Every week, Alliance for a Better Minnesota will highlight the important work being done in the progressive community. Focusing on issues that impact Minnesotans’ lives, this important work helps Minnesota continue moving forward.

Banning of stalking apps: Last week, Sen. Al Franken discussed his bill aimed at banning location-based apps specifically created to stalk users. Sen. Franken pushed for the bill after visiting the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, where he learned that over 70 percent of domestic abuse support groups dealt with victims of stalking apps.

Greener days: The government’s strongest attempt in history to combat climate change was made last week. A regulation proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s power plants by 30 percent by 2030. Scientists claim that burning coal is the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and steadily warm up the planet.

Sex-specific abortions uncommon: Conservative lawmakers often cite “highly skewed” sex ratios in Asian communities as a reason to ban sex-specific abortions, but a new study has discovered that there are no worldwide trends of these abortions. Research found that sex-selective abortions aren’t an issue in many parts of the world, including territories that Americans often associate with sex-specific abortions. Spreading this misinformation only detracts from women’s autonomy, and further reduces the ability to control their own bodies.

“Pay As You Earn”: President Barack Obama has expanded his plan to help Americans pay back their student loan debt. The proposed “Pay As You Earn” program would let borrowers pay no more than 10 percent of their monthly income back on student loan payments. President Obama is also working to negotiate with federal student loan servicers to make it easier for borrowers to avoid defaulting on their loans.