Public News Service

The federal minimum wage was raised to its current rate of $7.25 per hour in 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Study: Increasing minimum wage does not reduce jobs

A new report shows minimum wage increases have had little effect on the number of jobs in Maryland and nationwide. While the rhetoric around …

In Maryland, more than 48% of tipped workers make less than $17 an hour. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

New report measures benefits of MD’s 2024 minimum wage increase

Many Maryland workers are benefiting from the minimum wage increase that went into effect at the beginning of this year. But a new report from Oxfam …

Maryland has more than 750,000 renter households, representing 33% of all households in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD 'housing wage' 9th highest in U.S.

With rising housing costs an ongoing issue, a new report shows how fast rents have increased in Maryland and nationwide. The National Low Income …

The Poor People's Campaign said if poor and low-income people voted at the same rate as those in higher income brackets, they would have the power to sway elections in every state. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Poor People's Campaign rallies in D.C. ahead of election

With chants of "We are the swing vote," poor and low-wage workers gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to rally and strategize ahead of the …

Some states disenrolled so many children that they had fewer enrolled than prior to the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Millions disenrolled from CHIP nationwide

As pandemic-era protections were lifted a new report showed the number of children on Medicaid has varied widely between states, with Maryland doing …

Last year, Income Driven Repayment programs resulted in student loan cancellation for more than 800,000 borrowers nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Program could bring student debt cancellation for some MD borrowers

Marylanders with student debt may have an opportunity to have some or all of it forgiven but time is running out. The average student loan debt of …

A draft rule would require Maryland employers to provide at least 32 ounces of water per hour to each employee exposed to heat stress conditions, every workday. (Adobe Stock)

MD Labor Dept. finalizing new heat stress standard for workers

With hotter summers bringing hotter working conditions, the Maryland Department of Labor is implementing a heat stress standard to protect workers …

The last federal government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 lasted 35 days. (Adobe Stock)

Rally calls on Congress to fund government, raise federal employee wages

Federal employees rallied in Washington D.C. this week calling on Congress to raise their wages and avoid a government shutdown. With more than 120,…

Congress is proposing gradually increasing the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child in 2025. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Report: MD children doing well overall, racial gaps persist

A new report looking at child well-being finds Maryland doing better than most, but racial disparities persist in the state. The Baltimore-based …

The most overpaid CEO on the As You Sow list makes 5,400 times more than their average employee. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Firms that overpay CEOs are underperforming S&P 500 average

A recent report looking at executive compensation found companies with the most overpaid CEOs had lower returns to shareholders than the S&P average…

More than 600,000 Marylanders participate in SNAP in an average month. (Adobe Stock)

One-year extension of farm bill buoys food insecure in MD

The November continuing resolution included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, marking a temporary reprieve for Marylanders relying on …

The number of children who were victims of labor trafficking in Maryland and served by state workers grew from 26 in 2019 to 72 in 2021, according to a new survey. (Adobe Stock)

Study calls for changes to address child labor trafficking in MD

A new study recommends state agencies change their methods to address child labor trafficking. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of …

Maryland SNAP participation peaked during the summer of 2021 with more than 860,000 enrolled in the program. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 in 9 Marylanders rely on federal programs to avoid food insecurity

A new report looking at hunger in Maryland showed the role federal nutrition programs play in supporting many residents, as well as the state's food …

The Blueprint for Maryland's Future will increase education funding by $3.8 billion per year over the next nine years. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Nearly 50% of Maryland Teachers Working Second Job

As students head back to school, a recent poll of teachers in Maryland found many are facing financial hardships. The poll conducted over the summer …

Nationally, more than 16 million workers had union representation in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Unionization Votes Don't Always Translate into Contracts

While unionization votes often make headlines, the path to a contract can be a long one. Since the beginning of last year, seven Starbucks locations …

The Open Access portal concept was originally developed by the Aspen Institute's Food and Society Program. (Adobe Stock)

Open Access Baltimore Brings Free Support to Food Entrepreneurs

A new web resource supporting food entrepreneurship in Baltimore is open for business. Morgan State University has partnered with the City of …

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reported child care workers make less than 98% of all other professions.(Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 70K MD Kids May Lose Access to Child Care

Maryland parents may soon have fewer options when it comes to finding child care. At the end of September, federal support for child care will shrink …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

More than 129,000 Marylanders are employed as retail salespersons or cashiers, and more than 40% of those have incomes below a survival-level budget. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 900,000 MD Households Economically Insecure

A new report found tens of thousands of Maryland households were made financially insecure by the pandemic. The report puts the number of …

Estimates indicate Maryland will lose $69 million of federal funds per month. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)

MD SNAP Benefit Reductions Will Total Nearly $700 Million in 2023

With the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, hunger advocates are sounding the alarm over food insecurity …

A report from Generation Hope about child-care access for student parents finds 78% of student parents surveyed wished their college or university campus supported their child-care needs better. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Eliminating Child-Care Barriers for Student Parents

A new report highlights the need for better access to child care for college level student parents. The report, from Generation Hope, finds 92% of …

If enacted, the pilot program would begin on July 1. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program

A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a pilot program to study the impact of a four-day workweek. The pilot program would create a tax …

A new report states home repairs and electrification offer enormous local job growth opportunities. (Charles Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Study: MD Needs to Repair Thousands of Homes to Meet Climate Goals

A new report found Maryland will need to repair hundreds of thousands of homes occupied by low and middle-income people in order to meet its climate g…

The Communications Workers of America Union represents hundreds of thousands of workers in tech, media and telecom, as well as other industries. (Adobe Stock)

Quality Assurance Workers at MD-Based ZeniMax Vote to Unionize

Employees at Microsoft's ZeniMax Online Studios have voted to form a union and begin collective bargaining with the tech giant. The ZeniMax quality …

60 days notice when the decision is made to terminate or allow the current public health emergency to expire. (Adobe Stock)">

Food Insecurity Looms Amid Inflation, End of COVID Era Supports

The issue of charity around meals is a common theme during the holidays, though this year the prospect of a sudden drop-off in federal benefits has …

The NLRB is responsible for administering and enforcing the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Increase NLRB Funding During Lame-Duck Congress

With a wave of unionization sweeping across America, the agency that oversees labor relations is struggling to keep up. The National Labor Relations …

A 2017 Learning Policy Institute survey found teachers' dissatisfaction with standardized testing pressures was the most frequently listed reason for leaving the profession. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland School Districts Navigate Teacher Shortage

Maryland is part of the national trend of school districts struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. More than 5…

Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, unpaid leave is inaccessible for 56% of working residents. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave Coalition to Host Annapolis Rally for Time To Care Act

With the Maryland legislative session in full gear, advocacy groups are planning to host a rally in Annapolis Monday to push lawmakers to pass paid …

The People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland's 2022 legislative priorities hone in on homelessness, poverty, youths, drug policy and bodily autonomy. (Adobe Stock)

MD People's Commission Lists Legislative Priorities for 2022

As Gov. Larry Hogan revealed his proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget in Annapolis yesterday, the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland announced …

As part of the overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, military service members can get credit toward the program without an application. (Adobe Stock)

As Repayments Loom, Some Gain Student-Loan Forgiveness

Almost 27 million borrowers with federal student loans are set to start repayments in February, but some have succeeded in erasing their debt …

No matter where you live in Maryland, the Maryland Health Connection website offers a choice of plans from multiple insurance companies. (Adobe stock)

New MD Law, Biden Plan Cut Health-Insurance Costs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's health insurance open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, and whether you are younger or older, extra financial …

Fewer than one-in-five workers in the United States has access to paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

MD Paid Leave Supporters: It's Time for the Time to Care Act

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Advocacy groups say a paid leave proposal in Maryland would provide peace of mind for workers, especially those with disabilities …

Jobless residents in Texas and Ohio are following Maryland's footsteps and filing lawsuits to reinstate federal unemployment benefits. (Adobe Stock)

MD Unemployed Regain Benefits, Prove Aid Doesn’t Deter Job Seekers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As Maryland workers celebrate a court victory, which allows them to continue collecting federal unemployment benefits, …

Family caregivers are spending, on average, 26% of their income on caregiving activities, according to an AARP report. (Adobe stock)

Report: Family Caregivers Buckling Under Out-of-Pocket Expenses

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Caring for an older loved one can be emotionally draining, and a new report shows 78% of family caregivers also face significant …

United Way of Maryland helped more than 900 households in the state avoid evictions in January through its Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention Program. (Adobe stock)

As Summer Evictions Loom, MD Group Boosts Prevention Program

BALTIMORE, Md. - With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium now set to end July 31, and with Maryland's to expire …

Baltimore's Black communities are struggling to get to work after pandemic-related cuts to city's bus system scaled back service. (Wikimedia Commons)

Baltimore Transit Cuts Fight Linked to Montgomery Bus Boycott

BALTIMORE -- A Baltimore group pushing for more equitable transit policies commemorated the 64th anniversary of the Montgomery bus boycott with a virt…

More Marylanders are turning to food banks as poverty increases during the pandemic. (Maryland Food Bank)

MD Anti-Poverty Expert: Pandemic Highlights Neglect of Poor

BALTIMORE -- A Maryland author and leader of a national anti-poverty group is challenging U.S. leaders to tackle social inequities spotlighted this …

One estimate suggests almost 300,000 Maryland families can't pay rent as a result of COVID-19-related income loss. (Adobe Stock)

Caution Urged in Applying for Federal Eviction Moratorium

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Some Maryland families hit hard by the novel coronavirus are breathing a sigh of relief since the Centers for Disease Control and …

Maryland's nascent oyster industry may not survive the pandemic, scientists say. (Chesapeake Bay Program)

Senators: Expand Pandemic Aid for Seafood Industry

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With the U.S. seafood industry in an economic free fall during the pandemic, senators and advocacy groups are calling on Congress …

The United Food and Commercial Workers union says it's crucial that all supermarket workers are able to be tested for the new coronavirus. (Adobe Stock)

After Deaths, Push to Declare Grocery Workers “First Responders”

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With major grocery chains reporting their first COVID-19-related employee deaths, including one worker at a Giant food store in …

According to a new poll, 50% of Maryland educators held a second job to make ends meet last year � up nine points from the year before. (Adobe stock)

Poll: More MD Teachers Buy School Supplies

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – As children go back to school Tuesday, almost all Maryland teachers say they pay for some school supplies out of their own …

The primary species of Christmas trees grown in Maryland are Scotch Pine, White Pine, Blue Spruce and three fir species: Douglas, Fraser and Canaan. (LloydTheVoid/Pixabay)

Christmas Tree Growers Lose Workers to Immigration Restrictions

ELKTON, Md. – Christmas trees will be available this holiday season, although growers say they've had a tougher time getting Balsam, Frasier …

In Maryland, 59 percent of children of young parents live in low-income families, according to the latest KIDS COUNT policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Pixabay)

Report: Challenges Persist for Maryland's Young-Adult Parents

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The sleepless nights and increased costs that come with parenthood can be a rude awakening for anyone, but the challenge is …

The Maryland Healthy Working Families Act also requires that businesses that employ 14 or fewer employees provide unpaid sick and safe leave for certain employees. (William Brawley/Flickr)

Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Takes Effect in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A new law requiring many Maryland employers to provide paid sick leave has officially gone into effect, despite Gov. Larry …

The National Chicken Council says allowing poultry processors to operate at faster speeds would not create food-safety issues. (Pixabay)

Poultry Industry Proposes Speeding Up Slaughter Times

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The poultry industry is proposing changes that would allow faster line speeds in factories. But opponents are asking what the …

Maryland has capped payday loans at 33 percent but other states have not put limits in place. (consumerfinance.gov)

Payday Lenders Curtailed, For Now

BALTIMORE — While consumer rights groups are celebrating last week's decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop payday debt tr…

African-Americans and Hispanics received just 9 percent of the country's conventional loans last year. (V. Carter)

Report: Mortgage Approval Still Based on Race

ANNAPOLIS – Achieving the American dream often comes down to access to capital, and a new report finds that racial disparities continue when it …

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MD: Livable Wages/Working Families