Social Justice / Public News Service

Nashville State Community College and other partners offer what's known as

Thursday, October 6, 2022

TN School Works to Attract More Students of Color to Higher Ed

A new report on Black students in the community college system found fewer are signing up to attend two-year schools, an enrollment downturn made …

One in five Ohioans surveyed said threats to democracy are a top concern before the 2022 midterms.(Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Ohio SOS Launches New Election Investigation Unit

Instances of voter fraud are few and far between, but Ohio election officials want to ensure voters have confidence in the integrity of the system…

Businesses in Bellingham have displayed some of the origami butterflies that are part of a campaign called

Thursday, October 6, 2022

WA Community Urges Creation of Immigrant Resource Center

Community members in northwest Washington are gathering support for an immigrant resource center. In September, Democrats in Whatcom County …

The Help America Vote act of 2002 requires each polling place have at least one accessible voting system. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

Voting Access Better for MO People with Disabilities; Challenges Remain

With absentee voting under way, election season has arrived in Missouri, but voters with disabilities still face challenges. While poll workers can …

More than 65 million people, or more than one in every six U.S. residents, collected Social Security benefits in January, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Nick Youngson/Pix4free)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Social Security Benefits Expected to Increase, But Challenges Remain

Social Security benefits could see their highest increase in several decades, but those advocating for beneficiaries say there is still plenty of …

KFF reports MO HealthNet covers two thirds of all Missouri nursing home residents. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Advocates: Missouri Medicaid Expansion Helping Citizens, Saving Jobs

With health care as a hot topic of debate in the contest for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat, attention is being drawn back to the state's Medicaid …

A temporary intellectual property waiver gave countries around the world better access to COVID-19 vaccines, but did not extend to treatments and tests. (tsuguliev/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

WA Students Call on U.S. to Increase Access to COVID Treatments Globally

As the World Trade Organization meets this week, students across the country are pushing the Biden administration to support more access to COVID-19 …

The U-S. Department of Justice is calling on Nevada to ensure children have access to therapy,<br />behavior supports, crisis services and care coordination in their communities. (Berit Kessler/Adobestock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Feds Find NV Failing Children With Behavioral-Health Disabilities

The U.S. Department of Justice said the State of Nevada unnecessarily institutionalizes children with behavioral-health disabilities, and the problem …

Americans have had to pay two to three times more for their medications than people in other countries pay for the same drugs. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Lower Drug Prices Expected After Biden Medicare Move

Some 930,000 Colorado Medicare recipients will save money on medications starting next year, thanks to provisions in President Joe Biden's Inflation …

Rates of child abuse and neglect are five times higher for children in families with low socioeconomic status, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Trust Your Gut, Know the Signs to Spot, Prevent Child Abuse

Child abuse cases in the state dropped between 2019 and 2020, but Kentucky still ranks fifth among states for incidents of child maltreatment…

Before getting a criminal annulment, people can review a checklist provided by the state of New Hampshire to ensure they're eligible. Otherwise, they could be stuck waiting for a few years before being able to apply again. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

NH Legal Clinic to Aid in Criminal-Record Annulment

Most criminal offenses can be annulled except for violent crimes and those involving obstruction of government administration. An upcoming legal …

In recent years, a range of studies and reports show Minnesota has some of the worst racial disparities in the nation, including in the areas of homeownership and education. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

MN Groups Brainstorm Ways to Address Poverty Disparities

On the heels of a regional conference, multiple groups are working on new solutions for reducing the poverty gap in Minnesota. Nonprofits, …

If voters approve Initiative Measure 433, once the wage reaches $15 an hour it will be adjusted every year to account for any increases in the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Voters to Decide Wage Floor for Workers

Ballots for the November election are headed to mailboxes across the state, and Nebraska voters will get to decide if the state's minimum wage should …

Black students account for about 10% of nursing school graduates in Ohio, compared to 12.6% of the general population. (Adobe Stock)

Researcher: Better Diversity in Nursing Improves Access to Care

Nurses are on the forefront of patient outcomes, and experts say a workforce that better reflects the population it serves can help reduce healthcare …

About 80% of Latino college students in California graduate in four years, compared to about 88% of white students, according to the California Dept. of Education. (Digitalskillet1/Adobe Stock)

New CA Laws Aim to Improve College Graduation Rates

On the last day to sign bills this legislative session, Gov Gavin Newsom approved a slew of measures to improve college graduation rates, …

Utah is one of only eight states where registered voters receive a mail-in ballot for all elections, with more limited mail-in options available in 33 other states. (Laura Images/Adobe Stock)

Mail-In Ballots Remain Popular Among Utah Voters

Election Day is November 8, and Utah elections officials say it isn't too early for voters to start making a plan for casting their ballots. For many…

Union representatives claim Amazon, as the general contractor and owner of a distribution site under construction, is responsible for all the work on their job site, and paying workers for installing conveyor systems. (Adobe Stock)

Amazon Workers in Nebraska Still Unpaid

Some 140 workers at an Amazon distribution center in Papillion have still not been paid for two weeks of work done in August. Dan Riskowski…

According to the Richmond Eviction Lab, several parts of the city's Southside neighborhood saw 67 percent of eviction filings during the first quarter of 2022. (Jon Anders Wilken/Adobe Stock)

Evictions in VA Continue to Grow

Evictions are on the rise in Virginia after numerous protections provided by federal and state rental assistance programs ended. According to the …

According to a 2021 report, defendants in about half of all criminal cases in Pennsylvania had counsel provided by a public defender. (Adobe Stock)

New Bill Would Fund PA's Ailing Public Defender System

A new bill in Pennsylvania would provide money for public defenders, who say they're struggling to take on the cases of people charged with crimes …

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

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…

Not only has inflation created more economic gaps in tribal areas, food experts say it also has sent the cost of things like wild rice soaring. And that has limited access to these staples for Natives living in larger cities, too. (Adobe Stock)

Economic Pressure Builds Ahead of Elections in Tribal Areas

The economy is usually a big topic during elections. With the midterms near, recent inflation woes are especially felt in tribal areas, and …

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., says she plans to call a legislative hearing on the practices of credit reporting agencies. (Kalafoto/Adobe Stock)

Consumer Groups Press for Bill to Reform Credit Reporting

Consumer groups are pressing for legislation to reform the way credit agencies handle errors on credit reports. The calls to amend the Fair Credit …

Despite 681 attempts to ban or restrict library resources so far this year, 71% of voters across the political spectrum oppose book bans, according to a survey by the American Library Association. (Adobe Stock)

CT Libraries Observe Banned Books Week

As "Banned Books Week" comes to a close, Connecticut libraries have been celebrating with great fervor - despite numerous book bans and challenges…

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 …

According to a recent survey by the American Library Association, about 71% of voters, across party lines, oppose book bans altogether. Yet, the ALA has found 1,651 different books were the target of book bans since the start of 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Brooklyn Public Library Hosts 'Books UnBanned' Program

Banned Books Week continues through Saturday, and the Brooklyn Public Library has a program for teens facing book bans in their states. The Books …

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Libraries Call Attention to Censorship During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

From July 2021 to June 2022 across the nation, there were 2,532 instances of individual books being banned, affecting 1,648 unique book titles, according to Pen America. (prettysleepyart/Pixabay)

TX ACLU Promotes 'Students' Rights Hub' During Banned Books Week

Ahead of Banned Books Week, the ACLU of Texas published what it calls a Students' Rights Hub. Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas…

Educators from across South Dakota say newly proposed social studies standards might help students memorize facts for tests but will not help them develop critical-thinking skills for the outside world. (Adobe Stock)

SD Holds First Public Hearing in Social Studies Standards Debate

A South Dakota education panel has kicked off the public-hearing phase in the state's latest effort to update social studies standards. Many …

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 …

In Arkansas, election officials will request that voters provide an approved form of ID. (Annap/AdobeStock)

Arkansans Urged to Register on National Voter Registration Day

Ahead of the general election on November 8, there's an urgent push for voter registration in Arkansas. In 2020, 83% of Arkansas citizens reported …

Persons with health insurance in Gwinnett County including children make up 82.3% of the population, meaning 17.7% are uninsured. (Gwinnett Coalition)

Gwinnett Coalition Improves Health-Care Access For Residents

Gwinnett County's uninsured population of 15.6% is slightly higher than the state rate of 15.3%, according to 2020 U.S. census data. Renee Byrd-…

Some marijuana convictions, which keep people from getting a better job, joining the military, going back to school or getting a student loan, can be erased right now. (Adobe Stock)

Legal Clinic: How to Put a Pot Conviction Behind You

A special legal clinic is being held on September 24 in Buffalo about expunging certain marijuana convictions. The clinic, a collaboration between …

Advocates for the poor say the Covid pandemic revealed effective tools to reduce poverty in America. (Adobe Stock)

We Know What Works: How Covid Showed Ways to End Poverty

Childhood poverty was cut nearly in half during the Covid pandemic due to expanded federal programs like the child tax credit, and stimulus payments…

In response to any claims that absentee voting is prone to fraud, Iowa election leaders say the state's Voter ID law, which is required at the polls and on absentee ballot request forms, protects election integrity. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Group of IA Election Leaders Team Up to Stop Disinformation

Iowa's elections are safe and secure and haven't been subject to widespread fraud. That's the message from a bipartisan group of election …

The midterm general election this year is on Nov. 8. (mybaitshop/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Mobilize Ahead of November Midterm Election

Nonprofit organizations are ramping up efforts to get out the vote for the election in November. The student-led Montana Public Interest Research …

Research shows around a quarter of Americans find it difficult to afford prescription drugs because of high out-of-pocket costs. (Adobe Stock)

Biden’s Insulin Cap is a Start, But WV Residents Can’t Afford Other Prescription Meds

The Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Joe Biden last month caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month for seniors who have Medicare…

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 …

None of Nebraska's five members of Congress earned a perfect or even near-perfect score on this year's Democracy Scorecard. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska Congressional Delegation Scores Low on “Democracy Scorecard”

The top issue for voters heading into the November elections, even above jobs and the economy, is a growing fear American democracy is under threat…

The Farm Labor Organizing Committee won a collective-bargaining deal covering workers on tomato farms in Ohio in 1983, after an eight-year campaign and boycott. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio Farm Workers Still Shut Out of Federal Labor Protections

An organization defending the rights of thousands of farmworkers in Ohio and other states is creating its road map for the future. The Farm Labor …

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…

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 the past year, school districts have been pressured by conservative groups to weed out certain teachings about race. But others say there should be more concern about the lack of civics curriculum. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Civics Education Needed Now More Than Ever

Over the weekend, communities in Iowa observed the 21st anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Since those historic events, political tension has escalated…

Beyond crime and safety, a survey of East Metro residents of the Twin Cities area found that education and economic impacts from COVID-19 were considered significant issues. (Adobe Stock)

MN Survey Shows Declining Trust in Key Institutions

The midterm elections are near - meaning candidates, political analysts and the media want to know more about what voters are thinking. Those behind …

An estimated six million children with asthma in the United States are especially vulnerable to air pollution, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (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. …

Gov. Tom Wolf said of a tougher gift ban, "That new standard of accountability remains an important step to restore faith in government and has worked successfully for more than seven years." (Mandritoiu/Adobe Stock)">

Group Turns Up Heat on PA Lawmakers to Pass Gift Ban

Pennsylvania law allows an elected official to accept a gift - including cash - as long as it's disclosed in annual reports. But that raises some …

Ohio's labor market has recovered quickly after COVID-19, but the number of jobs in the state remains below the year 2000 level. (Adobe Stock)

New Ohio Labor Report Highlights Improvements and Challenges

A new report on working in Ohio offers a mixed picture of labor in the state. The annual State of Working Ohio report is out for 2022 and while …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2022 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2022 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 22 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

PNS Daily Newscast - October 7, 2022

2022Talks - October 7, 2022

The Yonder Report - October 6, 2022

Social Justice

TN School Works to Attract More Students of Color to Higher Ed

Ohio SOS Launches New Election Investigation Unit

WA Community Urges Creation of Immigrant Resource Center

Voting Access Better for MO People with Disabilities; Challenges Remain

Social Security Benefits Expected to Increase, But Challenges Remain

Advocates: Missouri Medicaid Expansion Helping Citizens, Saving Jobs

WA Students Call on U.S. to Increase Access to COVID Treatments Globally

Feds Find NV Failing Children With Behavioral-Health Disabilities

Lower Drug Prices Expected After Biden Medicare Move

Trust Your Gut, Know the Signs to Spot, Prevent Child Abuse

NH Legal Clinic to Aid in Criminal-Record Annulment

MN Groups Brainstorm Ways to Address Poverty Disparities

Nebraska Voters to Decide Wage Floor for Workers

Researcher: Better Diversity in Nursing Improves Access to Care

New CA Laws Aim to Improve College Graduation Rates

Mail-In Ballots Remain Popular Among Utah Voters

Amazon Workers in Nebraska Still Unpaid

Evictions in VA Continue to Grow

New Bill Would Fund PA's Ailing Public Defender System

CA Small Business Fund Revitalized by $15 Million Infusion

Economic Pressure Builds Ahead of Elections in Tribal Areas

Consumer Groups Press for Bill to Reform Credit Reporting

CT Libraries Observe Banned Books Week

KY College Boards Focus on Role of Equity in Student Success

Brooklyn Public Library Hosts 'Books UnBanned' Program

Maryland Libraries Call Attention to Censorship During Banned Books Week

TX ACLU Promotes 'Students' Rights Hub' During Banned Books Week

SD Holds First Public Hearing in Social Studies Standards Debate

Deep Data Dive Finds Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Students

Arkansans Urged to Register on National Voter Registration Day

Gwinnett Coalition Improves Health-Care Access For Residents

Legal Clinic: How to Put a Pot Conviction Behind You

We Know What Works: How Covid Showed Ways to End Poverty

Bipartisan Group of IA Election Leaders Team Up to Stop Disinformation

Nonprofits Mobilize Ahead of November Midterm Election

Biden’s Insulin Cap is a Start, But WV Residents Can’t Afford Other Prescription Meds

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

Nebraska Congressional Delegation Scores Low on “Democracy Scorecard”

Ohio Farm Workers Still Shut Out of Federal Labor Protections

More Black Farmers Use Farm Service Agency Programs

Georgia Voter Registration On Rise Before General Election

Expert: Civics Education Needed Now More Than Ever

MN Survey Shows Declining Trust in Key Institutions

More NC Residents See Link Between Pollution, Health

WA Candidates Tied to Far-Right On Ballot in November

Neighborhood Org Pushes for Economic Development in West Louisville

Group Turns Up Heat on PA Lawmakers to Pass Gift Ban

New Ohio Labor Report Highlights Improvements and Challenges