On March 7, President Barack Obama signed an updated version of the Violence Against Women Act that will implement state and local efforts to fight rape and domestic violence, with specific provisions protecting the Native American community. Obama hopes to transform the way survivors deal with abuse. The act includes a long-overdue landmark addition that will permit Native American tribal authorities to prosecute non-Native Americans for abuses committed on tribal lands.

Although active discussions about the causes of climate change are occurring from both sides of the nation’s political parties, little has actually been done to prepare states like New York from the destructive forces of extreme weather.

Venezuela experienced one of the most deadly prison riots in its nation’s history on Jan. 25. With 58 fatalities and more than 100 injured, many are questioning the Venezuelan government and its penitentiary system.

The town of Concord, Mass. is making legislative history by becoming the first community in the nation to ban the sale of single serving water bottles smaller than one liter. Enacted in Jan. 2013, the bill seeks to reduce the number of plastic water bottles and encourage the use of tap water. The ban is an important step to reducing energy consumption and waste as part of a larger effort to protect the environment.

The ongoing argument on whether to pass stricter gun laws has been met with political opposition from both gun control supporters and gun rights enthusiasts. Since the December Sandy Hook tragedy in Connecticut, gun reform has proven to be a highly divisive, yet critical issue for Americans.

While the East Coast is still adjusting in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, many Americans are realizing that, in order to fully recover from a natural or man-made disaster, government interference is necessary. In an article in the Nov. 8 issue of The Lamron, columnist Kevin Frankel summarized the importance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which provides government relief to areas that have been heavily affected by disasters.

For anyone who has ever been baffled by the price tag on a pair of glasses, last week’s episode of “60 Minutes” was a real “eye opener” into the inside world of Luxottica, the largest eyewear company in the world whose monopoly on the glasses industry is detrimental to competing companies and consumers alike.

Eleven years later, the war in Afghanistan has had many damaging effects – not only on the economy of Afghanistan, but also on the everyday lives of civilians. The rise of opium addiction is just one side effect of this war that continues to grow.

While the Chicago Teachers Union and the city’s school board continue to negotiate an agreement over a new contract, the real issue facing the country is the current state of the inner-city public school system.