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Amherst chamber tops list of WNY's largest business advocacy groups
The Amherst Chamber of Commerce is the only organization representing over 1,000 members. The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY Inc. ranked second.
House Republicans move to repeal proposed Biden-era heat-safety rule, citing burdens on small businesses
GOP lawmakers and business advocacy groups challenge proposed Biden-era federal heat safety standards, calling the requirements on employers nationwide 'heavy-handed.'
New org weighs AI's impact on mental health
Psychologists, lawyers, parents and advocacy groups have gathered for the first ever annual conference of AI and its impact on human psychology.
Big business spent a staggering amount to shape N.J.’s laws and budget last year, new report shows
Advocacy groups says all that cash means the system is built for special interests, not residents, as they work behind closed doors.
Amherst Sustainability Festival: A Day of Family Fun, Education, and Entertainment
Mark your calendars for the 14th Annual Amherst Sustainability Festival, taking place on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Amherst Town Common. Coinciding with the regularly scheduled Amherst Farmer’s Market, this free and family friendly event brings together local farmers, environmental vendors, advocacy groups, live entertainment, hands-on demonstrations, sustainable crafts, and much more. “The Amherst Sustainability Festival has become a beloved event
Community calls for restrictions on warrantless immigration arrests in SoCal
Advocacy groups pushed back against what they call unlawful, warrantless arrests
Florida's DeSantis declares Muslim civil rights group a terrorist organization
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday designated one of the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy groups in the U.S. a “foreign terrorist organization,” following a similar step by Texas last month.
New metro coalition taps businesses to solve homelessness
The group aims to unite businesses, advocacy groups and governments.
Immigration‑reporting measure fuels debate over Colorado’s role with ICE
A coalition of advocacy groups, community members, and several district attorneys rallied outside the Colorado Capitol on Thursday to oppose a ballot measure that, if approved by voters in November, would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Backed by the interest group Advance Colorado, Proposition 81 would require law […]
Advocacy groups call on APS to address mental health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ students
Two LGBTQ+ advocacy groups are calling on Arlington Public Schools to address the disproportionate mental health and safety outcomes negatively affecting its LGBTQ+ student population. In a new joint letter to APS leaders, the groups, Equality Arlington and the Arlington Gender Identity Alliance (AGIA), are asking the school system to implement a more targeted response
White House plan to take over federal grantmaking draws criticism from science groups
Science advocacy groups are attempting to mobilize public comments on a proposed rule.
Immigration reporting measure fuels debate over Colorado’s role with ICE
A coalition of advocacy groups and several district attorneys rallied outside the Colorado Capitol on Thursday to oppose a ballot measure that, if approved by voters in November, would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Backed by Advance Colorado, Proposition 81 would require local law enforcement agencies to notify […]
White House Plan to Take Over Federal Grantmaking Draws Criticism from Science Groups
Science advocacy groups are attempting to mobilize public comments on a proposed rule.
El Paso advocacy groups expand fund to deliver shelter, health care for migrants in Juárez
Humanitarian groups in the El Paso-Ciudad Juárez region announced an expansion of aid for migrants and asylum seekers in Ciudad Juárez, citing growing needs as asylum access narrows and deportations accelerate
Foreign billionaires funnel $2.6B to US advocacy groups to influence policy, watchdog report claims
A new report from a watchdog says six international groups routed more than $2.65 billion into U.S. politics through nonprofit grants, a loophole the group argues needs to be fixed.
VFW cartoon showing veterans facing a firing squad sparks calls for an investigation
A cartoon depicting a firing squad of bureaucrats and media with rifles aimed at US veterans has prompted a powerful congressman to call for an investigation into one of America’s oldest veterans advocacy groups, stoking a debate over free speech for political satire.
Gavin Newsom paddles to the political right with 3 notable vetoes
Newsom's rejection of pension, work-from-home and environmental bills won points with the right but angered some unions and advocacy groups.
How Alex Pretti’s killing scrambled the world of gun politics
Several niche, left-leaning gun advocacy groups said that since Alex Pretti was killed, they can hardly keep up with the surging demand for firearms training.
Minnesota physician groups call for health care protections as condition of DHS funding
Minnesota physician advocacy groups are raising concerns over reports of unsanitary conditions and a lack of medical care for detainees at ICE facilities.
Iowa residents raise health and environmental concerns over data center expansion
Advocacy groups and residents are voicing concerns about the health and environmental impacts of Iowa's growing data center industry, citing increased fossil fuel use and air pollution.
Officials cast doubt on Trump’s plan for drones, snipers at proposed arch
The arch is still envisioned to be a tourist site, despite the president’s announcement that it would be a “military complex,” administration officials told advocacy groups.
Kurt Zellers departs as Minnesota Business Partnership CEO in latest business lobby shuffle
A sudden departure of Kurt Zellers at the Minnesota Business Partnership is just one of the changes ahead for business advocacy groups in the state.
How Iran war votes in Congress became a focal point for campaign ad attacks
Democrats and aligned advocacy groups are hitting the airwaves with a flood of campaign ads on the Iran war as they seek to win back in the House and Senate.
Conflicting ideas of fairness in women’s sports fuel transgender participation debate
Recent controversy in the WNBA has reignited the debate about transgender participation in women’s sports, with advocacy groups split over differing ideas of fairness.
NYU Langone ending Transgender Youth Health Program, drawing ire of advocacy groups
Community calls for restrictions on warrantless immigration arrests in SoCal
Advocacy groups pushed back against what they call unlawful, warrantless arrests
Public Administration vs. Politics: What Public Administrators Can Do Beyond the Rhetoric
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization. By George S. WelchSeptember 18, 2026 Every election cycle produces a familiar pattern. Candidates make promises. Political leaders exchange criticism. Advocacy groups mobilize supporters. Social media amplifies conflict. News coverage focuses on controversy, competition and […]
Families USA and Leading Civil Rights and Health Care Advocacy Groups Release New Report for More Inclusive Health Care
Substantial cuts to health care under the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act could result in nearly 15 million people becoming uninsured by 2034.
US Stand Up for Science movement expands to Europe
A grassroots movement by scientists in the US pushing back against threats to academic freedom is setting up a Swiss outpost to take the movement global. Stand Up for Science started in February 2025 to protest against politically-motivated grant cancellations by the Trump administration. Since then, it has organised numerous rallies by scientists and turned into a broader campaigning organisation, supporting “pro-science” political candidates and attempting to impeach Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the health and human services secretary the group accuses of advancing “quack” science. Now, Stand Up for Science is establishing a Swiss office to take some of its campaigning beyond the US, and its leader is urging European academics to organise similar pro-science groups in case they face similar threats in Europe. There will likely be “spillover” to Europe from what the Trump administration is attempting in the US, said Colette Delawalla, chief executive of Stand Up for Science, who last month returned from a tour of Europe. “Are we going to see a Trump-style scientific [. . .] take over in the same way?” she asked.Delawalla, who is doing a PhD in clinical psychology, said she was driven to help found the organisation after the Trump administration started cancelling health research grants in politically taboo topics, such as transgender people, diversity and HIV, in early 2025. Since then, the administration has introduced several other measures that infringe academic and institutional autonomy.It threatened to cut Harvard University’s federal funding unless the university accepted a “critical mass” of new faculty and students to create “viewpoint diversity.” And this year, it proposed explosive new rules that would allow political appointees at research funders to screen grants to make sure they “advance the president's policy priorities.”US scientists have been at times stunned by the volume of announcements, and the country’s researchers were relatively unprepared. “We sit in front of the fire hose every day,” said Delawalla. For this reason, European scientists need to prepare now for similar assaults. “If you've got a little bit of extra time to start thinking through, and making those preparations and building community and solidarity,” then European researchers will “start five steps ahead of where we were.” She plans to return to Paris in September to share experiences with concerned French academics. Is Le Pen the same?During her European tour, Delawalla said that French academics were beginning to worry about a National Rally (RN) victory in presidential elections next year. She said there were “chilling similarities” between Trump and Marine Le Pen, the RN’s likely candidate. However, so far, the RN hasn’t proposed anything nearly as radical as the Trump administration has carried out. Its current manifesto is all but silent on university and research policy. Le Pen’s 2022 manifesto bemoaned a lack of French R&D spending, including in fundamental research, and promised to modernise labs and strip away grant bureaucracy. The party’s 2024 European election manifesto explicitly supported the Erasmus+ student exchange programme, scientific exchange and joint European technology projects. However, a Le Pen victory next year could see France drastically cut its contribution to the EU, which would hit the budget for science and innovation. Meanwhile, more restrictive immigration policies could hit university recruitment of faculty and students. Climate science denial?As heatwaves and wildfires have ravaged France, the RN has sought to distance itself from previous comments casting doubt on climate science.In the UK, the radical-right party Reform UK, now second in the polls, denied climate research in a draft of its 2024 election manifesto, but its leader, Nigel Farage, then appeared to quietly U-turn and said he was “not arguing the science.” By contrast, Trump has repeatedly and explicitly denied climate change science, in 2025 calling it “the greatest con job.” Like the RN, Reform UK has been light on research and university policy. However, it did say in its 2024 manifesto that universities should suffer “heavy financial penalties” for allowing “political bias or cancel culture” on campus, building on laws brought in by a previous Conservative government. Ahead of September state elections in Saxony-Anhalt in Germany, the poll-leading Alternative for Germany has proposed abolishing gender studies and postcolonial studies, and promised money for “critical” climate research and studies of Islam. Starts with rhetoricEven if European radical right parties aren’t currently planning the draconian policy measures of the Trump administration, Delawalla said that academics should not be complacent, and fight even small funding restrictions or anti-science talk from the start. “It starts off with sowing distrust about institutions,” she said. “It starts off with these small things, and then all of a sudden it's there.” There are other, more established science and university advocacy groups in the US aside from Stand Up for Science. But the group stands out because of Delawalla’s refusal to attempt to appear politically bipartisan or conciliatory. “I firmly believe that the US is experiencing fascism,” she said. “We’re not trying to win over the super Maga people,” she said, “and we never have been.” The lesson of the US is that even if universities or other institutions capitulate to government demands, this doesn’t save them from cuts and restrictions. “It doesn’t matter what people do,” she said. Global “pseudoscience”Another aim of Stand Up for Science’s push into Europe is to better coordinate a campaign to protect people in poorer countries from what the group describes as “pseudoscientific exploitation,” trials outside the US used to build a case against things like vaccines. Earlier this year, the group sent an investigator to Guinea-Bissau to investigate a controversial, Danish-run Hepatitis B vaccine project funded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The study would have withheld a proven vaccine from newborns, Stand Up for Science argued in a briefing it presented to Congress, risking their health. Significantly, the research group based in Guinea-Bissau, known as Bandim, focuses on the “non-specific effects” of vaccines: impacts on health beyond preventing the target disease. Related articlesEuropean researchers sound the alarm that Trump rule changes will hit cooperationData corner: which fields of health science is the US curbing? The US ‘golden age’ science strategy: what Europeans need to know The suspicion is that the study was funded as part of an attempt to shop around for results that could help build a case against vaccines in the US, said Delawalla. “This is just code for vaccines cause autism,” she said.Bandim has put out a rebuttal of Stand Up for Science’s criticisms, arguing its work has uncovered a number of vaccine side effects, both positive and negative, which need to be taken into account in public health. However, Congressional Democrats took up the Stand Up for Science cause, and in February, Guinea-Bissau said it had permanently halted the study. WatchdogBut for Delawalla, this is not the end of the fight. Kennedy has made a number of health claims that scientists think lack evidence, such as the idea that seed oils cause inflammation, for example. Delawalla worries that more studies could be launched in poorer countries to fish around for evidence to support this agenda. Stand Up for Science is talking to African science organisations to create a kind of “watchdog” to scrutinise any further trials. “Outsourcing the investigation to some of the most vulnerable children in the world who are desperate [. . .] is fundamentally wrong,” she said.
As Twin Cities suburbs grow more diverse, some old political patterns persist
City councils tend to be whiter than the places they represent. Some politicians and advocacy groups want that to change.