INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's Independent Living Centers are already seeing negative effects of the federal sequestration on people with disabilities, according to Melissa Madill, the executive director of "accessABILITY" - Center for Independent Living in Indianapolis. "In vocational rehabilitation - a ...Read More

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A push is underway at the Legislature to change how 63,000 public school teachers in Tennessee are evaluated, to make the process more fair and clear. Rep. Jim Coley (R-Dist. 97) said his bill would have a teacher's students tested at the start of the school year, not just at the ...Read More

PORTLAND, Ore. - Oregonians over age 50 are concerned enough about aging gracefully that "long-term care services and supports" rank second on their list of top priorities - right behind "the economy and jobs." That comes from a new statewide survey by AARP Oregon. Ninety percent of those surveyed s ...Read More

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Professionals in child abuse investigation and treatment are meeting this week in Huntsville, Alabama, including some from Arkansas. At the National Symposium on Child Abuse, they'll get the latest research on such topics as trauma-focused therapy, sex trafficking and online explo ...Read More

AUSTIN, Texas - Legislation (SB 2019) being considered at the State Capitol aims to bring the interest and fees charged by payday and auto-title lenders in line with the standards for other Texas financial institutions. State Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) said as it stands now, those loans can end u ...Read More

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The so-called "Gang of Eight" senators, including Arizona's John McCain and Jeff Flake, are planning to unveil a bipartisan immigration reform bill in the next few weeks. However, one national activist said, the bill's success will depend on how various terms crucial to the immigrat ...Read More

NEW YORK - New York lawmakers are scrambling to meet this week's deadline to approve the state budget, but health and disability advocates say a change is needed to protect the health of thousands of New Yorkers. Heidi Siegfried, director of New Yorkers for Accessible Health Coverage, said the probl ...Read More

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It took more than three years, but the federal EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection have agreed on limits for the pollutants that cause toxic algae outbreaks. But some environmentalists say the deal is inadequate, filled with loopholes, and it will do little to ...Read More