skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Saturday, March 15, 2025

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

Second federal judge orders temporary reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees fired by the Trump administration; U.S., Canada political tension could affect Maine summer tourism; Report: Incarceration rates rise in MS, U.S. despite efforts at reform; MI study: HBCU students show better mental health, despite challenges.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump administration faces legal battles on birthright citizenship; the arrest of a Palestinian activist sparks protests over free speech. Conservationists voice concerns about federal job cuts impacting public lands, and Ohio invests in child wellness initiatives.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Farmers worry promised federal reimbursements aren't coming while fears mount that the Trump administration's efforts to raise cash means the sale of public lands, and rural America's shortage of doctors has many physicians skipping retirement.

Amid scientists' warnings, Trump admin. sued over medical research cuts

play audio
Play

Tuesday, February 11, 2025   

A lawsuit has been filed against the Trump administration over its budget-cutting plans targeting medical research led by colleges and universities.

Their allies warn of negative consequences for curing diseases, as well as local economies. The suit was brought by Minnesota and 21 other states after the National Institutes of Health said it would follow through on orders to cut $4 billion through a grant funding formula for indirect expenses.

North Dakota is not part of the legal case, but an analysis said the state could lose more than $3 million in research funds.

Ellie Dehoney, senior vice president of policy and advocacy for the group Research!America, said no matter the state, the pain will be quickly felt.

"The suddenness of it is one of the ways that you degrade your research capacity," Dehoney pointed out.

Beyond the effects on finding cures for diseases such as Alzheimer's, Dehoney warned of job losses at lab equipment makers and other supporting businesses. Trump advisers suggest too much grant money goes to overhead costs but advocates countered the argument misrepresents the facts. They said even indirect funds keep the lights on at university labs and support other key infrastructure such as data storage. A federal judge on Monday temporarily halted the cuts as the case proceeds.

Dehoney said medical research at the academic level needs to play out first because the private sector does not have the resources or patience to play the long game in advancing treatments. She also warned slowing scientific progress could keep more people dealing with chronic health issues from improving their quality of life and participating in the workforce.

"I know a person who is on Social Security disability," Dehoney observed. "She went on a biologic (drug), she has rheumatoid arthritis, and now she's working full-time."

Dehoney argued abruptly stalling important research work also benefits global competitors such as China. She feels there is room for groups like hers to work with the Trump administration on finding efficiencies but only if they actually boost research capacity, not reduce it.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
According to Wisconsin's Judicial Code of Conduct, judges are not required to recuse themselves based on an endorsement or campaign contributions. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Early voting for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race starts next week and, although the seat is technically nonpartisan, both candidates have clear …


Environment

play sound

As the warming climate continues to reshape the environment, its impact on people's health is becoming increasingly evident in Florida. Doctors and …

Health and Wellness

play sound

Maryland is facing a $3 billion budget deficit, and planned cuts in 2026 would include millions in disability assistance. But one advocate says those …


In a new AARP survey, 37% of older adults with credit card debt report their debt level is higher than it was a year ago. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Nearly half of Americans age 50 and older are using credit cards to pay for basic living expenses, according to a new AARP survey, and a Minnesota …

play sound

Forty religious leaders from different denominations gathered in Texas this week to call for an end to fossil-fuel subsidies and expansion of related …

HBCUs significantly contribute to the national economy. In 2024, the United Negro College Fund reported that HBCUs had a $16.5 billion positive impact. (AS Photo Family/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Researchers at the University of Michigan have found that Black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly Blac…

Environment

play sound

The Sierra Club's Utah chapter said electric utility PacifiCorp's long-term plan to embrace renewable energy has changed and is now placing more relia…

Social Issues

play sound

New data show fewer than half of rural Gen Z'ers believe they can find a good job in their community, compared to nearly 70% of their urban peers…

 

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