Human Rights/Racial Justice / Public News Service

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

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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…

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 …

Restorative justice programs have increased the justice system's capacity to meet the needs of those harmed by adolescent misbehavior. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Diverting youth away from the justice system is working

Efforts to keep young people out of the criminal justice system are working, according to a new Sentencing Project report. Elie Zwiebel, attorney …

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 …

Michigan hosts the largest population of Arab Americans in the country, and Dearborn is home to the country's only Arab American History Museum. (flowertiare/Adobe Stock)

New US race, ethnicity standards include Middle Eastern, North African

Until recently, many Americans of Middle Eastern or North African descent were categorized as "white" in government surveys, making it challenging to …

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 Texas Diversity Council works with various groups to foster environments where people from marginalized groups feel seen and heard. (Ana Baraulia/Adobe Stock)

Texas Diversity Council remains steadfast in face of adversity

Since 2004, April has been designated "Celebrate Diversity Month," a time to recognize, understand and honor the differences between people. One …

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 …

According to research from the Brennan Center, if the voter participation gap had not existed in 2020, 9 million more ballots would have been cast. (Adobe Stock)

Southern groups advocate for democracy amid legislative challenges

In the battle for democracy, grassroots organizations throughout the South are actively engaging voters on the issues that directly affect their …

Southern groups mobilize to empower voters, protect democracy

Southern groups are mobilizing to protect democracy and empower voters to address the issues that impact their communities, including in North …

A Republican-led provision included in legislation to avert a government shutdown last week effectively bans LGBTQ+ pride flags from flying over U.S. embassies. (Hodim/AdobeStock)

NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates

After 30 years of championing the rights of LGBTQ+ people, Equality New Mexico has its finger on the pulse of supportive legislation and has made its …

The Task Force on Juvenile Justice Reform, formed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and led by Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, took a comprehensive look at the state's system and released its report in July 2022 with 32 recommendations for improving Michigan's juvenile justice system. (Oleg Kozlovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees

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

The lawsuit claims the officers' conduct violates the Fourth Amendment, amounts to assault and battery, or at least negligence, and ultimitely is what caused the wrongful death of Darryl Tyree Williams. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit seeks justice for NC man's death in police custody

Three attorneys are joining forces to seek justice for a North Carolina family. At a news conference, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump - along with …

More than 21% of the student population at Portland Community College is hispanic. (Adumbvoget/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: OR colleges serving Hispanic students increasing

The number of higher institutions serving Hispanic students in Oregon is increasing, according to a new report. Excelencia in Education researched …

Idaho lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up the 2024 legislative session soon. (Wissam/Adobe Stock)

ID anti-DEI bill in higher ed could have 'ripple effects' for state

Idaho lawmakers are considering a measure that would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses. Critics say it could …

Indigenous people will be discussing tribal identity on and off Montana reservations and learn what it means to be

Indigenous conference to address cultural identity

Billings-based Western Native Voice is holding its annual membership conference in Great Falls starting tomorrow, and members are discussing …

Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling allows Texas to begin enforcing Senate Bill 4, calling the decision a

Texas’ SB 4 in limbo again after late-night court decision

Story has been updated to reflect late-night 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision.(8:01 a.m. MST, Mar. 20, 2024) The U.S. Supreme Court handed …

In cities across the nation, local governments are hearing more feedback and discourse from residents about a range of matters during regular meetings. Those include broader issues, such as calls for ceasefire resolutions in light of the Israel-Hamas war. (Adobe Stock)

Possible public-comment overhaul stirs backlash in Fargo

Public comment has long been a staple of local government meetings. But in North Dakota and other parts of the country, this engagement tool faces a …

American teachers in training trek through Tijuana on their way to visit a school as part of a trip to foster cross-border understanding. (Rick Froehbrodt/SDSU)

Aspiring bilingual teachers cross the border to gain insight

Immigration is a hot-button issue these days, but people studying to become bilingual teachers at one California university are making an effort to …

In a 2022 national survey of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-18, nearly 54% of trans and gender-expansive youth reported feeling unsafe in at least one school setting. (Adobe Stock)

Oklahoma tragedy felt by LGBTQ advocates in ND

LGBTQ advocates in North Dakota have joined a nationwide coalition demanding accountability over the death of a non-binary teen from Oklahoma…

The U.S. military opens the Trinity bomb site, 210 miles south of Los Alamos, New Mexico, to the public twice a year. (Nina/Adobe Stock)

NM activist seeking atomic bomb reparations invited to State of the Union

A New Mexico resident will attend President Joe Biden's State of the Union address tonight as legislation is pending to expand the Radiation Exposure …

In 2018, the nonprofit Decolonizing Wealth Project defined reparative philanthropy as

Report: Older foundations, regardless of intent, may have racist beginnings

A recent report details how great wealth that later made philanthropy possible around the country but most evidently in the District of Columbia…

Texas's effort to opt out of the federal immigration system and create its own rules has been blocked by a federal judge. (MaxSafaniuk/Adobe Stock)

Texas' battle over right to arrest suspected illegal immigrants will continue

A law aimed at immigrants crossing the border in Texas will not take effect tomorrow, after a federal judge halted enforcement until a court battle …

Missouri's Senate Bill 1314, similar to House Bill 2365, prohibits funds from being expended by any state department for interdepartmental programs, staffing or other initiatives associated with

New report reveals high economic risk of anti-DEI laws in Missouri

A new report finds some Missouri laws and prospective laws are perceived as discriminatory regardless of their actual intent - and it outlines some bi…

The Council on American-Islamic Relations estimates there are about 2.2 million American Muslim voters in the U.S., up from its previous estimate of almost 1.79 million. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Primary results: Are Michigan Dems committed to 'uncommitted?'

More than 100,000 people voted "uncommitted" in Michigan's presidential primary. What happens next will be, at least in part, up to President Joe …

A groundbreaking study calls for philanthropic foundations to acknowledge past harms and support reparations for Black Americans. (NCRP)

Report: Philanthropy must play role in racial reparations

A new report said philanthropic organizations need to reexamine the source of their wealth, which it asserted often came from systemic racism and …

Construction on a six-home development in Fairmount Heights began Oct. 13. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Affordable housing meets cutting-edge energy tech in MD's Fairmount Heights

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

Data from 2021 estimated only 3.5% of organic waste generated in Baltimore was diverted for composting. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates see composting as alternative to incineration of Baltimore’s food waste

The founder of the Baltimore Compost Collective wants Baltimore to ditch trash incineration, fight climate change and grow healthier food. Marvin …

As part of the Greening Research in Tacoma initiative, air temperature monitors were set up in a city neighborhood. (Hannah Letinich/The Nature Conservancy)

Tree coverage in cities crucial as planet warms, WA research shows

Trees in urban areas provide benefits for people, including decreased temperatures and improved air quality, according to new research from …

If a Republican wins the White House in the future, the Heritage Foundation has a plan to overhaul such federal agencies as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to operate under conservative regulation. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Conservative groups write 'game plan' for U.S. government takeover

By Carrie Baker for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service Collaboration Wealthy right-…

In a 2024 report, the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce Foundation pointed to the importance of legal immigrants for improving Nebraska's ongoing workforce shortage. (Moab Republic/Adobe Stock)

ACLU: Due process rights violated in Omaha immigration courts

Immigrants whose cases are heard in Omaha's Immigration Court are often denied their due process rights, according to a report from the ACLU of …

Eight objectives in a report by European juvenile-justice groups include encouraging the adoption of age-appropriate alternatives to isolation and preventing tensions between peers and detention center staff. (Adobe Stock)

A push to end solitary confinement in IL for young offenders

There is growing concern over what happens to young offenders in Illinois as they await their first court hearing. A report by European juvenile-…

More than half of Dearborn's nearly 110,000 residents are of Middle Eastern or north African origin.(munir/Adobe Stock)

Many Dearborn residents reconsider voting for Biden in upcoming election

Biden administration officials traveled to Dearborn on Thursday to meet Muslim and Arab-American community leaders, in an effort to repair relations …

Census data from 2020 included population counts of nearly 1,500 race and ethnicity groups and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes and villages. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: MO could do better to ensure children's well-being

A new report examined children's well-being in every state and found in Missouri, the outcomes vary greatly depending on race. In its "Race for …

The Pew Research Center reported 41% of Black workers it surveyed experienced discrimination or were treated unfairly by an employer in hiring, pay, or promotions due to their race or ethnicity. (Adobe Stock)

Black restaurant workers in NY want racial wage gap closed

As Black History Month begins, people are looking at how to close New York's racial wage gap. Between 2010 and 2020, the state's wage gap shrank by …

One fifth of four-year college graduates complete their education later in life, according to a new report by the National Bureau of Economic Research. (moodboard/Adobe Stock)

A surprising number of Michigan college graduates are 'late bloomers'

When you think of college students, you may think of young adults starting out in life but a new report is pointing to a different trend. More older …

A bill to give voting rights for people in prison was introduced by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Kitsap, who was formerly incarcerated. (Brian/Adobe Stock)

WA voting rights bill for people in prison would ‘restore humanity'

Legislation in Olympia could give people in Washington prisons their voting rights. House Bill 2030, known as the Free the Vote Act, would allow …

Black Americans have lost their jobs or had job offers revoked because of hair discrimination, according to the Legal Defense Fund. (Adobe Stock)

CROWN Act would ban discrimination based on Black hairstyles in Ohio

By Faith Fistler for Kent State NewsLab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan. The first time Tyana Barton was singled out because of her hair was …

Nationally, the percentage of adults with at least an associate's degree went from 38% in 2010 to 45% in 2020. (Daisy Daisy/Adobestock)

More Californians earn college degrees, but racial gaps widen

More and more Californians are going to college, earning an associate degree or higher but racial gaps persist, according to a new report. …

Report: MS prison policies only deepen inequality

Being in prison has consequences stretching far beyond paying back a person's debt to society and a new report found it is even more true in Mississip…

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would halt approval of new drilling permits within a mile of school facilities starting in July. (Photo courtesy of Consumer Watchdog)

A trio of NM bills could rein in lucrative oil, gas industry

A trio of bills to curb oil and gas pollution is under consideration by New Mexico lawmakers. New Mexico is the country's second-largest oil …

The rate of New Mexico high school students not graduating on time was down from 33% a decade ago to 23% in 2019-2020. (Julie/Adobe Stock)

Report: New Mexico's child well-being slowly improving

Child well-being in New Mexico appears to be slowly improving with a marked decline in child poverty. Data from New Mexico Voices for Children found …

Congress is proposing gradually increasing the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child in 2025. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Report: MD children doing well overall, racial gaps persist

A new report looking at child well-being finds Maryland doing better than most, but racial disparities persist in the state. The Baltimore-based …

The Fair Start for Kids Act passed in 2021 invested a $1.1 billion in child care and early learning in Washington state. (Seattle/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA children of color continue to experience inequities

Washington state's kids see disparities in well-being across racial groups. That's according to the Race for Results report from the Annie E…

The number of people granted asylum in the United States has more than doubled, from 16,628 in 2021 to 36,615 in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

MLK Day online forum highlights difficulties of asylum system

Today, a virtual "Ask Me Anything" program will address some of the pressing issues of asylum-seekers, in Pennsylvania and across the country…

Apart from the January minimum wage increase, the new year also increased the minimum hourly wage rate for minors to $8.78 per hour, and the tipped employee rate increased to $3.93 per hour. (Seika/Adobe Stock)

MLK Jr.'s fight for fair pay resonates with MI service workers

Michigan food service workers are commemorating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. today, bringing to mind their own, more recent battle for fair wages and …

New York has made strides in voter access through the June 2022 enactment of The New York Voting Rights Act. (vesperstock/Adobe Stock)

New York Senate pushes for more ballot access

Just a week into the legislative session, New York lawmakers are moving to uphold democracy and expand voting rights. The state Senate passed a …

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