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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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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.

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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.

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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.

WI: Poverty Issues

Wisconsin is one of 20 states still at the federal minimum wage level of $7.25 an hour. The other 30 have base levels ranging from $8.75 to $16. (Adobe Stock)
Peeling back the layers of WI minimum wage policy

Bills are pending in Congress to boost the federal minimum wage, which remains at $7.25 an hour. Separately, many states increased their wage …

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Congress averted a government shutdown in September by approving a temporary spending plan. But time is running out to come up with long-term appropriations, and political observers say a lot of uncertainty looms over budget talks. (Adobe Stock)
Wisconsinites warn of negative outcomes if federal programs are cut

Congress has one week to approve a new federal spending plan or risk a government shutdown, and some Wisconsinites are calling on lawmakers to keep …

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The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says nationwide, up to 600,000 eligible people would be turned away from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children under a spending proposal from House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)
WI Families Could See 'Double Whammy' From Budget Policies

Congress is again steeped in a looming budget crisis as lawmakers face a deadline to approve a new government spending plan. In Wisconsin, policy …

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Health equity groups said dental therapists can go out into settings like schools and federally qualified community health centers, and provided much-needed oral health care to underserved populations. (Adobe Stock)
Dental Therapists Touted as Key to Advancing Dental Care Equity

The term "food deserts" is used a lot in the fight against hunger, but groups calling attention to the shortage of oral health care professionals say …

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In key categories measuring child well-being, Wisconsin consistently ranks among the top 20 states in an annual report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)
Despite High Ranking, Child Well-Being Concerns Persist in WI

An annual report measuring child well-being in the U.S. said several benchmarks have worsened overall. States like Wisconsin fared better in the …

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With the debt-ceiling debate winding down, Congress faces future budget battles, including the Farm Bill reauthorization this fall. (Adobe Stock)
WI Working Family Advocates Put Spotlight on Reps' Voting Records

This week's debt ceiling deal saw federal policymakers compromise on budget-related matters, but a new awareness campaign from a Wisconsin grassroots …

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This legislative session, Wisconsin Republicans have sought tighter caps on unemployment benefits, while adding more eligibility benchmarks. (Adobe Stock)
Veto Calls Grow Over Public-Aid Restrictions Proposed in WI

A coalition of Wisconsin groups is asking Gov. Tony Evers to reject bills it contends would make it harder for people struggling to get by to bounce …

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According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, roughly 700,000 Wisconsinites rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table. (Adobe Stock)
Guidance for SNAP Recipients as Pandemic Boost Ends

Wisconsin residents receiving federal food assistance have now seen their final round of emergency aid prompted by the pandemic. Hunger-fighting …

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The report defines an
Report: Many WI Renters Struggle to Meet Housing Costs

Despite two years of government initiatives designed to provide financial aid and support to housing insecure residents, Wisconsin is still facing a …

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According to AARP Wisconsin, prescription drug prices have outpaced inflation in recent years. (Adobe Stock)
Petition Pushes Congress to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

More than 126,000 Wisconsinites have signed an AARP petition urging Congress to lower prescription drug prices. According to GoodRx, an American …

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According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin is one of ten states with full-time legislatures. Despite taking home an average annual salary of more than $50,000, Wisconsin's lawmakers are not scheduled to meet again until next year. (Adobe Stock)
WI Lawmakers Reintroduce 'Economic Justice Bill of Rights'

Wisconsin's legislative session has concluded, but Democrats still are pushing for a so-called "Economic Justice Bill of Rights." Among other things…

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According to Feeding America, more than 530,000 Wisconsinites are facing hunger. (Adobe Stock)
WI Lawmakers Eye Repealing Pandemic Food-Aid Waivers

At the beginning of the pandemic, Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) waived numerous requirements to participate in the state's food-aid …

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