Public News Service

According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's annual budget report, the state receives more than $1.10 billion in federal funding outside of funds from the child nutrition and COVID relief programs. (Michael Ireland/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Parents, teachers voice concerns over rejecting federal funds for NC schools

From gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to Superintendent of Public Instruction hopeful Michele Morrow, some Republicans running for office have …

Public education advocates believe without adequate funding, North Carolina's public schools will continue to face severe challenges, including teacher shortages, lack of support staff and deteriorating facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

NC voucher bill sparks debate over public school funding, equity

Advocates for public education are reacting to the North Carolina House passing legislation to funnel millions of state dollars into private school vo…

In the past two years, the price of school supplies has gone up about 24%, according to a Deloitte analysis. (Adobe Stock)

NC teachers spend big on classroom supplies amid low pay

Classroom supplies are taking a toll on teachers in North Carolina. A new survey showed despite earning around 5% less than they did a decade ago…

Six decades ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson forged the War on Poverty by signing the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. (Adobe Stock)

Reflections on 60 years of Economic Opportunity Act in NC

Tomorrow marks 60 years since the Economic Opportunity Act became law and in North Carolina, it is a moment to reflect and look forward. The federal …

En 2022, West Marion ten�a una poblaci�n de aproximadamente 916 habitantes, seg�n DataUSA. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Carolina del Norte: Inversiones locales empoderan a comunidades rurales

Las áreas rurales a menudo carecen de recursos esenciales, pero una comunidad de Carolina del Norte está demostrando cómo la acció…

NC group works to boost financial literacy for youths

Young people are increasingly falling into debt through "Buy Now, Pay Later" apps and cash advance phone offers, much as with payday loans before …

North Carolina is home to 934,604 small businesses. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina businesses fear effects of 'bathroom bill'

North Carolina's business community is alarmed after Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson praised the controversial House Bill 2, known as the "Bathroom Bill," at …

The Prison Fellowship reports about 70 million Americans with criminal records face systematic barriers to second-chance opportunities after their release from prison. (Adobe Stock)

Report examines barriers to successful post-prison re-entry in NC

North Carolina aims to reduce recidivism by 2030, but Prison Fellowship warns that state-level barriers to critical needs may hinder their progress…

Leaders of TSA unions nationwide ratified a historic contract March 11. It includes new rights for officers, such as a grievance and arbitration procedure, protection from unfair discipline, improved uniform rights and allowances, better leave conditions and the ability to negotiate local issues.(Geza Farkas/Adobe Stock)

North Carolina TSA officers win with landmark labor deal

Transportation Security Officers in North Carolina and beyond are celebrating a new labor deal which will bolster workers' rights. The seven-year …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 40 workers die every year from heat-related incidents, but farmworker advocates said the number could be higher. (Adobe Stock)

Group takes steps to protect NC farm workers from heat stress

Farmworkers in North Carolina and across the U.S. face scorching heat with little protection at the federal and state level. However, the Farm Labor …

According to Zillow, the typical value of homes in North Carolina is about $329,225. North Carolina home values have gone up 4.6% over the past year. (Adobe Stock)

Rural North Carolina town gets pathway to homeownership

Residents in a rural North Carolina town grappling with economic challenges are getting a pathway to homeownership. In Enfield, the average annual …

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

The average debt in America is $103,358, including mortgages, auto loans, student loans and credit cards. (Adobe Stock)

Expert offers tips for a stronger financial year ahead

Debt in North Carolina and across the nation is rising and experts are offering tips to help people to make a shift in their finances. The average …

North Carolina's public schools earn failing grades in national report

North Carolina's public school system is facing a crisis, according to the recently released "Public Schooling in America 2024" report. It ranks the …

About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. Only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization services each year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. (Marina Gordejeva/Adobe Stock) About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. This means that only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization se

NC nonprofit helps families in need save on energy bills

By Elizabeth Ouzts for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism…

Forty workers at an agricultural packing shed at Battleboro Produce in North Carolina are now part of a union. (courtesy of Farm Labor Organizing Committee)

NC union agreement ushers in benefits for immigrant ag workers

Immigrant workers at an agricultural packing shed in Battleboro, North Carolina are celebrating a union agreement which will bring them new benefits…

The latest America's Health Rankings report showed 11% of people avoided care because of a lack of insurance between 2021 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Depression rates on rise in North Carolina

Depression is on the rise in North Carolina, based on the latest America's Health Rankings data. Between 2018 and 2022, mental distress increased by …

MarketBoxx partners with universities and colleges food pantries to address food insecurity and combat 'food deserts,' which can affect the health and nutrition of college students on a budget. (Photo courtesy of MarketBoxx)

Nonprofit fights hunger on founders' former NC campus

Just in time for the holidays, two North Carolina A&T State University graduates are taking a stand against hunger among college students, and making …

According to data by SCORE, 75% of small business owners donate an average of 6% of their profits to charitable organizations each year. (Adobe Stock)

The importance of 'shopping local' for sustainable NC business growth

Small Business Saturday has come and gone and the North Carolina Sustainable Business Council urged people to keep "shopping local" this season…

A study by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice found basic needs insecurity, particularly food insecurity, is prevalent among many students of color, with 75% of Indigenous students and 70% of both Black and American Indian or Alaska Native students across two- and four-year institutions experiencing it. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina university works to fight food insecurity on campus

More than 1 million North Carolinians, including college students, are grappling with food insecurity. Recognizing the urgent need, schools like …

According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2021, union-avoidance consultants reported receiving more than $13 million from nine corporations. (Simon/Adobe Stock)

Anti-union-busting bills in Congress would benefit workers, taxpayers

Although U.S. laws protect workers' rights to form unions, corporations spend hundreds of millions annually to discourage them from doing so…

Around 10% of workers in the United States are employed with H-2A visas, according to The National Agriculture Law Center. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina farmworkers and growers call for better working conditions

Migrant farmworkers and small family farmers in North Carolina got together to form an alliance to advocate for sustainable agricultural supply chains…

About 1,304,300 student borrowers live in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

Expert offers tips to manage college costs, student-loan debt in NC

As student loan payments resume after a three-year halt, experts offer advice on pursuing higher education without accumulating unnecessary debt…

In 1920, Black people made up 14% of all farmers. It is estimated Black farmers lost around $326 billion worth of land within the 20th century. BIPOC farmers now make up less than 5% of all U.S. farmers. (Heather Craig/Adobe Stock)

Advocates bring attention to racism rooted in farming across NC

Advocates are drawing attention to systemic racism in farming across North Carolina and the nation. The National Farm Worker Ministry is hosting its …

About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills in the collections process. (Adobe Stock) About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills that are in the collections process. (Adobe Stock) About one in five North Carolina residents has unpaid medical bills that are in the collections process. (Adobe Stock)

NC Foundation Helps Erase $2.2 Million in Medical Debt

The burden of medical debt is not so heavy anymore for some lucky North Carolina residents. The Coastal Credit Union Foundation partnered with the …

Restaurant Opportunities Centers United reports, based on comments of more than 500 restaurant workers gathered in response to OSHA's proposed indoor and outdoor heat standards, many restaurants are inadequately prepared to mitigate the impact and have shown a disregard for keeping their workers safe and healthy. (Rade Lukovic/Adobe Stock)<br />

Restaurant Workers Battle Against Rising Heat for Safer Working Conditions

Restaurant workers are feeling the heat now more than ever as they battle hotter working conditions due to climate change, and they are calling for …

All types of college transfers, combined, dropped by 2.3% in 2022, resulting in an overall 6.9% decrease in transfer students since Fall 2020. (Aleksandr/Adobe Stock)

NC School Focuses on Boosting Transfer Student Success

As colleges gear up to welcome students for the fall semester, there is a growing focus on supporting students who transfer from one school to …

Statewide enrollment grew 36% during the pandemic, with more than 797,000 people newly qualifying for coverage from March 2020 until last April. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Redetermination in NC: Thousands at Risk of Losing Coverage

North Carolinians face a significant challenge as the federal provision preventing states from removing Medicaid participants from their coverage in t…

In 1789, the first postmaster general presided over a system with 75 post offices and 2,400 miles of post roads, serving a population of 4 million people. A lot has changed since then! (Adobe Stock)

Staffing Shortages Highlighted on National Postal Worker Day

You might want to thank your letter carrier this weekend, as part of National Postal Worker Day on Saturday. It's an occasion to recognize the …

The average annual cost of child care in North Carolina is $9,255 for an infant and $7,592 for a 4-year-old. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights NC Needs for More & Better Child Care

Families in North Carolina are in critical need of more and better child care options, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book, released today …

U.S. Postal Service data show a 12.5% decrease in the number of retail counter clerks who staff post office retail counters and distribute mail to letter carriers. (Matt Gush/Adobe Stock)

USPS Workers Call Attention to Challenging Conditions with Campaign

U.S. Postal Service employees from North Carolina and nationwide are highlighting their challenging work conditions with a campaign against what they …

Farmers in North Carolina lose crops worth roughly $79 million as a result of equipment breakdowns. (Alexey Zarodov/Adobe Stock)

Tractor ‘Right to Repair’ Could Save NC Farmers $103 Million a Year

North Carolina farmers are calling on lawmakers to address manufacturer-imposed repair limitations on tractors, and minimize disruptions on their …

The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management estimates Hurricane Florence caused $17 billion in damage. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aims to Help Hurricane Survivors Build Homes Faster

A new bill aimed at the disaster-relief program Rebuild NC could help storm-displaced North Carolinians get back into their homes faster. Under …

The National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions reports 122 million Americans are credit-union members. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NC Credit Unions Position Themselves as Banking Alternatives

People who are nervous about where to put their money based on recent bank failures in the news are taking a closer look at credit unions. There …

Some 77% of small business owners say the consolidation of hospital systems in their areas has worsened the overall availability and quality of health-care services in their communities. (Leigh Trail/Adobe Stock)

NC Small Businesses Demand Action on Costs Linked to Hospital Mergers

Small-business owners in North Carolina are reaching out to legislators for help, citing hospital mergers as one reason their health-care costs are …

In 2009, through what is known as the CARD Act, Congress mandated that fees be

CFPB Proposal Would Lower Credit-Card Late Fees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations on credit card late fees, which could save Americans billions of dollars…

Median operating margins among rural hospitals were higher in expansion than non-expansion states in 2019, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

North Carolina lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that paves the way for an additional 600,000 residents to gain access to health cover…

Workers at Cambria Suites and Hotel in Morrisville, N.C., and colleagues from the Union of Southern Service Workers rally Feb. 20 for better pay, benefits and workplace safety. (Herb White)

Labor Advocacy's Future as Diverse as Workforce

By Herbert White for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for North …

Americans strongly support unionization, according to a 2022 Gallup poll in which 71% of respondents approved of unions, marking the highest point nationally since 1965. (Adobe Stock)

Even With Thinning Ranks, Unions Organize for Change

By Herbert White for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for North …

Naomi Harris of Columbia, S.C., speaks during the inaugural summit of the Union of Southern Social Workers in November. Harris, 21, is a co-founder of the group, which represents service workers across the region. (Union of Southern Service Workers)

Across the South, Black Workers Defy Labor History

By Herbert White for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for North …

The United States is projected to spend $605 billion to $635 billion on medicine in 2025, according to career company Zippia. (Adobe Stock)

Eli Lilly Invests $450 Million in Jobs-to-Work Pipeline

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has announced a $450 million investment in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park to develop new drugs, and put more …

In 2021, the average price of center-based child care for an infant in the United States was more than $13,000. For all children younger than age 6, yearly child-care costs are around $10,600, an increase from 2020, according to Child Care Aware America. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Child-Care Crisis Hindering North Carolina's Economy

The state's unemployment rate for women with children younger than age 6 has reached nearly 4%, and according to a new report, around 400,000 parents …

More than one-fifth of all college students are student parents, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Education Trust. (Adobe Stock)

NC Colleges Boost Support for Black, Native Student Parents

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is boosting support for its student parents - with plans to increase access to childcare an…

FLOC was founded in 1968 to defend the rights and basic human dignity of farm workers regardless of immigration status. (Heather Craig / Adobe Stock)

FLOC Convention Resolves to Make Common Cause with Small Farmers

Leaders of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee want to change the narrative about agriculture in America. FLOC members who gathered in Toledo, Ohio…

More than 574,000 students were enrolled last year in the North Carolina Community College System. (Zoran Zeremski / Adobe Stock)

Innovations in NC Higher Ed Helping Students Who Transfer

Research says 80% of community-college students intend to transfer to complete a bachelor's degree, but only 14% do so within six years. …

In North Carolina, 57% of incoming college freshmen completed the FAFSA. That ranks the state 23rd in the nation for FAFSA completion, according to MyFutureNC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

FAFSA Changes to Simplify Financial-Aid Process for NC Students

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid next year are expected to simplify the process and shorten the amount of time it takes to comp…

The Four Leaf Clover Program is a small group making a big difference in Benson, N.C., where its volunteers organize summer day trips and provide lunches for local children. (Cleo McKinnon)<br />

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Many rural North Carolina kids lack access to summer camps and consistent meals when school is out, but an organization in Benson is working to …

As of June 30, 2021, the number of small businesses open in the U.S. had decreased by 47.8% compared to January 2020, <a href=

according to the Alliance to Save Energy. (Adobe Stock)">

Climate Change, Extreme Temps Affect NC Black-Owned Small Businesses

A new Pew Research poll finds Americans are split on how to tackle climate change. In North Carolina, small Black-owned businesses say they're …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 20, 2024

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NC: Livable Wages/Working Families

Parents, teachers voice concerns over rejecting federal funds for NC schools

NC voucher bill sparks debate over public school funding, equity

NC teachers spend big on classroom supplies amid low pay

Reflections on 60 years of Economic Opportunity Act in NC

Carolina del Norte: Inversiones locales empoderan a comunidades rurales

NC group works to boost financial literacy for youths

North Carolina businesses fear effects of 'bathroom bill'

Report examines barriers to successful post-prison re-entry in NC

North Carolina TSA officers win with landmark labor deal

Group takes steps to protect NC farm workers from heat stress

Rural North Carolina town gets pathway to homeownership

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

Expert offers tips for a stronger financial year ahead

North Carolina's public schools earn failing grades in national report

NC nonprofit helps families in need save on energy bills

NC union agreement ushers in benefits for immigrant ag workers

Report: Depression rates on rise in North Carolina

Nonprofit fights hunger on founders' former NC campus

The importance of 'shopping local' for sustainable NC business growth

North Carolina university works to fight food insecurity on campus

Anti-union-busting bills in Congress would benefit workers, taxpayers

North Carolina farmworkers and growers call for better working conditions

Expert offers tips to manage college costs, student-loan debt in NC

Advocates bring attention to racism rooted in farming across NC

NC Foundation Helps Erase $2.2 Million in Medical Debt

Restaurant Workers Battle Against Rising Heat for Safer Working Conditions

NC School Focuses on Boosting Transfer Student Success

Medicaid Redetermination in NC: Thousands at Risk of Losing Coverage

Staffing Shortages Highlighted on National Postal Worker Day

Report Highlights NC Needs for More & Better Child Care

USPS Workers Call Attention to Challenging Conditions with Campaign

Tractor ‘Right to Repair’ Could Save NC Farmers $103 Million a Year

Bill Aims to Help Hurricane Survivors Build Homes Faster

NC Credit Unions Position Themselves as Banking Alternatives

NC Small Businesses Demand Action on Costs Linked to Hospital Mergers

CFPB Proposal Would Lower Credit-Card Late Fees

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

Labor Advocacy's Future as Diverse as Workforce

Even With Thinning Ranks, Unions Organize for Change

Across the South, Black Workers Defy Labor History

Eli Lilly Invests $450 Million in Jobs-to-Work Pipeline

Child-Care Crisis Hindering North Carolina's Economy

NC Colleges Boost Support for Black, Native Student Parents

FLOC Convention Resolves to Make Common Cause with Small Farmers

Innovations in NC Higher Ed Helping Students Who Transfer

FAFSA Changes to Simplify Financial-Aid Process for NC Students

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Climate Change, Extreme Temps Affect NC Black-Owned Small Businesses