Census / Public News Service

Based on census data, the 2021 wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic, white men is $0.63 per hour. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Spotlights Need for Wage Transparency

DENVER -- Today marks the day Black women in the U.S. will finally earn as much as a white, non-Hispanic man was paid in 2020. Ashley Panelli…

The 2020 Census revealed more than 7 million people call Massachusetts home, so the Commonwealth will still have nine representatives in Congress after redistricting. (iQoncept/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Give Public Comment Time for New MA Voting District Maps

BOSTON -- Every ten years, after the Census, local municipalities usually draw new precinct boundaries before state lawmakers draw new voting …

In Pennsylvania, if you're in prison in connection to a misdemeanor or parole violation, you are still eligible to vote. (Adobe Stock)

Petition Calls for an End to Prison Gerrymandering in PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania should get some 2020 Census data this summer, to be used in the redistricting process. But some groups want the state …

The New Mexico redistricting committee plans to hold a dozen public meetings, including at least two on tribal lands, as 2020 Census data is used to draw new electoral district boundaries. (fairdistricts.org)

NM Redistricting Committee Knocked for Lack of Diversity

SANTA FE, N.M. -- New Mexico is considered one of the 10 most ethnically diverse states, but its new redistricting committee is anything but…

Women make up half of Wyoming's population, but just 18% of the state's legislators. (Charlie Riedel)

Wyoming Legislators to Tackle Election Redistricting

CASPER, Wyo. - Wyoming lawmakers are beginning the process of redrawing boundaries for state legislative districts today, which will determine which …

The Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission is made up of four Democrats, four Republicans and five Independents. (Adobe Stock)

Independent MI Redistricting Commission Makes Hearings More Accessible

DEARBORN, Mich. -- The independent commission charged with drawing Michigan's new voting district maps for the next decade is seeking public comments …

Only six states will gain seats in the House of Representatives in 2022: Texas, Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina and Oregon. The U.S. Census Bureau announced new apportionment data Monday based on the 2020 U.S. Census. (Bill Oxford/The Brennan Center)

FL Group Works for Fair Process, Greater Awareness in Redistricting

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Reapportionment data announced Monday has sparked conversation about a census undercount, and lower-than-expected Florida …

According to ACLU Connecticut, 10 states have ended prison gerrymandering. Connecticut could be among them if Senate Bill 753 passes in the General Assembly this session and is signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont. (Adobe Stock)

CT Groups Push for Fair Redistricting; End to Prison Gerrymandering

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The League of Women Voters of Connecticut is working to promote greater awareness about the importance of drawing new legislative …

New census data shows Massachusetts has more than seven million residents, and will keep nine representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next decade. (Siberian Art/Adobe Stock)

Coalition Calls for Citizens, Community Groups' Input on New District Maps

BOSTON -- The first batch of 2020 Census data came out this week, with population counts and an announcement of the number of representatives each …

A bill under consideration by the Texas Legislature would impose harsh criminal penalties for local election officials who provide assistance to voters. (Adobe Stock)

Texas Gains Political Clout While Trying to Restrict Voting

AUSTIN, Texas -- The U.S. Census Bureau announced Monday Texas will gain two additional congressional seats, the most of any state in the nation…

The pandemic delayed operations at the U.S. Census Bureau, as it developed and prepared COVID-19 safety precautions for census takers. (2020census.gov)

Census Delays Throw Wrench into Illinois Redistricting Process

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois has one of the earliest deadlines for redistricting, the process of redrawing lines for voting districts, which happens …

The American Rescue Plan would create a $25 billion emergency child-care stabilization fund. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates for Children, Families Say Mainers Need COVID Relief

AUGUSTA, Maine -- As Maine families struggle to recover from the pandemic's economic fallout, advocates for children and families say quick passage …

Legislative maps of areas such as Charlotte are changing because of a surge in population growth. (Adobe Stock)

Census Delay Could Pose Problems for Fair NC Redistricting

RALEIGH, N.C. - Every ten years, states use the census to redraw congressional and state legislative districts, but delays in the release of 2020 …

In Texas, 20% of families report slight or no confidence in their ability to pay rent or mortgage on time due to the pandemic, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (RobinHiggins/Pixabay)

TX Families Struggle to Keep Ahead of Pandemic Hardships

AUSTIN, Texas -- Congress has passed a new stimulus package that will provide most Texas residents with an extra $600 - but that may not go far for …

Despite gains for New Hampshire Democratic lawmakers in 2016, Republicans will draw maps in 2021 after taking back both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate. (Wikimedia Commons)

GOP Election Gains in NH Mean Control Over 2021 Redistricting Process

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire's newly elected Republican majorities on the General Court are readying for next year's redistricting process…

Ohio's 2020 Census Count response rate of 70.6% is slightly higher than the 2010 response rate, but still indicates many Ohioans weren't counted. (Adobe Stock)

2020 Census: Ohio's Count Ends, But Work Remains

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The 2020 Census count is officially over, but advocacy organizations in Ohio say they still have work to do to ensure all Ohio …

A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that halts the 2020 Census 15 days early will guarantee an undercount for Latino, tribal and rural communities, according to Chicanos Por La Causa Action Fund. (alaska public.org)

Census Count Ends After Supreme Court Sides with Trump

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- The roller coaster that has been the once-a-decade U.S. Census will come to an early end today, despite the failure to reach many …

In the final stretch of the U.S. Census, North Carolina continues to lag behind the national self-response rate by 3.8 percentage points. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Judge Orders Census Count Extended through October

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The 2020 Census count will be extended until October 31, this after a court ruling reversed the Trump administration's decision to …

As COVID-19 cases spike again in states such as Wisconsin, those in charge of census outreach efforts are making a push through social media. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Legal Wrangling, Census Outreach in High Gear in WI

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Community groups and civic leaders are allowed to continue conducting the 2020 census through October, thanks to a ruling from a …

In addition to federal delays, South Dakota's governor has been questioned over whether she was too slow to ramp up state outreach efforts for the 2020 census. (Adobe Stock)

SD Census Workers Scramble to Count All Residents

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- From shifting workers to different states to offering them overtime incentives, the U.S. Census Bureau is doing everything it …

A leaked document shows concerns from within the Census Bureau that a shortened timeline for counting could result in serious errors. (AdobeStock)

New Calls to Extend 2020 Census Counting Deadline

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A coalition of advocacy groups wants Ohio's senators to get behind efforts to extend the 2020 census deadline by four months…

In Kentucky, 65% of households responded to the U.S. Census in 2010. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians in Final Stretch to Complete U.S. Census Forms

PIKESVILLE, Ky. -- Kentuckians have a few more weeks to secure the resources they will rely on for the next decade by completing their 2020 U.S…

Latinos are among the youngest racial or ethnic group in the country, with a median age of 30, according to the Pew Research Center. (unidosus.org)

Mobilization Effort in Texas Encourages Young Latinos to Vote

AUSTIN, Texas -- A Texas group cultivating Latino voters under age 35 has ramped up its grassroots efforts to get them registered and out to vote in …

The U.S. Census Bureau provides translated web pages and guides in 59 non-English languages, including American Sign Language, as well as guides in Braille and large print. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Window Tightens for Getting Accurate Census Count in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. -- As the Trump administration works to end the U.S. Census Bureau's once-a-decade tally required by the U.S. Constitution one month …

Census outreach officials say an undercount can cost states billions of dollars for priorities like transportation projects and education. (Adobe Stock)

MN Cities Scramble as Census Deadline Looms

DETROIT LAKES, Minn. -- This fall, field work for the 2020 Census will wind down. While there's still some disagreement about the ending date…

U.S. Census takers are beginning their door-to-door surveys of Baltimore residents, but will also be setting up mobile sites where people can get help filling out census questionnaires. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Census-Takers Target Baltimore to Boost Response Rate

BALTIMORE -- There may be a knock on your door soon, as the U.S. Census Bureau is following up door-to-door with households in Maryland that have not …

An online report says nearly 30,000 South Dakota households include two parents whose work doesn't allow them to stay at home with their kids all day, and more than 11,000 single-parent households. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SD Has Fewest Stay-at-Home Parents During Crisis

PIERRE, S.D. -- South Dakota tops the nation for households without "stay-at-home" parents during the pandemic, according to a new online report…

The federal decision to end the 2020 Census count a month early could hamper efforts by federal enumerators to get an accurate count of critical populations in Arizona. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Census Undercount Could Cost Arizona Jobs, Billions in Funds

TUCSON, Ariz. -- An undercount in the 2020 Census could cost Arizona thousands of jobs, billions of dollars for social programs, and even a seat in …

After-school programs, school lunch assistance, special education, and classroom technology all receive federal funding based on U.S. Census data. (Adobe Stock)

Census Undercount Could be Disastrous for NC Schools

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Census Bureau has announced it's wrapping up field operations a month earlier than previously planned, and critics say the …

Texas, the second-largest state in the U.S., had a 64% response rate for the 2010 Census, but is stuck at 58% for the 2020 Census. (lorimalhiot/Pixabay)

Census Undercount Puts Billions of Dollars at Stake for Texas

AUSTIN, Texas -- Geographically, Texas is the second-largest state in the U.S, and that makes it difficult and critical to reach everyone in …

In fiscal year 2016, Florida received more than $44 billion based on census results, for services like highway construction, nutrition assistance, healthcare and education. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Shorter Census Deadline Could Put Florida Funding at Risk

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- This year's U.S. Census count will determine how much funding Florida receives in the next decade for many crucial government-…

Maine's current census response rate is less than 56%, among the five lowest rates by state. The national average is about 63.5%. (Pikist/Creative Commons)

Maine's Census Response Rate Among Lowest

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine has one of the lowest census response rates in the country, according to the latest Census Bureau figures. Deborah Weinstein…

West Virginia advocates for families say the state could lose millions of dollars in program funding if the deadline for the U.S. census count is not extended. (Adobe stock)

West Virginians to Bear Brunt if Census Count Deadline Isn’t Extended

CHARLESTON, W. Va. -- With the Trump administration cutting the U.S. census count short by a month, advocates for families say West Virginians will …

The 2020 census count determines how much of the $675 billion in federal funds states and counties receive and shapes the maps of legislative districts. (americanlibrariesmagazine.org)

Census Workers Begin Door-to-Door Visits After Trump Moves Deadline

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Starting today, census takers will begin visiting homes that haven't returned their 2020 census forms. Residents of New Mexico …

The pandemic forced the U.S. Census Bureau to extend the deadline for self-reporting in the once-a-decade tally of all people living in the United States to Oct. 31. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Not Too Late to Avoid In-Person Census Visits

OMAHA, Neb. - Census workers soon will be heading into Nebraska neighborhoods to ensure that people who have not yet responded to the 2020 census are …

In Nevada, undocumented immigrants comprised 11% of Nevada's workforce in 2016. (pedroserapio/Pixabay)<br /> — In Nevada, undocumented immigrants comprised 11% of Nevada's workforce in 2016. (pedroserapio/Pixabay)

Stalled by COVID-19, Census Workers Seek Out Hard-to-Reach Americans

LAS VEGAS - Once every decade, the U.S. Constitution mandates that every person be counted as part of the census, but so far, nearly 40% of American …

According to a published report, South Dakota officials signed their driver's license sharing agreement with the Census Bureau in April. (Adobe Stock)

SD Among States Sharing ID Info With Feds

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota officials acknowledge they're working with the federal government in sharing driver's license information with the U.S…

The U.S. Census Bureau held off making home visits because of the pandemic, but says it will start contacting Illinoisans who haven't responded for the 2020 Census in the next several weeks. (Adobe Stock)

Census Workers Ready for Door-to-Door Interviews in Illinois

CHICAGO - Census workers will soon be pounding the pavement, reaching out to Illinois households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census…

When it comes to the census, Nevada has historically been a "hard to count" state, and reaching rural communities is an even greater challenge. (9lnw/Pixabay)

Your Pandemic "To Do" List Should Include 2020 Census

LAS VEGAS -- The pandemic may have pushed completing the 2020 U.S. census off the top of your "to-do" list, but it's well known that a limited …

Children under age five are by far the largest of any age group consistently missed in the decennial census count. (shawn1/Pixabay)

Accurate Census Count Can Boost NM Children's Success in Life

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The number of young children missed in the census count has grown steadily in the past 40 years, and advocates for New Mexico …

A 1% undercount of the population from the 2020 census could translate to a loss of $300 million in federal funding for Texas. (texascounts.org)

On the Virtual Road in Texas to Promote the 2020 Census

AUSTIN, Texas -- From the Gulf Coast to the Panhandle to the Rio Grande, Texas census organizers are hosting a virtual road trip this week to …

According to the CDC, South Dakota had a fertility rate of 73.6 in 2018, the highest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

SD's Birth Rate Underscores Calls to Count All Kids in Census

BROOKINGS, S.D. -- A common theme for the 2020 census is making sure all young children are counted. That's been an issue in previous counts…

In-person census survey visits historically have helped boost participation among communities of color and other underrepresented groups. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — In-person census survey visits historically have helped boost participation among communities of color and other underrepresented groups. (Adobe Stock)

Census Workers to Begin Visiting Households

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Census workers will hit the ground in person next month, gearing up efforts to contact households that have not yet responded to …

Census numbers determine how the federal government distributes taxpayer dollars to states for education, food assistance, health care, housing and many children's programs. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Census 2020: Redoubling Efforts to Count Kids 5 and Younger

DENVER --The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way nonprofits delivering in-home early-childhood development programs connect with families. As the …

Census 2020: PSAs in Spanish

DENVER -- Three audio public service announcements related to the 2020 census are available to all media outlets in Colorado. The spots were created …

The census can be completed by mail, online or on the phone by calling 844-330-2020. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Census Critical for NYers with Disabilities

NEW YORK -- Despite the COVID pandemic, the U.S. Census is going on right now. And advocates for people with disabilities are stressing the …

Massachusetts is 13th in the country in getting people to fill out the census online, and 20th for overall responses. (Driftwood/Adobestock)

Massachusetts 20th in Nation on Rate of Response to Census

BOSTON -- Two months after the launch of the 2020 Census, 37% of Massachusetts households still haven't filled out their forms. The Bay State's …

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau began a phased restart of field operations in an additional 14 states, and there's at least one field office at work in all 50 states. (U.S. Census Bureau)

Census 2020: Going Digital to Reach Hard-to-Count Communities

DENVER -- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape for groups working to ensure an accurate count in the 2020 census. It's estimated that 50%…

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

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2020Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2020Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play Two-Thousand-Twenty Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

PNS Daily Newscast - August 4, 2021

2021Talks - August 4, 2021

Census