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    The nation’s largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn’t comply with federal law. The Environmental Protection Agency asked the Tennessee Valley Authority in a March 25 letter to redo several aspects of its environmental impact statement for converting the coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant. The EPA cited “numerous” concerns with the plan to install new gas turbines there. Tennessee Valley had considered building new solar facilities paired with battery storage. The utility concluded there is not enough time to build that before its 2027 deadline to shut down Kingston's coal-burning boilers.

      A bipartisan group of North Carolina lawmakers has approved a bill codifying a definition of antisemitism into law. A nearly unanimous House voted Wednesday in favor of the SHALOM Act, which adopts the definition provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Republican House Speaker Tim Moore sponsored the bill. He says that it could guide educators and help law enforcement agencies and local prosecutors to determine whether someone should be charged under hate crime laws already on the books. Some critics say the bill could stifle political dissent against Israel amid the war in Gaza. Four Democrats voted against the legislation.

        Voting rights advocates have created a new initiative to increase Black voter turnout ahead of this fall's general election. The Young Black Lawyers' Organizing Coalition has recruited lawyers and law students from historically Black colleges and universities. They recently launched a four-state tour to engage with Black voters in Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. Their goal is to restore faith in democracy by better understanding their experiences with voter registration and ballot-box access. The coalition's law students will lead small focus groups in places like barber shops, churches, and union halls. It's an unusual role for lawyers, but the coalition is counting on their civic expertise.

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