Social Justice / Public News Service

A billboard near Smithfield, N.C., where more than 600 men are housed at the Johnston Correctional Institution, sends a message to inmates. Statewide, more than 37,000 people are currently incarcerated in 55 state prisons. (Recidivism Reduction Education Programs)

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

NC group pushes for public safety through targeted investment

A North Carolina group is launching a new campaign to emphasize the importance of investing in people behind bars, so they'll have a better chance …

Cost remains the primary barrier for Coloradans to seek health care, with 83% percent of reporting they worry about being able to afford it. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Colorado lawmakers urged to address 'hidden' hospital fees

"Facility fees" originally meant to help struggling hospitals keep emergency room doors open 24 hours a day are now being applied to outpatient servic…

Between 2010 and 2022, the percentage of U.S. Latinos with at least a bachelor's degree increased from 8.9% to 13.6%. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 14, 2024

Report: Latinos in AZ are an economic powerhouse

Latinos in Arizona are an economic powerhouse, according to a new report. It shows the United States gross domestic product for Latinos was more than …

Maryland criminalized cyberbullying in 2013 and strengthened the law in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 14, 2024

Relational bullying highlighted during Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and a recent study showed teens bullied in high school tend to become pessimistic about life prospects…

A report from the Network for Public Education says four of 10 charter school closures happened without adequate notice, often occurring midyear or just before a new school year. The primary reason was insufficient enrollment, which accounted for 47% of all closures. (NuFa Studio/Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 14, 2024

The financial landscape of Ohio's charter schools

Ohio's charter schools have been a topic of debate for more than two decades, with strong opinions on both sides. Charter schools operate …

Data suggest that, contrary to popular belief, rural and urban voters in America share many bedrock values. (Matt/Adobe Stock)

Ohio voters have more in common than you might think

As Ohio heads into a pivotal election season, the divide between rural and urban voters might seem deep - but one expert says the gap isn't as wide …

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 …

This year, the North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee reported bias and discrimination contribute to traumatic and near-death experiences. (Adobe Stock)

NC moms speak out on medical neglect in high-risk pregnancies

By Kylie Marsh for the Charlotte Post, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North …

Federal officials said by embracing energy-efficient upgrades, such as a smart thermostat, a single eligible household can enjoy savings of up to $14,000. (Adobe Stock)

With the help of navigators, MN Latinos take the clean energy plunge

Summerlike temperatures are still around but winter is lurking and Minnesotans will soon have to crank up their thermostats. Now, there is outreach …

More than a half-million immigrants reside in Colorado, working as nursing assistants, cooks and software developers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Immigration boosts the economy - in Colorado and across the U.S. But new policies are needed to maximize gains and make it harder for employers to …

According to the Prison Policy Institute, Illinois's incarceration rate of 433 per 100,000 people ranks the state as having nearly the highest lockup rate of any democratic country. (Adobe Stock)

Higher cancer rates among IL's incarcerated population

Two specific types of cancer are showing up in high numbers among people in jail and prison and Illinois is no exception. A new study found a lack …

Domestic violence-related homicides in Ohio doubled from 2018 to 2019, highlighting a growing crisis in the state. (Domarita Lopez-Wilcox)

Tragic toll of domestic violence in Ohio

In Ohio, the effects of domestic violence continue to devastate families. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network released its ninth annual fatality …

The American Clean Power Second Quarter 2024 Market Report ranked Ohio fourth nationally and first in the Midwest for clean power installations and first in the Midwest for utility-scale solar capacity this year. (AnnaStills/Adobe Stock)

Ohio’s clean-energy surge drives jobs, growth

As Ohio continues to embrace clean energy solutions, the debate over its economic and environmental impact remains a focal point for residents…

Keven Dardon was among the leaders on the negotiation team in Oregon during the largest health care strike in history. (SEIU Local 49)

Workers celebrate one year on from largest health care strike in US history

It's been one year since the largest health care strike in U.S. history, and union members say they've seen changes since their 2023 victory…

A new report finds Idaho lawmakers have been adopted policies to improve elections. (Devin Allphin/Adobe Stock)

Reports: States adopting policies to increase voter access, secure elections

Election laws have been in the spotlight since 2020 - but despite the controversy, a new report finds many states have made election administration …

Voters with disabilities who are unable to leave their home or facility where they are residing, may be able to obtain assistance from a Special Elections Board to assist them in voting, according to Disability Rights Arizona.(Adobe Stock)

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

Today is the last day in Arizona to register online to vote in next month's election. And that means voting rights advocates in the battleground …

Every registered Colorado voter will automatically receive a ballot by mail. Unless you opt out, eligible Coloradans are automatically registered to vote when applying for or renewing your driver's license. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day

Colorado residents who want to receive a November 5 general election ballot by mail must be registered, by mail or online, no later than October 28…

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice urges policymakers to invest in alternatives to cash bail and provide support for pretrial services, such as supervision programs, as well as increased access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Report makes case for eliminating cash bail system

A new report outlines how eliminating cash bail could affect people in Mississippi and beyond. The ACLU of Mississippi said 14 of 25 people in jail …

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 …

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 …

The Des Moines City Council passed a resolution that bans tent camping and criminalizes falling asleep in public, which can result in a $15 fine. (Adobe Stock)

Critics push back on Des Moines' homeless ordinance

The Des Moines City Council has passed an ordinance to reduce the homeless population and help people find alternatives to being on the street…

Advocacy groups are asking folks in Wisconsin to pledge to become a Supreme Court voter. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

Overlap cited between SCOTUS and presidential election

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Wisconsin are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

New billboards in Philadelphia raise awareness about the role voters in the 2024 Election when it comes the future of the nation's highest court. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

The link between the presidential election and future of SCOTUS

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

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 …

This round of debt relief forgave more than $14.6 million in medical debt for 7,717 residents of Lucas County after RIP acquired ProMedica's debt portfolio. (Adobe Stock)

Program provides life-changing relief from medical debt for Ohioans

Medical debt has long been a burden for many Americans, with millions struggling to pay off their healthcare bills. In the Buckeye State, however…

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

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line

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 …

In 2021, 48 of 50 states recorded the highest number of online shopping fraud reports within the past five years. (A2Z AI/Adobe Stock)

Ohioans confront event ticketing challenges

Concert and sports fans in Ohio are expressing growing frustration over rising ticket prices and hidden fees. In response, Congress is considering …

Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University are two schools with the largest decline in Black and Latino student admission since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action. (Adobe Stock)

NY schools see effects of SCOTUS affirmative action ban

New York colleges and universities are seeing the effects of the Supreme Court's decision on affirmative action. New data from Education Reform Now …

About 6,500 South Dakotans are in state or federal prisons, local jails and other kinds of facilities, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Wikimedia Commons)

Advocacy group forms for people in prison amid controversies in SD prisons

Recent problems in South Dakota prisons have concerned lawmakers, corrections commission members and family members of those incarcerated, who formed …

Georgia has the fourth-largest prison population in the country, with approximately 50,000 incarcerated people in state custody. (Adobe Stock)

DOJ report reveals severe failures in Georgia prisons

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a report on the state of Georgia's prisons, citing horrific conditions and extreme violence. The …

Some 83% of registered Democrats, 73% of Republicans and 83% of Independents support having open primary elections, according to a 2024 Clark University study. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakotans to vote on nonpartisan primaries

Voters next month will be shaping how future elections operate in many states, including South Dakota, where nonpartisan primaries are on the ballot…

The U.S. Postal Service's Delivering for America plan is not expected to cause layoffs, but Ricci Roberts, the branch president of mail handlers in Cheyenne, said keeping a job under the changes may require relocating. (Adobe Stock)

As WY mail to be routed out of state, many say concerns unheard

As the U.S. Postal Service continues to implement a long-term reform plan, rural customers in places such as Wyoming may pay the price. Following …

FollowtheCrypto.org finds that the crypto industry provided more than $174 million for the 2024 election so far. (VideoFlow/Adobe Stock)

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

As cryptocurrency becomes more prevalent, it's also making its way into the political arena. With millions of dollars being funneled into campaigns …

The American Postal Workers Union represents more than 200,000 workers across the country. (MelissaMN/Adobe Stock)

Postal workers to hold day of action, ID rallies planned

U.S. postal workers will rally across the country on Tuesday to bring attention to their working conditions. An Idaho postal worker helped start the …

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for Black workers in the United States was 6.1% in August, while Florida's rate was 3.3%. (Pixabay)

Florida’s Black employment rate still trails whites, despite gains

Despite recent improvements in Black unemployment rates, a new report showed Black Americans continue to face significant disparities in the labor …

Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump has denied he would sign a national abortion ban if elected president and would leave limits on abortion access up to individual states to decide. (Nicholas J. Klein/Adobe Stock)

Navigating local priorities in Ohio House District 43

In Ohio's 43rd House District race in Toledo, candidates are discussing a range of issues of interest to their constituents. Incumbent Rep. Michele …

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the last four months of jobs numbers indicate an uptick in the Black unemployment rate, from 5.2% in December to 6.4% in March. (Cottonbro studio/Pexels)

Job gaps persist for Black Americans, despite economic progress

Despite recent improvements in Black unemployment rates, a new report reveals Black Americans continue to face significant disparities in the labor …

ASU alumna Sonia Reyes Corella (far right) and her children (from left) David Callahan and Danielle Corella can trace their family history to Mexican pioneer Manuela S�nchez Sotelo, who contributed to ASU's founding. (Sonia Reyes Corella)

ASU alum traces lineage to Mexican pioneer who helped establish the university

It took one Arizona State University alumna years to find out she is a descendant of a Mexican pioneer, who was foundational in the creation of ASU…

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…

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice emphasized cash bail often allows release based on financial resources rather than public safety considerations. (Adobe Stock)

Rethinking bail: A path toward justice in North Carolina

A new report examines bail reform and its potential impact in North Carolina and nationwide. Advocates said bail reform aims to remove the influence …

A five-year national evaluation revealed children referred to the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program are up to three times more likely to be adopted, according to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. (Adobe Stock)

Adoptive family in UT commemorates National Daughters Day

Today is National Daughters Day and for one Utah teenager, the title only seemed like a dream until recently. Lilyauna Coffey, 19, lives in Salt …

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 …

Medical co-pays in prisons are associated with worse access to health care behind bars, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (Adobe Stock)

WV’s $5 prison copay called a barrier to care for incarcerated people

New research showed medical copays are preventing incarcerated people from receiving medical care. West Virginia's $5 copay is much higher compared …

Denver's current minimum wage, at $18.29 per hour, is set to rise with inflation to $18.81 next year. (Adobe Stock) Denver�s current minimum wage, at $18.29 per hour, is set to rise with inflation to $18.81 next year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Minimum wage hikes don't lead to job losses

As the city of Boulder considers raising its minimum wage on Oct. 10, a new report suggested the move would have little or no impact on job loss…

A Hispanic Access Foundation poll showed Latinos are extremely concerned about pollution in the Mississippi River and view the presence of microplastics, trash, chemical waste and PFAS, or

Latino voters in AR call on Congress to clean up Mississippi River

Some Latinos in Arkansas were among 400 residents across 10 states polled about the health of the Mississippi River. Both registered Republicans and …

Democrats outnumber Republicans in New Mexico, with about 43% of the electorate compared to the GOP's 31%. (Courtesy Heath Haussamen/NMPolitics.net)

NM officials, voter advocates monitor election disinformation

New Mexico's Doña Ana County Clerk said she feels better than expected about security and safety ahead of November's elections - but still works …

A 2023 PEN America report finds Florida leads states for the number of books banned in prisons, at 22,825 different titles. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Tablets in CT, U.S. prisons don’t fill the void of books

A new report finds using computer tablets in prisons in Connecticut and nationwide isn't filling the void of books. The Prison Policy Initiative …

Federal workers said if the plan known as Project 2025 is enacted, it would upend every government agency. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

Federal workers in TX voice concerns about Project 2025

Federal workers are voicing concerns about what they see as the potential impacts of the sweeping policy recommendations known as Project 2025…

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - October 15, 2024

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Social Justice

NC group pushes for public safety through targeted investment

Colorado lawmakers urged to address 'hidden' hospital fees

Report: Latinos in AZ are an economic powerhouse

Relational bullying highlighted during Bullying Prevention Month

The financial landscape of Ohio's charter schools

Ohio voters have more in common than you might think

Research; Adding trans workers can boost company bottom lines

NC moms speak out on medical neglect in high-risk pregnancies

With the help of navigators, MN Latinos take the clean energy plunge

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Higher cancer rates among IL's incarcerated population

Tragic toll of domestic violence in Ohio

Ohio’s clean-energy surge drives jobs, growth

Workers celebrate one year on from largest health care strike in US history

Reports: States adopting policies to increase voter access, secure elections

Last day to register in AZ focuses on voters with disabilities

Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day

Report makes case for eliminating cash bail system

MSU study: Michigan voter-roll purging could be biased

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

Critics push back on Des Moines' homeless ordinance

Overlap cited between SCOTUS and presidential election

The link between the presidential election and future of SCOTUS

Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism

Program provides life-changing relief from medical debt for Ohioans

Boosting transgender employment could boost a company's bottom line

Ohioans confront event ticketing challenges

NY schools see effects of SCOTUS affirmative action ban

Advocacy group forms for people in prison amid controversies in SD prisons

DOJ report reveals severe failures in Georgia prisons

South Dakotans to vote on nonpartisan primaries

As WY mail to be routed out of state, many say concerns unheard

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

Postal workers to hold day of action, ID rallies planned

Florida’s Black employment rate still trails whites, despite gains

Navigating local priorities in Ohio House District 43

Job gaps persist for Black Americans, despite economic progress

ASU alum traces lineage to Mexican pioneer who helped establish the university

Gaps persist in Indian Health Service 'Referred Care' program

Rethinking bail: A path toward justice in North Carolina

Adoptive family in UT commemorates National Daughters Day

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

WV’s $5 prison copay called a barrier to care for incarcerated people

Report: Minimum wage hikes don't lead to job losses

Latino voters in AR call on Congress to clean up Mississippi River

NM officials, voter advocates monitor election disinformation

Report: Tablets in CT, U.S. prisons don’t fill the void of books

Federal workers in TX voice concerns about Project 2025