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The Cool Down
Trends
- 1Texas prisons ordered to install air conditioning by 2029โTexas prisons must install air conditioning by 2029 following federal court ruling
A federal court ruling requires Texas to install air conditioning in its prisons by 2029. The decision addresses the state's long-running failure to cool housing units, where summer temperatures regularly exceed dangerous levels. Observers say the ruling could set a precedent for prison conditions litigation nationwide, while Texas officials face mounting costs and deadlines to bring facilities into compliance.
- 2Extreme Heat and Cold Behind Bars Puts Inmates at RiskโFrom Sweltering Cells to Frigid Tents: The Extreme Temperatures of Incarceration
Incarcerated people across the United States are being held in cells that reach sweltering highs in summer and near-freezing lows in winter, as many prisons lack adequate heating, cooling or insulation. Reporting highlights how extreme indoor temperatures endanger inmate health, with heat-related deaths and cold exposure drawing scrutiny from advocates who argue the conditions amount to cruel and unusual punishment and are prompting calls for reform.
- 3
Kia's electric vehicle sales increased last month, defying expectations at a time when EV demand has been cooling across much of the global auto market. The gain is drawing attention as other automakers report slowing EV uptake, making Kia one of the brands bucking the downward trend and prompting discussion about what is driving its momentum.
- 4
The Volvo EX30, the Swedish brand's compact electric SUV, is reportedly being pulled from the American market, making it the latest in a series of electric vehicles to be discontinued or delayed in the United States. Industry observers are framing the move as another sign of cooling US demand for smaller, affordable EVs, with other automakers having recently scaled back similar electric models.