Michelle R. Matisons

Michelle R. Matisons, Ph.D., is an adjunct philosophy professor and a freelance writer who lives in the Florida panhandle. She has taught on several college campuses and is the author of numerous articles on topics as diverse as emerging technologies, education, and criminal justice issues. You can reach her at michrenee@gmail.com.

Articles by Michelle R. Matisons

• How is the ‘new NAFTA’ different?

  The idea of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was very controversial when first proposed…

  Monday, December 17, 2018

• UN climate talks polarized by protest, coal politics

  Another round of climate talks have begun in Katowice, Poland, at an event known as COP24. Thus far,…

  Wednesday, December 12, 2018

• Is last month’s manufacturing job increase a trend or a blip?

  While the glory days of manufacturing jobs are gone, and globalization has fundamentally shifted the…

  Monday, December 10, 2018

• In a US first, Chicago charter school workers strike

  Public education reform in the past few decades has included a massive shift of funding and resources…

  Wednesday, December 05, 2018

• Federal fracking push has state, local resistance

  The controversial oil and gas extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," was once…

  Monday, December 03, 2018

• GM announces plant closures, Trump threatens to cancel subsidies

  If we need any more proof of the disparities between campaign promises and economic realities, consider…

  Wednesday, November 28, 2018

• New science, government studies highlight climate change’s urgency

  For over a year, we have witnessed one weather disaster after another besiege the United States mainland…

  Tuesday, November 27, 2018

• Federal prison reform bill endorsed by President Trump

  Inside and outside criminal justice circles it’s understood that the U.S. prison system, including…

  Tuesday, November 20, 2018

• Amazon announces controversial HQ2 locations

  When Amazon announced that it was searching for a new second headquarters location, speculation began…

  Wednesday, November 14, 2018

• Environmental issues heat up as court ruling halts Keystone XL pipeline

  Evidence of environmental devastation looms in many places. However, one development that recently went…

  Tuesday, November 13, 2018

• Wildfires in Northern and Southern California claim 31 lives so far

  Paradise, California, north of Sacramento, is a town of 27,000 people that has been all but wiped out…

  Monday, November 12, 2018

• Florida restores voting rights to 1.5 million with successful ballot initiative

  Over the past two decades, the phrase "prison industrial complex" has moved from an academic concept…

  Wednesday, November 07, 2018

• Utah public employees cross Mexican border for cheaper drugs

  Two decades ago, Sen. Bernie Sanders crossed the Mexican border to call attention to the plight of American…

  Friday, November 02, 2018

• Hurricanes Michael, Florence leave serious recovery challenges

  In the weeks since Hurricanes Florence and Michael swept through the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, the…

  Monday, October 29, 2018

• Thousands of nonviolent California inmates face earlier release

  ​In 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped from a Petaluma, California, slumber party and murdered…

  Thursday, October 25, 2018

• US Supreme Court will hear important public land regulation case in November

  In a case that has been going strong for 11 years, on Nov. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear another…

  Tuesday, October 23, 2018

• Can controversial coal be shipped from old military bases?

  ​It’s no secret that the current presidential administration favors dirtier forms of energy, like…

  Thursday, October 18, 2018

• Trump to visit Hurricane Michael’s war zone aftermath

  Last Wednesday is a day that will be marked in history books. Like Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey, Maria…

  Monday, October 15, 2018

• UN climate report warns of catastrophe by 2040

  As climate change goes, we have heard it all. Tales of rapidly melting sea ice form the backdrop of a…

  Wednesday, October 10, 2018

• After Vegas shooting anniversary, we are closer to a federal bump stock ban

  Just over one year ago on Oct. 1, 2017, people watched in horror as a Las Vegas gunman open fire on a…

  Monday, October 08, 2018

• As Amazon raises minimum wage, not everything is good news for its workers

  As more pressure mounts to raise the federal minimum wage to a $15 living wage, Amazon announced on Oct.…

  Thursday, October 04, 2018

• Justice Department sues California over brand-new net neutrality law

  "Net neutrality" is more than just a catchy phrase referencing internet accessibility; it is the principle…

  Wednesday, October 03, 2018

• Violent crime down in US amidst criminal justice budget debates

  The official U.S. crime rates released annually by the FBI are highly politicized numbers that various…

  Friday, September 28, 2018

• Carolinas’ historic flooding from Florence makes strong case for alternative energy

  Less than two weeks ago, Hurricane Florence came ashore, impacting the Carolinas and Virginia. Just when…

  Wednesday, September 26, 2018

• HIV/AIDS program cuts to pay for immigrant child detentions

  Amidst the news about the controversial practice of locking up immigrant children whose parents are not…

  Monday, September 24, 2018

• McDonald’s workers strike against sexual harassment in several major cities

  A lot has changed in labor organizing as the Fight for $15 campaign, which seeks to raise the minimum…

  Thursday, September 20, 2018

• Florence lands in Carolinas, killing 23 people

  Hurricane Florence, which has since been downgraded to a tropical depression, landed in the Carolinas…

  Monday, September 17, 2018

• Dutch nonprofit installs potential solution to Great Pacific Garbage Patch

  ​Are you growing tired from all the debates going on about increased air pollution due to relaxed environmental…

  Friday, September 14, 2018

• Department of Education considers armed teachers, Title IX reforms

  Schools are back in session, and we all know what this means. Time to sharpen those pencils, set that…

  Thursday, September 13, 2018

• California signs new clean energy law while fires still burn

  Autumn weather has arrived in many places, bringing with it all of the usual changes, but you may not…

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018

• Puerto Rico’s rising Hurricane Maria death toll a political matter

  Why do death tolls matter? Puerto Rico’s experience after Hurricane Maria reveals that deaths are deeply…

  Wednesday, September 05, 2018

• The environmental rule changes that will impact us the most

  Even the most diligent climate change policy trackers are having a hard time keeping abreast of recent…

  Tuesday, September 04, 2018

• California fires still burning, new report anticipates more

  ​As California fires still burn, the state has released its fourth Climate Change Assessment, a report…

  Tuesday, August 28, 2018

• North American prisoner strike begins in 17 states and Canada

  Regardless of where you stand on mass incarceration, the number of Americans locked up — 2.3 million…

  Friday, August 24, 2018

• Court rules against EPA’s stalling of new chemical safety regulations

  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has received a lot of negative coverage lately due to the antics…

  Wednesday, August 22, 2018

• Nebraska conducts first execution in the US to use fentanyl

  The death penalty is a very divisive political issue. Recently, even Pope Francis condemned the practice…

  Tuesday, August 21, 2018

• Dying man awarded $289 million as Monsanto faces more lawsuits

  Over the years, more and more people have come to know the name "Monsanto" as synonymous with new industrial…

  Friday, August 17, 2018

• Puerto Rico’s recovery faces ongoing privatization challenges

  On July 9, Puerto Rican officials submitted a 411-page draft recovery plan to the U.S. Congress that…

  Wednesday, August 15, 2018

• 3-D-printed gun controversy continues

  3-D printing is an advanced technology that uses machines, sometimes desktop-sized, to make objects from…

  Tuesday, August 14, 2018

• ANWR drilling threatens Porcupine caribou — and vice-versa?

  If you follow the U.S. debate about oil drilling, then you have no doubt heard of the Arctic National…

  Thursday, August 09, 2018

• Historic California wildfires ignite blame game

  You already know there are some serious wildfires burning in California and the west. So what’s new?…

  Wednesday, August 08, 2018

• Suicide rates increase with climate change-related heat

  We all complain when it gets too hot, whether it means running extra air conditioning, working outdoors…

  Friday, August 03, 2018

• Adidas joins recycled plastics trend

  While initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics are helpful, it will make a bigger impact if more…

  Tuesday, July 31, 2018

• Endangered Species Act faces energy-friendly rollbacks

  The late 1960s and ‘70s were times of immense change in the U.S. The catalyst was the Vietnam War draft…

  Wednesday, July 25, 2018

• Western wildfires spread apace with drought, rising temperatures

  The recent combination of heat, wind and low humidity has cultivated an intense, fire-prone climate in…

  Tuesday, July 10, 2018

• California judge rules in oil companies’ favor in climate change decision

  Recently, a California District Court judge threw out a lawsuit introduced by San Francisco and Oakland…

  Thursday, July 05, 2018

• State, city efforts address US exit from Paris climate agreement

  When President Trump announced the U.S.' exit from the 2015 Paris climate agreement on June 1, 2017,…

  Tuesday, June 12, 2018

• California’s new home construction law embraces solar power

  The year 2020 marks a sunny turn for solar enthusiasts in California. That is the year that solar panels…

  Tuesday, May 22, 2018

• Are the new ideas to stop climate change crazy or potential panaceas?

  What do reflective sand, water pumps, tiny flying robots and space umbrellas all have in common? They…

  Wednesday, May 09, 2018

• Can lawsuits spur climate change action?

  Whether or not you believe humans are responsible for climate change, we are all inundated with information…

  Wednesday, April 25, 2018

• New study reveals Android apps violate children’s privacy

  ​If you are a parent or teacher who spends time with children, you are aware that device use and screen…

  Wednesday, April 18, 2018

• New eviction database highlights affordable housing challenges

  Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes housing as necessary to establish "an…

  Monday, April 16, 2018

• Environmental fallout from 2017 hurricanes still ongoing

  ​Among much disagreement about almost everything, there is one thing everyone is likely to agree on:…

  Wednesday, April 11, 2018

• Who’s lined up to build Trump’s Mexico wall?

  A move like this comes on the heels of deeply partisan activity surrounding the Wall. It was originally…

  Tuesday, April 10, 2018

• Law enforcement supports variety of gun control reform efforts

  In response to the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, President Donald Trump has announced…

  Thursday, February 22, 2018

• New school security measures include bulletproof backpacks

  In the wake of the Valentine's Day massacre that killed 17 students and staff at Parkland, Florida's…

  Wednesday, February 21, 2018

• States introducing legislation to import Canadian drugs

  The rising cost of prescription drugs is not a new story. But as continuing efforts to lower prices have…

  Monday, February 19, 2018

• Grief counseling plays major role in school shooting recoveries

  On Feb. 14, a former student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, murdered at…

  Thursday, February 15, 2018

• Will cryptocurrency help or hurt Puerto Rico’s rebuilding efforts?

  Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum have been all over the news lately, as they have generated…

  Thursday, February 08, 2018

• Minneapolis’ Super Bowl LII stadium sports innovative sustainable design

  Whether you are a football fan or not, you probably know that Super Bowl LII is scheduled to happen Feb.…

  Thursday, February 01, 2018

• New York City leads global fossil fuel divestment campaign

  NASA recently reported that 2017 was the second-hottest year on record. Climate scientists did not expect…

  Thursday, January 25, 2018

• Mudslides devastate Montecito, California

  ​After a deluge of rain was forecasted following containment of the Thomas Fire — the largest fire…

  Monday, January 15, 2018

• New York City ends misdemeanor bail, signaling reform trend

  ​As jail populations suffer severe overcrowding, more cities and states are pursuing bail reform measures…

  Friday, January 12, 2018

• Should Apple do more to limit children’s screen time?

  Eye problems, bad posture, carpal tunnel syndrome, social disconnection, depression, insomnia. All of…

  Friday, January 12, 2018

• Vaccine limits, medical supply shortages complicate an early flu season

  ​The flu season is here again, in case you have not heard. This year there are special concerns related…

  Thursday, January 11, 2018

• Mudslides, flash flooding pose new threats in California

  As 2018 kicked off with most of the East Coast enveloped in freezing cold temperatures, news about the…

  Monday, January 08, 2018

• Defiant winds threaten to spread California wildfire

  It has been another challenging week in Southern California, as several fires are now contained. However,…

  Friday, December 15, 2017

• New app collects spare change toward bail

  The U.S. prison industry currently holds 2.2 million people behind bars. Of that number, an estimated…

  Wednesday, December 13, 2017

• Los Angeles inferno wraps up 2017’s year of disasters

  There's no rest for the weary, is there? 2017 has been a year of natural disasters related to climate…

  Thursday, December 07, 2017

• Time’s Person of the Year reflects new norms in business culture

  ​After the dust settles, the financial damages accrued by brand names and individual reputations will…

  Thursday, December 07, 2017

• Good and bad news for Houston’s post‑Harvey rebuilding efforts

  ​Recovery efforts are still underway after the devastating hurricanes and wildfires in late summer…

  Monday, December 04, 2017

• New global alliance targets coal production

  Prior to global awareness of coal mining's role in climate change, experts projected that coal would…

  Thursday, November 30, 2017

• Big Tobacco releases court-ordered ads

  It is difficult to separate Thanksgiving Day from the beginning of the Christmas season, and many of…

  Tuesday, November 28, 2017

• California to test firefighters’ toxic exposure

  Now that the ash is settling after the California wildfires that engulfed more than 8,000 homes, buildings…

  Thursday, November 16, 2017

• How will Puerto Rico fix its energy grid?

  Puerto Rico's death toll from Hurricane Maria remains hotly contested. The official government number…

  Tuesday, November 14, 2017

• Florida debating generator requirements for nursing homes

  We have heard quite a bit about the demand for generators since recent hurricanes had a devastating impact…

  Thursday, November 09, 2017

• Burned California neighborhoods consider production-scale home rebuilding

  As people begin to recover from entire neighborhoods destroyed by recent California wildfires — approximately…

  Tuesday, November 07, 2017

• Hospitals managing post-Maria medical products shortage

  Before Hurricane Maria hit, many people did not know Puerto Rico housed 89 facilities that manufacture…

  Monday, October 30, 2017

• Tesla testing its solar capabilities in Puerto Rico rebuild

  ​Amid reports coming out of Puerto Rico's devastation, there is news of an effort to bring solar power…

  Thursday, October 26, 2017

• California wildfires are a public health risk

  Beijing, China, is the greatest greenhouse gas emitter in the world, exacerbated by its growing power…

  Tuesday, October 17, 2017

• California wildfires threaten wine and tourism industry

  Earthquakes, hurricanes, fires — what's next? As we have all been witnessing, recent extreme weather…

  Thursday, October 12, 2017

• Skilled labor shortage impacting rebuilding efforts

  In the last two months, we've witnessed historic Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria severely damage Texas,…

  Friday, October 06, 2017

• Puerto Rico’s pharmaceutical industry faces post-Maria uphill battle

  Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lily, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis. These are just…

  Monday, October 02, 2017

• Save the pets: How did animals fare in Harvey, Irma?

  ​We all love our pets, but sometimes amid the evacuation panic caused by hurricanes, pet safety takes…

  Friday, September 29, 2017

• Florida nursing home deaths shine spotlight on private care industry

  ​Many headline-worthy stories emerged in the days after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma touched land. One…

  Tuesday, September 26, 2017