skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

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.

Retired General: Military's Recruitment Problem is Everyone's Problem

play audio
Play

Thursday, January 18, 2018   

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Department of Defense estimates that 71 percent of the roughly 34 million 17- to 24-year-olds in the United States would fail to qualify for enlistment in the military.

Officials are sounding the alarm and bringing their message to Missouri lawmakers, calling for an investment in early-childhood education. Missouri state Sen. Wayne Wallingford co-hosted an event near the Capitol, where retired general Frank Grass with Mission Readiness explained why so many of today's youths are unfit to serve.

"Primarily because of poor education, obesity, drug abuse and criminal record,” Grass said. “So these 720 military retired generals and admirals, we all are concerned about that because that is a readiness issue for the future."

Grass said many of these problems stem from a lack of investment in programs that support early childhood development. Grass is encouraging lawmakers to find ways to turn the trend around.

Mission Readiness pulls together retired admirals and generals with a focus on strengthening national security by ensuring kids stay in school, stay fit and stay out of trouble. Wallingford said not too long ago, the military was a place to go to improve and sharpen skills. But today the bar has been raised.

"They were more lenient, you could go in and hopefully get their life turned around and learn some skills that they could go out into the civilian workforce and use those skills,” Wallingford said. “But unfortunately, it's getting harder and harder for people to get admitted to the services. So it's a real problem."

Mission Readiness is advocating for increased funding and to foster and establish more collaboration with local early-care and education providers throughout Missouri.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
A report from the Tennessee HealthCare Campaign recommended the federal government needs to strengthen 340B drug pricing and other federal negotiation mechanisms to make needed medicines more readily available and less expensive for hospitals to purchase and administer. (Spotmatikphoto/AdobeStock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A recent report examined how some rural Tennessee hospitals have managed to stay afloat despite financial challenges. The report includes interviews …


Social Issues

play sound

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

play sound

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


Nearly 13 million Americans receive health coverage through unique plans under both Medicare and Medicaid. They are known as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans. (Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Medicare and Medicaid are key sources of health coverage for many Americans and some people qualify for assistance under both programs. With lagging …

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

More than six in 10 Americans favor keeping the abortion pill mifepristone available in the U.S. as a prescription drug, while over a third are opposed, according to a Gallup poll. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

New research shows more than six in 10 abortions in the U.S. last year were medically induced, and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto - D-NV - is …

Social Issues

play sound

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

Social Issues

play sound

Missouri lawmakers are concerned with protecting people from the potential risks of the increasing accessibility of AI-generated images and videos…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021