Community Issues and Volunteering / Public News Service

Since 2017, AARP has awarded more than $12.7 million to more than 1,060 projects, including 10 in Wyoming, through the Community Challenge to nonprofit organizations and government entities. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

AARP Wyoming Seeking Projects to Help Improve Communities

AARP Wyoming is putting out the call for creative projects to help improve communities, whether by creating new public transportation and housing …

On average, people spend an average of 52 hours per year volunteering their time, according to Nonprofits Source. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, February 3, 2023

Iowans Rank High on "Informal" Volunteering

New data on volunteering in the United States from the independent government agency AmeriCorps shows the pandemic cut deeply into the amount of time …

Master Gardeners Nate Picken and Frank Amaro along with Pembroke Mayor Judy Peterson help Avery Grace select trees to be planted at Pembroke School. (Photo courtesy Toni Riley)

Trees Bring Hope, Healing for Western Kentucky Tornado Victims

By Toni Riley for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Nearly half of all Hispanic-Americans live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards. (Adobe Stock)

Public Health Benefits of Limiting Oil, Gas Methane Pollution

The public has until February 13th to weigh in on new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane pollution at oil and gas…

Storage batteries hidden behind this Bronzeville mural will be part of a microgrid system that will render the entire Chicago neighborhood energy-independent. (ComEd)

Chicago's Bronzeville Neighborhood Gets Its Own Power Microgrid

By Francesca Mathewes for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journal…

The City of College Place, Wash., received a grant to improve wireless internet connection in the community. (City of College Place)

Community Challenge Grant Provides Unique Opportunity for WA Cities

A grant program to improve communities is open for applications. Started in 2017, the AARP Community Challenge program provides grants to …

South Dakotans logged nearly 14 million hours of formal volunteer service, according to AmeriCorps in its latest report. (Adobe Stock)

SD Among Top States for Volunteer Work

New data about volunteering in the U.S. is good news for South Dakota. Every other year, the independent government agency AmeriCorps works with the …

AmeriCorps says in its latest report, Minnesotans logged 108 million hours of formal volunteer service. (Adobe Stock)

MN Fares Well in New Volunteer Rankings

New data on volunteering in the U.S. carries good news for Minnesota. Every other year, the independent government agency AmeriCorps works with the …

AARP Nebraska Community Challenge grant winners have used the funding to enhance trails in several communities across the state. (Madeline Cass/AARP Nebraska) <br /><br /> <br /><br />

AARP Community Challenge Grants Return for Seventh Year

Nebraska nonprofits and government entities are encouraged to apply for the 2023 AARP Community Challenge grants. They are part of the …

According to the research, about 23%, or 60.7 million people, formally volunteered with organizations between September 2020 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

UT Leads with Formal Volunteering Efforts in AmeriCorps' Latest Research

According to AmeriCorps' latest research, Utah was the state with the highest number of residents volunteering with nonprofits in their communities …

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the

National Day of Racial Healing Means Weeklong Events for AR

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday, and tomorrow is the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing. It's a call to action for racial …

According to Tabron, The National Day of Racial Healing is centered around experiences in truth-telling. (Adobe Stock)

UT Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

The 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey found the number of Maine high school students who identify as transgender <a href=

more than doubled from 2019 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)">

Intergenerational Groups Strengthen Maine’s LGBTQ Community

Intergenerational connections can be powerful tools to help improve overall quality of life for both young and old. It can be especially true in the …

Library cardholders can check out a Madison BCycle pass and a bike helmet at any Madison Public Library. (Adobe Stock)

Bike Libraries Boost Access to Cycling in WI, Elsewhere

By Cinnamon Janzer for Next City.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

To avoid waste and illness, people involved with distribution of food donations say it's best to give items that are not damaged and are in their original packaging. (Adobe Stock)

SD Food Shelf Shares Ways to Make Impactful Donations

This month, Congress gave final approval to a plan to further promote food donations and reduce waste. In South Dakota, a local food shelf says …

Kathy Goeddel won the 2022 Andrus Award for Community Service for her work with an annual Tax-Aide program. (AARP Oregon)

Award Highlights Important Role of Volunteering in OR

An Oregon woman who helps people with their taxes has won a prestigious award for volunteers. AARP Oregon has awarded the 2022 Andrus Award for …

Community health workers offer many services, including education on topics related to chronic disease prevention, physical activity and nutrition. (Adobe Stock)

Community Health Workers Make Inroads in MN

It's been three years since COVID-19 cases first surfaced. While doctors and nurses have treated those patients, community health workers continued …

In the last General Assembly session, AARP Colorado advocates tracked 119 bills, testified for 17 of the measures and sent more than 900 emails to legislators. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Related Rules Create Opening for Rural Voices in CO Legislature

With the new General Assembly session just around the corner, AARP Colorado is stepping up recruitment efforts for its legislative advocacy team…

Tishman Speyer has been annually donating the milled lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity since 2007.(Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna)

Rockefeller Tree Lumber to be Used in MD Habitat for Humanity Homes

One of the more famous Christmas trees in the world will be coming home to Maryland as milled lumber. In 2021 a family in Cecil County was …

Jon Kent (kneeling) and a cadre of volunteers are raising vegetables and feeding the community from their urban farm at Charlevoix and Lakeview streets in East Detroit. (Sanctuary Farms)

Young Farmers of Color: Feed Detroit, Fight Injustice, Protect Climate

By Britny Cordera for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

When the 2023 legislative session convenes, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she'll push lawmakers to ensure all public school students get free school meals. (vejaa/AdobeStock)

Post-Pandemic, Hunger in NM Still a Critical Concern for Thousands

Holiday preparations are underway, and those who battle hunger in New Mexico are urging communities to remember their neighbors at a time when food …

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 16 million metric tons of methane annually, which has the same near-term climate impact as 350 coal-fired power plants. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Methane Waste Rules Welcomed to Improve Public Health

Public-health advocates are welcoming a new proposal to reduce harmful air pollution by limiting methane waste at oil and gas facilities. Sabrina …

An average hotel room costs municipalities roughly $240 per night for one family and with families often scattered at various locations, social services can be difficult to administer. Transitional housing units would alleviate both costs and service gaps. (Adobe Stock)

More Transitional Housing Needed for Increased Asylum Seekers in Maine

The growing number of asylum-seekers in Maine has spurred cities and towns to join forces and build more transitional housing for families in need…

Two-thirds of U.S. households that give to a charitable organization donate an average of 4% of their income. (RawPixel.com/AdobeStock)<br />

Nonprofits Hope for Holiday Charitable Giving Boost Despite Inflation

Economic uncertainly created by the pandemic did not stop Americans from boosting charitable donations to record numbers in 2020 and overall giving in…

Tom Oliver, center, receives the 2022 Washington Andrus Award for Community Service. (Bruce Carlson/AARP Washington)

Washingtonian Helping People with Dementia Receives Volunteer Award

A Bellingham man who supports people with dementia has received one of the most prestigious awards for volunteerism in Washington state. The …

Children living near refineries, highways and other sources of air pollution are disproportionately at risk of developing respiratory illness. (Adobe Stock)

Connecting CO Health Outcomes to Climate Solutions, Lower Utility Bills

A successful program that helps low-income households weatherize homes and lower energy bills is setting its sights on improving the health outcomes o…

The Echo Park Trash Club is staffed by a rotating cast of volunteers. Two similar clubs have now formed in the Silver Lake and Lincoln Heights neighborhoods of Los Angeles. (Echo Park Trash Club)

L.A. 'Trash Club' Helps Unhoused People and the Community

By Caroline Tracey for High Country News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

Nearly 1 million people participate in Thanksgiving Day road races every year. (Rip Roar Events)

Thousands Race in Iowa's Biggest Thanksgiving Day Event

While many Iowa families gather through this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving in traditional ways with food and family, thousands of people take to …

AARP Texas State Director Tina Tran presents Charles Ray Guidry, Jr. with the Andrus Award. (AARP)

AARP Texas Honors Champion for the Homeless

Charles Ray Guidry Jr. spent years being homeless, often sleeping on cardboard in church parking lots. Now, he's a champion for others struggling to …

One in eight individuals in Wyoming, and one in six children, do not know where their next meal will come from. (Adobe Stock)

Food Bank Ramps Up Thanksgiving Food Assistance

Turkeys and other holiday standards are still available for struggling families through food pantries, senior centers, school districts and other …

Community members work on a peace mural for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute. Along with the Boston Public Health Commission, the group offers a Survivors Outreach Services program to deliver coordinated services to families affected by homicide. (Louis D. Brown Peace Institute)

Group Works to Build Peace Out of Despair in Boston

While community activists in some of Boston's south side neighborhoods have declared a state of emergency following a string of fatal shootings…

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

Adoption has been officially legal in the United states since the 1850s. (Adobe Stock)

Adoption Day: New "Forever" Homes for More Iowa Kids

It's National Adoption Month, a chance to raise awareness about the need for permanent homes and families for kids in foster care in Iowa. In Polk …

The Rev. Dr. James Thurman, a retired U.S. Army veteran, was the first Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee. (Photo courtesy of Thurman)

Kentucky Veterans Honored for "Still Serving"

Two military veterans were honored this week for their community service at the Kentucky Veterans of the Year annual banquet, hosted by the Epilepsy …

Since 1999, the number of opiate-related deaths has increased every year, and overdoses have risen by 44% since the onset of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Moving Opioid Treatment into Primary Care to Expand Access

Each year some 68,000 people in Colorado and across the U.S. die from opiate overdoses, largely due to lack of treatment, and federally qualified …

Federal officials say Minnesota is home to more than 533,000 small businesses. (Adobe Stock)

Grant Funding Flows to Struggling Main Streets in MN

For some Minnesota small businesses, it's been harder to fully recover from major events of the past two years. A state grant program has a new round …

Colorado's income taxes fund two-thirds of the state's General Fund, the vast majority of which pays for public K-12 and higher education, health care, human services and the state's corrections system. (Adobe Stock)

Tax Cut on Ballot Would Cost Coloradans Earning Less Than $91,000

Proponents of an initiative on the November ballot to lower the state income tax rate by less than 1% say the measure will allow Coloradans to keep mo…

In 2021, volunteers drove or flew 42 injured raptors 9,583 miles and donated more than 165 hours of their personal time to help wild birds rehabilitate. (Adobe Stock)

Teton Raptor Center Nears Historic Restoration Goal

The Teton Raptor Center was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help the site become a year-round de…

Nebraska is home to many industrial-scale operations, where livestock live in densely populated, confined quarters. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Nebraskans Urge Better State Management of Factory Farm Animal Waste

Clean-water advocates are urging the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy to do more to protect drinking water and soil quality impacted by i…

Camino Health Center in Charlotte provides regular mental-health trainings with a multicultural focus.(Ron Clark)

NC Community Center Educates Faith Leaders on Mental Health

A community program in Charlotte offers mental-health training to Spanish-speaking faith leaders. The goal is to reach Latino families in the region …

Coalition Launches Innovative Health and Housing Facility

Doors are now open at a new hybrid health care and housing facility, expected to help some 500 people experiencing homelessness each year recuperate …

About 67% of firefighters in the United States are volunteers, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. (Adobe Stock)

Volunteer Firefighter Shortage Spurs ME Departments into Action

If you dial 911, it is more than likely a volunteer firefighter will respond to your emergency, but in Maine, there are not enough volunteers for …

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is fostering an equitable local food system in part by providing bilingual farm business training and engaging the next generation of farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Conservation Heroes Honored

Nine Colorado groups and individuals have been honored as "Conservation Heroes" for their outstanding contributions to land, water and wildlife …

Nuestras Ra�ces manages nine urban community gardens in Holyoke, plus four for the Holyoke Education System, supporting over 100 families with locally grown, fresh food. (Adobe Stock)

Celebrating 30 Years of Puerto Rican “Agri-Culture” in Western MA

The Holyoke area is home to many Puerto Rican families who say they will do what they can to help people there as they recover from the latest hurrica…

In the early days of the pandemic, people repurposed rags and other household materials to make masks. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Mask-Making Showcases Appalachia's Radical Resourcefulness

At the onset of the pandemic, medical professionals struggled with cracks in communication which caused confusion and worry. Amid the misinformation…

About 75% of the nation's flowering plants and more than 30% of the nation's food crops rely upon animal pollinators to reproduce, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Lamar Gore/John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge)<br /><br />

Urban PA Community Gardens Grow Food, Solace, Opportunity

Pennsylvania has a strong commitment to urban agriculture and community gardening, and some groups in the state are working to get more colorful …

Texas families can keep up with vaccine records at ImmTrac2, the Texas Immunization Registry. (OmarMedina/Pixabay)

Winter is Coming: Is Your Child's Health Protected?

COVID upended many routines, including Texas parents getting kids in for regularly scheduled childhood vaccines. Data from the Texas Department of …

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PNS Daily Newscast - February 6, 2023

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