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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

WI: Livable Wages/Working Families

Abortion rights and protecting democracy were among the topics highlighted during President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. (Adobe Stock)
WI voter hopes Biden speech leads to more meaningful discourse

From the economy to humanitarian aid, President Joe Biden touched on many topics in last night's State of the Union address. With attention now back …

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Census data show the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion helped reduce the nation's child poverty rate to a record low of 5.2%. (Adobe Stock)
New expansion of Child Tax Credit advances in Congress

Tax-filing season is underway, and Congress is one step closer to helping low-income families get a bigger break on their returns. Policy experts say …

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The Wisconsin Office of Rural Health said the health-care workforce still has not recovered from the earlier stages of the pandemic when staff experienced burnout after being thrust onto the front lines. (Adobe Stock)
Rural health leaders: WI task force should address regulatory issues for hiring

Gov. Tony Evers announced a new task force this week to address hiring issues within health care in Wisconsin. Those speaking up for rural health …

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The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says Wisconsin ranks 14th in the nation when measuring the growth of college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)
More Americans 'learning and earning,' but college degree gaps persist

The U.S. has seen an increase in the percentage of adults with college degrees, which helps boost their lifetime earnings. But a new report shows …

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According to services company Custody X Change, most Midwestern states don't provide judges with a clear formula for helping establish alimony payments. (Adobe Stock)
Report calls for more consistency in alimony laws

Wisconsin is among the states without a defined formula for deciding alimony payments through divorce court proceedings. A new report says without …

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Wisconsin is one of 20 states still at the federal minimum wage level of $7.25 an hour. The other 30 have base levels ranging from $8.75 to $16. (Adobe Stock)
Peeling back the layers of WI minimum wage policy

Bills are pending in Congress to boost the federal minimum wage, which remains at $7.25 an hour. Separately, many states increased their wage …

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The Wisconsin Policy Forum said the state's teacher turnover rate last year included both the highest levels on record of teachers moving between districts and the second-highest levels of those leaving the profession. (Adobe Stock)
Can collective-bargaining case help with WI teacher shortage?

A lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's collective near-total bargaining ban for most public workers is by some seen as a way to bolster the state's beleagu…

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Congress averted a government shutdown in September by approving a temporary spending plan. But time is running out to come up with long-term appropriations, and political observers say a lot of uncertainty looms over budget talks. (Adobe Stock)
Wisconsinites warn of negative outcomes if federal programs are cut

Congress has one week to approve a new federal spending plan or risk a government shutdown, and some Wisconsinites are calling on lawmakers to keep …

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According to AARP, the U.S. is seeing more older adults nationwide receiving long-term care at home, rather than in nursing homes and other institutions. (Adobe Stock)
WI fares well in long-term care rankings, but issues remain

A new report ranks Wisconsin 15th in the nation for long-term care services but advocates for the people who need care say more could be done…

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Health coverage assistance groups and providers warn that if you wait until the last minute and rush your enrollment for an insurance plan, you could end up in the wrong program or with benefits that don't suit your needs. (Adobe Stock)
Health coverage experts: Sidestep intimidation, prepare to enroll

The fall season is here, meaning many Wisconsinites will soon make decisions about their health coverage. Experts say early preparation with trusted …

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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says nationwide, up to 600,000 eligible people would be turned away from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children under a spending proposal from House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)
WI Families Could See 'Double Whammy' From Budget Policies

Congress is again steeped in a looming budget crisis as lawmakers face a deadline to approve a new government spending plan. In Wisconsin, policy …

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AARP researchers say nearly 450,000 Wisconsin residents, or 46% of those 65 and older, live in families that rely on Social Security for at least half of their income. (Adobe Stock)
Hearing From People, Not Politicians, About Social Security

Keeping Social Security afloat without enacting cuts remains a thorny topic in Congress. As those debates continue to unfold, Wisconsin residents …

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