Census / Public News Service

In 2020, the U.S. population's median age was 38.8, an increase of more than 10 years over the past five decades. (N Lawrenson/peopleimages.com)

Monday, June 5, 2023

Illinois Senior Centers: Not Just for Aged

Some Illinois senior centers aren't just focusing on the 65+ demographic but are beginning to include people aged 50+. The U.S. Census indicates the …

Illinois state agencies will be required to use the Middle Eastern or North African classification for reporting workforce or hiring data as of July 1, 2025. (Marko/Adobe Stock)

Middle Eastern, North African Race Checkbox Added to IL state forms

Illinois is making history as the first state to collect Middle Eastern and North African representation data on all state forms and surveys…

A new report found the nation's child population count fell from 74.2 million in 2010 to 73.1 million in 2020. During the same time frame, 27 states including New Hampshire saw their total child count fall. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NH Sees Significant Decline Child Population

New Hampshire experienced one of the country's greatest percentage declines in child population over the past decade, according to a new report…

Recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Drilling Down Into Social Factors Linked to Unequal Health Outcomes

Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women, even though more than eight in 10 pregnancy-related deaths are …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

Nearly half of all Hispanic-Americans live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards. (Adobe Stock)

Public Health Benefits of Limiting Oil, Gas Methane Pollution

The public has until February 13th to weigh in on new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane pollution at oil and gas…

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

Three in four good-paying jobs in Colorado require a college degree or other post-secondary credentials. (Adobe Stock)

Deep Data Dive Finds Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Students

The biggest obstacle facing Indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the National Native …

Some 18,000 children on average experience homelessness each year in Colorado, according to most recent Colorado Department of Education data. (Adobe Stock)

Solving Homelessness Key to Success in Multiple National Priorities

"Opportunity Starts at Home," a short documentary film released this week by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, exposes how housing …

In the decade preceding the pandemic, Colorado's child poverty rate fell by nearly 30%, one of the largest declines in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks High in Child Well-Being as Kids Face Mental-Health Crisis

Colorado ranks 16th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

Nebraska lawmakers improved conditions for low-income families during the pandemic by expanding eligibility for SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, and providing support for child care. Both initiatives are set to sunset next year. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Ranks First Nationally in Child Economic Well-Being

Nebraska ranks first in the nation when it comes to promoting children's economic well-being, a significant indicator under the spotlight in the …

Even after court cases and claims of voter irregularities produced zero evidence, roughly 70% of Republicans still believe fraud played a major role in the 2020 election. (Adobe Stock)

November Election to Determine State, Local Races in Redrawn Nebraska Districts

With November's elections just over the horizon, voter-rights groups are working to get Nebraskans up to speed on recent changes in voting districts …

Today, nearly one-third of all rural children come from racial or ethnic minority populations, compared with 28.1% in 2010, according to the report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Rural Diversity in U.S. Up Nearly 20 Percent

A version of this report originally appeared on The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Arkansas News Service for the Public News Servic…

Latino leaders and advocates criticized Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts for failing to fund a state count committee, a commonly used tool for reaching historically hard-to-count communities in census surveys. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Outperforms National Census in Tally of Latinos

Nebraska did a better job counting the state's Latino residents in the 2020 Census than new national undercount data suggests. According to analysis …

The Census Bureau is reporting both population undercounts and overcounts, were likely affected by the coronavirus pandemic, natural disasters and decisions by the Trump administration that disrupted normal counting efforts. (GerdAltmann/Pixabay)

TX One of Six States that Undercounted Population in 2020 Census

A new report found Texas likely undercounted the number of people who actually live in the state when gathering information for the 2020 census…

The new congressional district map splits Boone County into two districts, right through downtown Columbia. (Missouri House of Representatives)

MO County Clerk: Look Up Your New District Before Election Time

With congressional voting district maps finally in place in Missouri, county clerks are working to educate voters on the changes. Every 10 years …

The pandemic cut short the time U.S. Census Bureau workers were able to go door to door, to educate the public on how to fill out the decennial survey, just one factor contributing to the undercount of some groups. (Driftwood/Adobe Stock)

Latino Advocates Vow to Prevent a Repeat of 2020 Census Undercount

Latino civil rights groups are pressing for changes to make up for a significant undercount in the 2020 Census. The most recent findings show the 202…

The pandemic cut short the time census workers had to go door to door to educate the public on how to fill out the decennial survey. (Edbockstock/Adobestock)

Census Report Shows Large Undercount of Latino Population

A new report found the 2020 census significantly undercounted the Latino population nationwide, by almost 5%, more than three times the undercount …

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to select GOP-drawn voting maps come as political candidates begin picking up signatures to get on the ballot for the August primary. (Adobe Stock)

WI Proceeds with GOP Redistricting Plan

Wisconsin is pushing ahead with a Republican-drawn legislative redistricting plan, after a ruling Friday by the state Supreme Court held the GOP maps …

An estimated 30 million students are receiving free school meals, about 10 million more than before eligibility requirements were waived because of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Policies Took a Bite Out of Child Hunger

Federal pandemic waivers took a bite out of child hunger, according to census data, and there are concerns those trends could be reversed when the …

Michigan lost one congressional seat after the 2020 census apportionment. (My Districting Michigan)

MI Good-Government Groups: Check Your Districts Before Election Time

New Michigan voting district maps went into effect last week, and officials now are working to update the voter rolls. Despite ongoing litigation…

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision will not affect who's on the ballot or how folks cast their vote in next week's spring election. (Adobe Stock)

WI Advocates: SCOTUS Decision to Have Major Impact on Black Communities

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Wisconsin's legislative redistricting plan, a move advocates said will have long-lasting impacts for the …

A new interactive tool estimates that nearly a half million Iowans have several risk factors that would make it much more difficult for them to recover from a natural disaster. (Adobe Stock)

Nearly a Quarter of Iowans Extremely Vulnerable to Disasters

From historic floods to the 2020 derecho, Iowans are familiar with natural disasters. With the spring storm season underway, local governments are …

Gov. Chris Sununu has said he plans to veto congressional maps passed by the New Hampshire General Court. (Wikimedia Commons)

Gov. Sununu Commits to Vetoing Proposed NH Congressional District Maps

Gov. Chris Sununu released a proposal for a new congressional voting district map this week, after committing to vetoing the map which passed the …

Pennsylvania's Legislative Reapportionment Commission, which selects state House and Senate maps, is made up of two Republican and two Democrat lawmakers, along with one nonpartisan chair. (Adobe Stock)

House, Senate Redistricting Comes to a Close in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, rejected legal challenges to new state House and Senate maps last week, finalizing the …

Some counties send out postcards with voters' new districts on them so they can research what candidates are running. (JJ Gouin/Adobe Stock)

Election Officials: New Maps Needed Before Candidate Filing Deadline

Not all of Missouri's new voting-district maps are finalized, despite a candidate filing deadline of March 29. The new state House maps were filed …

The latest redistricting cycle, still under way in some states, resulted in partisan maps by both Republicans and Democrats, according to the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. (fairredistricing.org)

Will Courts Again Decide Fate of New Mexico's Redistricting Map?

Lea County in southeast New Mexico has joined a previously-filed lawsuit asking that a redistricting map be thrown out. The state's Republican …

This spring, voters in Sioux Falls will be deciding a new mayor as well as city council races. (Adobe Stock)

Importance of Local Elections Highlighted in SD

On April 12, municipalities across South Dakota will be holding local elections. A statewide group is encouraging participation through an outreach …

The 2020 census overlooked 0.24% of the U.S. population, compared with 0.01% in 2010. (Antwon McCullen/Adobe Stock)

Report: Census Undercounted BIPOC Communities, Young Children

A new analysis of the 2020 census finds that Latino, Black and Native American populations were statistically significantly undercounted. …

Registered voters in Arizona will not automatically receive a mail-in ballot; people must request one from their county recorder's office. (Westock)

AZ Voter Registration Verification Letters Arrive This Month

In the next few weeks, Arizona counties will send voter ID letters to everyone on the rolls, confirming their registration and any new legislative …

Maine, one of the most rural states in the nation, has just two congressional voting districts. (Maine.gov)

Officials to Mainers: Check Your New Districts Before Election Time

With new maps for the next decade of elections finalized in Maine, election officials are urging voters to make sure they are up-to-date on any …

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who backed a nonpartisan redistricting process on the campaign trail, last June signed into law new House and Senate maps drafted by lawmakers. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Fair Redistricting Process in IL Could Curb Power Brokering

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is facing 22 charges of bribery and racketeering. The Chicago Democrat led the chamber for decades…

The 2020 census overlooked 0.24% of the U.S. population. That compares to 0.01% in 2010. (Adobe Stock)

MN Latino Community: Census Undercount Hurts

A new analysis of the 2020 Census confirmed the fears of organizers serving Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. Several racial groups …

According to the 2020 Census, Indiana's Black population grew by roughly one-half percent from 2010 to 2020, while the Hispanic population rose by more than 2 percent. (Adobe Stock)

IN Group: Redistricting has Long-Term Impact on BIPOC Voters

It is Sunshine Week, an annual observation of the need for government transparency. In Indiana, voting-rights groups said transparency was needed in …

According to the League of Women Voters, the redrawing of state legislative district lines has a ripple effect on the number and locations of polling places in Connecticut. (Adobe Stock)

Next Step in CT Redistricting Process: Voting Districts

With the once-a-decade redistricting process finalized in Connecticut, good-government groups say it is time to keep an eye on the next stage…

The last day to register to vote in the California primary is May 23. (Gguy/Adobestock)

Prepping for the Primary: Is Your Voter Registration Up to Date?

The primary election is coming up in just three months, so it's time to make sure your voter registration is up to date. A lot of people moved …

A recent ACLU poll found that more than 90% of Nebraska voters want redistricting to be data-driven, transparent and nonpartisan. (Adobe Stock)

Ensuring Voter Access Within NE's New District Lines

Nebraska voters may be casting ballots at unfamiliar polling sites for the upcoming midterm elections after the Nebraska Legislature established new d…

The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Maryland, was brought by seven voters in Baltimore County, along with the Baltimore County Branch of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters of Baltimore County and Common Cause Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

Baltimore Co. Ordered to Resubmit Redistricting Plan In Compliance With VRA

A federal judge has ordered the Baltimore County Council to scrap its redistricting plan after a lawsuit brought by Black residents and civil-rights g…

Pennsylvania's population grew by only 2.4% in the last decade, and so the state will lose a U.S. House seat in Congress. (Adobe Stock)

PA Supreme Court Selects New Congressional Map With 'Least Change'

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has picked a new congressional map after a monthslong battle between Republican lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf's …

The ACLU lawsuit contends voting in Arkansas is highly polarized along racial lines. In recent statewide elections, Black voters have supported their preferred candidates with more than 80% of their votes. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Appealing Dismissal of Challenge to AR Redistricting Map

The ACLU of Arkansas is appealing a decision by a federal judge who dismissed a challenge to a new state House map, saying the plan hurts Black …

This redistricting cycle was the first time an independent commission drew new congressional and legislative maps. (Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission)

Litigation Ongoing Over Michigan's New Voting-District Maps

With new voting-district maps finalized by Michigan's new independent commission, it's now on to the litigation phase of redistricting. One lawsuit …

New voter maps, based on data collected in the 2020 census, can have profound impacts on how federal and state funds are distributed for education, health, veterans and other programs. (Adobe Stock)

New Voter Maps Advance in Wyoming Legislature

The Wyoming Legislature is getting closer to finalizing new voter district maps. The new 62-31 Plan, which would add one new Senate and two new House …

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has the final say on which congressional redistricting map is chosen. (Adobe Stock)

PA Judge Recommends Adopting GOP-Supported Congressional Map

A Pennsylvania judge is recommending the state Supreme Court adopt a congressional redistricting map vetoed by Gov. Tom Wolf after passage by the …

Since 2000, four of the people New Hampshire has elected to the U.S. House of Representatives have been Democrats, and two have been Republicans. (yurchello108/Adobe Stock)

NH Governor, Groups: Keep Congressional Maps Competitive

New Hampshire groups that advocate for voting rights say the state's new congressional district maps are gerrymandered, and will lead to little …

New voter maps can impact how public schools operate through school board elections. (Adobe Stock)

WY Panel to Deliver New Voter District Maps to Legislature

Advocates for Wyoming's Latino communities welcomed the latest voter redistricting maps advanced last week. The 62-31 plan, which is expected to be …

Lawsuit: New AR House Map Weakens Black Voting Power

A redistricting challenge in Arkansas gets its first court hearing this month. The lawsuit claims the Arkansas Board of Apportionment's new voting-…

If the New York State Legislature rejects the Independent Redistricting Commission's maps again, it will be up to state lawmakers to draw congressional and state legislative district lines. (Flickr/Wally Gobetz)

NY Lawmakers Reject Latest Redistricting Maps

The New York State Legislature on Monday rejected two sets of district maps submitted by the state's Independent Redistricting Commission, so more …

PA Lawsuit Asks State Supreme Court to Intervene in Redistricting

A new lawsuit asks the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to intervene in creating a new congressional district map for the Commonwealth, as concerns grow …

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