Arts & Culture / Public News Service

Elsa-Ruth Pryor plays a Hardanger fiddle that she made during a wintertime concert in the Fargo area. (Photo courtesy Gabby Clavo)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Midwest communities embrace unique musical instrument

By Kate Mothes for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collab…

Leaders from the Yurok Tribe and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods walk among native plants planted as part of a revegetation effort at 'O Rew. (Evan-Marie Petit)

Historic agreement to return Redwoods land to Yurok Tribe

Plans to open a new gateway to Redwoods State and National Parks got a big boost Tuesday, paving the way for a key parcel of land to be returned to …

Trappist caskets await shipping on racks in the monastery's Peosta, Iowa, warehouse. (Ann Thomas/Arts Midwest)<br />

Iowa monks use natural resources to create wooden caskets

By Ann Thomas for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collaboration …

There is a more than 22-point gap in literacy proficiency between white students and their Black, Latino and Native American peers, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.<br />(Adobe Stock)

Educators hope National Reading Month will raise lN literacy scores

March is National Reading Month, and educators say most schoolchildren in Indiana and across the country are reading at or below a basic level for …

Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello received both the Beazely Award and the International Award for their project

ABQ museum installs teeter-totter from U.S.-Mexico border wall

An art installation intended to jump-start social commentary about the treatment of immigrants has found a permanent home in Albuquerque. In 2019…

Wes Montgomery played the guitar with his thumb, not a pick. He created the method so he wouldn't disturb his family or neighbors while practicing at night. (Adobe stock)

Indy jazz legend honored with historical marker

By Sophie Young for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News S…

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will carve a narrow path of totality across 13 U.S. states, including Texas. (Rob Goebel/AdobeStock)

'Umbraphiles' plan Texas trip to view total solar eclipse

In less than a month from today, thousands of eclipse-chasers will travel to Texas for a dimming of the sun. And one city is making the most of the …

Women have worked at the historic Wyoming State Hospital as doctors, nurses, administrators, secretaries, security guards, and in departments such as the post office, purchasing, and scheduling. Some families have several generations of women who have worked at the facility. <br />(Courtesy of Save the Old WSH)<br />

Wyoming women’s history rooted in hospital campus set for demolition

The state has plans to demolish 26 Wyoming State Hospital buildings in Evanston, but some local residents believe the site, which dates back to 1886…

Following a major earthquake, a 15-meter tsunami disabled the power supply and cooling of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, causing a nuclear accident in Japan on March 11, 2011. (Freer/Adobe Stock)

Fukushima remembrance event highlights local concerns in Michigan

Bringing together Michigan tribes and environmental advocates, an upcoming event marks a commemoration of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster…

Majorities of Americans expressed confidence in higher education in 2015, but by 2018, confidence had fallen across all groups, including a 17% drop among Republicans, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Maine’s Colby College counters higher ed mistrust with community outreach

Americans' confidence in higher education has plummeted but students and staff at Maine's Colby College hope continued community outreach will help br…

In 2020, the arts and culture sector contributed $1 billion to Wyoming's economy, supporting over 10,000 jobs. (Adobe Stock)

New series aims to fuel Wyoming artists, arts-related businesses

Wyoming artists of all varieties will be able to access tools needed to survive as a viable business through artsWORK, a new series aiming to …

Candice Bailey is the founder of the Colorado Police Oversight Commission, and has worked to improve laws surrounding law enforcement and community engagement. (Michael Ensminger/Motus Theater)

Theater group works to inspire action in alignment with MLK

Boulder's Motus Theater is hosting an event today for anyone curious about continuing the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- including addressing …

Americans generate about 6.9 million tons of e-waste each year. (Adobe Stock)

Microsoft extends support for Windows 10 to prevent e-waste

Tech giant Microsoft has responded to concerns about the environmental impact of discontinuing support for Windows 10 by offering extended security up…

According to the National Association of Broadcasters, 82 million Americans depend on AM radio each month for news, entertainment and safety. (thexfilephoto/Adobe Stock)

Requiring AM radio in vehicles benefits rural Nebraskans

The passage of a bipartisan, bicameral bill in the U.S. Congress would be very beneficial to people in rural parts of Nebraska. It could also make …

According to the State of Local News report from Northwestern University, today there are only about 550 local or state digital news sites in the entire country, and fewer than 1,000 active local minority or ethnic news outlets - the vast majority of which are located in major cities or state capitals. (Adobe Stock)

Alabamians struggle with limited local news access in rural communities

Alabama's local news landscape is experiencing a severe divide, leaving rural communities at a significant disadvantage. The latest State of Local …

The town of Rock Springs is offering free carriage rides as part of its annual winter holiday festivities. (Rocket Miner)

Finding old-time holiday cheer in Wyoming’s historic downtowns

With the annual winter shopping season now in full swing, Wyoming's old town centers are seeing an uptick in visitors drawn to colorful light …

A decline in local news is often correlated with the decline in voter participation, according to research by Northwestern University. (V.J. Matthew/Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural vibrancy diminishes with death of local newspapers

The media landscape has dramatically changed in the past 20 years, evidenced by a new study that shows three million residents in more than 200 …

All of the 26 eligible Tacoma Art Museum employees participated in and voted in favor of forming a union. (Gillian Fulford/WFSE)

Tacoma Art Museum union could be model for others

Workers at the Tacoma Art Museum are celebrating a unique union victory that could be a model for other museums. The 26 members of Tacoma Art …

Democrats' trust in the media has fallen 12 points over the past year, to 58%, and compares with 11% among Republicans and 29% among independents, according to Gallup. (Christian Schwier/Adobe Stock)

Southern Arizona local news initiative announced

A new project in Southern Arizona aims to support local reporting and enable greater access to local news and information. Earlier this month…

School librarians are facing shortages in Connecticut and nationally. Connecticut has faced shortages in multiple subject areas for some time, and the national decline predates the pandemic, with 1,800 librarian positions lost between 2016 and 2019. (Adobe Stock)

CT school librarians celebrate reading during American Education Week

During American Education Week, Connecticut school librarians are highlighting their value in molding young minds. Valerie DiLorenzo, a school …

Second-graders in South Portland are designing their own Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons to take part in a popular lesson based on the children's book,

Beyond book checkouts, ME librarians teach “digital citizenship”

School librarians in Maine are teaching students the importance of "digital citizenship." The concept is similar to civics education but helps stude…

According to the National Assembly of State Art Agencies, as of 2021, the arts and culture industry supports almost 82,000 jobs in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Arts, culture are economic drivers in Indiana, US

The nonprofit Americans for the Arts just released a study on the economic impact of arts and culture on communities, including in Indiana. Among …

A mural project celebrates the Endangered Species Act and the smalltooth sawfish. (Kelly Quinn)

Mural raises awareness for FL's smalltooth sawfish

A vibrant installation at today's SHINE St. Petersburg Mural Festival is designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act …

Idaho outlawed abortions in nearly all situations in 2022. (trac1/Adobe Stock)

In restrictive ID, stage show aims to reduce abortion's stigma

A stage show hopes to normalize how people talk about abortion in Idaho, a state with some of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country…

National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday celebrating democracy. It has gained momentum since it was first observed in 2012. (Robert Yap/Adobe Stock)

Today is National Voter Registration Day

Today is National Voter Registration Day. Michiganders have many locations where they can register to vote, such as community colleges, universities…

Detroit Action hosts a Black August event where it strives to reimagine a world through an abolitionist point of view and healing-justice policies. (SmartArt/Adobe Stock)

Art Collaboration This Weekend for Black August in Detroit

Communities around the country and in Michigan are celebrating Black August and promoting liberation of all diversities. Anthony Baber, director of …

The #MeToo Movement has been intersectional in the world of hip-hop. Some women of color in that world were silenced in reporting sexual abuse, which has become a lingering cultural force. (Adobe Stock)

Cinderella and the Glass Boombox: Women Help Shape First 50 Years of Hip-Hop

By Janell Hobson for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

Texas groups opposed to a controversial law regulating drag performances say it's unconstitutional and want a preliminary and permanent injunction before it goes into effect Sept. 1. (annne/Adobe Stock)

Texas 'Drag Ban' Headed to Court Ahead of 9/1 Implementation

Opponents of a new Texas law governing drag performances say it's so vague and broad, it could have a chilling effect on all free expression and …

In South Dakota, Levitt at the Falls says it has offered shows dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of communities. This weekend, music will highlight the culture of the Kunama people from Africa. (Photo courtesy of Levitt organization)

Ethnic Group Hopes SD Music Event Elevates Its Community Profile

South Dakota is among the states that have received the most refugees, per capita, in the past decade. This weekend, a specific group of New …

The historic stone barn at the Stephen George Homestead is made of limestone with visible seashell and other fossils. (Sheridan Community Land Trust Staff).

Tour Opens Up Historic Wyoming Agricultural Sites to Public

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming is hosting its next "Unbarred" tour on Aug. 5, featuring historic agricultural buildings in Sheridan County…

The story, Tell Me How You Breathe, examines the intersection of eco-activism, social justice and public health, according to the Loom Ensemble. (Loom)

New England-Based Dance Ensemble Explores Impact of Climate Change

Smoke from Canadian wildfires this summer has permeated not only New England's air, but the performing arts. The Loom Ensemble - an …

In New Mexico, 'Oppenheimer' Film Revives Painful Memories

This summer's "Oppenheimer" movie will shine a light on development of the first nuclear weapons, but for many in southern New Mexico it is another …

South Dakota's Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation is trying to reclaim and restore historical elements of the Lakota language. Organizers said data sovereignty will play a big role in ensuring younger generations in the region have access to the teachings. (Photo courtesy TVCDC)

Data Sovereignty Movement for Native Populations Reaches SD

Around the U.S., there are efforts among tribal nations to reclaim stolen land from colonization and preserve language history, and a South Dakota …

Krings-Lien says about 150 participants have submitted their input for the murals thus far. (Adobe Stock)

NV Groups Receive Grant Funding to Better Their Communities

Four organizations in the state of Nevada received more than $28,000 from AARP to implement what the group calls "quick-action" projects that will mak…

56% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, according to the Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

Study Shows Benefits of Creativity for Youth Mental Health

Young people who engage in creative activities report a reduction in feelings of stress or anxiety, according to a new study. The Adobe Foundation …

Researchers from the Equal Justice Initiative have documented 4,075 racial terror lynchings of African Americans in 12 states, including Arkansas, between 1877 and 1950. (Neirfy/Adobe Stock)

AR Racial Justice Essay Contest Open for Pulaski County Students

Summer learning is underway in Arkansas, and there's a unique opportunity for a history lesson open to high schoolers in Pulaski County. The …

In June 2019, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recognized Juneteenth as a holiday in the state. (Be Pro/AdobeStock)

Juneteenth: Celebrating Literacy, Artistic Freedom

A Pennsylvania literacy organization is commemorating the Juneteenth holiday by highlighting the history and contributions of Black people in the Unit…

The Alliance for Historic Wyoming has a list of some 40 historic hotels and motels scattered throughout Wyoming online at historicwyoming.org. (Chambers House Bed and Breakfast)

Historic Lodging Offers Unique WY Vacation Option

As families in Wyoming head out for a summer holiday, historians are encouraging people to explore a range of historic lodging options, such as the …

Native American advocates say this week's Supreme Court decision to uphold the Indian Child Welfare Act ultimately protects tribal culture and heritage by ensuring there will be continued efforts to keep Native children in their community environments if they're considered for adoption or foster care. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal Advocates Feel 'Relief' After SCOTUS ICWA Ruling

Tribal advocates are cheering a U.S. Supreme Court decision Thursday which allows a landmark law dealing with child welfare cases to stand. It …

Parcels of land downstream of Ruybal Fox Creek Ranch have been subdivided into 35- to 50-acre large-lot tracts. (Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust)

Preserving Cultural, Environmental Legacy in Southern Colorado

Ruybal Fox Creek Ranch sits in a dramatic canyon in the foothills of southern Colorado's San Juan Mountains, right next to the Rio Grande National …

A United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization report estimates at least two billion people worldwide eat insects. Globally, more than 1,900 insect species are considered edible, particularly those in tropical countries. The most commonly eaten insect groups include beetles, caterpillars, bees, wasps, ants and grasshoppers. (Adobe Stock)

NY Chef Changing Minds on Eating Insects

By Whitney Bauck for The Guardian.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for New York News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

It is estimated about one-third of New Mexico's more than 120 threatened and endangered species occur in the Gila region, including the Mexican grey wolf, Gila trout and Mexican spotted owl. (Photo courtesy of Raquel Madrigal)

New Mexico Mural Art Features Endangered Species, Migration Themes

The Village of Doña Ana is New Mexico's oldest federally designated settlement, and about to be the newest destination for public art. The …

In the ancient world, letters were written on a variety of materials including metal, pottery fragments, animal skin and papyrus. (Serhiy Hipskyy/Adobe Stock)<br />

Sharpen Your Pencil – It's National Letter-Writing Month

If not for the colonial postal system, newcomers to the frontier soon to be known as New Mexico would not have kept up with relatives to the south in …

According to the American Library Association, a record 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, a 38% increase over the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Censorship Craze, Library Campaign Aims to Turn the Page

Public libraries are known for their quiet settings. But during National Library Week, staff leaders in Minnesota and elsewhere are being vocal about …

Award-winning journalist Molly Ivins worked at the Texas Observer in the 1970s, calling it a

The Texas Observer Lives to See Another Print Run

The Texas Observer, a nonprofit news organization known for its liberal, independent reporting and cultural criticism, will continue publishing…

Statistics show the Los Angeles region has the biggest arts community in the U.S., but is 52nd for the amount spent on art programs and 259th in the country in terms of government support of the arts. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

For Arts Month, CA Groups Press for Workforce Diversity, Opportunity

April is the fifth annual Arts, Culture and Creativity Month in California, and advocates for the arts are promoting diversity in the arts workforce …

According to PEN America, 138 school districts in 32 states enacted some form of book ban or restriction from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Possible Children's Book Ban in Indiana Draws Concerns

Indiana lawmakers are still debating a bill that would ban some books in school libraries. Senate Bill 12 passed the Indiana Senate at the end of …

3,514 men and one woman have won the Medal of Honor in service of their country from the Civil War to the present day. 19 have won it twice. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Plans for National Medal of Honor Monument Progress in Washington, D.C.

Congress is moving forward with plans to build a National Medal of Honor Monument in Washington, D.C. - honoring the 3,600 Americans who have earned …

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