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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

SOTU NH Reax: "Unhealthy," "Better," and a Cautious "Thumbs Up"

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007   

President Bush has presented his ideas to help more families in New Hampshire - and across the country - get health care coverage. It includes tax deductions and new taxes at the same time, shifting insurance coverage at work to the "taxable income" category. Jay Ward with the State Employees' Association of New Hampshire says that's an unhealthy move for family take-home pay.

"A nursing home assistant caring for our elderly at the vets' home who makes about $24,000 per year would now have to pay taxes on the value of their health care, without ever seeing a wage increase."

John Thyng with New Hampshire for Health Care says there are better cures for the health care crisis, like looking at ways to cuts costs and negotiate better prescription prices.

"This is shifting costs and raising taxes on the few people today who have good health care coverage, rather than dealing with the heart of the problem and putting forth a solution that offers affordable health care coverage to the record number of uninsured American families."

Robert Greenstein with the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities gives a big "thumbs up" for talking about fiscal responsibility, although he says President Bush's call to make his tax cuts permanent has to be figured into the "responsibility" equation.

"(There has to be) a willingness by policymakers, regardless of where they stand along the political spectrum, to put all parts of the budget - both spending and taxes - on the table."

President Bush touched on the global warming concern, and Jan Pendlebury with the New Hampshire office of the National Environmental Trust says that's a good sign. She believes it's time to be exact and tough when it comes to cutting the pollution that is scientifically-linked to global warming.

"The United States has been formally committed to voluntary greenhouse gas reductions since 1992, over that time, the nation's carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 34 percent."



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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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