Poverty Issues / Public News Service

Memphis Light, Gas and Water is the largest three-service public power utility in the nation, serving more than 440,000 customers in Memphis and Shelby County. (Vika art/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost

By Ashli Blow for Tennessee Lookout.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publ…

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families provides subsidies to eligible families to help them pay for child care. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

WA call center provides child care support for families experiencing homelessness

The high cost of child care in Washington can strain family budgets. It can be even harder when families are experiencing homelessness. A statewide …

The approach aims to make nutritious foods more accessible and affordable, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for mothers and their babies. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

AR health center aims to get more healthy foods to expecting mothers

A southeast Arkansas healthcare system is using grant money to help increase its patients' access to healthy foods. Mainline Health Systems will …

Hunger Free America's 2023 Annual Hunger Survey found almost 774,000 people in Virginia are food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

VA health center selected for food scarcity innovation program

A Virginia community health center is part of a program addressing food scarcity. The National Association of Community Health Centers' 2024 …

In 2022, fatal drug overdoses in Philadelphia hit a peak of 1,413, with people of color hit hardest. More than 80% of the overdose fatalities in 2022 involved opioids, almost always fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

New Medicaid policy boosts 'street medicine' in PA

Philadelphia is addressing its opioid crisis by deploying mobile medical units to provide Medicaid-funded "street medicine" to the unhoused population…

New Mexico's Save the Children organization has previously engaged kids on summer break from school to help create a 9-foot paint-by-numbers mural. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)

Helping prevent the summer slide among NM's school-aged kids

Some New Mexico kids hope summer never ends, while others cannot wait to get back in the classroom and both groups are at risk of falling behind in …

Save the Children works in more than 300 of rural America's most impoverished communities, helping kids prepare for kindergarten and reach grade-level goals. (peopleimages.com./Adobe Stock)

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

During the summer months, children can lose up to 40% of the information they learned in school, in a phenomenon called the "summer slide." The …

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits brought more than $700 million to local Colorado economies in 2017, creating more than $1.25 billion in economic activity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill proposal would cut SNAP food assistance by $30 billion

One proposed version of the next Farm Bill, introduced by the Republican chair of the House Agriculture Committee, would cut the Supplemental …

There are more than 154,000 children under age six living in Utah with parents in the workforce but there are only 54,804 licensed child care spots in 1,367 programs statewide, according to Voices for Utah Children. (Adobe Stock)

Summit County initiative looks to ease childcare cost burden

Utah parents can expect to pay between $800 and $1,200 dollars a month for child care but a new program is expanding its reach into Summit County to h…

At the state level, Renew Missouri represents renewable and energy efficiency interests before the Public Service Commission. (Adobe Stock)

MO nonprofits join forces to help with power bills for those in need

Some Missouri nonprofit groups have teamed up to help those in need in the rural southeastern part of the state. Many households in these …

A tax-cut package, passed in an Arkansas special legislative session, also increased the homestead property tax credit in Arkansas from $425 to $500. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Opponents of latest state tax cuts say they benefit wealthy Arkansans

Leaders of some nonprofit organizations in Arkansas are not happy with a recent tax cut package passed by the Legislature. The law reduces the tax …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. (Adobe Stock)

Montgomery mayor seeks public safety solutions at U.S. Conference of Mayors

More than 200 mayors, from cities in Alabama and across the country, gathered this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at the 92nd U.…

Housing among top priorities for Savannah at Mayors' Conference

More than 200 mayors, from cities in Georgia and across the country, gathered through this weekend to tackle the nation's most prominent issues at …

Among 3- and 4-year-olds in Texas, 58% are not in school. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Texas remains near bottom in kids well-being

Texas is near the bottom in this year's annual Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Book, which studies trends in child well-being. The report …

The population in the Tucson metro area increased by 0.7% in 2023, bringing the total population to just over 1 million, according to the University of Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

AZ mayor sees federal investments pay off for Tucson

Regina Romero, mayor of Tucson, was one of many local leaders at the 92nd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, which wrapped up this weekend…

A New Mexico wildfire has killed two people, burned at least 200 homes and forced the evacuation of 5,000 residents in the mountain town of Ruidoso. (wiki)

FBI to take closer look at NM's uncontained South Fork, Salt wildfires

The FBI has joined New Mexico's local, state, federal and tribal partners to investigate the cause of two drought-fueled wildfires that have yet to …

The living wage for a person in Maine who lives alone with no dependents is $22.04, or $4.65 more than the median wage for a home health aide, according the MIT Living Wage Calculator. (Adobe Stock)

Low wages, burnout cited for ME direct-care worker shortage

A critical shortage of direct care workers in Maine is leaving residents without needed health services, according to a new report. It showed more …

Nevada Health Link's texting initiative is estimated to reach more than 80,000 Nevadans. (Adobe Stock)

NV Health Link extends special enrollment period, launches SMS outreach

Nevada's marketplace insurance program wants people who no longer qualify for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program to know it has exten…

Rhode Island has one of the nation's highest percentages of students enrolled in early childhood education programs. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Building a brighter future for Rhode Island children

Rhode Island has ranked 12th in the nation for child well-being according to the 2024 Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The …

To participate in Mississippi's work-release program, individuals must be within two years of their release date and have not had disciplinary action within the last 12 months. (Tjshot/Adobe Stock)

MS expands work-release program, job training to reduce recidivism

Mississippi's pilot work-release program for incarcerated individuals has been extended to three years. The program allows qualified participants to …

A majority of board members of the newly merged Clinica Family Health and Wellness will continue to be patients who receive services, working alongside community volunteers. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado health merger aims to unify behavioral and medical care

Clinica Family Health and Mental Health Partners have announced plans to merge operations by September of this year. Mental Health Partners co-CEO …

The United States sends nearly 80 billion pounds of food to municipal solid waste landfills annually. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Ohio State tackles household food waste

Ohio State University is spearheading a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded initiative to reduce food loss and waste in the United …

According to Jonathan Tyndall, about 30% to 40% of farm produce goes to waste and doesn't get used. He says Ripe for Revival is working to make those numbers smaller. (Courtesy of Joe Mecca/Coastal Credit Union)

New mobile market tackles food deserts in North Carolina

A new mobile market is tackling food deserts in North Carolina, where 1.4 million people struggle to find healthy food. Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit …

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up almost 6% of the Texas population. Texas ranks third among all states with the largest AAPI population, after California and New York. (Trueffelpix/Adobe Stock)

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities

Almost half of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who live in Texas are skipping routine healthcare because of cost, according to a survey by …

Utah Community Action provides services to more than 60,887 income-eligible individuals through six core programs. (Adobe Stock)

Community action agencies celebrate 60 years, renew calls to battle poverty

Community action agencies in Utah and across the nation are celebrating 60 years of battling poverty and empowering communities, which started with …

Restaurants are the third-largest employer of young people ages 16 to 24 in New York. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Young NYers prioritize living-wage jobs at ballot box

A new report finds New York's rising cost of living and having living-wage jobs are priority issues for young voters. Research shows a single …

A 2015 study by the Boston Federal Reserve Bank found the median net worth for white households in Greater Boston was $250,000, while for Black households it was just $8. Researchers are currently updating those findings. (Adobe Stock)

MA Commission on Poverty tackles historic wealth gap

A Legislature-backed Commission on Poverty in Massachusetts aims to address the state's historic wealth gap. The commission will study demographic …

Between 2012 and 2022, more than 2 million landlord-tenant cases were filed in Michigan. <br />(Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Most MI tenants cannot afford their rent

Michigan has 1.1 million renter households. According to the 2024 Michigan Statewide Housing Needs Assessment, more than half struggle to pay rent…

States ranked lowest in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation tend to have more children of color in their populations, highlighting institutionalized and systemic racism. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

Children's advocates: NM 'cradle to career' investment pays off

Advocates for New Mexico's kids say at the heart of an annual report on child welfare is positive news for the state's families. The Annie E…

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's 2024 Kids Count Book, 425,000 Illinois children live in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Kids Count Data Book shows IL children fare well in health care, lag in academics

The 2024 Kids Count Data Book was released this week. The publication is a 50-state report of data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation about the …

Advocates are calling for higher teacher salaries to help Alaska can recruit and retain more educators. (Jacob Lund/Adobestock)

Report: Alaska ranks near bottom in overall child well-being

Alaska ranks 41st in the nation in terms of overall child well-being, according to the new 2024 Kids Count Data Bookfrom the Annie E. Casey …

Chronic absence from school may be driving learning loss. Some 30% of students, about 14.7 million, were chronically absent in 2021-2022, nearly double pre-pandemic rates, according to new data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Report: Ohio make has made some progress on child well-being

Math and reading proficiency among Ohio kids has worsened over the past five years, according to new data. The latest Kids Count Data Book from the …

The number of Maryland seniors reporting insufficient sleep increased to 29%, according to the American's Health Rankings Senior Report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

A new report found Maryland's older residents face worsening physical and behavioral health and looks at the possible reasons. The America's Health …

Students with strong math and science skills are more likely to graduate from high school, attend and complete college, earn higher incomes and take advantage of the future opportunities available to them, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Mixed reviews of Michigan kids' well-being in new report

Michigan ranks 34th in the nation for overall child well-being, in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. A closer look at …

Georgia's highest ranking among four domains studied by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in its Kids Count Data Book is in education, at 31st. (Adobe Stock)

GA ranks among bottom 10 for health despite gains in child well-being

Georgia remains among the bottom 10 states for children's health, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation…

Fewer than a third of fourth graders were at or above proficient in reading, two percentage points lower than right before the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nevada struggles to improve child well-being standards

Plummeting reading and math scores could prove to be a significant barrier for Nevada children, especially as they head into the workforce. This …

Child poverty increased by 5% from 2019 to 2022, with Alabama ranking 45th in the nation at 22%, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Alabama children need more educational, economic support

A new report sheds light on child well-being in Alabama, highlighting the need for greater academic and economic support. According to the latest …

The latest Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranked Idaho high in the family and community category, at fourth best in the nation. (Vadim Sofin/Adobe Stock)

Report:ID ranks high in child well-being, education still concern

Idaho ranks 13th in a new report on child well-being. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count Data Book measures how well states are …

The number of Oklahoma high school students not graduating on time rose by 25% in the most recent Kids County Data Book survey from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Report: OK near bottom of rankings for quality of kids' healthcare, education

A report on the condition of America's children ranks Oklahoma near the bottom of the 50 states for the well-being of its kids, with particularly …

Research has shown the most effective tutoring is in person, 'high dosage' and tied directly to the school. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado drops two spots to 17th nationally for child wellness

Colorado lost ground - dropping from 15th to 17th overall - in this year's Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, which ranks states …

The number of young children ages 3 and 4 not in school remained the same before and after the pandemic at 42%, which is lower than the national average of 54%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NY kids’ pandemic-era education troubles persist

A new report found New York kids' well-being is improving despite lingering pandemic issues. The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book …

Both public and private organizations across Mississippi reported using Mississippi Kids Count data for grant applications over the past three years resulted in a collective $48 million to programs and services in the state. (gpointstudio/Adobe Stock)

Report: Some progress, but low rankings, for MS kids' well-being

Mississippi ranks near the bottom among states for children's well-being, at 49th overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

From July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023, Direct Subsidized Loans had a 4.99% interest rate with a maximum of $5,500, while Direct Unsubsidized Loans for undergraduates had the same interest rate and can go up to $20,500, minus any subsidized amounts received. (Small Smiles_dimple/Adobe Stock)

Rising interest rates prompt higher loan costs for MO students

Federal student loan interest rates have surged to their highest levels in over a decade, posing yet another challenge for Missouri students and …

Children's advocates rallied in Hilo in March, calling for state investments in affordable childcare and early learning. (Hawaii Children's Action Network)

Report: Low scores, poor attendance plague HI schools

Low reading and math scores at schools in Hawaii point to a need to further invest in public education, according to the 2024 Kids Count Data Book …

Fewer than 30% of New Hampshire eighth-graders were proficient in math between 2019 and 2022. Studies show the lag will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48million pandemic-era students, for a total of $900 billion in lost income. (Adobe Stock)

NH leads in child well-being but chronic absence rates lower test scores

New Hampshire ranks first in the nation for overall child well-being but trauma and pandemic-related learning loss continue to impact students…

According to the Kids Count report, four out of ten students nationally had experienced at least one adverse childhood experience, such as family economic hardship, their parents divorcing or separating, or a parent serving jail time, which can impact educational outcomes. (Adobe Stock)

UT ranks third for overall child well-being; more education support urged

Utah is among the best states in the nation for children's overall well-being according to a new national report, but experts are emphasizing the …

Report: LA kids rank near bottom for poverty, health, family life

A report on the condition of America's children ranks Louisiana near the bottom of the 50 states for economic well-being, health and family, but …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 2, 2024

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Poverty Issues

'Share the Pennies' weatherization program tackles climate solutions, reduces cost

WA call center provides child care support for families experiencing homelessness

AR health center aims to get more healthy foods to expecting mothers

VA health center selected for food scarcity innovation program

New Medicaid policy boosts 'street medicine' in PA

Helping prevent the summer slide among NM's school-aged kids

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

Farm Bill proposal would cut SNAP food assistance by $30 billion

Summit County initiative looks to ease childcare cost burden

MO nonprofits join forces to help with power bills for those in need

Opponents of latest state tax cuts say they benefit wealthy Arkansans

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

Montgomery mayor seeks public safety solutions at U.S. Conference of Mayors

Housing among top priorities for Savannah at Mayors' Conference

Texas remains near bottom in kids well-being

AZ mayor sees federal investments pay off for Tucson

FBI to take closer look at NM's uncontained South Fork, Salt wildfires

Low wages, burnout cited for ME direct-care worker shortage

NV Health Link extends special enrollment period, launches SMS outreach

Building a brighter future for Rhode Island children

MS expands work-release program, job training to reduce recidivism

Colorado health merger aims to unify behavioral and medical care

Ohio State tackles household food waste

New mobile market tackles food deserts in North Carolina

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in TX face health disparities

Community action agencies celebrate 60 years, renew calls to battle poverty

Report: Young NYers prioritize living-wage jobs at ballot box

MA Commission on Poverty tackles historic wealth gap

Most MI tenants cannot afford their rent

Children's advocates: NM 'cradle to career' investment pays off

Kids Count Data Book shows IL children fare well in health care, lag in academics

Report: Alaska ranks near bottom in overall child well-being

Report: Ohio make has made some progress on child well-being

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

Mixed reviews of Michigan kids' well-being in new report

GA ranks among bottom 10 for health despite gains in child well-being

Report: Nevada struggles to improve child well-being standards

Report: Alabama children need more educational, economic support

Report:ID ranks high in child well-being, education still concern

Report: OK near bottom of rankings for quality of kids' healthcare, education

Colorado drops two spots to 17th nationally for child wellness

Report: NY kids’ pandemic-era education troubles persist

Report: Some progress, but low rankings, for MS kids' well-being

Rising interest rates prompt higher loan costs for MO students

Report: Low scores, poor attendance plague HI schools

NH leads in child well-being but chronic absence rates lower test scores

UT ranks third for overall child well-being; more education support urged

Report: LA kids rank near bottom for poverty, health, family life