Citizenship/Representative Democracy / Public News Service

Wyoming's territorial government was the first to recognize women's right to vote. The state has ranked in the bottom 10 in the U.S. for the proportion of women in the state legislature every year since 2009, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Wyoming's State Capitol building has been a National Historic Landmark since 1987 and last month, the Department of the Interior updated the …

The Indiana Supreme Court Law Library found in its basement a framed, printed page from the 1788 McLean two-volume set of the Federalist Papers. (Connor Burress/TheStatehouseFile.com)

Thursday, January 2, 2025

Indiana treasure connects to founding fathers

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

Former President Jimmy Carter spoke at an event for Habitat for Humanity in 2007 in Los Angeles. (County of Los Angeles)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

California nonprofit leaders recall President Jimmy Carter’s legacy

Former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday at 100 years of age, had a huge effect on the Golden State far beyond his presidency…

Conservation advocates picked up a dozen seats in the Montana Legislature in the November election, according to Montana Conservation Voters. They remain concerned, however, over losing support at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Taking stock of Montana's outlook on conservation progress

With the Montana Legislature scheduled to gavel in next week, conservation leaders are looking ahead at ways to protect the state's public lands…

Alabama's maternal mortality rate is 36.4 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is more than double the national average of 17.4. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Alabama Arise prepares to tackle poverty, health issues in 2025

With the 2025 legislative session around the corner, the nonprofit advocacy group Alabama Arise said it plans to take aim at poverty and systemic …

Extreme political polarization in the U.S. has led to a significant increase in threats of violence against election officials and members of Congress, according to the Brennan Center.

NM political expert says 'polarization' is the logical 'word of the year'

Between endless doomscrolling and nonstop negative headlines, a New Mexico political science professor said it's no surprise the Merriam-Webster …

Maryland has 12 news outlets dedicated to Black and Latino communities in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 30, 2024

MD newsrooms experience slight dip in 2024

A new report finds Maryland has seen a small decline in the number of newspapers in the state this year. The report is from the Northwestern …

Jimmy Carter, seen here with Mashun D. Simon and Carter's wife Rosalynn, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his many years of international humanitarian service. (Photo courtesy of Simon)

Jimmy Carter’s passing spurs reflection on legacy of service

As the world reflects on the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, the Reverend Mashaun D. Simon sees a man whose ministry and …

In 2022, around 63% of Republican voters in the U.S. did not have college degrees, compared to 49% of Democratic voters, highlighting the educational divide in political affiliation. (gguy/Adobe Stock)

Has Ohio lost its battleground state status?

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. “As Ohio …

Supporters of Measure J said opposition mailers such as this one were used to spread false claims ahead of the election. (Direct Action Everywhere)

Opponents of factory farms regroup after mixed election results

Animal rights organizers are regrouping after mixed results at the ballot box in November. A measure targeting factory farms passed in Berkeley but …

Nationwide, more than 3,000 newspapers have shuttered since 2004, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Addressing Montana's expanding 'news deserts'

Online news organizations are trying to fill the lack of local coverage in Montana's news deserts. As the year ends, a dwindling number of the …

More than three-quarters of Western voters say more emphasis should be placed on conserving wildlife migration routes than on economic uses of lands in these areas, according to the State of the Rockies Project. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies

Arizona could be doing more to improve conservation policy, according to a new report by the Center for Western Priorities. The Center's Policy …

Ag policy experts wonder if a second Trump administration will create a more regulatory-friendly environment for larger livestock operations and commodity farmers. They say growing a lot of corn, for example, might appear good, but it fuels feed for concentrated animal feeding operations. (Adobe Stock)

A giant policy question mark lies before smaller, independent farms

From declining commodity prices to unpredictable weather, American farmers are at a crossroads - especially smaller operations. And they're …

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…

Only four Black women have been elected to the U.S. Senate, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks, Connecticut Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester and former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun. (Maryland GovPics/ Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland in top 10 for number of women state legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures across the U.S. in 2025. That's a new record, according to the Center for American Women and …

A bill to allow interim legislative appointments passed in the Maryland Senate last session, but died in a House of Delegates subcommittee on elections. (Adobe Stock)

New law seeks to change how state legislative vacancies are filled

Lawmakers in Annapolis plan to introduce a bill to require a special election if a lawmaker is appointed to a seat in the first half of their term…

Seven in 10 Utah residents say protecting water, air, wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities on public lands is more important than maximizing the amount of land available for drilling and mining. (Galatas)

Utah lawsuit could affect public lands in Colorado, nation

As the U.S. Supreme Court considers a lawsuit brought by Utah officials, asking the court to transfer more than 18 million acres of federal lands to …

Only 29% of municipal government seats in Ohio cities with populations over 10,000 are held by women, highlighting continued underrepresentation at the local level. (Kenny/Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s milestone moment for women in government

Ohio is seeing big gains in women's representation at the Statehouse, with the General Assembly poised to welcome seven additional women lawmakers in …

A September study by Pew Research showed Black women voters are more likely than Black men to view racial and ethnic inequality (79% vs. 70%) and violent crime (78% vs. 63%) as very important issues for the 2024 election. (Drazon/Adobe Stock)

After 92% of Black women Voted for Harris, what's next?

Some experts contended part of the reason Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election was because of what they called "misogynoir…

At least 1,579 Democratic women and 851 Republican women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. (Anton Gvozdikov / Adobe Stock)

Report: UT ranks low for number of women as legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures in 2025, a record, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers …

Congresswoman-elect Yassamin Ansari was also elected as Democratic 'Freshman Class' President for the U.S. House of Representatives. (Yassamin Ansari )

Report: AZ ranks second for number of women as legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures in 2025. That's a new record, according to the Center for American Women and Politics at …

In the 2024 election results, the New Hampshire Senate decreased from 50% to 42% women and the House decreased from 37% to 36% women. (Adobe Stock)

Voters send record number of women to state legislatures nationwide

A record number of women will serve in legislatures nationwide in 2025. More than 2,400 women will hold state legislative offices, representing more …

At least 1,860 women will serve in state houses in 2025, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (Adobe Stock)

NV leads nationally with the number of women elected to state legislature

A record number of women will serve in state legislatures across the nation in 2025. Nevada will be the first state to hold a female majority in its …

Currently, public sector workers in Wisconsin can only bargain over wages up to the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Act 10 ruling could increase stakes of WI Supreme Court election

A Wisconsin Circuit Court's ruling involving public sector bargaining rights has intensified the stakes for the state's Supreme Court election in 2025…

According to the American Library Association, the rate of book titles targeted for censorship in public libraries spiked 92% between 2022 and 2023. In school libraries, there was an 11% increase. (Adobe Stock)

SD libraries face future of stricter policies, slashed budgets

South Dakota librarians are implementing new policies for young readers in the new year and they are expecting future challenges, with the governor's …

In a report on the lobbying transparency laws of each state, Colorado was the only state to receive an 'A' grade. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland fossil fuel lobbyists fail to disclose activities

A new report says fossil-fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws are not making full disclosures - including in Mary…

Hoosiers voted early this year and sought answers to voting questions sooner. (Adobe stock)

Fewer Hoosiers vote in 2024 amid early voting tensions

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

ALICE families say while wages have increased, it hasn't been enough to keep up with inflation and is sometimes hard to put food on the table. (Konstantin Yuganov/Adobe Stock)

'ALICE at Work' on paycheck-to-paycheck struggle

By Wesley Brown for the Arkansas Delta Informer.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Arkansas News Service reporting for The Arkansas Delta Informer-Wi…

Black women almost doubled their registration numbers from 2020, according to TargetSmart. (Adobe Stock)

92% of Black women voted for Harris. What happens now?

Some experts contend part of the reason Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election was because of what they're calling "misogyno…

Based on the 2024 election results so far, Republican women will make up roughly 35% and Democratic women roughly 64% of all women state legislators nationwide, according to the Center for American Women in Politics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Record number of women to serve in state legislatures nationwide

As 2025 begins, there will be a record number of women serving in state legislatures nationwide. More than 2,400 women will hold state legislative …

Nine states do not allow citizen-initiated ballot measures: Alabama, Delaware, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Vermont. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

MO nonprofit fights to protect ballot measures

A nonprofit leader from Missouri joined a national panel to tackle what they described as escalating threats to ballot measures and to develop strateg…

In recent presidential election years, North Dakota has recorded voter turnout levels of around 61%. But a few decades ago, those numbers were closer to 70% in some elections. (Freepik)

Post-election, turnout and balanced governing a concern in ND

Next month, newly elected candidates for many levels of government will be sworn in. In North Dakota, civic engagement leaders hope there is a …

Ballot measures to ensure access to abortion won in the 2024 election in red states like Arizona, Missouri and Montana. (tilialucida/Adobe Stock)

Pro-choice wins in election signal promise for potential ID initiative

Voters across the country approved a majority of measures in November to affirm abortion rights and supporters of an initiative to legalize abortion i…

President-elect Donald Trump's promise to slash the federal workforce is prompting concerns in Maryland, home to one of the highest concentrations of federal employees in the country. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland's federal workers prepare to defend their jobs

It's no secret President-elect Donald Trump wants to fire thousands of federal workers. But in a state like Maryland - home to the fourth-highest …

When South Dakota voters passed Medicaid expansion in 2022, the constitutional amendment included this language:

A long road for Medicaid work requirements in South Dakota

South Dakotans passed Amendment F on Election Day, opening the door to impose work requirements on people who qualify for expanded Medicaid benefits…

Along with watchdog group recommendations, New York lawmakers have proposed several bills to bolster the state's Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government. (Adobe Stock)

Watchdogs: NYS needs more robust ethics commission

New York good government groups want a more robust state ethics commission. The Commission on Ethics and Lobbying in Government came about in 2022 …

During the 2024 election cycle, nearly $215 million in television advertisements targeting the transgender community flooded airwaves across the country, according to The Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ folks anxious about what a Trump presidency could bring

Members of the LGBTQ+ community in Utah and around the country are concerned about what a second Trump presidency could mean for their safety…

The NAACP, Human Rights Watch, the ACLU and other groups are voicing opposition to the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act. (Adobe Stock)

PA environmental, free speech advocates worry over 'anti-terror' law

A bill introduced in Congress is facing backlash from nonprofit organizations, warning it could stifle free speech. The Stop Terror-Financing and …

Tips on navigating post-election sensitivities this Thanksgiving

At Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will see relatives who may be on the other side of the political divide for the first time since the election …

Senate confirmation hearings will likely start in January for President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet nominees, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)<br />

Health experts speak out against RFK Jr. leading Health and Human Services

Groups fighting to improve access to health care are asking the U.S. Senate to reject Robert F. Kennedy Jr's nomination for Secretary of Health and …

Studies show being alone may leave older adults more vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation, which can affect their health and well-being. (Adobe Stock)

Fostering connection: Combating social isolation during the holidays

For many, the holiday season is a time of joy and celebration - but it can often bring loneliness and isolation for older adults. Steve Morrison…

A 2024 survey builds on The Marshall Project's 2020 political survey, which debunked the assumption incarcerated individuals would predominantly support Democrats, as the trend remains unchanged. Art Credit: Diana Ejaita for The Marshall Project

The politics of prison: Ohio's incarcerated reflect on the 2024 election

The 2024 presidential election has raised complex emotions for incarcerated Ohioans, many of whom are unable to vote but remain deeply engaged in …

Gay teenager is set to become Utah's youngest elected official

Jackson Lewis, 19, is ready and eager to sit on the nonpartisan Canyons School Board in the south end of Salt Lake Valley. Lewis, who is gay…

The Wyoming Family Alliance Action's 2024 school board candidate questionnaire asked candidates how much they agree with this statement:

Some WY school board elections echoed national politics

School boards are nonpartisan, but a recent trend in Wyoming shows far-right candidates are bringing national politics to local elections. Public …

Feeding Texas is advancing policy solutions to both prevent hunger and tackle its causes and consequences. (Daniel Vincek/Adobe Stock)

Feeding Texas Network prepares for legislative session

The nonprofit Feeding Texas Network has announced its priorities for the upcoming legislative session. The food insecurity rate continues to rise in …

Mass deportations would cause significant labor shocks across multiple key industries, with especially acute impacts on the construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors, according to the American Immigration Council. (Adobe Stock)

NV progressive groups warn of fallout from 2nd Trump presidency

The presidential vote was close in Nevada and with the results in, local organizations leaning more progressive believe the re-election of Donald …

Despite a 70% approval rate of all school referendums this year, the state saw a 10% decrease from 2022, making it the lowest passage rate in a midterm or presidential election year in the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsinites passed record measures for public school funding

Wisconsinites overwhelmingly voted 'yes' on a record number of school funding measures, according to a new Wisconsin Policy Forum study. The appeals …

Idaho Gov. Brad Little was first elected in 2018. (gov.idaho.gov)

Idahoans get chance to speak with Gov. Little at town hall

Older Idahoans have an opportunity to speak with Governor Brad Little next week. AARP Idaho is hosting a telephone town hall with the governor…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - January 3, 2025

2025Talks - January 3, 2025

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Civic Engagement & Voting

Women’s suffrage adds luster to WY Capitol’s historic status

Indiana treasure connects to founding fathers

California nonprofit leaders recall President Jimmy Carter’s legacy

Taking stock of Montana's outlook on conservation progress

Alabama Arise prepares to tackle poverty, health issues in 2025

NM political expert says 'polarization' is the logical 'word of the year'

MD newsrooms experience slight dip in 2024

Jimmy Carter’s passing spurs reflection on legacy of service

Has Ohio lost its battleground state status?

Opponents of factory farms regroup after mixed election results

Addressing Montana's expanding 'news deserts'

Report: AZ one of eight Western states that could improve conservation policies

A giant policy question mark lies before smaller, independent farms

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

Maryland in top 10 for number of women state legislators

New law seeks to change how state legislative vacancies are filled

Utah lawsuit could affect public lands in Colorado, nation

Ohio’s milestone moment for women in government

After 92% of Black women Voted for Harris, what's next?

Report: UT ranks low for number of women as legislators

Report: AZ ranks second for number of women as legislators

Voters send record number of women to state legislatures nationwide

NV leads nationally with the number of women elected to state legislature

Act 10 ruling could increase stakes of WI Supreme Court election

SD libraries face future of stricter policies, slashed budgets

Report: Maryland fossil fuel lobbyists fail to disclose activities

Fewer Hoosiers vote in 2024 amid early voting tensions

'ALICE at Work' on paycheck-to-paycheck struggle

92% of Black women voted for Harris. What happens now?

Record number of women to serve in state legislatures nationwide

MO nonprofit fights to protect ballot measures

Post-election, turnout and balanced governing a concern in ND

Pro-choice wins in election signal promise for potential ID initiative

Maryland's federal workers prepare to defend their jobs

A long road for Medicaid work requirements in South Dakota

Watchdogs: NYS needs more robust ethics commission

LGBTQ+ folks anxious about what a Trump presidency could bring

PA environmental, free speech advocates worry over 'anti-terror' law

Tips on navigating post-election sensitivities this Thanksgiving

Health experts speak out against RFK Jr. leading Health and Human Services

Fostering connection: Combating social isolation during the holidays

The politics of prison: Ohio's incarcerated reflect on the 2024 election

Gay teenager is set to become Utah's youngest elected official

Some WY school board elections echoed national politics

Feeding Texas Network prepares for legislative session

NV progressive groups warn of fallout from 2nd Trump presidency

Wisconsinites passed record measures for public school funding

Idahoans get chance to speak with Gov. Little at town hall