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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

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SD public defense duties shift from counties to state; SCOTUS appears skeptical of restricting government communications with social media companies; Trump lawyers say he can't make bond; new scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs.

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The SCOTUS weighs government influence on social media, and who groups like the NRA can do business with. Biden signs an executive order to advance women's health research and the White House tells Israel it's responsible for the Gaza humanitarian crisis.

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Midwest regenerative farmers are rethinking chicken production, Medicare Advantage is squeezing the finances of rural hospitals and California's extreme swing from floods to drought has some thinking it's time to turn rural farm parcels into floodplains.

TN: Poverty Issues

In a 2021 report by the state, about 31% of patients served by Community Health Centers in Tennessee had no health insurance. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />
Making TN healthcare headway is goal of 'Day On the Hill'

Tennessee healthcare advocates and leaders are headed to the State Capitol on Wednesday to voice their concerns over issues that affect patients' acce…

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Every dollar spent on SNAP generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity. For Tennessee, that is a total expected economic impact of up to $140 million from Summer EBT benefits. (NDABCREATIVITY/Adobe Stock)
Summer EBT food program estimated to help 644,000 kids

One in eight Tennesseans who have experienced hunger is a child. The Volunteer State is tackling childhood hunger this summer by opting into the new …

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The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates a state-level, fully refundable Child Tax Credit of $1,300 for those younger than 18, and $1,560 for children younger than 6, would cut Tennessee's child poverty rate by 25%. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)
State of Child report: One in five children younger than 5 lives in poverty

Tennessee's "State of the Child" 2023 report shows some progress, but also highlights ongoing areas of concern. From the Tennessee Commission on …

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The latest America's Health Rankings report showed some strengths in Tennessee, including a low prevalence of excessive drinking, and low rates of income inequality compared to other states. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)
Report: Tennessee ranks 44th for health outcomes

A new report highlights what Tennessee could focus on to improve the health of its residents. The latest America's Health Rankings report ranks …

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Determining SNAP eligibility involves considering such factors as residency, age, relationship, citizenship, Social Security number assignment, employment, resources, income and relevant deductions. (Mikhailov Studio/Adobe Stock)
TN families hit 'income cliff' when trying to get SNAP benefits

With the next Farm Bill stalled in Congress and rising food insecurity in Tennessee, advocacy groups say there's a pressing need to address a hurdle …

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The 2023 Kids Count Data Book reports the median pay for child care workers, who typically must hold a range of credentials, was $28,520 per year or $13.71 an hour in 2022. (Cherryandbees/Adobe Stock)
'Kids Count' Data Show Some Improvement for TN Children

The annual Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E Casey Foundation ranked Tennessee 36th among the states for children's well-being. The report found …

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In 2022, Save the Children reached nearly 900,000 children in the United States and distributed more than 5 million meals. (AdobeStock)
Summer Break is Broken for Many Rural Tennessee Kids

An advocacy group is expanding summer learning opportunities for families in the Volunteer State. In Tennessee and across the country, isolation and …

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The Volunteer State has a larger gap between affordable rental supply and demand than most states, ranking 34th. The state needs an additional 133,581 affordable units to prevent low-income families from having to spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs. (Lawcain/AdobeSTock)
TN Renters Organize for Better Living Conditions

After several years of work around housing rights an advocacy group for affordable and safe housing in Shelbyville, Tennessee, is celebrating a …

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In Tennessee, more than 800,000 people are facing hunger, and more than 230,000 of them are children. (Africa Studio/AdobeStock)
Advocates Calling on Congress for Better Investment in Kids

Advocates for children's well-being are in Washington, D.C. today, calling on lawmakers to invest in kids. The Save the Children advocacy summit is …

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<a href=Federal data released earlier this year finds more than 14% of households with children nationwide were food insecure during the height of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)">
End of Federal Waivers May Put More Rural TN Kids at Hunger Risk

Federal waivers put in place at the height of the pandemic allowed federal child nutrition programs more flexibility in delivering meals to households…

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In 2020, prescription-drug spending topped $570 billion, a 77% increase from $322 billion a decade prior, according to a report from the financial resource company ValuePenguin. (Adobe Stock)
Amid Inflation, Senate Lawmakers Debate Drug Pricing

A recent report found Tennessee households pay more than $6,000 a year on prescriptions, far more than the national average of around $4,000 dollars…

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A recent report by the Hope Center calls on states to increase funding for HBCUs to help close the gap in addressing students' basic needs. (Adobe Stock)
Hunger Persists at HBCUs, Despite Record Federal Funding

Tennessee's six Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) collectively received more than $131 million in the past year through the America…

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