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Tuesday, January 21, 2025

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Animal welfare advocates work to save CA's Prop 12 under Trump; Health care advocate says future of Medicaid critical for rural Alaskans; Trump pardons roughly 1,500 criminal defendants charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack; MA company ends production of genetically modified Atlantic salmon.

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Donald Trump's second term as President begins. Organizations prepare legal challenges to mass deportations and other Trump executive orders, and students study how best to bridge the political divide.

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"We can't eat gold," warn opponents of a proposed Alaskan gold mine who say salmon will be decimated. Ahead of what could be mass deportations, immigrants get training about their rights. And a national coalition grants money to keep local news afloat.

CA transport projects get millions from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

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Wednesday, July 10, 2024   

Federal dollars are pouring into California transportation projects as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The Federal Transit Administration recently announced almost $8 million for 17 projects to improve public transportation for people with disabilities, older adults and low-income families.

Tiffani Scott, CEO of Paratransit, said her organization received a $134,000 grant to improve mobility van service in Sacramento.

"So, we use a very robust scheduling software, so that we can maximize the number of trips we can do and be extremely efficient. And so, the cost per trip that's being subsidized is a fraction of what it would be if they were on a public transit service," she explained.

The infrastructure law also funds the federal program known as "RAISE," which stands for "Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity." This year's RAISE grants include $25 million each for a rail project in Santa Ana and road improvements in Rancho Cordova; plus $5 million each to improve rail lines in Escondido and near the Port of San Diego.

Scott added she applauds the Biden administration's focus on transportation as a way to improve low-income communities.

"If we're trying to solve issues - like job insecurity, education, workforce, homelessness, food insecurity - access is one of the largest determinants to how people can get to things. If you can't get there, a lot of times it's as if they're invisible." she continued.

In April, the feds announced more than 2$3 million for projects under the Thriving Communities Program. They support efforts to make neighborhoods more livable near the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, fund greenspace in Santa Rosa, and help Tulare County bid for grants to widen a key freeway in the Central Valley town of Pixley.


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California's Proposition 12 mandated minimum space requirements for egg-laying hens but does not apply to chickens raised for meat. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Environment

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By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…


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Finding appropriate placements for youths entering Ohio's child welfare system has become increasingly difficult. Rachel Reedy, outreach and member …

Health and Wellness

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The Medicaid and CHIP programs are vital to rural Missouri, according to a report that says reliance on this safety-net health coverage is much …


Opponents of genetically engineered fish say if they escaped into the wild, they could bring disease and competition to the 25% of freshwater fish, including Atlantic salmon, already at risk of extinction. (Adobe Stock)

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Conservation groups are celebrating the end of a Massachusetts-based biotech company's pursuit of bringing genetically altered Atlantic salmon to mark…

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One in seven hospitalized patients will need a blood transfusion. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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This month is National Blood Donor Month, and blood donor groups are making sure people know the importance of giving blood. Blood can't be …

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Kane County officials plan to launch four composting programs at large-scale facilities to reduce food waste, as part of meeting the county's climate …

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The Service Employees International Union is joining the AFL-CIO, a move both groups said will make it easier for more workers to unionize. SEIU is …

 

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