Health
A G Equipment Company will pay $4.25 million to more than 40 former employees under a consent decree with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission concerning its COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The company was accused of refusing to consider religious or medical exemptions before terminating employees who refused to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, a federal jury awarded $12.69 million to Lisa Domski after finding that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan violated federal religious discrimination laws when it terminated her employment for declining a COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.
Additionally, Camille Kiefel, a 36-year-old woman who underwent a double mastectomy after identifying as nonbinary, reached a confidential $3.5 million settlement with two Oregon therapists and their employers in a malpractice suit. She alleged the providers approved the irreversible surgery after only two brief Zoom sessions, despite her documented history of trauma, depression, ADHD, and suicidal ideation. Kiefel detransitioned within two years as it failed to resolve her gender dysphoria.
In other news, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation that bans synthetic food dyes from school meals, permits over-the-counter sales of ivermectin, expands physical fitness requirements, and limits screen time for younger students. Critics have cited ongoing environmental health concerns in the state as potentially relevant to the legislation’s broader context.
Energy
Researchers at Columbia Engineering reported a lithium extraction method (switchable solvent selective extraction) that recovered lithium from synthetic brines at higher rates than competing elements. The approach could access reserves such as California’s Salton Sea, estimated to contain enough lithium for more than 375 million EV batteries. Parallel developments highlight ongoing questions around scalability and environmental trade-offs for such extraction methods.
In other news, BLSK Energy signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Argonne National Laboratory to commercialize pyroprocessing for recycling spent nuclear fuel. This would reportedly enable extracting up to 100 times more energy from uranium, taking advantage of over 104,000 tons of used nuclear fuel stored across 75 different sites in the United States. The company plans to open a pilot facility by 2034.
Artificial Intelligence
Erin Brockovich launched an interactive map of AI data centers across the United States, allowing residents to log complaints. The platform recorded more than 1,800 reports from 47 states in its first weeks. Common complaints reportedly include water usage, rising utility bills, noise pollution, and electronic waste.
Speaking of protest, a “small, but real” user revolt has been noted against integrating AI into web searches. DuckDuckGo reported a 30.5 percent week-over-week increase in US app installs on May 25 after Google’s I/O announcement regarding AI agents in search. Traffic to noai.duckduckgo.com rose 22.7 percent on average during the period. Some observers noted similar user shifts during prior periods of Google policy changes.
In other news, the Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory deployed an AI-driven thermal imaging system on Angel Island and a Vallejo ferry to help reduce ship strikes on gray whales by mapping whale blows in near real time. Related discussions emphasize that complementary measures such as speed limits may still be needed alongside new detection technologies.
US Politics
In a win for free speech, Hawaii agreed to pay $118,237.47 in attorney’s fees to The Babylon Bee and activist Dawn O’Brien after a federal court struck down the state’s 2024 election deepfake law. The law would have banned the distribution of “materially deceptive media” during election seasons if it risked “harming the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate” or “changing the voting behavior of voters.”
On the subject of election integrity, US District Judge Carl Nichols declined to block President Trump’s March 31 executive order on mail-in voting. However, the plaintiffs may renew their request if implementation advances. Observers have noted that full implementation ahead of the November elections would likely prove difficult.
Canadian Politics
The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal of a New Brunswick Court of Appeal ruling that Aboriginal title cannot be declared over privately held land. This effectively establishes a precedent that Aboriginal title cannot be declared over private ownership, but that First Nations can seek compensation for lost traditional lands. The Wolastoqey Nations had brought the case, and a separate appeal concerning the Cowichan Tribes decision in British Columbia remains pending.
Sources
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Aboriginal Title Appeal, Lower Ruling Stands
Aboriginal title can’t be declared over private land, Supreme Court of Canada rules
Source | Submitted by westcoastjan
US Startup, Argonne Lab to Recycle Nuclear Waste for 100x Energy
When used with fast reactors, it could extract up to 100 times more energy from uranium.
Judge Rejects Bid to Block Trump Mail-In Voting Order
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, based in Washington, rejected a request from Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), for an injunction against the order.
Columbia Engineers’ S3E Method Extracts Lithium Faster and Cleaner
Scientists just found a faster, cleaner way to extract lithium for EV batteries
DuckDuckGo Installs Surge 30% as Google Users Reject Forced AI Search
People aren’t just complaining about Google’s AI search overhaul, they’re leaving
Oklahoma Firm to Pay $4.25M for Firing Workers Over Vaccine Mandate Denials
An Oklahoma manufacturer will pay $4.25 million to more than 40 former employees after federal officials found the company violated anti-discrimination laws when it enforced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate without allowing religious or medical exemptions, according to a settlement announced this week.
AI Heat Sensors Guide Ships Away from Gray Whales in San Francisco Bay
Scientists in California are using heat-sensing AI to save grey whales transiting through San Francisco Bay.
Iowa Goes Full MAHA with Sweeping Health Bill
Iowa has gone full MAHA.
Detransitioner Wins $3.5M Settlement Over Therapists’ Hasty Approval
The case is already fueling renewed scrutiny of how quickly some medical providers have approved irreversible gender procedures for vulnerable patients struggling with serious mental health issues.
Hawaii Pays $118K After Failed Bid to Criminalize Political Memes
Hawaii has agreed to pay $118,237.47 in attorney’s fees and costs to The Babylon Bee and local activist Dawn O’Brien, closing the books on a failed attempt to make some political satire a criminal act.
Erin Brockovich Maps Surge in Data Center Pollution Complaints
Erin Brockovich has launched a website and has begun tracking all data centers in America and logging resident complaints
Jury Awards $12.69M to Worker Fired Over COVID Vaccine Religious Objection
A federal jury awarded $12.69 million to a former Blue Cross Blue Shield employee who said she was fired for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine on religious grounds.
In addition to sources submitted by community members, the following were also used in the creation of this report: X, Reuters, Just The News, Iowa Public Radio, and Iowa Capital Dispatch.
by westcoastjan 
