only four years where murders increased, but overall violent crime did not — and even then the change was relatively small (~2%). It’s also important to mention that although murder is up this year from last, it is still generally down from a few years ago.

What could be driving this change?

It’s hard to know for certain. 

• Some experts believe there’s probably been an increase in domestic violence due to the pandemic’s lockdown orders. 
• Another theory is that COVID-19 has put stress on drugs markets and recreational drug sales, which could cause an increase in violence. 
• Research also suggests a lack of trust in law enforcement could be leading to people trying to resolve issues themselves. 

All of this is speculation right now as a more complete look at crime and the pandemic’s impact becomes available with time.

SOURCES: New York Times, CNN, Chicago Sun Times

New proposal would end protections for homeless transgender people

Thur Jul 2

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has proposed allowing housing services to deny transgender people. This new proposal from the Trump administration would end an Obama-era rule that banned federally funded homeless shelters from discriminating against transgender individuals. 

What’s the argument for this new rule?

HUD is saying this would allow shelters to better operate in line with its religious beliefs. The changes would impact “single-sex” or “sex-segregated” shelters. Under the new rule, shelters would be required to give people they turn away information about other shelters they could go to in the area.

How many people does this affect?

According to a 2015 survey... 

• ~9,000 transgender individuals (a third of respondents) said they experienced homelessness 
• 1 in 5 will experience homelessness in their lifetime 
• Activists also say that Black and Brown transgender women face extremely high rates of violence, unemployment and homelessness

When does this new rule take effect?

HUD still needs to formally introduce the modification to the Equal Access Rule. Then, there will be a two-month public comment period.

SOURCES: VICE, CNN, CBS News, National Center for Transgender Equality

Russian billionaire offers to buy controversial U.S. statues

Fri Jul 3

One country’s colonial trash could be a billionaire’s treasure? That seems to be the case for businessman Andrey Filatov, who wants to purchase statues of Theodore Roosevelt and Baranov from New York and Alaska. Filatov’s Art Russe Foundation typically collects Soviet-era art, but says it wants to bring the two statues to St. Petersburg because the men have contributed to the development of Russia.

The Theodore Roosevelt Statue

In the U.S...

• Sits in front of the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
• Shows the former U.S. President with a Native American man and Black man at his feet. 
• Last month — due to calls for its removal during the Black Lives Matter movement — NYC’s mayor said it will be taken down. 

In Russia...

• Roosevelt helped broker a deal with Russia and Japan in 1904 that ended a war and won him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1906. 

The Alexander Baranov Statue

In the U.S...

• Is a bronze statue that has been in Sitka, Alaska since 1989. 
• Baranov is accused of leading an attack on the local Tlingit people in 1804.
• There have been calls from the Native American community to take his statue down. 

In Russia…

• Baranov governed parts of North America that were owned by Russia before they were sold to the U.S. in the Alaska Purchase.  

SOURCES: CNN, The Independent, Encyclopedia Britannica, Los Angeles Times

That’s all for today. Have a magical week.✨