Human Rights/Racial Justice / Public News Service

The California Rebuilding Fund estimates that every $1 it makes in loans to small business generates $2 in economic activity. (Daniilvolkov/Adobestock)

Monday, September 26, 2022

CA Small Business Fund Revitalized by $15 Million Infusion

A renewed lifeline for small business owners still struggling after the pandemic - as the California Rebuilding Fund has announced it is making an add…

The Hispanic community in America represents 60 million Latinos - or one in five residents. (magazine.medlineplus.gov)

Monday, September 26, 2022

Report: Latino Families Should Prioritize End-Of-Life Conversations

End-of-life planning, hospice, medical aid in dying - all are difficult decisions, and a new report says Latinos and other underserved communities …

Experts in end-of-life care urge families to discuss their wishes with loved ones before serious illness strikes. (Fotos 593/Adobestock)

Monday, September 26, 2022

Report: Inequities Persist in End-of-Life Care for Latinos

Latinos and other underserved communities face persistent inequities in end-of-life care, according to a new report from Compassion & Choices and the …

Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month begins Sept. 15, which marks the date of Mexico's independence from Spain. (MarekPhotoDesign.com/Adobe Stock)

Hispanic Heritage Month: WA Credit Union Finds Ways to Serve Community

Hispanic Heritage Month began in mid-September and runs through Oct. 15, and a financial institution in Washington state is finding unique ways to …

Research shows economic insecurity, unreliable transportation and other challenges outside the classroom pose major barriers for two-year college students. (Adobe Stock)

KY College Boards Focus on Role of Equity in Student Success

Colleges and universities in Kentucky are looking at new ways to address the equity gap among their students, through specialized training for their …

Arkansas ranks fifth for the per capita number of households with children that reported not having enough food in their homes this past year, according to a U.S. Census Bureau survey. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

Group Develops Ways to Combat Rural Child Hunger

Save the Children's Rural Child Hunger Research and Innovation Lab aims to help communities design and test new, creative ways to reduce rural child …

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 …

Milwaukee's city budget process typically begins in late winter or early spring, and then wraps up with a final vote in early November. (Adobe Stock)

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

The budget process for Wisconsin's largest city is ramping up, and there are concerns residents in underserved areas will not receive as much …

According to the Georgia Department of Drivers Services website, Georgia law requires photo identification when voting either in person or absentee. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock) ">

Georgia Voter Registration On Rise Before General Election

The Georgia Automatic Voter Registration system is back up and running after being offline for 15 months. The system opts in eligible residents to …

In 2017, the United States had around 48,000 farmers who identified as Black according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. (Adobe Stock)<br />

More Black Farmers Use Farm Service Agency Programs

Some farmers of color have been hesitant to interact with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency after a history of discrimination…

A recent report finds 30 Washington state legislators were in far-right groups which frequently spread disinformation on Facebook. (cirquedesprit/Adobe Stock)

WA Candidates Tied to Far-Right On Ballot in November

Washington state's primary results have diminished fears of a far-right insurgency in the state's elections. But there are still concerns that 2020 …

Dr. Jamestta Ferguson, founder of Molo Community Development Corp., says grassroots organizations are working to address decades of disinvestment in Louisville's historically Black neighborhoods. (AARP KY)

Neighborhood Org Pushes for Economic Development in West Louisville

A pastor and community leader in Louisville is working to boost economic development and raise the quality of life on Louisville's West end. …

A Center for American Progress report found in 2021, almost 70% of registered nurses in the U.S. were white, just over 11% were Black, and almost 18% were Hispanic. (Djavan Rodriguez/Adobe Stock)

Increasing Diversity in Nursing to Achieve Health Equity

The pandemic put new focus on the shortage of nurses, in Illinois and across the country. But the lack of diversity in the nursing profession is …

According to recent USDA 'Farm to School' Census data, Minnesota schools that responded reported spending 13% of their budgets on local products. (Adobe Stock)

Disadvantaged MN Farmers to See New Business with School Meals

Farmers of color in Minnesota are expected to see new opportunities to get their products into school lunch programs. Their advocates said a major …

In March, the Dallas County Jail failed its state inspection for the second year in a row, with the agency noting it had been out of compliance for about three months. (fau.org)

Group Fears New Dallas Jail Could Stall Justice Reform

Members of a Texas group working to end mass incarceration thought they were making headway, but now they're not so sure. Faith in Texas has ideas …

One in 16 African Americans of voting age is disenfranchised, a rate 3.7 times greater than that of non-African Americans, according to The Sentencing Project. (themarshallproject.org)

Report: 'Unlock the Vote' at U.S. Jails Shows Progress, Obstacles

Every election, thousands of people are disenfranchised from voting because they are incarcerated. But Houston's Harris County Jail has shown the two …

The Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Act builds on protections passed by Congress in 1978 by clarifying state policies and procedures regarding implementation of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. (Adobe Stock)

Brief Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Indian Child Welfare Act

The ACLU of Nebraska has joined a national brief filed in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging a 1978 law passed by Congress aiming to …

Latino workers are getting training in green-energy job skills through a pilot program, but some face roadblocks trying to balance a new career path with maintaining two or three other jobs to support themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Program Works to Bring 'Green' Construction Jobs to Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Latino community has been inundated with job opportunities in the "green" economy thanks to a new pilot program. Elevate, a climate-…

Six out of seven occupations identified by the Wyoming Department of Employment as the most in-demand require some form of post-secondary education. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Americans to Complete Degrees

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

According to a 2021 study, 90% of coal must remain unextracted to keep global temperatures at levels considered safe by leading scientists. (Adobe Stock)

Court Ruling Adds to Challenges Facing Wyoming Coal Industry

A federal court's decision to require the Department of Interior to consider the potential health and climate impacts of coal mining on public lands c…

In Pennsylvania, there are more than 71,500 Black-owned businesses, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

PA Group Works to Encourage, Fund Black Entrepreneurs

August is National Black Business Month, and this year, for Black-owned companies in Pennsylvania that have managed to survive through the pandemic…

The Padlock Ranch was established in northwest Wyoming in 1867 as a sheep operation. In 1940 the Northern Arapaho Tribe purchased and renamed it the Arapaho Ranch. (Hoffman)

Tour Set for Arapaho Ranch, Former Site of Historic Padlock

On August 27, members of the public will have a rare opportunity to visit the historic Padlock Ranch first developed for livestock in 1867, now …

The J.H. Baxter Co.'s wood mill was closed earlier this year after complaints that it had dumped cancer-causing toxins into the air and soil in nearby neighborhoods. (Crag Law Center)

Oregon Communities Unite to Force Chronic Polluter to Shut Down

A coalition of community organizations teamed up in Oregon to force a chronic polluter out of business, and bring environmental justice to a nearby …

FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told the Senate Judiciary Committee the investigation of hate crimes is the number one priority within the agency's civil rights program. (fbi.gov)

Albuquerque's Muslim Community On Edge After Four Murders

Albuquerque has been thrown into the national spotlight after the shootings of four Muslim men, including three in the past two weeks, prompting …

Recently, members of the coalition to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument in Southern Nevada held a series of meetings with Biden-Harris administration officials and members of the Nevada congressional delegation. (Photo courtesy of Coalition)

NV Honors National Monument, with Hopes for Another

Over the weekend, Nevada's Lehman Caves celebrated its 100th anniversary as a national monument. Supporters behind a proposal to add another monument …

The Episcopal Health Foundation recently announced grants totally $21 million to help community-based organizations and clinics address non-medical, social factors that impact health. (episcopalhealth.org)

Going Beyond the Doctor's Office to Treat Community Health Needs

The new leader of Houston's Episcopal Health Foundation says the COVID pandemic, and now monkeypox, shine a light on Texas populations that are …

Sequaya, left, and Johnnie are participants in the Magnolia Mother's Trust, receiving a guaranteed income of $1,000 per month for 12 months. (Brandi Phipps/Magnolia Mother's Trust)

Guaranteed Income Helps Parents Boost Kids’ Education

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. MagazineBroadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service/Public News Service After another school year …

Washington state is the country's leading producer of apples. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District

When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount …

In Idaho's 2022 Republican primary, eight incumbent senators lost and 13 current senators didn't run. (Eldon/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Anti-Democracy Candidates Could Gain Seats in ID Legislature

Far-right candidates made inroads in Idaho's Republican primary and likely will have seats in the state Legislature after November's election - but so…

The Washington State Redistricting Commission approved a new legislative map in 2021. (redistricting.wa.gov)

WA Voting Map Lawsuit in Yakima Valley Won't Affect 2022 Elections

A lawsuit challenging Washington state's new legislative map is underway, but it will not affect this year's primary or midterm elections. The suit …

Portland, Ore., has been working to curb an uptick in gun violence, but there are mixed views about the use of different types of surveillance systems. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Concerns Voiced About Gunshot Detection Technology for Portland

A police oversight group has formally recommended Portland adopt a technology known as "ShotSpotter" to help tackle gun violence, but the technology …

As of June 30, 2021, the number of small businesses open in the U.S. had decreased by 47.8% compared to January 2020, <a href=

according to the Alliance to Save Energy. (Adobe Stock)">

Climate Change, Extreme Temps Affect NC Black-Owned Small Businesses

A new Pew Research poll finds Americans are split on how to tackle climate change. In North Carolina, small Black-owned businesses say they're …

The Monterey Bay Aquarium hosts an event today (Monday) as part of Latino Conservation Week, one of dozens of activities planned statewide. (Fastily/Wikimedia Commons)

9th Annual Latino Conservation Week Kicks Off Today

This week is a great chance to enjoy the great outdoors - with more than fifty free events, up and down the state of California, as part of Latino …

ND Tribal School: New Book Highlights Language Preservation Movement

Many Indigenous languages face extinction, and in the U.S. efforts are popping up to preserve traditional Native American dialects and culture…

This month, the Charter Review Committee in Multnomah County recommended a measure for November's ballot that would allow non-U.S. citizens to vote. (MyPhotoBuddy/Adobe Stock)

OR County to Decide on Voting for Undocumented; Some Aim Higher

In Multnomah County, voters will decide in November whether the right to vote should extend to people who are not citizens. Some say all of Oregon …

According to the Detention Watch Network, the U.S. detained nearly 250,000 immigrants in Fiscal Year 2021, in a network of about 200 facilities. (Gustavo Frazao/Adobe Stock)">

NY Law Regulates ‘Predatory’ Immigrant Bond Companies

A new law in New York State is expected to keep for-profit lenders from taking advantage of immigrants in detention facilities. Some people in the …

Ohio's 11 death row exonerees spent a collective 216 years in prison for crimes they didn't commit. (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans Mark 4 Years Since Last Execution with 'Day of Hope'

Ohio's last execution was four years ago today, and advocates for ending the death penalty are hopeful it remains the last. At noon, people at …

The Illinois Department of Corrections oversees more than 40 facilities, ranging from traditional prisons to work camps and transition centers. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Water Infrastructure Testing in IL Prisons

After reports of water contamination in Illinois prisons, groups are calling on the state to conduct a top-down review of the water and sewer systems …

Life expectancy for Native Americans fell more than any other ethnic group during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research by the University of Colorado-Boulder. (newmexico.org)

Study: Native Americans' Lifespan Reduced Most by COVID-19

New research shows COVID-19 caused life expectancy to drop for all groups of Americans, but none as much as American Indians and Native Alaskans…

Nebraska taxpayers are on the hook for more than $38,000 a year for every person serving time in the state's prison system. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska's Prison Overcrowding Emergency Now in Third Year

Nebraska is now in year three of a prison overcrowding emergency, according to the latest numbers released by the Nebraska Department of Correctional …

U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., is among the chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls, founded in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: 'Center' Black Women to Build Economic Justice

As states ban abortion with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, women's advocates in New York and beyond are raising awareness of the outsized impact …

South Dakota's Pine Ridge Reservation has its own Public Safety Department to uphold tribal and federal law. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Decision Prompts Concerns about Tribal Sovereignty

Tribal advocates are closely analyzing the potential impact of a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling dealing with state investigations of certain crimes on …

Before the pandemic, CDC statistics showed about 700 women died each year of pregnancy-related complications, with Black and American Indian/Alaska Native women about three times more likely to die compared to white women. (parentingupstream/Pixabay)

Study: Maternal Deaths Would Skyrocket with Nationwide Abortion Ban

Texas is home to one in 10 Americans of reproductive age, and mandated births due to the state's abortion ban will increase the number of maternal …

The United States celebrates Independence Day while Congress investigates the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Bob/Adobe Stock)

Groups Follow Anti-Democratic Movements as US Celebrates July 4th

This July 4th marks nearly 250 years since the United States declared its independence, setting the country on a path to establishing its democracy…

The only memorial to Anne Frank is located in Boise. (Kencf0618/Wikimedia Commons)

ID AARP Grant Winners Include Anne Frank Memorial

Three projects in Idaho have been selected to receive grants from the AARP Community Challenge. Among them is the Anne Frank Human Rights Memorial in …

Many Latinos celebrate those who have died on Dia de los Muertos, but don't talk about death beforehand and shy away from hospice services. (EduardoTaboada/Pixabay)

NM Latino Families Urged to Initiate End-of-Life Discussions

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people in New Mexico and elsewhere to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before ill…

The Rev. Leonard Jackson speaks at a clean-energy rally in 2017. His Faith Organizing Alliance says the Juneteenth message of freedom can also be helpful in motivating people to work toward curbing climate change. (Steve Marcus)

In Spirit of Juneteenth, NV Community Groups Demand Climate Action

Members of Nevada's African American community say they're channeling the spirit of Juneteenth to fight for environmental justice. Church-affiliated …

Latinos have succumbed to COVID at two to three times the rate of white Americans, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine. (Dubova)

Higher Latino COVID Death Rates Spur Interest in End-of-Life Options

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people to have end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illness or tragedy strikes…

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