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According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's annual budget report, the state receives more than $1.10 billion in federal funding outside of funds from the child nutrition and COVID relief programs. (Michael Ireland/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Parents, teachers voice concerns over rejecting federal funds for NC schools

From gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to Superintendent of Public Instruction hopeful Michele Morrow, some Republicans running for office have …

Public education advocates believe without adequate funding, North Carolina's public schools will continue to face severe challenges, including teacher shortages, lack of support staff and deteriorating facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 17, 2024

NC voucher bill sparks debate over public school funding, equity

Advocates for public education are reacting to the North Carolina House passing legislation to funnel millions of state dollars into private school vo…

In the past two years, the price of school supplies has gone up about 24%, according to a Deloitte analysis. (Adobe Stock)

NC teachers spend big on classroom supplies amid low pay

Classroom supplies are taking a toll on teachers in North Carolina. A new survey showed despite earning around 5% less than they did a decade ago…

The Sentencing Project found a total of 8,632 individuals serving sentences for crimes committed as minors in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Report shows NC youth left behind despite sentencing reforms

Efforts to reform juvenile sentencing in the U.S. have made significant strides but a new report showed North Carolina is not keeping up. A study by …

Students at William Peace University are required to complete an internship or professional experience before graduation. (Adobe Stock)

NC college stresses preparing students for ever-changing workforce

In a fast-changing job market, one North Carolina university is helping students through early engagement and long-term support. A new report …

NC group works to boost financial literacy for youths

Young people are increasingly falling into debt through "Buy Now, Pay Later" apps and cash advance phone offers, much as with payday loans before …

The Leandro Plan calls for at least $5.6 billion in new, annual education spending for North Carolina by 2028. (Adobe Stock)

As court decision looms, a push for better NC school funding

As summer winds down and North Carolina students prepare to return to school, the focus shifts to the urgent need for better public education funding…

By age 8, 52% of children have had a cavity in their primary baby teeth. (Adobe Stock)

NC dentists stress importance of children's dental health during summer

As summer kicks into full gear, North Carolina dentists stressed the importance of maintaining children's dental health. Dr. Miranda Kalaskey…

Nationally, the child poverty rate decreased from 17.2% in 2021 to 15.9% in 2022, returning to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Annie. E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

NC kids face challenges at school, but rising economic well-being

A new report sheds light on children's well-being in North Carolina, and highlights the need for greater academic support. According to the latest …

Federal researchers found nearly three in four children who were disenrolled during the

Report: NC works to keep kids on Medicaid health coverage

A new report showed North Carolina is one of only a few states taking a cautious approach to removing families with children from Medicaid since the p…

A new report says as a result of budget appropriation increases, within a few years, North Carolina taxpayers will be spending more than $520 million per year on private-school tuition. (Adobe Stock)

Report reveals inequities in NC school voucher system

School vouchers in North Carolina were intended to expand educational options for low-income families. However, the report "NC School Vouchers: Using …

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

In the United States, more than 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill could help food banks across North Carolina

In a state where nearly 11% of households face food insecurity, North Carolina's food banks are grappling with an urgent problem. The nonprofit …

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, North Carolina has an incarceration rate of 617 per 100,000 people in prisons, jails, immigration detention and juvenile justice facilities. (Jessica Leigh/Adobe Stock)

Report has remedies for racial disparities in NC criminal-justice system

Sixty percent of those incarcerated in North Carolina are people of color, one of the highest rates in the country. A new report from The Sentencing …

MarketBoxx partners with universities and colleges food pantries to address food insecurity and combat 'food deserts,' which can affect the health and nutrition of college students on a budget. (Photo courtesy of MarketBoxx)

Nonprofit fights hunger on founders' former NC campus

Just in time for the holidays, two North Carolina A&T State University graduates are taking a stand against hunger among college students, and making …

About 1,304,300 student borrowers live in North Carolina. (Adobe Stock)

Expert offers tips to manage college costs, student-loan debt in NC

As student loan payments resume after a three-year halt, experts offer advice on pursuing higher education without accumulating unnecessary debt…

According to the Prison Policy Initiative, about one in five young people held in juvenile facilities is awaiting trial and has not been found guilty or delinquent. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer NC youths locked up, but more juvenile justice reforms needed

The number of children behind bars in North Carolina has declined significantly in recent years, but their advocates said more work could be done to …

Some 43% of young voters say they are more motivated to vote by candidates who represent their values, not by voting against candidates who do not represent their values (27%). (Adobe Stock)

Looking to NC voters 'under 45' to change state politics

The youngest North Carolina voters could end up shifting the political landscape of the state in the not-too-distant future. New data from the …

Among 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide, 2.08 million or 8.33% report using drugs in the last month. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina fights back against youth overdose epidemic

In the wake of the devastating overdose epidemic in North Carolina, the state's Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up to aid …

Ballots cast by young people made up 12% of all votes in the 2022 election, nearly matching the 13% youth share of the vote from the 2014 and 2018 midterms, according to National Election Pool surveys. (Adobe Stock)

NC Group Joins Effort to Mobilize Young Voters

The League of Women Voters in North Carolina said its members are working diligently to reach out to young people, especially today. The goal is to …

In 2019, Black youths were 4.4 times as likely to be incarcerated in the juvenile-justice system<br />as were their white peers. (Jeffrey Zalesny/Adobe Stock)

Report Offers Ways to Reduce Jail, Prison Populations in NC

The U.S. prison population has grown nearly 500% since the start of mass incarceration 50 years ago and now, reform advocates are calling for its end …

NC Family Demands Fair Treatment as Teen Brothers Face Adult Charges

A Gaston County family is demanding fair treatment as teenage twin brothers Paden and La'Dainian Fuller face attempted first-degree murder charges in …

Youth-Led Nonprofit Works to Transform Rural NC Health, Wellness

Rural areas in North Carolina have long been grappling with limited access to services, from health care to internet access, and a unique nonprofit …

All types of college transfers, combined, dropped by 2.3% in 2022, resulting in an overall 6.9% decrease in transfer students since Fall 2020. (Aleksandr/Adobe Stock)

NC School Focuses on Boosting Transfer Student Success

As colleges gear up to welcome students for the fall semester, there is a growing focus on supporting students who transfer from one school to …

Statewide enrollment grew 36% during the pandemic, with more than 797,000 people newly qualifying for coverage from March 2020 until last April. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Redetermination in NC: Thousands at Risk of Losing Coverage

North Carolinians face a significant challenge as the federal provision preventing states from removing Medicaid participants from their coverage in t…

The average annual cost of child care in North Carolina is $9,255 for an infant and $7,592 for a 4-year-old. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights NC Needs for More & Better Child Care

Families in North Carolina are in critical need of more and better child care options, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book, released today …

Rates of mental and behavioral health challenges have increased broadly among women and children across the nation in recent years, according to the UnitedHealth Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Expert Stresses Importance of Health Care, Screenings for NC Women

As National Women's Health Month comes to an end, an expert emphasized the need for increased health care and screenings for women in North Carolina …

According to an Annie E. Casey Foundation report, the number of youths in foster care has declined steadily since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights Need for Extended Transition Services for Older Youths

Teenagers and young adults in the foster care system in North Carolina and throughout the nation are not receiving sufficient services to successfully…

Cooperating Raleigh Colleges is a nonprofit consortium. Its members are Meredith College, North Carolina State University, Saint Augustine's University, Shaw University, Wake Technical Community College, and William Peace University. (Drobot Dean/Adobe Stock)

Six NC Colleges Work to Broaden Educational Opportunities

Six colleges in North Carolina have found they can do more to offer educational opportunities when they work together. Cooperating Raleigh Colleges …

Around 77,900 transgender youths live in 11 states that passed bans or took other executive actions this year or in prior years to prohibit or limit their access to gender-affirming care. (Valerii Honcharuk/Adobe Stock)

NC Advocates, Doctors Speak Out Against Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

In North Carolina, advocates and health care professionals are voicing their opposition to recent medical care restrictions they call legislative …

Produce Purpose has two goals in mind - to offer meaningful employment to individuals with special needs and to bring healthy, nutritional food to college campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Hydroponic Farm Boosts Healthy Eating, Special-Needs Jobs at NC University

William Peace University is teaming up with Produce Purpose, a nonprofit organization, to install a hydroponic farming operation on campus. The new …

International students comprise 5% of all students in higher education. (Adobe Stock)

Undocumented NC Students Call for Tuition Fairness

Some North Carolina students are calling on legislators to propose a bill to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at community colleges…

In 2020, children of color made up the majority of the total child population in 20 states. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Declining Child Population a Concern for NC’s Future

North Carolina is among the states where the child population has increased, but nationwide numbers suggest a decline in children, which could …

Hip Hop Higher Ed Symposium programming brings hip-hop culture and scholarship to North Carolina college students. (Stephanie Reed)<br />

Symposium Brings Hip Hop Culture, Scholarship to NC Campuses

An upcoming event in Raleigh hosted in part by William Peace University aims to bring hip-hop arts culture to North Carolina's college students…

The National Eating Disorders Association offers a screening tool on its website for someone wondering if they or a family member suffer an eating disorder. (Adobe Stock)

NC Minorities Receive Less Treatment for Eating Disorders

As part of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, specialists are calling for additional funding, research and resources for people affected by …

The proportion of Hispanic K-12 students in U.S. schools has increased threefold, from 9%<br />in 1984 to 28% today, according to UnidosUS. (Adobe Stock)

NC Latino Leaders Call for More Bilingual, Cultural Support

North Carolina's Latino education leaders see a need for more bilingual and cultural sensitivity training in the state's classrooms. The group …

La proporci�n de estudiantes hispanos K-12 en las escuelas de EE. UU. se ha triplicado, del 9 % en 1984 al 28 % en la actualidad, seg�n UnidosUS. (Adobe Stock)

Líderes latinos de Carolina del Norte piden más apoyo cultural bilingüe

Líderes educativos latinos de Carolina del Norte ven la necesidad de más capacitación bilingüe y de sensibilidad cultural en las a…

It's estimated 23% of U.S. children 2 to 5 years of age and 52% of children 6 to 8 years of age have dental cavities, according to a <a href=

December 2022 report published in the journal Pediatrics. (Adobe Stock)">

Kids' 'COVID Cavities' Lingering Effect of Pandemic

Young kids and teens have gotten out of regular teeth brushing and flossing, and dentists say "COVID cavities" are a lingering effect of the pandemic…

The average American consumes an estimated eight pounds of candy annually, with children eating even more, according to 2015 research published in the journal Advances in Nutrition. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Dentists: Avoid Sticky Candy to Trick Cavities this Halloween

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the cost of candy is up 13% due to inflation, but North Carolina households are still expected to consume enough …

In North Carolina, 57% of incoming college freshmen completed the FAFSA. That ranks the state 23rd in the nation for FAFSA completion, according to MyFutureNC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

FAFSA Changes to Simplify Financial-Aid Process for NC Students

Changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid next year are expected to simplify the process and shorten the amount of time it takes to comp…

Elementary schoolers should get at least nine hours of sleep per night, according to pediatricians at the Cleveland Clinic. (Adobe Stock)

Healthy Habits for NC Kids Can Start with Back-to-School

Experts say there are a few steps North Carolina families can take to help young children feel prepared and ready to begin the new school year…

Around 75% of college students who struggle with depression and anxiety are reluctant to seek help, according to the Mayo Clinic. (Adobe Stock)

Students Returning to Campus Urged to Check Mental-Health Resources

As college students head to campus in the coming weeks, mental-health experts are urging both students and parents to familiarize themselves with the …

The Four Leaf Clover Program is a small group making a big difference in Benson, N.C., where its volunteers organize summer day trips and provide lunches for local children. (Cleo McKinnon)<br />

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Many rural North Carolina kids lack access to summer camps and consistent meals when school is out, but an organization in Benson is working to …

Among young people referred to court, detention has grown even more common for Black, Latinx and Asian/Pacific Islander youth, while holding steady for white and Tribal youth, reveals a recent report from The Sentencing Project. (Adobe Stock)

NC Governor’s Use of Clemency Spotlights Juvenile Life Sentencing

Gov. Roy Cooper has used his clemency power to end life sentences for three people sent to prison as children. His decision last month followed the …

Research shows that traumatic events are known to have a detrimental long-term impact on both mental and physical health over a lifetime. (Adobe Stock)

Program Aims to Infuse Trauma-Informed Practices in Rural NC

Beginning this month, a leadership program in Rural North Carolina is helping local organizations implement trauma-informed practices. Organizers of …

Healthcare provisions in The Build Back Better Act would increase Medicaid and CHIP coverage for people after a pregnancy, from 60 days to one year postpartum. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 'Build Back Better' Could Shrink NC Health Coverage Gap

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Many low-income North Carolinians without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

On Nov. 10, Dawn Blagrove of Emancipate NC presented oral arguments to North Carolina Supreme Court Justices about the racial justice consequences of life-without-parole sentencing in juvenile cases. (Supreme Court of North Carolina)

NC Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Juvenile Life-without-Parole

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on the racial disparities involved in sentencing kids under 18 to …

More than 25% of high school students in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study reported worsening emotional and cognitive health. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Meeting Kids' Social, Emotional Needs This Fall

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The school year is fast approaching, and many North Carolina students will be headed back to the classroom for the first time in a …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

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NC: Youth