skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

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

Democrats call for Pete Hegseth and Mike Waltz to resign; NOAA staff cuts could affect CO wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings; Facing funding hurdles, IL 'March for Meals' event moves forward; PA school support staffers push for $20 'living wage'; Judge orders U.S. to stop attempts to deport Columbia undergrad student.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

'Textgate' draws congressional scrutiny. Trump policies on campus protests and federal workforce cuts are prompting lawsuits as their impacts on economic stability and weather data become clearer.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Cuts to Medicaid and frozen funding for broadband are both likely to have a negative impact on rural healthcare, which is already struggling. Plus, lawsuits over the mass firing of federal workers have huge implications for public lands.

Anti-hunger groups tackle increased need during the L.A. fires

play audio
Play

Wednesday, January 15, 2025   

Food donations are pouring in to help victims of the Los Angeles fires, to the point donors are being asked to hold off a bit so it can all be distributed.

Antihunger advocates cautioned there are still hidden needs, because many people who did not directly lose their homes are still struggling.

Frank Tamborello, director of Hunger Action Los Angeles, said thousands have lost their jobs and may now have trouble feeding their families.

"You have a lot of people who didn't lose their homes but are housekeepers, maintenance workers and others who have lost a lot of clients," Tamborello pointed out. "They live all over the county, so their food situation has been impacted as they've lost income."

Tamborello predicted some families will need ongoing assistance for months, long after as the initial outpouring of aid dries up. In addition, some communities like Altadena and Pacific Palisades have lost their main grocery stores. Altadena lost three, as Aldi, Grocery Outlet and Super King all burned to the ground, so people there have to travel farther to get groceries. It can be challenging for those with disabilities or who may have lost their car or other transportation in the fires.

Alba Velasquez, executive director of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, said the fire also has taken a toll on local agriculture.

"Many farmers in the impacted regions are dealing with destroyed crops, damaged infrastructure and loss of revenue," Velasquez noted. "Additionally, air quality issues caused by the fires can have a lasting impact on crops and livestock health."

Advocates said they will work to address the issues with policymakers as agencies begin distributing disaster aid.

Disclosure: Hunger Action Los Angeles contributes to our fund for reporting on Budget Policy and Priorities, Consumer Issues, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, and Livable Wages/Working Families. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
Meals on Wheels of Northern Illinois has community cafés in Cook, Grundy, Kendall and Will counties, providing home-delivered meals to older residents of these areas. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

A local "Meals on Wheels" organization is forging ahead with an event to provide meals and personal care items to seniors in four Illinois counties…


Environment

play sound

The feasibility of putting solar panels over the state's network of canals is the topic of a big new research project, co-led by the University of …

Environment

play sound

In the wake of plans to reopen the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Covert Township after three years of inactivity, major tech companies have pledged to …


Legislation failed to pass this session which would have capped health care providers' fees at $50 for patients and their advocates to access their records. (xixinxing/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Patient's rights advocates are working to restrict huge fees some Washington patients must pay in order to access their complete medical records…

Environment

play sound

A new report has found some progress has been made to improve the nation's aging infrastructure, but a lot more needs to be done. This week…

Nationwide, 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes, according to data from the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Kentucky will soon begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from …

Social Issues

play sound

Wildland firefighting is a tough job and the industry has long struggled with worker retention. Training boot camps have helped bring new …

Social Issues

play sound

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

 

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