Welcome to Wednesday, April 13th, New Causesers...

Oklahoma's governor has signed a bill that criminalizes most abortions.

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a bill into law Tuesday that would stiffen the state’s restrictions on abortion by making performing an abortion a felony and significantly raising the maximum penalties from a previous version of the law. 

Oklahoma Senate Bill 612 makes it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. It does not authorize criminal charges against a pregnant woman for receiving an abortion.

The law is expected to face legal challenges before it takes effect and comes as the Supreme Court is set to issue a decision in the next few months on Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Do you support or oppose the new Oklahoma abortion law?

Barcelona Bans Smoking on Beaches - Should More Cities?

Barcelona will prohibit smoking on all beaches starting in July, following a local pilot project in 2021 that banned cigarettes on four of the most popular beaches as part of the Spanish city’s clean air drive. Offenders will face fines of up to 2,000 euros, according to the Irish Mirror.

Cigarette butts are the world’s most littered plastic item and can cause a myriad of negative health and environmental impacts. The plastic fiber filters leach toxic chemicals such as arsenic and lead, poison marine life, and can take up to 10 years to break down into harmful microplastics. 

Do you want to see a smoking ban at your local beach? 

I blame traffic for my high blood pressure, top-waster-of-my-time, persistent cough, and the etiology of my panic disorder (got stuck in a traffic jam I couldn’t escape). 

For these and heaps of other hassles, I’m fascinated by the possibilities of self-driving cars. Could we reclaim parking lots for parks? Could I avoid parking tickets if my car moved itself when the meter runs out? Will I get motion sick reading a car if an algorithm is driving?

San Francisco already has self-driving, fully-autonomous taxis operating during some p.m. hours. Most of the major car manufacturers are actively working on - or buying out - autonomous vehicle (AV) companies. I mention this in an attempt to convey: “Editorial choices are not made based on my personal irritations.” There are endless questions and concerns regarding this new tech that need inspecting. 

Feel the same? Pop over here, where we’re compiling material about AVs. 

And I - personally - am interested in hearing your thoughts, and seeing the final results, of this question:

Do you support expanding AV testing in American cities?

Inflation Surged to a 40-Year High in March

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Tuesday that the all items consumer price index rose by 8.5% in the last 12 months through March ― the highest rate of inflation since a comparable period ending in December 1981 and more than four times the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%. 

March marks the fourth consecutive month with inflation running at 7% or higher during the preceding 12-month period, as inflation continues its rise from 7% in December to 7.5% in January and 7.9% in February.

Inflation is a measure of the decline of purchasing power for a given currency over time, which in the U.S. means that a dollar effectively buys less than it did in prior periods because prices rise.

How do you feel about the rise in consumer prices?

All the Memes Fit to Post

And, In The End...

Shush someone and tell them they can't eat in here in honor of...

—Josh Herman

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