BREAKING NEWS
Evacuation order lifted in area near Indiana plastics fire
Read full article: Evacuation order lifted in area near Indiana plastics fireAuthorities in eastern Indiana lifted a dayslong evacuation order Sunday for an area near a plastics fire after they said it was determined air quality and other environmental concerns were safe.
Chief: Indiana plastics fire reduced to a single hot spot
Read full article: Chief: Indiana plastics fire reduced to a single hot spotA fire chief says crews working to fully extinguish an Indiana plastics fire have reduced its smoldering areas to a single hot spot as officials prepared to decide if a dayslong evacuation order should be lifted.
Hundreds forced from Indiana homes as plastics fire burns
Read full article: Hundreds forced from Indiana homes as plastics fire burnsAuthorities say an evacuation order affecting more than 1,000 people is expected to remain in place through Wednesday around a large industrial fire in an Indiana city near the Ohio border where crews worked through the night to douse piles of burning plastics.
Texas social workers will no longer be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans and people with disabilities
Read full article: Texas social workers will no longer be allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ Texans and people with disabilitiesThe Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council voted unanimously to restore protections for LGBTQ and disabled clients to Texas social workers’ code of conduct just two weeks after removing them. The governor’s office recommended removing language that prohibited social workers from turning away clients on the basis of disability, sexual orientation or gender identity. That set off an immediate firestorm of criticism from social workers, LGBTQ advocates and advocates for people with disabilities. "We are so grateful for the vote to keep the anti-discrimination protections in place," said Will Francis, executive director of the Texas chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. "This is a recognition of the key principle that a social worker’s personal beliefs must never impede a person’s right to self-determination or access to services."