Happy Wednesday, muggles. The birds are singing a different tune during the pandemic. As traffic and other noise pollution went away, the white-crowned sparrow in the Bay Area had more to say. Researchers say their songs got “sexier” (their words not mine 😅) because they could say more and didn't have to shout as much. Here are a few stories we have more to say about too.

A Wisconsin County cut funding to a domestic violence shelter over its support of Black lives 

Tues Oct 20

For some domestic violence organizations, showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement might mean losing your local resources. In Wisconsin, a nonprofit domestic violence shelter called Embrace sits just a few hours from where George Floyd was murdered by police. After posting signs in its offices to spark some tough conversions, they were stripped of $25,000 in funding and 14 local police departments cut ties with the organization.

Law enforcement cutting ties with domestic violence shelters can have dangerous impacts on survivors. Previously, when a survivor called 911, a screening was done to determine if the victim was at a high risk of homicide. If so, law enforcement would pair up with an Embrace advocate to help the victim find safety — but now this partnership will no longer take place. 

This isn’t happening only to Embrace. In June, 47 coalitions against sexual assault and domestic violence signed a letter calling for greater investment into community resources and movement away from police and prisons as the central solution to violence.

• In Nebraska, the state’s Sheriffs’ association asked the Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence to remove its name from the letter
• In Idaho, the state’s Chiefs of Police Association, Sheriffs Association, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association withdrew their support of the state’s coalition against sexual and domestic violence after the coalition signed the letter

This month is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. A lot of centers are struggling to provide services during the coronavirus, especially since domestic violence has increased due to lockdown measures. We encourage you, if you can, to reach out to your local shelter and see how you can help.

SOURCES: Huff Post, CNN, The Washington Post, ABC News

Teachers are getting paid more in Arkansas because of solar energy 

Fri Oct 16

Teachers in Batesville, Arkansas are getting a pay increase — and they have solar power to thank. An energy audit found that the school district could save at least $2.4 million over 20 years with the addition of more than 1,400 solar panels alongside updated lights, heating and cooling systems, and windows. 

How much money is going back to the teachers?

The school district was able to turn a $250,000 budget deficit into a $1.8 million surplus which means teachers salaries could increase by $2,000 to $3,000 per person. 

Why aren’t more schools doing this?

Well good news, they are! More than 7,300 schools across the U.S. have solar panels to create a more sustainable future, both for the environment and their finances. A lot of districts in Arkansas and across the country are also incorporating renewable energy into their education and with about 5.5% of schools in the U.S. using solar power, some 5.3 million students have some first-hand experience.

SOURCES: Solar Industry, Energy News Network, THV 11 News, Arkansas Democrat Gazette