Budget Policy & Priorities / Public News Service

Around 43% of participating voters said that while they are personally against abortion, they do not believe government should be preventing someone from making that decision for themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 10, 2024

Poll: Rural AZ voters not a 'cultural monolith'

Arizona's primary election will take place in July, and a new Rural Democracy Initiative poll shows that likely voters from rural areas of the state …

Research shows children in families of color, particularly Black and Latino families, have been more likely to experience gaps in health coverage. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, May 10, 2024

More than 300,000 Georgia kids lose health coverage post-COVID

More than 300,000 children have been dropped from Medicaid and Peach Care for kids since the pandemic ended. A report from the Georgetown University …

In a new poll commissioned by the Rural Democracy Initiative, nearly half of rural voters indicated they would vote for a culturally aligned rural Democrat over a Republican businessperson from an urban area on the East Coast. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

New poll outlines rural voter priorities, but party labels cloud results

President Joe Biden was in Wisconsin on Wednesday, touting plans for a new Microsoft data center. The visit comes amid new polling data in …

By December 2023, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program nationwide, than the month before each state began the process of renewing eligibility after the COVID-related Medicaid continuous coverage protections were lifted. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

UT among largest percentage declines in Medicaid, CHIP enrollment

A new report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families showed Utah is one of the states to see the largest percentage declines in …

Union workers spent Wednesday lobbying California lawmakers to pass bills to protect labor during the transition away from fossil fuels. (Brooke Anderson)<br />

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Union coalition calls for CA worker climate bill of rights

Dozens of union members rallied Wednesday in Sacramento, calling on lawmakers to pass a set of bills called the California Worker Climate Bill of …

As of last December, 4.16 million fewer children were enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program nationwide than the month before each state began the process of renewing post-COVID eligibility. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

SC scrambles to re-enroll kids dropped off post-COVID Medicaid rolls

More than 65,000 children in South Carolina have lost their health insurance through Medicaid, despite being eligible for coverage, according to a …

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Medicaid 'unwinding' leaves thousands of LA children without coverage

More than 56,000 children in Louisiana have lost their health insurance through Medicaid last year, despite being eligible for coverage, according to …

Thursday, May 9, 2024

New poll shows rural voters aren't pigeonholed on key topics

Former President Donald Trump is expected to appear at a Minnesota fundraising event later this month. It comes amid new polling data in battleground …

In Montana, 6.9% of children do not have health insurance, ranking the state 44th out of 51, according to Georgetown University's study. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

MT sees nation's highest percentage of kids losing Medicaid

More than 4 million children nationwide were removed from Medicaid and CHIP health coverage by the end of 2023 as the government reset the programs af…

The Denver Post reports the total number of Coloradans with Medicaid health insurance has dropped by 30% since 2023, just below Texas and Utah. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Report: 86,101 Colorado children removed from Medicaid insurance rolls

More than 4 million children in the U.S. lost their health insurance after automatic Medicaid coverage renewals enacted during the COVID public …

Arkansas is among eight states disenrolling so many children in 2023 that fewer were enrolled at year's end than before the pandemic in early 2020. (Nina Lawrenson/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Report: AR among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

A new report showed the number of children covered by Medicaid varies widely between states as pandemic-era protections were lifted, with Arkansas …

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they're usually easier to treat, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Ohio among top states for number of kids kicked off Medicaid, CHIP

More than 120,000 Ohio kids have been disenrolled from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP, and most were removed for …

Gallup polls show Americans are increasingly losing trust in key professions, although high school teachers still rank fairly high overall in ethics ratings. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Teacher Appreciation Week: ND talks center around perks, perception

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and in North Dakota, the tone is a little different this year - with deeper conversations about the need to keep …

Medicaid coverage includes checkups, sick visits, immunizations as well as dental and vision care. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Report: ID covering fewer kids with public insurance vs. 2019

As pandemic era protections were lifted, a new report showed the number of children on Medicaid has varied widely between states, with Idaho seeing a …

Well-child visits include vision screenings, but if a primary care provider detects a vision problem CHIP also covers comprehensive eye exams and necessary treatment. (Tyler Olson/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Report: AK covers fewer kids with public insurance vs. 2019

A new report shows the number of children covered by Medicaid varied widely between states as pandemic-era protections were lifted, with Alaska …

A special session of the Missouri Legislature to complete the budget may be needed if it is not finalized by Friday at 6 p.m.(luzitanija/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Critical child care funding hangs in balance as Missouri budget nears deadline

Child care advocates are pushing for increased funding as the budget deadline approaches this Friday. Robyn Schelp, director of policy and advocacy …

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

KY keeps most kids enrolled in Medicaid coverage, post-pandemic

Nationwide, children are losing their Medicaid and CHIP coverage but Kentucky has kept the majority of its youngest residents enrolled, according to …

The Justice40 initiative aims to deliver 40% of the overall benefits from federal investments in climate change, clean energy, clean transportation, affordable housing, water infrastructure, workforce development and pollution remediation to disadvantaged communities. (elnariz/adobe stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Federal initiative empowers communities with career creation

A collaboration between the federal government and local communities works to create new career opportunities. The Flint Environmental Career Worker …

Researchers with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions say safe storage of firearms is a good way to prevent suicides, especially when adolescents are in the home. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Firearm storage bill highlights latest MN gun safety efforts

The end date for Minnesota's legislative session is less than two weeks away. One of the remaining debates is gun safety and supporters of a safe …

Children need regular well-child and dental visits to track their development and find health problems early, when they are usually easier to treat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Report: Procedural reasons driving WV kids' loss in health coverage

More than 62,000 West Virginia kids have been dis-enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program or CHIP and most were removed for p…

Nearly seven in ten suicides in Wyoming were carried out with firearms between 2018 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Suicide rate prompts WY lawmakers to invest in mental-health services

Wyoming's suicide rate ranks first in the nation, according to the most recent data, and state lawmakers are taking steps to improve access to mental …

Louisiana teachers are concerned private schools using tax dollars for students will not be held to the same academic standards as public schools. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

LA teachers fight voucher plan to use public funds for private schools

A plan to use public money to fund vouchers for students to attend private schools is drawing pushback from Louisiana teachers, who say the plan …

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates 9.2 million lead pipes are currently used across the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

New maps show progress on NY lead service line replacement

New maps show the extent of New York State's lead pipe replacement program. They demonstrate progress in replacing lead service lines, although the …

New York City's budget allocates $514 million in city and recurring state funds for supporting education programs. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Advocates: NYC budget makes great strides, but more is needed

New York City advocates are excited yet concerned about the 2025 budget. In recent weeks, funding was restored to certain education programs such as …

In 2022, 10.3 million park visitors spent an estimated $1.2 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park lands in Arizona, according to the National Park Service. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

New BLM rules could help national parks in AZ

As opponents to the Bureau of Land Management's new rules push back, public lands advocates are praising the agency's decision to put conservation on …

Calls for building out vast electric-vehicle charging networks have become a thorny issue in oil-producing states such as North Dakota. But EV owners say elected leaders need to realize some automakers are still making a strong push, despite their opposition. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

EV owners in ND: Less politics, more charging stations

It might not be surprising that North Dakota ranks low for electric vehicle adoption, but existing owners say they are frustrated elected officials …

School Lunch Hero Day - promoted by the School Nutrition Association - is celebrated annually on the first Friday in May. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

School Lunch Heroes? Workers ask for respect via higher wages

School districts around Washington and elsewhere may have celebrated School Lunch Hero Day on Friday, a salute to cafeteria workers - but food …

Skimming devices placed in grocery and convenience stores can be used to steal EBT card funds from low-income people. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

EBT 'skimming' on the rise, more Ohioans turn to food banks

The federal SNAP program allows nearly 1.3 million Ohio families to put food on the table -- but increasingly, when many recipients attempt to use …

About 151 Georgia counties are in need of more mental-health care professionals. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Georgia takes aim at mental health care shortages with new legislation

Georgia is taking on its mental-health care challenges head-on through new legislation. One bill is aimed at increasing the number of providers in …

Despite certain barriers to care, New York ranks high on Mental Health America's 2023 Access to Care Report. (Adobe Stock)

NY budget requires insurers to pay rates as high as Medicaid

New York's 2025 budget improves access to mental-health services. Budget legislation stipulates commercial insurers have to pay rates similar to …

Enrollment in Medicaid and CHIP reached a record high of nearly 94.5 million in April 2023. The federal government prohibited states from removing people from their rolls during the COVID-19 public health emergency. (Pixabay/192635)

Report: Florida among top states for children losing health coverage post-COVID

After Texas, a new report shows Florida has seen the second-largest decline in the number of children enrolled in Medicaid and the Children's Health …

For the 2023 tax year, the top five Minnesota counties under the state's wind energy production tax received nearly $12-million in combined revenue. (Adobe Stock)

In some MN counties, wind turbines are taxpayers, too

Minnesota is coming off another windy month of April. Those strong wind gusts may have translated into some extra cash for counties with wind …

South Dakota ranks 40th in the country for per-student spending, at $12,549 annually. (Robert Peak/ Adobe Stock)

Despite increase, SD teacher salary among lowest in the country

It's Teacher Appreciation Week, and there's some mixed news when it comes to how well South Dakota is compensating its teachers. According to the …

Downtown Hazard, Kentucky, is shown with one of several colorful murals added in recent years. (Austin Anthony for The Hechinger Report)<br />

As some rural states cut higher education, Kentucky does the opposite

By Kelly Field for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

While immigrants make up 10% of Oregon's population, they make up 13% of the working-age population ages 16-64, and a corresponding 13% of the labor force. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

'Food for All Oregonians' aims to extend food benefits to immigrants

Oregon advocates are shining a spotlight on hunger and related issues ahead of the fall elections. A recent report from the Immigrant Research …

Nearly two dozen states and Washington D.C. have legalized adult-use cannabis. (Adobe Stock)

When pot and small-town dynamics collide

Petitions are being circulated to get a marijuana legalization question on North Dakota's fall ballot. Some local officials said marijuana laws …

Montana classrooms have seen a more than 12% increase in the number of special education students, according to the latest data. (Adobe Stock)

MT disability advocates sue to stop school vouchers

Advocates for the rights of people with disabilities have joined the Montana Quality Education Association in a suit to stop a school voucher bill in …

A Marist Poll found 31% of rural New Yorkers want increased state funding for developing new homes. (Adobe Stock)

NYS budget bolsters rural housing preservation programs

New York's 2025 budget takes proactive steps to address rural housing. In the budget, $10 million was allocated for improvements to rural housing …

The bill mandates staff to undergo 80 hours of training annually 40 hours on basic school policing and 40 hours on commission-approved school policing curriculum at their own cost. (Rawpixel.com)

Group voices concerns about new TN law arming teachers, staff

Grassroots organizations are sounding the alarm about Tennessee's new law allowing teachers and other school employees to carry guns. Gov. Bill Lee …

Demonstrators appear at a recent Wisconsin rally, where attendees called for making the Social Security program stronger without cutting benefits. (Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans)

WI rallies highlight policy demands that 'retirement be dignified'

On this May Day, Wisconsin groups are rallying in Green Bay to highlight a key issue facing the working class: the ability to retire. Organizers see …

Medicaid expansion in Alabama could help an estimated 283,636 people gain access to health care. (Adobe Stock)

Calls grow for AL Medicaid expansion as legislative session winds down

Alabama is running out of time to tackle Medicaid expansion this legislative session. More than 230 people gathered earlier this month with the …

The 340B rule empowers select safety-net providers by providing discounts on outpatient prescription drugs and in reaching more eligible patients to provide comprehensive services. (Banana Images/Adobe Stock)

Big Pharma uses red-meat rhetoric in fight over drug costs

Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income. Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor …

Connecticut's 2011 paid sick leave law was the first in the nation to require private-sector employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave. (Adobe Stock)

CT paid sick days bill passes House, heads to Senate

A Connecticut bill would expand the state's paid sick leave law. The initial 2011 law requires 40 hours of paid sick leave for workers at employers …

The Public Lands Rule helps ensure BLM management decisions will continue to be guided by science and data. (Adobe Stock)

Utah opposes BLM's new Public Lands Rule

The Bureau of Land Management recently released its final Public Lands Rule, which is set to put conservation on equal footing with other multiple …

About 6,000 Michigan short-term rental hosts earned roughly $146 million in 2021. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

MI short-term rental owners may face new long-term costs

Proposed regulations in Michigan could have a major impact on the state's tourism industry. The series of 10 bills introduced by House Democrats …

An estimated 2,700 people identify as transgender in Montana, or about one-third of 1% of the state's population, according to the UCLA Law School. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates ask MT Supreme Court to allow minors gender-affirming care

Advocates for end-of-life care options in Montana have asked the state Supreme Court to uphold an injunction of a bill banning gender-affirming care f…

The U.S. Department of Defense has known about the existential threat of climate change for decades, and wildfires now cost upward of 394 billion dollars in damages each year. But taxpayers invested just 14 dollars in wildfire management. (Adobe Stock)

2023 tax receipt breaks down nation’s spending priorities

As many Wyomingites await their 2023 federal income tax refunds, a new National Priorities Project report breaks down how the money they won't get …

In a new AARP survey, roughly a quarter of respondents 50 and older who are not yet retired say they expect to never retire. (Adobe Stock)

Troubling survey results prompt reminders to save for retirement

A new national survey says one in five Americans 50 and older has nothing in savings for retirement. Wisconsin workers young and old are being …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2024 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 24 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast - May 10, 2024

2024Talks - May 10, 2024

The Yonder Report - May 9, 2024