Bay Area Rapid Transit

A lawsuit working its way through the Santa Clara County court system is delaying nearly $6B in transportation funding voters approved in November with the passage of Measure B. The half-cent sales tax increase would go toward repairing potholes, extending BART into San Jose and improving Caltrain infrastructure, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports. The sales tax increase went into effect in April and the VTA started to spend the funds during the summer, but spending is now stalled.

The lawsuit, Cheriel Jensen v. Santa Clara Transportation Authority et al, alleges the Valley Transportation Authority would use the funds to add toll lanes on the 101 and 85 freeways. The lawsuit was dismissed in July, but Jensen, a retired county planner, filed an appeal, which preventsMalynda Hale Releases Tribute to Leelah Alcorn

Singer/Actress/Activist Malynda Hale has released a new song and video in honor of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn. The song, Falling, is resonating with suicide survivors and many members of LGBT community. For those unfamiliar with the story, Leelah Alcorn tragically took her life on 27 December after years of struggling with her identity and being subjected to various forms of Christian therapy to “cure” her.

Though Leelah had a supportive group of friends, her parents refused to accept her as trans and repeatedly told her it was a phase. After Leelah’s suicide, her mother stated: “My sweet 16 year old son, Joshua Ryan Alcorn went home to heaven this morning. He was out for an early morning walk and was hit by a