Youth Issues / Public News Service

The current Housing First program was instituted by President George W. Bush in 2004. (Aevan/Adobe Stock AI generated)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

It is estimated more than 2,600 people live on the streets across Arkansas. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has proposed a "treatment …

King County reported more than 16,000 people experiencing homelessness last year, which is more than half the state's unhoused population. (Mallivan/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

A unique approach to preventing youth homelessness in Washington is proving highly effective, with more than 93% of participants still housed one …

Research for school-based asthma therapy shows the practice reduced emergency department visits by 49%, urgent care visits by 41%, hospitalizations by 50% and pediatric intensive care unit admissions by 71%. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 14, 2025

MSU study: School asthma care boosts health, cuts costs

About 200,000 kids in Michigan have asthma, and nearly five million suffer from the condition nationwide. Research from Michigan State University …

About 259,300 Iowans, or 8% of the state's population, rely on SNAP benefits. A large portion are children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 14, 2025

SNAP benefit cuts would fall squarely on Iowa kids

Groups working to fight hunger in Iowa say proposed cuts to SNAP benefits would fall squarely on the state's kids, who rely on them for food and …

More than 40% of the 157,000 Nebraskans who receive SNAP benefits are children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 14, 2025

Nebraska social justice group pushes back on SNAP changes

The State of Nebraska is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to change which items people are allowed to purchase using Supplemental Nutrition …

At Northern Arizona University, 56% of the students are White, and 25% are Hispanic or Latino, according to Data USA. (Josh Biggs/Wikimedia Commons)

Monday, April 14, 2025

AZ universities thread needle to comply with Trump DEI order

Arizona universities are figuring out how to comply with President Donald Trump's order to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs - …

When a tariff is imposed, the importing business pays the tax to the U.S. Treasury Department. Importers then pass much of the added cost to consumers. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 14, 2025

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation - and although tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been delayed, Texans are still uneasy about …

LGBTQ+ youths are nearly four times more likely to be victimized, and are particularly vulnerable to experiencing unwanted sexual advances online. (Adobe Stock)

Research: One in seven Utah children is a victim of sexual abuse

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and new research at Utah State University finds one in seven Utah children experiences sexual abuse --…

The Indiana Department of Child Services evaluates child abuse or neglect reports if the alleged victim is under age 18 and the alleged perpetrator is the victim's parent, guardian or custodian. (Adobe Stock)

IN child abuse cases rise, leave mental, physical scars

More than 7,500 Indiana children were removed from their homes last year because of abuse and neglect. According to The Indiana Youth Institute's 2024…

In Pennsylvania, the Children's Health Insurance Program provides an option for children to receive health care. However, losing Medicaid coverage would leave many children across the state without insurance and unable to access the care they need. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

Groups oppose Medicaid cuts threatening coverage for 3 million PA residents

In Pennsylvania and nationwide, federal safety net programs may face major cutbacks as President Donald Trump's administration pushes for budget …

The proliferation of Airbnbs, luxury condos and barriers to homeownership contribute to the homeless crisis in the Black community, said Chama St. Louis of the National Black Worker Center. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Black residents in IL 8 times more likely to be homeless

Black residents in Illinois are almost eight times more likely to be homeless than white people, with lack of livable wages and affordable housing …

A national public relations firm recently surveyed Americans about the barriers youths face to better outcomes. Respondents recognized the need for stronger communities, but survey officials said they still underestimate the effect poverty can have on youths. (Adobe Stock)

For youth empowerment work, experts say careful wording can save the day

April is Second Chance Month, with extra focus on helping people with a criminal past keep from becoming repeat offenders. In steering Minnesota …

Wisconsin was set to receive more than $11 million this year from the Local Food for Schools program and about $5.5 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. (Adobe Stock)

WI schools cancel local farm partnerships due to federal cuts

By Josh Israel for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indepen…

Immigrants are essential to Pennsylvania's economy, comprising 20% of the workforce in life, physical, and social sciences and 11% in food and accommodation services, according to the American Immigration Council. (InputUX/Adobe Stock)

Unaccompanied immigrant kids in PA lose legal representation

Almost 600 children in Pennsylvania, many fleeing abuse or persecution, are being forced to navigate the immigration court system without legal …

In 2019-20, some 21% of undergraduates and 11% of postbaccalaureate students reported having a disability, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Blind students sue West Virginia University for discrimination

Two blind students are suing West Virginia University. They allege the school has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing …

School vouchers, a program that would allow students to use public money to pay for private school tuition, has become a hot-button issue in Texas, pitting Republicans against one another. (KatMoy/Adobe Stock)

Debate over school vouchers in TX now moves to House floor

After several weeks of public comment, bills addressing school finance in Texas will be presented to the House of Representatives. House Bill 2 is …

The Effective Access to Student Education (EASE) grant program, created in 1979, helps Florida students pay tuition at private, nonprofit colleges. (Pixabay)

FL House budget proposal threatens college access for 22,000 students

Nearly 22,000 Florida college students could lose critical tuition help under a state House budget proposal. The plan would cut $3,500 annual grants …

More than 42 million people relied on SNAP benefits to purchase food, as of March 15 2025, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Proposed changes to SNAP funding structure could hurt Kentuckians

As federal funding cuts for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program loom, Kentucky experts said proposed changes to shift funding onto states …

The Uplift Wisconsin warmline offers emotional support for people experiencing distress but not in immediate danger, different from a hotline designed for immediate crisis intervention and urgent support. (Adobe Stock)

'Uplift Wisconsin' to end service this week due to federal cuts

"Uplift Wisconsin" is just one of the latest casualties from a $210 million cut in federal health funds to the state. The "warmline" operates seven …

A 2023 CDC study found 72% of transgender students and 69% of questioning students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's new law: What it means for educators, LGBTQ+ students

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio’s House …

While students work toward their pilots licenses at the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences in Denton, they also gain knowledge in subjects like aviation law, weather and aerodynamics. It is the only such program in the nation geared toward women. (Craig/Adobe Stock)

Texas Woman's University trains next generation of airline pilots

Registration is open for the next information session for the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences at Texas Woman's University in Denton, where …

Kyan Higgins Jr, a 10-year-old boy and victim of child abuse who lived in Louisville, Ky. Animal Control officers visited his home 24 times in the 18 months leading up to his death. (Kentucky Youth Advocates)<br />

KY bill would equip animal control officers to spot signs of child abuse

A proposed Kentucky law would require animal control officers statewide to undergo training on identifying and reporting child abuse. Kyan's Law is …

Around 89% of voters think background checks should be required for all gun sales, including 88% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats, according to Giffords. (Adobe Stock)

NV lawmakers make case for gun legislation, face challenges

Several pieces of Democrat-backed gun legislation have been heard by Nevada's Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committees but not without opposition from…

A study by the University of California-San Diego and Tulane University found that as of 2022, intimate-partner violence against women cost California almost $74 billion a year in health care, lost earnings, criminal-justice expenses and survivor support. (Tinnakorn/Adobe Stock)

Prison-based program in CA aims to interrupt cycle of violence

By Ricky Rodas for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News Service …

Ohio's median home price increased by 14% from 2020 to 2024, making affordability a growing factor in migration decisions. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio struggles to retain young adults

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Around 1,000 more people …

If passed, the bipartisan Farm Ownership Improvement Act would allow the USDA up to two years to create and fully implement a pre-qualification or pre-approval process that addresses the needs of young farmers and ranchers. (asafaric/Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan bill could improve land access for new PA farmers

Despite a federal funding freeze, a newly proposed bipartisan bill in the U.S. Senate could enhance loan programs for farmers. Backers say in …

Even though policymakers and utilities are increasingly focused on reducing the impacts of climate change, education experts say a standard curriculum on this topic hasn't really resonated at the school level. (Adobe Stock)

MN youth: Courting the facts could set the stage for climate action

The U.S. Supreme Court this month declined to hear a case brought by youth activists, who argued the federal government has failed to protect them …

Last fall, a study group recommended Ohio close its three remaining youth prisons and replace them with smaller facilities. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: OH RECLAIM a model for juvenile justice reform in other states

A new report examined differences in state juvenile justice system financing, looking at how local control can improve outcomes. The report…

Fourth graders in suburban and city schools saw the largest dips in reading scores between 2020 and 2022, and nearly half of Black and Latino fourth graders in Maryland do not read at grade level. (Adobe Stock)

Library funding at risk, even as literacy scores drop

This has been "National March Into Literacy Month" but it may become tougher over the summer to "march" into a public library and ask for help finding…

The Cupp-Patterson plan was originally offered as a bill in the Ohio Legislature, but instead was written into the state budget with a six-year implementation schedule. Full funding of $2 million, and full implementation, must be part of each state budgeting process. (Adobe Stock)

Debate intensifies over major cuts to Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan

At the Ohio Statehouse, proposed budget cuts to the Fair School Funding Plan have sparked debate among lawmakers and educators. Also known as the …

The Indiana Youth Institute said a strong commitment to evidence-based action can transform early literacy in Indiana with the foundational reading skills essential to the future of our children, workforce and communities. (Adobe stock)

Indiana sets goal to boost 3rd grade reading proficiency

Indiana's third grade reading scores show progress but gaps remain. The latest IREAD3 results show about 82% of students passed in 2024, up slightly …

Proposed federal cuts to Medicaid over the next decade are equal to program spending for 22 million children nationwide, or 76% of children enrolled, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Montana teachers concerned over looming federal Medicaid cuts

The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a budget resolution that would reduce the federal deficit by $880 billion over the next decade…

Florida's 2025 child labor bills, Senate Bill 918 and House Bill 1225, go further than 2024's House Bill 49, raising new safety concerns. (Pixabay)

Florida child labor bill advances amid exploitation concerns

A Florida bill that would roll back child labor restrictions cleared a Senate panel this week, sparking debate over whether it empowers families or …

According to the Wyoming Department of Education, Farm to School programs grew to include 90% of schools in the state last fall. The program has been cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Federal programs supporting local food purchasing by food banks and schools have helped feed communities and support farmers but the Trump administrat…

Nationwide, 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes, according to data from the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers bill into law

Kentucky will soon begin licensing retailers who sell nicotine, which advocates have said will help regulate an industry and protect minors from …

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reported almost 3% of Hoosier teens age 12-17 abuse pain relievers. (Adobe Stock)

IN teen drug use stats show greater need for early intervention

Hoosier teens are nearly 3% more likely to have used cocaine, methamphetamines or heroin than other teens nationwide, according to the National …

Parties protected under an expanded Lifeline Law in Indiana would be the caller, and those who assist the caller, staying at the scene and remaining compliant. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana inches closer to lifesaving law change

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

A fear of missing out, and social pressure and expectations, are among the most significant drivers among teens 13 to 17 using social media, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska grad students help teens navigate social media

Graduate students at the University of Nebraska are creating lessons plans for middle and high school students to help them navigate the social media …

Lumina Foundation research predicts that by 2031, 72% of U.S. jobs will require some form of higher education or skills training beyond high school. (Marius Venter/Adobe Stock)

TN works to encourage more people to earn degrees, credentials

Tennessee is working to get more people into college and career training programs, which the state says will be needed for good jobs in the future…

A Minnesota coalition pushing for a bill to allow

MN students could get extra nod for 'making the civics grade'

High school seniors will soon be counting down the days until graduation and in Minnesota. But students from future graduating classes could get a …

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

A local nonprofit with a mission to advance regenerative agriculture is hoping its new video can open up an untapped world of science to a younger aud…

Between 2010 and 2018, Ohio's nonmetropolitan areas experienced a 7.6% job growth-nearly 10 times the national average for rural regions.(Adobe Stock)

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

New research indicated less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Despite Ohio's predominantly rural …

When looking for job training, 74% of urban Gen Zers strongly agree or agree that they could access the training they would need, compared with 62% of rural Gen Zers, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Limited opportunity pushes young, rural Marylanders out of town

New research suggests fewer than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job to keep them in their communities. According to U.S…

The U.S. Department of Education currently manages student loans for more than 40 million borrowers. (Adobe Stock)

With Department of Education gutted, what happens to student loans?

Student loans are among the areas overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and since President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to …

Gregor Willms assists the Cedarburg High School team in the soil pit at Envirothon 2024. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association)

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

A local event that brings students face-to-face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue "green jobs…

A proposed $12 billion in cuts to federal school meal funding could impact 75 Montana schools serving more than 10,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

School meal programs on GOP's chopping block

Children's advocates are crying foul after House Republicans called for $12 billion in cuts to school meal programs, including the Community …

PoliChic Engagement Fund says it's critical Texans make sure lawmakers are voting in their public interest. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Texans encouraged to use their voices during current legislative session

Many Texans feel strongly, one way or another, about the proposed school voucher bill before state lawmakers. Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed a plan to …

Ohio Senate Bill 1 would require all students to complete a three-credit-hour American history course. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's SB-1 parallels national administration's anti-DEI sentiment

Debates over academic freedom and diversity initiatives have intensified nationally and in Ohio. Senate Bill 1, known as the Advance Ohio Higher …

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Youth

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

MSU study: School asthma care boosts health, cuts costs

SNAP benefit cuts would fall squarely on Iowa kids

Nebraska social justice group pushes back on SNAP changes

AZ universities thread needle to comply with Trump DEI order

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Research: One in seven Utah children is a victim of sexual abuse

IN child abuse cases rise, leave mental, physical scars

Groups oppose Medicaid cuts threatening coverage for 3 million PA residents

Black residents in IL 8 times more likely to be homeless

For youth empowerment work, experts say careful wording can save the day

WI schools cancel local farm partnerships due to federal cuts

Unaccompanied immigrant kids in PA lose legal representation

Blind students sue West Virginia University for discrimination

Debate over school vouchers in TX now moves to House floor

FL House budget proposal threatens college access for 22,000 students

Proposed changes to SNAP funding structure could hurt Kentuckians

'Uplift Wisconsin' to end service this week due to federal cuts

Ohio's new law: What it means for educators, LGBTQ+ students

Texas Woman's University trains next generation of airline pilots

KY bill would equip animal control officers to spot signs of child abuse

NV lawmakers make case for gun legislation, face challenges

Prison-based program in CA aims to interrupt cycle of violence

Ohio struggles to retain young adults

Bipartisan bill could improve land access for new PA farmers

MN youth: Courting the facts could set the stage for climate action

Report: OH RECLAIM a model for juvenile justice reform in other states

Library funding at risk, even as literacy scores drop

Debate intensifies over major cuts to Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan

Indiana sets goal to boost 3rd grade reading proficiency

Montana teachers concerned over looming federal Medicaid cuts

Florida child labor bill advances amid exploitation concerns

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Beshear signs licensing of nicotine retailers bill into law

IN teen drug use stats show greater need for early intervention

Indiana inches closer to lifesaving law change

Nebraska grad students help teens navigate social media

TN works to encourage more people to earn degrees, credentials

MN students could get extra nod for 'making the civics grade'

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

Limited opportunity pushes young, rural Marylanders out of town

With Department of Education gutted, what happens to student loans?

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

School meal programs on GOP's chopping block

Texans encouraged to use their voices during current legislative session

Ohio's SB-1 parallels national administration's anti-DEI sentiment