skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Monday, March 3, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

UK's Starmer says Europe is at 'crossroads in history' as leaders agree to steps to Ukraine peace; Scranton mayor puts bipartisan infrastructure law funding to work: L.A.'s urban trees remove more C02 than expected; and teachers' union guides colleges on response to ICE inquiries.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Speaker Johnson calls out Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, while also calling Putin "dangerous." Voting rights advocates are concerned about the SAVE Act's impact on Civil Rights, and some Democrats call for prioritizing rural and working-class people.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. farmers are left twisting in the wind over farm projects the federal funding freeze has stalled, parks and public lands could be a mess for visiting tourists this summer, while money to fight rural wildfires is in jeopardy.

County Primaries Approach with Impediments to Voting for Some

play audio
Play

Monday, May 5, 2014   

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Primary elections are set for tomorrow in many counties across Tennessee, and individuals with disabilities are among those being reminded of the importance of casting a ballot. Melanie Bull with the Tennessee Disability Coalition says voting is one of the best ways to give voice to one's views, both individually and collectively.

"It's important that everyone votes. It's our most basic right as a citizen. As a voting block, I think it's especially important for people with disabilities to get out and make sure their voices are heard," Bull says.

Unfortunately, she adds, people with disabilities vote at a lower rate than the population as a whole, and that is partly due to impediments at polling places.

"If you're in a more rural area, it's harder to find a polling place that is 100-percent ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant," she says. "You are bound by geography in those circumstances. Also, transportation continues to be an issue for people with disabilities."

In addition to increasing accessibility, Bull says another focus of the Tennessee Disability Coalition is making sure that poll workers are appropriately trained.

"It's all about making sure that we ask if someone needs accommodations - ask every single voter, because a disability may not always be visible. And making sure that the poll worker is kind and helpful and successfully wants to see the outcome of someone voting," she adds.

Primaries will be held Tuesday in about two-thirds of Tennessee counties. For the midterm elections this fall, among the races that Tennessee voters will decide are those for governor and U.S. Senate, along with all nine U.S. Representatives.

Tennessee election information is at http://1.usa.gov. Information about the ADA and polling places is at http://1.usa.gov/1udduaN.




get more stories like this via email

more stories
The Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use was established by the Florida Legislature in 2021 to address the state's growing mental health and substance-use disorder crisis. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

As Florida's legislative session begins on Tuesday, the Florida Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use is urging lawmakers to prioritize the …


Social Issues

play sound

A recent report is highlighting the need for a complete overhaul of the Illinois juvenile justice system. It called for a renewed rehabilitative …

Social Issues

play sound

Medical neglect inside Ohio's jails is under scrutiny following the release of a new toolkit by The Marshall Project to aid in investigating in-custod…


play sound

A Pennsylvania city is leveraging funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to improve road safety, housing, and more. The largest …

A Carbon Census sensor's sophisticated electronic components (shown here during the Los Angeles fires) can detect a variety of atmospheric compounds. (Mike Glier)

play sound

A new study showed trees in mid-city Los Angeles absorb up to 60% of carbon dioxide emissions during spring and summer when the trees are most active…

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent study showed high rates of tooth decay among young children in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas, and dental health advocates are …

Social Issues

play sound

Legislative bills on housing have seen mixed results in Montana so far this session. A state nonprofit group held an online training on how to …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021