Human Rights/Racial Justice / Public News Service

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helps low-income apartment tenants afford reduced rents in Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 2, 2024

Montanans threaten 'rent strike' over black mold, safety issues

More than two dozen members of a tenant's union in Bozeman are threatening a rent strike if their landlord doesn't address maintenance and other safet…

The ACLU of Arkansas says immigrant workers are an integral part of the Arkansas economy. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Mass deportations would be setback for AR economy

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas predicts if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his campaign promise of mass deportations…

New Mexico immigrant advocacy groups said mass deportations promised by the next Trump administration would destabilize local economies. (LRafael/AdobeStock)

NM human rights groups promise to defend immigrants against deportation

New Mexico immigrant-based and immigrant-serving organizations are developing strategies to defend those workers and their families in the new year…

Education groups say censorship of course content by the UNT Administration is an example of extreme overcompliance with SB 17. (Adobe Stock)

University of North Texas accused of extreme DEI restrictions

Educators across the state are watching the University of North Texas, as the school denies it overstepped the parameters of Senate Bill 17. The …

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 …

Immigrants made up 4.7% of Wyoming's workforce in 2022, according to the American Immigration Council, and paid $151 million in taxes. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrants’ rights training in Jackson this weekend

Immigrants and the agencies that help them are preparing for what could happen when President-elect Donald Trump returns to office. In Wyoming…

Just under 14% of South Dakota kids are American Indian or Alaska Native, but make up more than 62% of children in the state's foster care system, according to the National Indian Child Welfare Association. (Adobe Stock)

Remembering older kids in foster care on National Adoption Day

This coming Saturday is National Adoption Day and it is a good time to think about children who are older or have special needs and face more difficul…

A child's public education costs $19,000 annually in Connecticut, but it can cost $274,000 to imprison a child. (Adobe Stock)

Youth justice reforms a top 2025 priority for Connecticut group

As it advocates for changes to the youth justice system in 2025, a Connecticut group says the state needs to do more to examine and address the root …

The FBI is investigating a nationwide wave of harassing texts with messages referencing slavery. In Wisconsin, Black residents of all ages have reported receiving them. (Adobe Stock)

WI wave of racist texts sparks concerns over data privacy

CORRECTION: The legislation mentioned in this story was passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly. It has not yet been voted on by the state Senate…

According to a United Nations 2015 report, food system emissions were responsible for 18 billion tons of carbon dioxide, making up 34% of global emissions. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Investors, activists both work to shape companies' climate goals

The food we consume is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, with beef production -- key to the fast food industry -- among …

Finding shelter for young people who are set to be released from detention can be difficult and take much time. (sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

WA youth with nowhere to go can spend longer behind bars

Incarcerated young people in Washington state can spend a longer time in detention if they do not have a place to go upon release. Some of the …

President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign the issue of abortion access should be left to states. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said he hopes Trump sticks to his viewpoint. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court hears case on 1849 abortion law

It is now up to Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to decide the fate of an abortion law from the mid-1800s. A circuit court determined last year an 18…

More than one million Latinos live in Minnesota and surrounding states, and advocacy groups say it shows how this population is having an influence on elections. (Adobe Stock)

MN organizers: Latino voting power is here to stay

The impact Latino voters had in this year's election has caught the public's attention. Minnesota organizers found success in connecting with this …

A bill making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives would create a truth and healing commission to address ongoing harms to Native American families linked to the federal children's boarding-school program. (Adobe Stock)

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing

President Joe Biden's recent apology on behalf of the federal government for harms done to generations of Native American children and their families …

President-elect Donald Trump's plan for mass deportation of immigrants means the U.S. loses out on $22.6 billion and $5.7 billion in Social Security and Medicare contributions, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrant NYers fear what lies ahead in 2nd Trump term

As the dust settles from the 2024 election, immigrant New Yorkers fear how Donald Trump's second term will impact them. Many still recall the …

City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Program helps youth in Pueblo clear steep hurdles of fines and fees

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza. <br />(Adobe Stock)

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

At Adamson High School in the Dallas Independent School District, 95% of eligible students registered to vote. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

TX teachers work to register students to vote

More than 100 former and current students from Adamson High School in Dallas are eligible to vote for the first time this year, because of the work …

Since 2002, there has been a single case of voter fraud in Wyoming, in which a convicted felon from Alaska managed to cast votes. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison. (Adobe Stock)

Lacking proof, WY official warns of noncitizens voting

Wyoming's secretary of state is asking county clerks to report non-citizens who try to vote, although cases of that - or any other - kind of election …

More than one of every 10 voters in today's general election is expected to be Latino, a 20.5% increase from 2016, according to the NALEO Educational Fund. (Adobe Stock)

All eyes on AZ for Election Day as experts warn of harmful misinformation

Election Day is finally here, and this year more than 17 million Latinos are expected to cast a ballot. The National Association of Latino Elected …

The Latino voter turnout is expected to grow by 6.5% compared with 2020, while non-Hispanic voter turnout is projected to increase by just 1.5% from 2020 levels. (Mediteraneo/Adobe)

Expert warns Tennesseans of harmful misinformation on Election Day

Election Day is finally here, and this year more than 17 million Latinos are expected to cast a ballot. Latino voters are now the country's second …

Early voting turnout outpaced 2020 and 2016 in elections across the state. (driftwood/Adobe Stock)

Texas election officials: Expect long lines on Election Day

Millions of Texans stood in long lines to cast ballots during early voting. In addition to picking the next president, Texans are voting in the …

Polls will be open on Election Day from 7:30 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. (Alan/Adobe Stock)

Lower early voting numbers in AR compared to 2020

Election officials in Arkansas say fewer people cast early votes in this year's general election than in 2020. They say more people voted early …

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative registered nearly 160,000 new voters for the Nov. 5 election, which represents the largest grassroots voter registration program in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's voting system affects BIPOC communities

Ohio voters are facing significant challenges at the ballot box, with some groups expressing concerns over voter roll purges and gerrymandering …

The estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants living in the United States in 2022 was below the peak of 12.2 million in 2007. (Gretchen/Adobe Stock)

Mass deportation of immigrants opposed by most U.S. voters

A strong majority of voters across party lines want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America's 11 million undocumented immigrants…

A new survey from Red America/Blue America Research revealed 62% of respondents oppose censorship in schools and only 45% hold a favorable view of Project 2025, which includes measures like limiting free speech and altering historical education content. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Ohioans feel strongly about education, worker protections

A recent bipartisan national survey shed light on where Americans, including Ohioans, stand on issues of education, labor and public services…

Historian visits MI to address threats to American democracy

With the election of the nation's next leader just eight days away, a renowned historian visits Michigan to discuss his views on growing global …

About three in 10 Hispanic Republicans identify as evangelical Protestants, a far higher share than the 10% of Hispanic Democrats who say the same, according to Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Pastor highlights complexity of Hispanic evangelical vote

Roughly 10 million Hispanics identify as evangelical or Protestant, and one pastor contends there has been what he calls "an awakening" regarding the …

Money bail is a source of racial disparities in the justice system, particularly for Black and Latino populations, research shows. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Bail reform in WV has no impact on crime rates

Changes in bail policy don't affect crime rates in cities nationwide, according to new data from the Brennan Center for Justice. Cash bail has …

Experts warn that mass deportation would lead to steep price hikes in supermarkets across the nation, given the large share of farmworkers who are undocumented. (Adobe Stock)

Majority of voters oppose mass deportation of immigrants

A strong majority of voters across party lines want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America's 11 million undocumented immigrants…

Over 55,000 immigrant business owners accounted for 10% of self-employed Pennsylvania residents in 2018 and generated $1.2 billion in business income. (Vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

Online forum debunks immigration myths before election

Today's virtual "Ask Me Anything" program will address debunking immigration myths and tackle complex questions. About one in 14 Pennsylvanians is …

The highly competitive race for the presidency in this year's election is raising concerns about political violence. (eqroy/Adobe Stock)

Calls to turn down divisive rhetoric as Election Day approaches

Election Day is less than two weeks away and both sides are blaming the other for divisive political rhetoric, while others are asking to turn down …

Because of their remote nature and limited capacity to access financial help, many of New Mexico's colonias rely on water wells not built to code. (GAO)

NM's colonias need oversight to improve water, wastewater systems

Federal funding for infrastructure improvements in colonias, predominately rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border, including 150 in …

A law enshrined in Nebraska's 1875 Constitution has been overturned, restoring the rights of Nebraskans with a felony conviction to register and vote. (Adobe Stock)

Court clears way for Nebraskans with past felony convictions to register, vote

The state Supreme Court has upheld a law giving Nebraskans with prior felony convictions the right to vote once they have completed their sentence…

The Indiana Secretary of State's office reports only 59% of registered voters in Marion County, the state's largest, cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU of Indiana stands ready to support voter safety

Voter apprehension is reaching record levels for this year's general election, with dueling poll results and debates only adding to the anxiety…

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act, securing Native Americans' right to vote in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal leaders mark Indigenous Peoples Day urging Native vote

Today is Indigenous Peoples' Day, and tribal leaders are using the occasion to call on people in Indian Country to vote in the upcoming election…

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Research; Adding trans workers can boost company bottom lines

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

Eligible voters from both political parties would have difficulty obtaining proof of citizenship, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Some 20 million eligible U.S. voters said they cannot quickly access a passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers. (Adobe Stock)

Voting rights groups sue to block NH proof-of-citizenship law

Voting-rights groups in New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's new election law, which requires proof of citizenship for …

At Ohio State, 36 were arrested for alleged criminal trespassing, including students, a staff member and supporters unrelated to the institution during protests this spring. (Erman Gunes/Adobe Stock)

Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism

By Eduardo Miranda Strobel / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Protests at …

In September, the Michigan Senate passed SB 401, a bill to expand voter rights and accessibility in the state. The measure is set for a hearing next week in the House Elections Committee. (Adobe Stock)

MSU study: Michigan voter-roll purging could be biased

States are required to conduct regular voter list maintenance to ensure the rolls are accurate. But a new Michigan State University study suggests …

The average person's struggle to distinguish between true and false online information now extends beyond voting to health, well-being and civic life. (nicoletaionescu/Adobe Stock)

America's 'era of misinformation' not exclusive to elections, voting

Wading through misinformation these days is not exclusive to voting rights and rules - but also can cause confusion about health, well-being…

Washington State University serves more than 4,100 latino undergraduates. (knowlesgallery/Adobe Stock)

WA university recognized for service to migrant students

A program in Washington state helping college students from migrant families is being celebrated for its support of the Latino community. Washington …

The HBCU Liberation Tour aims to get students in historically Black colleges to engage in the political system and register to vote. (Adobe Stock)

HBCU Liberation Tour seeks to mobilize young Black voters in TN, South

Polling shows that many young people of color in Generation Z are ambivalent about voting, but one group of activists is working to change that…

Twelve people on North Carolina's death row were sentenced in Forsyth County, more than any other county in the state; seven of those 12 are Black men. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates begin 136-mile walk to urge end of death penalty in NC

Today, advocates in North Carolina are kicking off a 136-mile "Walk for Commutation" to raise awareness about those on death row who could soon face …

Labor policy analysts said the pandemic brought workers' rights back into the forefront, with employees in a variety of sectors expressing a desire for their well-being to be taken more seriously by their employers. (Adobe Stock)

Knowledge is power during Workplace Rights Week in MN

Through this Saturday, Minnesota is recognizing Workplace Rights Week. From COVID precautions to emerging technology, labor voices said there is key …

Critics of Project 2025 allege it would put water at greater risk of pollution and contamination for the sake of corporate profits. (wckiw/Adobe Stock)

NM news org identifies impacts of 'Project 2025' on state residents

A New Mexico nonprofit news organization wants voters to know what is included in "Project 2025" and how it could potentially change the course of the…

Connie Brushbreaker, a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota, said she had to wait four months for the Indian Health Service to pay for an MRI and surgery she needed. Begging for funding

Gaps persist in Indian Health Service 'Referred Care' program

By Arielle Zionts and Katheryn Houghton for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the KF…

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act provides lump-sum compensation for illnesses contracted by people working in the uranium industry or exposed to above-ground nuclear tests. (Courtesy Nuclear Threat Initiative)

New Mexico tribal representatives in D.C. to support radiation exposure compensation

A 2,000-mile bus trip has not deterred representatives from Southwest tribes from traveling to Washington, D.C., this week to support expansion of …

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