Budget Policy & Priorities / Public News Service

Friday, January 3, 2025

Cybersecurity attacks poised to increase without tighter safeguards

A former White House cybersecurity expert is warning of potential cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. And in Illinois, security analysts are …

With foreign conflicts, labor strikes and state-level minimum-wage hikes making headlines, economists predict the U.S. economy will remain a focal point in the new year. (janews094/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Professor forecasts 2025 economic trends amid presidential transition

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, economists are focusing on how his promised policies could shape 2025. In 2024, Missouri …

President Joe Biden made a campaign promise to deported veterans at an Iowa townhall in 2019 to

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Deported veterans call for pardons from Biden

"Deported veterans" may sound like an oxymoron. But it is not, and those veterans are working to get pardons in the last days of President Joe …

Wisconsin's gun violence rate is near the national average, with more than 740 people dying from gun violence each year, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Gun-safety advocates call on WI lawmakers to take action

As the new year begins, state lawmakers and officials will continue to grapple with how to prevent school shootings, like the one just two weeks ago …

The latest ALICE update found a family with two adults and two kids in Connecticut must have an income of $114,000 per year just to afford the basics, not including emergency expenses. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

AARP Connecticut looks to 2025 legislative session to help residents

With 2025 almost here, Connecticut organizations are preparing for the next legislative session. The 2025 session will not be as short as the one in …

The total acreage of farm and ranch land in Arizona for 2022 was 25,525,087, down 2.3% from five years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

AZ farmers could benefit from feds taking on 'corporate' agriculture

As Arizona farmers have grappled with inflation, falling crop prices and the effects of a changing climate, the incoming Trump administration could …

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

MI professor predicts 2025 economic trends for presidential transition

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, economists are weighing in on how his promised policies might shape what is ahead in 2025…

Congress's recent one-year extension of the Farm Bill allocates $20 billion for federal farm programs and $10 billion in direct economic aid to farmers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

New administration could help farmers by addressing meat industry monopolies

As inflation and falling crop prices continue to affect Virginia farmers, their advocates said the incoming Trump administration could take steps to …

In 2022, of the more than 1.2 million households in Arkansas, 47% of them were below the ALICE threshold, according to United for ALICE. (Adobe Stock)

Arkansans who are just above the federal poverty line struggle to get by

Many households across Arkansas are just above the federal poverty line, but earn less than they need to cover their basic needs. These people…

Wisconsin municipal courts issued more than 27,000 arrest warrants and writs of commitment for people who failed to pay fines between Jan. 2023 and Aug. 2024, according to the ACLU of Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Some WI courts jailing people for unpaid tickets

If you have any unpaid traffic or parking tickets, the latest report on Wisconsin's municipal courts said in some areas, you could go to jail if you …

President-elect Donald Trump sought to reduce the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by up to 30% during his first administration and significantly altered or reversed nearly 100 environmental rules. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: MD Trump voters still want EPA protections

A majority of Republicans and Democrats oppose attempts to weaken the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new …

The Farm Bill extension is in effect through Sept. 30, 2025, and includes nearly $31 billion in economic and disaster aid for farmers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

For WI farmers, Farm Bill extension brings relief, uncertainty

Farmers in Wisconsin may be breathing a sigh of relief going into the new year with the farm bill extension but it may be temporary, as experts said …

U.S. Census of Agriculture figures from 2022 showed Illinois had almost 72,000 farms and ranches, down 2% from 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Watchful IL farmers await proposed Trump tariffs

A new president will move into the White House in less than a month and Illinois farmers are questioning whether Donald Trump's tough talk on tariffs …

Oregon's public defense system is made up of nonprofit public defender organizations, consortia contracting with the state and individual contract attorneys. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

More funding needed to stem OR’s public defense ‘crisis’

Oregon's constitution guarantees criminal defendants a state-funded lawyer for those who cannot afford one but a massive shortage of public defenders …

Education Data reported there are 507,200 student loan borrowers in Connecticut, with an average debt amount of $36,672. (Adobe Stock)

CT Student Loan Reimbursement Program begins Jan. 1

Connecticut is launching its Student Loan Reimbursement Program Jan. 1. The program was created through legislation passed by the state's General …

According to the March of Dimes, 15.4% of Wyoming women did not have a birthing hospital within 30 minutes of home last year, compared to a U.S. average of 9.7%. (MANUEL/Adobe Stock)<br />

Another birthing center closes, WY maternal health struggles continue

Evanston Regional Hospital is discontinuing its labor and delivery services next week, citing a "steady decline of demand." It is the fourth Wyoming …

New Mexico joined more than a dozen other states in 2023 offering child tax credits meant to boost economic security. (courtesy New Mexico Voices for Children)

Report: Tax credits shrink poverty for NM's kids, families

Child tax credits offer a financial lifeline to parents and can lift children out of poverty, according to a report from New Mexico's Voices for …

The Postal Service reports a net loss of $9.5 billion for the end of fiscal year 2024 in September - $3 billion more than the previous year. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe)

PA postal union concerned new changes will slow, delay holiday mail

Pennsylvanians mailing holiday cards and gifts may face delays due to proposed postal changes. The Postal Service costs-cutting plans include …

Researchers say microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size. (James Thew/Adobe Stock)

Tiny plastic pieces enter the body in ways you'd never think of

By Julieta Cardenas for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

A Connecticut Voices for Children report found the state's local and state revenue level as a percent of state personal income is less than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT budget controls too restrictive, changes needed

A new report found Connecticut's fiscal controls on the state budget restrict long-term growth. The controls were introduced during the 2018 budget …

As they look for long-term support through the Farm Bill, American farmers said they are facing many evolving obstacles, including climate-change threats and increased global competition for exports. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers no longer feeling Farm Bill anguish, but relief might be fleeting

Farmers in Nebraska and across the nation might not be in panic mode anymore thanks to another extension of the Farm Bill but they still want Congress…

Despite service slowdowns and hikes in stamp prices, the U.S. Postal Service lost nearly $10 billion in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed post office ‘slowdown’ threatens rural Americans

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has made clear he wants the Postal Service to turn a profit. But advocates warn proposed changes would hurt rural …

Kentucky public schools serve 634,424 students, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

KY public schools: Large employers who help meet community needs

On the heels of voters' overwhelming rejection of Amendment 2 in November, Kentucky public school employees are urging lawmakers to double down on …

Montgomery County, Maryland, is home to thousands of multifamily rental units, and many of those units already have air-conditioning. (Adobe Stock)

Lessons learned from an air conditioning law on rentals in MD

By Ysabelle Kempe for Smart Cities Dive.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

More cities are looking into establishing a renter's right to cooling equipment, as climate change drives record-breaking temperatures across the world. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Following the TX model: Cities craft plans to protect tenants from extreme heat

By Ysabelle Kempe for Smart Cities Dive.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public N…

Millions of families across the U.S. depend on home-based child care, with over 750,000 children enrolled in these programs, often because parents consider them more flexible than traditional child care centers. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama joins national effort to expand pre-K access

Alabama is part of a national program aimed at diversifying early childhood education. The Enriching Public Pre-K Through Inclusion of Family Child …

The Biden Administration estimates if the investment made in the IRS by the Inflation Reduction Act is sustained beyond 2031, tax revenue would increase by $851 billion over the next 10 years. (Aevan/Adobe Stock)

Future of IRS uncertain as Trump chooses agency critic as commissioner

The Internal Revenue Service will be in the crosshairs in the second Trump administration, as the president-elect's recently announced choice to run …

Empowerment Scholarship Account vouchers will cost the state $825,000,000 in fiscal year 2024, according to Save Our Schools Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

Skepticism about 'auto-approval' of Arizona ESA reimbursements

This month, an Arizona grand jury indicted two out-of-state residents for cheating the state's Empowerment Scholarship Account program out of more …

As of October, SNAP benefit levels and income limits have increased. A household of up to 10 people is now eligible to receive up to $2,196, with a maximum gross monthly income of $10,584. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Impact of Trump's proposed budget cuts cited for Pennsylvanians

As President-elect Donald Trump takes office, federal safety net programs such as Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP, which support 85 million low-income …

A coalition pushing for universal school meals in North Dakota says nearly half of food-insecure children do not qualify for federal nutrition programs, leaving thousands without access to free breakfast and lunch at school. (Adobe Stock)

Food insecurity prompts ND advocates to eye universal school meals

North Dakota is expected to rejoin the debate over whether all school children, regardless of their family income, should have access to no-cost …

Ithaca, New York, is the first city in the world to commit to electrifying all its buildings. The city is aiming to accomplish the goal by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings

New York lawmakers are focusing on electrifying municipal buildings. Buildings statewide make up 32% of New York's greenhouse gas emissions and …

SNAP recipients currently receive as little as $23 per month to purchase food, and the average SNAP benefit is just $6 a day. (Adobe Stock)

SNAP funding in question as Congress works to avoid shutdown

Congressional efforts to avoid a government shutdown could extend funding for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps. And if the continuing …

The work of GreenLatinos Texas, centers around empowering frontline environmental justice and conservation advocates. Members are actively engaging with local communities to understand their campaign goals and identify areas where support is needed. (Photo courtesy of Green Latinos)

TX group works to give Latinos seat at table in fight against methane

Members of the environmental nonprofit GreenLatinos are involved in a push to get more Latinos across Texas involved in the fight against methane gas…

Maine voters who backed Trump still want EPA protections

A majority of Republicans and Democrats oppose attempts to weaken the regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency, according to a new …

Alabama spends less per pupil than the national average but allocates a similar percentage of taxpayers' personal income to K-12 education. The state ranks 39th in education funding and 41st in per-student spending. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

Advocates push to modernize Alabama’s school funding formula

Alabama is one of six states still using The Foundation Program to calculate aid to schools, which uses a formula focused on the number of students …

Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have laws providing paid family and medical leave programs for eligible workers, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Push for paid parental leave for KY state employees

Kentucky's 33,000 state employees face challenges taking time off from work after giving birth to a child or adopting, and many are forced to use …

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $600 million to boost salaries for 11,200 wildland firefighters in the U.S. for two years. (Adobe Stock)

Montana wildland firefighters face drastic pay cut

Montana's wildland firefighters face a drastic pay cut at the end of this week without congressional action. Nationwide, the Bipartisan …

Colorado is joining California, Maine, Minnesota and Oregon to implement extended producer responsibility programs. (Adobe Stock)

Increasing recycling access in rural Colorado communities

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Statehouses in conservative-led states have served as ground zero for policies to enact LGBTQ restrictions. However, political experts note the Trump campaign

NE transgender allies ready to navigate nuanced landscape

The Nebraska Legislature kicks off its new session a few weeks from today and issues related to gender identity are likely to be part of the mix…

In Tennessee, the SNAP asset limit is $3,000 for most households and $4,500 for households with a disabled member or someone age 60 or older. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Proposed SNAP, Summer EBT cuts threaten more than 600,000 Tennesseans

Several federal programs may face budget cuts as the new administration proposes sweeping actions to reduce the federal debt. Advocates for the …

Federally employed firefighters hope to see a permanent pay bump to replace the pay increases granted in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Federal wildland firefighters need permanent pay bump

As the federal government works this week to avoid a shutdown, federal wildland firefighters are waiting to see if their recent pay increase will …

When pandemic aid was flowing, policy experts said it opened the door for fraudsters to line their pockets by taking advantage of state and federal emergency programs. In Minnesota, some of that activity has persisted. (Adobe Stock)

MN lawmakers have their eye on combating fraud, with caution urged

The word "fraud" is likely to circulate in the upcoming Minnesota legislative session. One political expert said state agencies are being targeted …

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 40% of full-time undergraduate students and 74% of part-time undergraduates were employed while enrolled, with many working over 20 hours per week to cover living expenses. (jaz_online/Adobe Stock)

OH students fight for fair, livable on-campus wages

By Hevin Wilkey / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio students are …

Corporate farms, including family-owned corporations, account for about 5% of U.S. farms and manage about 11% of the nation's farmland. (ana/Adobe Stock)

MO farmers work to stop 'Farm Act' from becoming law

A Missouri-based farm group is fighting to keep the proposed "FARM Act" from becoming law, warning it would benefit large corporate farms at the …

More than 700 rural hospitals - roughly 30% of all hospitals across the nation - are at risk of closing because of financial problems, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot program to help rural hospitals stanch financial bleeding

A new federal program launching next year is designed to help hospitals struggling to stay afloat in rural places such as South Dakota. About 360 …

Coastal erosion threatens Washington state as sea levels rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA

A new report found fossil fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws were not making full disclosures, including …

Minimum wages will rise in 14 states and 39 localities because of cost-of-living adjustments. Meanwhile, eight states and 47 localities will see minimum wages hit or surpass $15 per hour for some workers. (IcemanJ/Adobe Stock)

Despite nationwide pay increases, PA minimum wage remains stagnant at $7.25

In January, low-wage workers in Pennsylvania will be missing out on pay hikes seen in 23 other states. Neighboring states such as Ohio are starting …

In 2021, there were 72% fewer detention admissions of youths on delinquency charges across the country than in 2005. Still, Wyoming incarcerates youth at a much higher rate than any other state in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

WY has highest rate of juvenile incarceration, rejects federal funding to help

Wyoming has the nation's highest rate of juvenile incarceration, and is one of only two states refusing federal funds to help. In 2021, nearly 270 …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - January 3, 2025

2025Talks - January 3, 2025

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