Air quality across America has improved dramatically over the past few decades, making many a doctor’s heart sing. Since passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the six most common air pollutants dropped an average of 73 percent. By decreasing the pollution people breathe, so goes the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory disease.

​California has a gorgeous coastline, beautiful redwood forests, breathtaking mountain views, ancient and pristine lakes and some of the worst air on the planet. The American Lung Association’s most recent State of the Air report reveals once again that California’s work on air pollution is far from over.

If you’re planning on going to dinner this weekend, be prepared for a strawless outing as Assembly Bill 1884 is now in effect. The bill became law on January 1 and was designed not only to limit the use of plastic straws, but to raise awareness of how prevalent single-use plastics are in daily life. Although AB 1884 doesn’t completely ban plastic straws from restaurants in California, it does limit their use by making consumers ask for them.