Social Justice / Public News Service

At Bryn Mawr College, President Kim Cassidy asked the organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment on Merion Green to leave the site by the end of the day. (Halfpoint/Adobe)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Students at Bryn Mawr College in PA protest war in Gaza

Pennsylvania is among the states where massive protests and tent encampments opposing the war in Gaza are growing. Elez Beresin-Scher, a sociology …

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument's new Molok Loyuk region provides habitat for tule elk, mountain lions, bears, bald eagles and golden eagles. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Public lands groups cheer expansion of two CA national monuments

Conservation groups, tribes and community organizers are praising President Joe Biden's decision Thursday to expand two national monuments in …

The Vera Institute estimated more than 760,000 incarcerated people became eligible for Pell Grants when access was reinstated in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 3, 2024

VA can bolster higher education access for incarcerated people

Virginia advocates believe more can be done to make higher education accessible to incarcerated people. Only a handful of community colleges partner …

The Center for Responsible Lending has reported 70% of payday loan borrowers take out a new loan the day they pay off another loan and nearly 75% of the revenue earned by payday lenders comes from borrowers who take out 10 or more loans per year.(jetcityimage/adobe stock)

Friday, May 3, 2024

Michigan lawmakers target predatory loan companies

Michigan legislators are tackling predatory lending practices, aiming to set standards for payday loans and maximum interest rates. In Kent County …

An installation view of the exhibition Art Against the Odds, is shown at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy of Kate Mothes)

Friday, May 3, 2024

'Art Against the Odds' shines light on artists in WI justice system

By Kate Mothes for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collab…

A report by the National Women's Law Center and the Southern Poverty Law Center found when Black girls were sexualized or harassed, they were often blamed for the event or had their experience minimized. (Pexels)

Thursday, May 2, 2024

Black girls' safety in schools: Miami-Dade study makes urgent call for change

A new report shows Black girls are enduring disproportionate discipline, sexual harassment and public humiliation from school-based police and …

In 2022, New Mexico joined the ranks of states offering free college for most through its Opportunity Scholarship. (theartofpics/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

NM studies financial equity among higher-education institutions

New Mexico is taking a deep dive into its funding of public colleges and universities to determine if inequities need to be addressed. The Higher …

Experts believe increasing access to healthy food is not just about nutrition, it is about addressing disparities and improving overall health outcomes. (ARTFULLY-79/Adobe Stock)

Breaking barriers for health equity with nutritional strategies

Missouri residents are gaining new insights into the powerful role of food in health care as experts and organizations advocate for a shift toward foo…

An estimated 2,700 people identify as transgender in Montana, or about one-third of 1% of the state's population, according to the UCLA Law School. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates ask MT Supreme Court to allow minors gender-affirming care

Advocates for end-of-life care options in Montana have asked the state Supreme Court to uphold an injunction of a bill banning gender-affirming care f…

The Iowa Movement for Migrant Justice calls Senate File 2340 a

IA advocates for immigrants push back on Texas-style deportation bill

Advocates for immigrants are pushing back on a bill signed by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in the last few days of the legislative session, modeled on a …

Some places with camping bans preventing people from sleeping in public areas include Missouri, Tennessee, Texas, and the cities of San Diego, Calif., and Portland, Oregon. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS homelessness case can have ripple effects in CT

The Supreme Court case Grants Pass v. Gloria Johnson could upend homeless populations in Connecticut and nationwide. The case centers around whether …

Rep. Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, the House Democratic floor leader, called Missouri politicians

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

The Missouri Legislature has approved a law to stop its Medicaid program, known as MO HealthNet, from paying Planned Parenthood for medical services …

According to Zillow, the typical value of homes in North Carolina is about $329,225. North Carolina home values have gone up 4.6% over the past year. (Adobe Stock)

Rural North Carolina town gets pathway to homeownership

Residents in a rural North Carolina town grappling with economic challenges are getting a pathway to homeownership. In Enfield, the average annual …

Migrants are put on buses from Texas to other states, often without knowing where they are going. (afishman64/Adobe Stock)

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

The future of Senate Bill 4 is still tangled in court challenges. It's the Texas law that would allow police to arrest people for illegally crossing …

Several Mississippi correctional facilities offer both short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (six months) alcohol and drug programs with individual and group counseling for treating alcohol and drug addictions. (Wesley JvR/peopleimages.com)

MS group backs health-center alternative to incarceration

Mississippi prisons often lack resources to treat people who are incarcerated with substance-use disorders adequately but a nonprofit organization is …

According to The Sentencing Project, 4.6 million Americans cannot vote because of a felony conviction. (Anna Kosolapova/Adobe Stock)

NE advocates foresee new voting-restoration law helping individuals, state

April is Second Chance Month and many Nebraskans are celebrating passage of a bipartisan voting rights restoration bill and its focus on second chance…

More than six in every 1,000 people in the U.S. are behind bars, the highest incarceration rate in the world, despite the U.S. having lower crime rates than other countries. (Adobe Stock)<br /> <br />

Boston U. Prison Education Program celebrates 50 years of changing lives

Boston University's Prison Education Program is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and is hoping to expand. Students at Massachusetts Correctional …

More than 70 million Americans have a criminal record that can create significant barriers to employment, according to the White House. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New KY website offers 'Second Chance' job, recovery resources

A new website aims to help Kentuckians just out of prison re-enter their communities and find job training, employment and recovery services…

Workers harvest a field before the annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. (Jeff Huth/Adobe Stock)

Annual farmworkers march supports WA tulip harvesters

An annual march for farmworkers' rights is being held Sunday in northwest Washington. This year, marchers are focusing on the conditions for local …

Senate Bill 2019, sponsored by Rep. Shane Reeves, R-Bedford, is expected to be signed by the governor. It would take effect July 1, 2024. (18percentgrey/Adobe Stock)

TN poised to expand access to opioid treatment at Community Health Centers

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Tennesseans struggling with opioid addiction, as a bill has been passed to increase access to treatment …

During a pregnancy, speak to a health care provider if something doesn't feel right. (Prostock-studio/Adobe Stock)

As Black Maternal Health Week ends, health disparities persist

While Black Maternal Health Week is wrapping up, health disparities for pregnant Black women continues to be an issue. From April 11-17 this year…

Faith in Action Alabama is a nonprofit working toward community safety, equal access to liberty and inclusive democracy. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama groups focus on year-round voter education, activism

Alabama civic-engagement groups are searching for strategies to maintain voter engagement outside of major election years. As candidates gear up for …

In North Dakota's upcoming June 11th primary election, nearly 70 legislative races are on the ballot. (Adobe Stock)

ND spring election: Local races round out ballots

Voters are consistently reminded to pay attention to local elections. But in 2024, North Dakota groups are stressing that message even more with …

Will California do reparations right?

By Erin Aubry Kaplan for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News …

In March, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced House Bill 2063, which would reform the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs. (Jasmina/AdobeStock)

Report: PA track record on private-school vouchers finds still no accountability

A new report analyzes Pennsylvania's existing voucher programs, that divert public funds to private schools. This comes on the heels of Gov…

A joint fundraising committee enables donors to contribute up to $13,200 during an election cycle, which can then be divided among multiple candidates. The individual donation limit of $6,600 per candidate per election cycle remains unchanged. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bush joins 'Squad' in rally for $100 million defense against AIPAC backlash races

In the midst of political tensions surrounding Israel's handling of the conflict with Hamas, Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is joining forces with …

A joint fundraising committee like that set up for Rep. Rashid Tlaib, D-Mich. enables donors to contribute up to $13,200 during an election cycle, which can then be divided among multiple candidates. (Chad Davis/Wikimedia Commons)

Tlaib and 'Squad' rally $100 million defense against AIPAC backlash

In the midst of political tensions surrounding Israel's handling of the conflict with Hamas, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., has voiced her support for …

In 2021, an estimated 38.4 million people in the United States were living with diabetes, a disproportionate share of them Black or Asian, according to Policy Matters Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin price gouging continues despite attempts to rein in the industry

Nearly one million Ohioans have been diagnosed with diabetes, but the cost of insulin continues to be a barrier for people needing the medication…

A quarter of election officials reported being harassed or threatened in 2020. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

Report: Election officials left positions at increasing rate since 2000

A new report dives into election official turnover during more than two decades. It says rates have increased steadily nationwide since 2000…

Nationally, turnover in election officials reached 38.7% in 2022. (richjem/Adobe Stock)

Report: Election official turnover trend stretches two decades

A new report dives into election official turnover during more than two decades. It says rates have increased steadily nationwide since 2000…

Turnover of election officials has been lower in smaller jurisdictions over the past two decades. (MyPhotoBuddy/Adobe Stock)

Steady increase in election staff changes over past two decades, report finds

A new report dives into election official turnover during more than two decades. It says rates have increased steadily nationwide since 2000…

According to data from Best Colleges, nearly half of states in the U.S. have either proposed anti-DEI legislation or could be in the process of drafting it. (Adobe Stock)

Students unite to defend DEI initiatives

Conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion are on the rise as lawmakers propose bills to restrict or ban DEI in state-funded institutions…

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported seizing more than 115,000 pounds of methamphetamine in 2020, marking a 55% surge compared with 2018. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Uncovering America's methamphetamine history

Missouri may, at one time, have had a reputation as the "meth-lab capital of the country" - but a five-part podcast uncovers its true history…

More than 400,000 people live in poverty in Arkansas, according to the Center for American Progress. (W.Scott McGill/AdobeStock)<br />

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

Family advocates are at the State Capital for a "Day on the Hill" rally today, to voice their concerns to lawmakers about issues affecting Arkansans' …

According to a Pew Research study, while a significant majority of Black adults support providing reparations to descendants of enslaved people in the U.S., only a small minority of white Americans shares the same view. (f11photo/Adobe Stock)

TN reparations ban bill set for vote today

The Tennessee House of Representatives plans to vote today on House Bill 474, to end the study of reparations in the state. A Memphis nonpartisan …

$During his 17 years in prison, relatives said Brian Dorsey was committed to improving himself and remained infraction-free throughout his long incarceration. (Felipe Caparr�s/Adobe Stock)$

Missouri carries out its first execution of 2024

Missouri went through with its first execution of the year, as Brian Dorsey was put to death last night, just after 6 p.m. CT. The U.S. Supreme …

The Health4All Coalition rallied in Sacramento on Monday, asking state lawmakers to open up the Covered California health insurance exchange to all people, regardless of their immigration status. (Ed Sifuentes/CA Immigrant Policy Center)

Coalition presses to open health exchange to undocumented Californians

This week, groups fighting for health equity known as the Health4All campaign are asking the California Legislature to remove barriers to the …

A new walk-in program provides immediate, in-person support for urgent mental health and substance use needs for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, whether or not they are an existing client, or speak English. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental health urgent-care facility now available in northeast Boulder

Boulder and Broomfield County residents can now access mental health services the same way they can access urgent medical care. Dr. Nadia Haddad…

A new law in Washington state will look into why ballots are rejected during the voting process. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

WA's new ballot curing law ensures state 'counts every voter'

The process for correcting ballot errors is set to become easier this year thanks to a bill passed in Olympia this session. Lawmakers unanimously …

Alabama's Senate Bill 1 makes it a crime for anyone, except in specific situations, to

Alabama advocacy groups sue to block restrictive new voting law

Alabama's front line advocates focused on disability, voting and civil rights are taking legal action against what they see as voter suppression…

In the last decade, West Virginia state jails were the deadliest in the country, with 91 people who have died in jails over the past four years. (Adobe Stock)<br />

As WV’s jail crisis mounts, ‘Second Look’ policies gain traction

Amid overcrowding and unsafe conditions in West Virginia jails, state lawmakers introduced bills that would allow judges to take a 'second look' at …

Nearly three in 10 (27%) dual-eligible Missourians enrolled in D-SNPs in 2021. (Flamingo Images/Adobe Stock)

Missourians unaware of dual eligible special needs plans for healthcare savings

Dual Special Needs Plans such as Medicare Advantage in Missouri offer low costs with minimal co-pays and deductibles. In Missouri and across the …

Older Coloradans who may have never been issued a birth certificate because they were born at home qualify for assistance getting vital documents, including identification cards but many cannot access Colorado's Necessary Documents Program. (Adobe Stock)

Cutting red tape to access IDs and other vital documents

Advocates are urging Colorado lawmakers to make key improvements to a state program seen as critical to helping people fleeing domestic violence or ex…

According to leading support organizations, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Amid higher autism rates, calls grow for community acceptance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 36 children around the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder. Rates are much higher than a …

Decades of policies like redlining, that forced people of color into neighborhoods surrounded by industrial polluters, have led to a host of negative health outcomes, including cancers and premature death. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers eye ways to reduce pollution in vulnerable communities

In 2021, Colorado lawmakers took a first step toward addressing decades of toxic pollution disproportionately impacting low-income neighborhoods and …

Operation Food Search distributes $30 million worth of food and necessities each year to 330 community partners in 40 Missouri and Illinois counties. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO summit tackles rising child food insecurity as benefits expire

As COVID-era benefits near expiration, a recent Child Wellness Summit brought together nonprofits to tackle urgent child well-being and food-…

A new report says as a result of budget appropriation increases, within a few years, North Carolina taxpayers will be spending more than $520 million per year on private-school tuition. (Adobe Stock)

Report reveals inequities in NC school voucher system

School vouchers in North Carolina were intended to expand educational options for low-income families. However, the report "NC School Vouchers: Using …

First Day Forward staff offer free Narcan and program pamphlets. (Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition via Facebook)

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others

By Taylor Sisk for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

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Social Justice

Students at Bryn Mawr College in PA protest war in Gaza

Public lands groups cheer expansion of two CA national monuments

VA can bolster higher education access for incarcerated people

Michigan lawmakers target predatory loan companies

'Art Against the Odds' shines light on artists in WI justice system

Black girls' safety in schools: Miami-Dade study makes urgent call for change

NM studies financial equity among higher-education institutions

Breaking barriers for health equity with nutritional strategies

Advocates ask MT Supreme Court to allow minors gender-affirming care

IA advocates for immigrants push back on Texas-style deportation bill

SCOTUS homelessness case can have ripple effects in CT

Missouri's Medicaid block: denying patients choice in trusted providers

Rural North Carolina town gets pathway to homeownership

Concerns raised about migrant children's mental health

MS group backs health-center alternative to incarceration

NE advocates foresee new voting-restoration law helping individuals, state

Boston U. Prison Education Program celebrates 50 years of changing lives

New KY website offers 'Second Chance' job, recovery resources

Annual farmworkers march supports WA tulip harvesters

TN poised to expand access to opioid treatment at Community Health Centers

As Black Maternal Health Week ends, health disparities persist

Alabama groups focus on year-round voter education, activism

ND spring election: Local races round out ballots

Will California do reparations right?

Report: PA track record on private-school vouchers finds still no accountability

Bush joins 'Squad' in rally for $100 million defense against AIPAC backlash races

Tlaib and 'Squad' rally $100 million defense against AIPAC backlash

Insulin price gouging continues despite attempts to rein in the industry

Report: Election officials left positions at increasing rate since 2000

Report: Election official turnover trend stretches two decades

Steady increase in election staff changes over past two decades, report finds

Students unite to defend DEI initiatives

Uncovering America's methamphetamine history

'Day on the Hill' in Arkansas calls for investment in families

TN reparations ban bill set for vote today

Missouri carries out its first execution of 2024

Coalition presses to open health exchange to undocumented Californians

Mental health urgent-care facility now available in northeast Boulder

WA's new ballot curing law ensures state 'counts every voter'

Alabama advocacy groups sue to block restrictive new voting law

As WV’s jail crisis mounts, ‘Second Look’ policies gain traction

Missourians unaware of dual eligible special needs plans for healthcare savings

Cutting red tape to access IDs and other vital documents

Amid higher autism rates, calls grow for community acceptance

Colorado lawmakers eye ways to reduce pollution in vulnerable communities

MO summit tackles rising child food insecurity as benefits expire

Report reveals inequities in NC school voucher system

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others