skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, November 14, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Matt Gaetz resigns from Congress, ending ethics probe after Trump nominated him for attorney general; Trump's performance in Maryland keeps other races tight; New research finds Americans like public pensions; WI wave of racist texts sparks concerns over data privacy.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump promises a smooth transition this time. South Dakota Sen. John Thune will lead that chamber's new majority, and one failed bill could be an omen of what a GOP trifecta in Washington will bring.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

An urban vote slump, not the rural electorate, tipped the presidential election. Minnesota voters approved more lottery money to support conservation and clean water. And a survey shows strong broadband lets rural businesses boom.

Inaccessible, Unaffordable Child Care Hurts MA Families

play audio
Play

Wednesday, June 14, 2023   

Massachusetts ranks first in the nation for education and children's health but a lack of quality child care poses great challenges for families, according to a new report.

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation gives the Commonwealth high marks for child well-being overall. However, it said there is not enough child care and too many families can't afford it, which ultimately affects the state's economy.

Adam Jones, policy analyst at the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, said a lack of child care options is negatively affecting too many couples' family planning.

"People who may really love certain parts of the state, love certain cities, love where they even grew up are making hard choices about raising families there," Jones observed.

The report found 12% of Massachusetts' children under age six lived in families in which someone quit, changed, or refused a job due to problems getting child care in the past few years. It showed women are five to eight times more likely than men to experience negative employment consequences related to caregiving.

Despite Massachusetts' high ranking in the categories of education and health care, the benefits are not experienced equally across the Commonwealth.

Jones cited Massachusetts' historic racial wealth gap as preventing too many families from reaching their full potential.

"Yeah, we're number one, but is everyone experiencing number one quality, in terms of affordability?" Jones asked. "Black families in Massachusetts are more likely to live in poverty than white families, so are Latinx families."

Jones acknowledged the creation of MassHealth and the Student Opportunity Act focused on equity and made Massachusetts a national leader in education and health care.

He added now, it is time for the Commonwealth to lead by example in solving the child care crisis and continue such efforts as its Child Care Stabilization Grants, which were a lifeline to child care centers throughout the pandemic.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance was created to help preserve and protect the scenic beauty and pristine water quality of the Buffalo National River by opposing and preventing the construction and operation of industrial concentrated animal feeding operations within the Buffalo River watershed. (ODell Outside/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Members of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance are supporting two moratoriums on concentrated animal feeding operations to be voted on today by the A…


Social Issues

play sound

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

Social Issues

play sound

Teachers' unions say they're at an impasse in bargaining with two Oregon school districts. After four intense mediation sessions, Albany teachers …


Animal-welfare groups accuse state authorities of turning a blind eye to allegations of neglect at California poultry farms. (Roibu/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A measure to end factory farming in Sonoma County has only received about 15% of the vote so far - so supporters are gathering tomorrow in Santa Rosa …

Social Issues

play sound

Hundreds of people from across Michigan gathered in Lansing this week, urging House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit and Senate Majority Leader Winnie …

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)

Social Issues

play sound

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

Environment

play sound

In last week's election, South Dakota voters defeated the carbon pipeline law by a wide margin, but pipeline companies could still gain ground in …

Environment

play sound

President-elect Donald Trump's agenda for "energy dominance" could majorly impact leaders in the sector, including the state of Wyoming and the …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021