Citizenship/Representative Democracy / Public News Service

Idaho Gov. Brad Little was first elected in 2018. (gov.idaho.gov)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Idahoans get chance to speak with Gov. Little at town hall

Older Idahoans have an opportunity to speak with Governor Brad Little next week. AARP Idaho is hosting a telephone town hall with the governor…

The City of Seattle aims to cut all climate pollution by 2030. (CLShebley/Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Green New Deal community assemblies in Seattle pioneer citizen involvement

Community members in Seattle had a unique opportunity to weigh in on the policies guiding the city's climate goals. In 2019, the City of Seattle …

University of Minnesota researchers say for every two news outlets around the state that have closed up shop since 2018, one new local outlet has launched during the same period. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Checking the pulse of MN's news landscape

This past election cycle has again raised questions about the viability of news outlets, and how audiences are consuming information. New research …

Five of its six neighboring states have fewer restrictive laws on reproductive care than South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

SD keeps abortion ban, but 'the landscape is changing'

A majority of South Dakotans have voted to maintain a strict abortion ban but other factors are shifting the landscape for reproductive care in the st…

Some experts predict federal agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency could be hobbled by an exodus of experienced administrators during a second Trump administration. (A.F.G.E./Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, November 18, 2024

CA expert: Trump working to greatly expand presidential power

California good governance experts are warning the expansion of presidential power under a second Trump administration could cast aside expertise and …

More than 40 city, state and federal elected officials in New York City opposed Mayor Eric Adams' slate of charter reforms for giving the mayor's office more power. (Adobe Stock)

NYC charter revisions pass despite voter confusion

New York City residents approved three of Mayor Eric Adams' four charter reforms in last week's election. But how many realized what they were voting …

President-elect Donald Trump over performed in a number of traditionally Democratic cities and states, including Maryland. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Trump’s performance in Maryland keeps other races tight

Maryland voters swung toward Donald Trump for president by nearly seven points compared to 2020, making the margins in down-ballot races a little too …

More than 130 different organizations signed a letter to the House of Representatives urging lawmakers to oppose H.R. 9495. (Adobe Stock)

NY lawmakers supported House bill harmful to nonprofits

Some New York House lawmakers supported a bill harmful to nonprofits. H.R. 9495 faced staunch opposition since it would have given the Treasury …

The FBI is investigating a nationwide wave of harassing texts with messages referencing slavery. In Wisconsin, Black residents of all ages have reported receiving them. (Adobe Stock)

WI wave of racist texts sparks concerns over data privacy

A recent wave of racist texts targeting Black Wisconsinites has sparked concerns about data privacy. The personal information people voluntarily …

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is expected to be the first Hispanic to hold the high-ranking post of Secretary of State. (Adobe Stock)

Rubio pick sparks interest in foreign policy shift toward Latin America

President-elect Donald Trump has named Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his nominee for Secretary of State, prompting experts to assess Rubio's …

Roughly two-thirds of registered voters said the threat of violence against political leaders and their families is a major problem, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Political violence remains a concern post Election Day

Conservative and traditionally "red" Utah is one of the states that helped elect former President Donald Trump last week but with Election Day behind …

Following the pandemic, labor unions touted a stronger push among workers to organize but analysts said this month's election results could complicate their efforts. (Adobe Stock)

Following election results, questions emerge about labor impact

Changes in leadership at the federal level are likely to have some effect on the labor movement. In Minnesota, election results have spurred …

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

This weekend, a new coalition called "We Are California" is holding meetings up and down the state, preparing to resist what it sees as anticipated …

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem in January offered support to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's border control initiatives, including personally delivering razor wire. (Gage Skidmore/Flickr)

Immigrants' advocates strategize as Noem could head DHS

President-elect Donald Trump is expected to confirm his choice of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to head the Department of Homeland Security and …

More than 2 million votes were cast for the Democratic ticket in Ohio, although more than 55% of Ohio voters supported the Republican ticket. (Wikimedia Commons)

Middletown looks to JD Vance to help improve local economy

Ohio Republicans will soon have stronger representation in Washington, D.C., as Buckeye State native and Vice President-Elect J.D. Vance is set to …

Some of the Biden administration's policies, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, polled well among voters who were surveyed about them. But political observers said not many people were aware of them based on how people get their information. (Adobe Stock)

Vibes versus policy: What do voters want?

The public's frustration with American politics is nothing new but last week's presidential election is spurring conversation about what kind of messa…

More than one million Latinos live in Minnesota and surrounding states, and advocacy groups say it shows how this population is having an influence on elections. (Adobe Stock)

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

The impact Latino voters had in this year's election has caught the public's attention. Minnesota organizers found success in connecting with this …

Nevada was one of seven states last week that passed pro-abortion ballot initiatives. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada, called for Trump, also passes abortion rights ballot measure

Nevada voters supported Question 6, which will protect abortion rights in the Silver State. The proposal will add language to the state …

Experts say AI generated videos often go viral. In September, a video linked to online Russian trolls accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being involved in a hit-and-run accident and was viewed on social media millions of times. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Post-election 'deepfakes' continue to spread election disinformation

Experts on artificial intelligence are warning New Hampshire residents to be on the lookout for postelection "deepfakes," purporting to show voting ir…

Nearly 270,000 Idahoans voted in favor of reforming Idaho's election system, but the measure fell well short on Election Day. (GoodIdeas/Adobe Stock)

Electoral-reform measure goes down in ID

A proposition on the ballot to change the way voting works in Idaho failed in last week's election. Proposition One would have opened up primaries …

Advocates are suing the state of Montana over a change that allows documents used in the Legislature's bill-drafting process to be kept secret, reversing a 25-year-old rule. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental advocates sue Montana over public documents

Montana citizens and environmental advocates have sued the state for withholding documents that have, for decades, been considered public information…

Four in ten women under the age of 30 said abortion was the number one most important issue this election cycle, according to the health policy nonprofit group KFF. (Feng Yu / Adobe Stock)

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

Voters in Arizona overwhelmingly supported and approved Proposition 139 last week, which enshrines abortion rights into the state's constitution…

As a part of new Farm Service Agency loan improvements, an online direct loan repayment feature will be available to help relieve borrowers from having to call, mail or visit a local USDA Service Center to pay a loan installment. (Dusan Kostic/Adobe Stock)

As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed

New federal loan adjustments aim to ease financial burdens for farmers but advocates said lasting change requires legislative action. The U.S…

Passing an amendment on no-excuse absentee voting makes Connecticut the 28th state to enact it. (Adobe Stock)

CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment

Connecticut voters approved an amendment enshrining no-excuse absentee voting in the state's constitution. Passing by a little more than 57% of the …

America's schoolteachers report spending nearly 30% of instructional time repeating information because of poor listening skills. (JacobLund/Adobe Stock)

NM's schoolchildren, adults could benefit from 'active listening'

If the election season made one thing clear, it is neither side can hear what the other is saying and one expert believes it is because most of us …

While Amendment 3 protects the right to abortion in Missouri, it does not mandate state funding for abortion procedures, so Medicaid and state funds are not used for most abortions. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban

Strong reactions are pouring in from both sides as Missouri voters made history by adding abortion rights to the state constitution. The decision to …

Passage of Massachusetts Question 2 eliminated the requirement students pass the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System tests in English, math, science and technology to receive a high school diploma, although educators will still use the test as a diagnostic tool. (Adobe Stock)<br />

MA educators, parents celebrate end of MCAS graduation requirement

Parents and educators in Massachusetts are celebrating an end to the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System graduation requirement. Nearly 60%…

Author and academic Nick Jacobs says rural voter resentment of the Democratic Party didn't start with Donald Trump, arguing that over the decades, these communities have grown increasingly distrustful of Democrats. (Adobe Stock)

Post-election analysis: Rural voter nuance is deeply entrenched

Donald Trump's victory in the race for the White House was again aided by wins in rural states such as Nebraska. While other contributing factors …

The latest Census of Agriculture renewed concerns about the growing size of farms around the United States, prompting more calls for farmers to embrace climate-smart practices. (Adobe Stock)

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers se…

Wisconsin Democrats think perhaps their wins this week could give them a chance to flip the state Senate in 2026. (Adobe Stock)

New political maps put local WI Democrats on the map

Wisconsin experienced its first election using the state's new competitive political maps, and experts said it made a significant difference in …

City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Program helps youth in Pueblo clear steep hurdles of fines and fees

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

Florida used to be a hotly contested battleground state, but now is seen as a 'red' state, at least for the presidential race. (Pexels)

Election reveals new generational, racial dynamics in Florida voting

Although Florida was not considered a swing state this year's election, its diverse demographics reflect national trends, and political observers are …

In 2022, 64% of election officials reported the spread of false information made their jobs more dangerous, according to the Brennan Center for Justice. (Adobe Stock)

Election Day is over; now it's a waiting game

Now that Election Day has come and gone, many want to know who will be our next president and experts said the answer could take some time. In past …

Artificial intelligence can easily be used to generate false images, a problem authorities fear will spread during the post-election period. (terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)

Experts express caution over post-election AI deepfakes

As the votes are being counted, experts warned people to be wary of videos purporting to show voting irregularities because they could be artificial …

A coalition of organizations opposed to a ballot question in North Dakota, which called for eliminating most property taxes, said supporters never offered a real plan to replace lost revenue for government services. (Adobe Stock)

ND loudly says 'no' to showing most property taxes the door

North Dakota voters have rejected a closely watched ballot question which called for largely doing away with local property taxes. Backers of …

State officials said Minnesota has roughly 30,000 poll workers who help out in each election. (Adobe Stock)

Election 2024: Passing the poll worker torch in MN

In Minnesota and across the U.S., poll workers are being praised for stepping up during another big election. Administrators hope the goodwill …

Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza. <br />(Adobe Stock)

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

The State of Michigan participated in its first presidential election in 1836, just after achieving statehood. (Ayman Haykal/Adobe Stock)<br />

MI expected to break voter turnout record

The brisk pace of voting continued on Election Day, and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson expects the battleground state to shatter a 64-…

Georgia operates a decentralized election infrastructure, governed by statute and supplemented by rules and regulations adopted by the State Election Board. (Adobe Stock)

Last-minute GA election challenges put security under microscope

With Election Day over, Georgia officials and election integrity groups are focused on securing every vote, amid new rule changes and legal …

Political scientists said even in elections where the youth vote surges in certain areas, it is still heavily outnumbered by older voting populations. (Adobe Stock)

As national election results trickle in, expert urges caution in reading factors

As results continue to come into focus post-Election Day, factors like the youth vote are expected to be scrutinized. Experts said it is important …

In Mississippi, mail-in absentee ballots must have a Nov. 5 postmark and reach county circuit clerk's offices by Nov. 13. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

What Mississippi voters can expect on Election Day

A majority of Mississippians and across the nation said they are anxious about this year's presidential election, according to a recent poll…

Informing Democracy found 39 of 528 Ohio election officials, or 7%, across 33 counties may pose risks to free and fair elections. (Marko/Adobe Stock)

How partisan poll watchers could test Ohio’s election system

In a polarized political season, Ohio's election system faces new challenges as partisanship and election integrity concerns come to the forefront…

Following Roe vs. Wade's overturn, over 40,000 people in restrictive states obtained medication abortions through shielded providers in the second half of 2023, reflecting a sharp rise in use. (NanSan/Adobe Stock)

Election Day raises new fears over Comstock Act, reproductive rights

By Lauren Rankin for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service …

The departure of 58 seasoned election officials in Pennsylvania since November 2019, as noted by Votebeat, has resulted in the loss of around 300 years of experience. This decline in experienced officials raises the risk of unintentional election mishaps. (Studio Romantic/Adobe)

PA voting report: Strengthening election integrity amid potential disruptions

Amid concerns of election denialism, a report from a nonpartisan watchdog organization highlights the robust protections in place to help safeguard …

Since 2002, there has been a single case of voter fraud in Wyoming, in which a convicted felon from Alaska managed to cast votes. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison. (Adobe Stock)

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

Wyoming's secretary of state is asking county clerks to report non-citizens who try to vote, although cases of that - or any other - kind of election …

The Associated Press has tabulated election results since 1848 when Zachary Taylor won the presidential election as a member of the Whig Party. (WPW enhanced/Adobe Stock)<br />

To call or not to call: The election night question

After a long campaign season, voters in New Mexico and around the country are casting their ballots. But in some races, the outcome might not be …

Michigan law has several built-in enforcement provisions to safeguard the process against the county and state officials who blatantly refuse to certify. (Olena Yefremkina/Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan report aims to build public trust in MI's voting system

A nonprofit report aims to build trust in Michigan's voting system by explaining the safeguards that ensure fair and free elections. The report …

By law, any court disputes of election results must be resolved by December 16th, and the Electoral College convenes the following day. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: What CA voters can expect on election night

Election experts are urging calm and patience - as Californians, and all Americans - head to the polls on Election Day. Rules that forbid counting …

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PNS Daily Newscast - November 19, 2024

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Civic Engagement & Voting

Idahoans get chance to speak with Gov. Little at town hall

Green New Deal community assemblies in Seattle pioneer citizen involvement

Checking the pulse of MN's news landscape

SD keeps abortion ban, but 'the landscape is changing'

CA expert: Trump working to greatly expand presidential power

NYC charter revisions pass despite voter confusion

Trump’s performance in Maryland keeps other races tight

NY lawmakers supported House bill harmful to nonprofits

WI wave of racist texts sparks concerns over data privacy

Rubio pick sparks interest in foreign policy shift toward Latin America

Political violence remains a concern post Election Day

Following election results, questions emerge about labor impact

Coalition forms to reaffirm 'California values' in 2nd Trump era

Immigrants' advocates strategize as Noem could head DHS

Middletown looks to JD Vance to help improve local economy

Vibes versus policy: What do voters want?

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

Nevada, called for Trump, also passes abortion rights ballot measure

Post-election 'deepfakes' continue to spread election disinformation

Electoral-reform measure goes down in ID

Environmental advocates sue Montana over public documents

AZ passes abortion measure, advocates still concerned about a Trump presidency

As FSA loan changes aim to support farmers, advocates say more needed

CT voters pass no-excuse absentee voting amendment

NM's schoolchildren, adults could benefit from 'active listening'

Both sides react as Missouri reverses near-total abortion ban

MA educators, parents celebrate end of MCAS graduation requirement

Post-election analysis: Rural voter nuance is deeply entrenched

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

New political maps put local WI Democrats on the map

Program helps youth in Pueblo clear steep hurdles of fines and fees

Election reveals new generational, racial dynamics in Florida voting

Election Day is over; now it's a waiting game

Experts express caution over post-election AI deepfakes

ND loudly says 'no' to showing most property taxes the door

Election 2024: Passing the poll worker torch in MN

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

MI expected to break voter turnout record

Last-minute GA election challenges put security under microscope

As national election results trickle in, expert urges caution in reading factors

What Mississippi voters can expect on Election Day

How partisan poll watchers could test Ohio’s election system

Election Day raises new fears over Comstock Act, reproductive rights

PA voting report: Strengthening election integrity amid potential disruptions

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

To call or not to call: The election night question

Bipartisan report aims to build public trust in MI's voting system

Experts: What CA voters can expect on election night