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.

Nonprofits: Federal grant pause toys with emotions of vulnerable people

play audio
Play

Wednesday, January 29, 2025   

Confusion and worry quickly spread Tuesday among charitable groups and state and local governments as the Trump administration put a freeze on federal grants. Even with legal challenges, some say the fear in states such as North Dakota could be real.

The White House issued a memo ordering agencies to "temporarily pause all activities" related to distribution of federal financial assistance. Officials stressed it's meant for programs to show their priorities align with the new administration, and said direct aid for programs such as Social Security and SNAP won't be disrupted.

However, Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, noted the psychological effect in this part of the United States.

"The Dakotas, for example, are in the top 10 [states] of having per capita oldest populations in the United States," he said. "So, it would be much more important to have these programs on time and ready to go, rather than this chaos we're seeing."

With programs such as Meals on Wheels, he said, unexpected headlines about their funding status makes seniors feel uneasy about meeting day-to-day needs. A judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked the pause from taking effect, but that court order only lasts until next Monday. Democrats and even some Republicans in Congress took issue with the administration's actions, with questions about legal authority.

Critics of the move said even a temporary pause in funding could be harmful to services such as Head Start, or suicide-prevention hotlines. Fiesta said he worries that some programs could look very different after agencies are "reviewed" by White House budget leaders. He warned that pursuing government efficiency in chaotic fashion doesn't really help taxpayers.

"We could see much more strain on the health-care system, in general, on hospitals," he said. "You could see a ripple effect because of inability to get care."

He pointed out that Medicaid plays a big role in funding rural health-care networks, including nursing home costs.

Policy experts have said drastic cuts, no matter how they're carried out, could put more pressure on state budgets.


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