Human Rights/Racial Justice / Public News Service

According to USDA Economic Research Service, the number of U.S. agricultural workers on H-2A visas rose from under 50,000 in 2005 to more than 250,000 in 2021. Their average wage in 2021 was $13.00 an hour for just over 39 hours per week. (Photo credits: Alex/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Agriculture Worker Rights Program: Attorneys for Eligible Ag Workers in NE

With an average hourly wage of under $15 in 2021, many Nebraska agricultural workers would be hard-pressed to afford an attorney if they needed one …

Restoration Community Impact provides greens through its market that are inclusive of a variety of cultures. (Marlando and Stephanie Sparks)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Providing Inclusive Foods Integral Mission for WA Food Pantries

Food assistance is integral for families - but it's also important that the food available makes sense culturally. The American Heart Association …

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Thursday, March 30, 2023

Early Support for Black Students in GA Could Help Boost College Enrollment

Two reports confirm a troubling trend in terms of Black students attending college. According to the University System of Georgia, enrollment among …

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

After Generations of Exclusion, Black Americans Embrace the Outdoors

By Jazmin Murphy for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, from October 2021 to September 2022, Pennsylvania has received a record $480.5 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program available this fiscal year. (Andreykr/AdobeStock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

PA Leaders Focus on Infrastructure, Transportation During NLC Conference

City leaders from Pennsylvania and across the country convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the National League of Cities Congressional City …

A 2021 Congressional report said tens of thousands of COVID-19 infections, as well as hundreds of worker deaths, were traced to meatpacking plants in the United States at the onset of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

MN Looks to Update Worker-Rights Law for Meatpacking Industry

The meat processing industry continues to face scrutiny over labor practices in states like Minnesota. Proposed legislation would update a 2007 law…

In 2021, 241,000 new apprentices entered the national apprenticeship system, but a new policy report says Black workers are still underrepresented. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Apprenticeship Programs Need to Improve for Black Workers

Labor leaders and various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship …

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…

Leaders of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations tell state lawmakers tribal sovereignty would bring federal funding, and jobs. Research shows per-capita income for non-Maine tribes grew by 61% between 1989 and 2020, yet only 9% for Wabanaki Nations. (Wabanaki Alliance)

Wabanaki Nations Seek Tribal Sovereignty from Maine

Leaders of the Wabanaki Nations are asking Maine lawmakers to recognize tribal sovereignty and help ensure a better economic future for their youth…

In 2021, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 33%. That compares to 24% in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Sees Major Spike in Pregnancy-Linked Deaths

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show another increase in the nation's maternal mortality rate, and a Minnesota expert …

The Tennessee House passed House Bill 2106 last year, which requires that Black history be taught to 5th through 8th graders. It takes effect July 1, 2025. (Adobe Stock)

TN Group Heads to State Capitol for 'Day On The Hill'

Advocates and leaders are headed to the state capitol next week to voice their concerns over issues affecting Black communities in Tennessee…

Minnesota advocates have been pushing for tighter permit regulations in areas that have records of environmental injustice. With the governor's office promoting similar provisions, they hope to be successful this session. (Adobe Stock)

MN Could Include Environmental Justice in Deciding Industrial Projects

Racial disparities exist in Minnesota when it comes to asthma cases. Environmental-justice advocates said it is one example of pollution …

New data found for the third year in a row, the number of overall white supremacist propaganda incidents on U.S. college campuses dropped from 232 in 2021 to 219 in 2022, the lowest since the Anti-Defamation League began tracking campus incidents in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

White Supremacist Gatherings, Incidents Hit All-Time High in New England

Incidents involving white supremacist propaganda reached an all-time high last year in the U.S., including a dramatic surge of incidents across New …

Statistics show more than 90,000 U.S. farmworkers contracted the COVID virus, and at least 100 died during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government Program to Protect Farmworkers Failing

By Sky Chadde and Johnathan Heddinger for Investigate Midwest, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.Broadcast version by Mark …

Colorado's SNAP Outreach program helped bring $47 million in federal funding to Colorado's grocery stores, generating more than $71 million in overall economic activity.<br />(InputUX Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefits Drop as Food Prices Soar

As the cost of groceries continues to soar, SNAP benefits boosted to help families during the pandemic are back to pre-COVID levels. Even with …

Women's state legislative representation is at a record high in New Mexico, but nationwide they hold less than 33% of all seats, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. (theartofpics/AdobeStock)

New Mexico Women Move Toward Gender Parity in State Legislature

Voters in western states are more likely to elect women to the state Legislature, according to a new Center for American Women and Politics report…

Nearly 60% of Massachusetts' incarcerated population is Black - but Black residents make up less than 20% of the Commonwealth's population, according to the Democracy Behind Bars Coalition. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Bills Aim to Restore Vote for People Incarcerated for Felony Convictions

Lawmakers in the Commonwealth are considering legislation to restore voting rights for people incarcerated on felony convictions. One bill would …

Median operating margins among rural hospitals were higher in expansion than non-expansion states in 2019, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

North Carolina lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that paves the way for an additional 600,000 residents to gain access to health cover…

California is one of 12 states that offers financial aid to undocumented students, who are barred from receiving federal assistance. (S Fanti/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Few Undocumented CA College Students Receive State Aid

Just 14% of California's 94,000 undocumented college students receive some form of state financial aid, according to a new report. Researchers from …

More than 230,000 residents of New Hampshire, or roughly one in five adults, are diagnosed with a disability ranging from serious mobility issues to vision impairment. (Adobe Stock)

Disability Community Celebrates Life of Advocate Judy Heumann

The disability community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest advocates. Judy Heumann, often called the "mother of the disability rights …

According to the American Heart Association, more than 40% of Hispanic adults experience obesity. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Cardiologist Weighs In on Health Disparities Among Minorities

New research suggests Hispanic people born in the United States may be at higher risk for multiple chronic diseases than their counterparts born in ot…

Currently, Oregonians with felony convictions regain their right to vote after serving their prison terms. (reewungjunerr/Adobe Stock)

OR Bill Would Restore Voting Rights for People in Prison

Oregon lawmakers could restore voting rights to people currently in prison. For the third year in a row, advocates are attempting to get a bill …

The 2023 regular session of the Florida Legislature begins Tues., March 7. There are Republican supermajorities in both the Florida House and Senate. (Matt Johnson/Wikimedia Commons)

Floridians Want Lawmakers to End Culture Wars, Focus On 'People's Budget'

Florida's legislative session - which begins Tuesday - has already made headlines as a conservative majority pitches bills to expand gun rights…

Highways are considered hot spots for soot pollution. (vit/Adobe Stock)

Critics: EPA's New Soot Standards Lag Behind Current Science

Clean-air advocates say a new air-quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public. For the first time in a …

Irresponsible target shooting, littering and off-highway vehicles are among the human factors causing damage to heritage assets. (Adobe Stock)

New Map Outlines Reasons for Protecting Great Bend of Gila

Conservation groups have added an interactive story map to their toolkit as they continue to push for permanent protections for the Great Bend of the …

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 …

Poll: Strong Support for Conservation Among CO Communities of Color

Communities of color in Colorado and across the West strongly support conservation policies, including protecting water supplies and transitioning to …

In 2020, a Vallejo police officer shot and killed Sean Monterrosa, mistakenly believing he had a gun. His family awaits a decision by the California Attorney General on whether to charge the officer, who has since been fired. (Photo courtest of Monterrosa Family)

New CA Bill Would Allow Compensation for Victims of Police Violence

Criminal justice reform groups are rallying behind a new bill that would make it easier for people hurt in encounters with police to get support from …

Historians have traced the origins of Cheyenne Frontier Days back to 1870s riding exhibitions by a Black cowboy named Sam Stewart. Also known as

Project Uncovers Hidden Gems of Black History in Wyoming

African Americans have played a foundational role in Wyoming since the 1860s, when they served as soldiers at Fort Laramie, and owned and operated …

The National Human Trafficking Hotline says it received 583

Report Outlines Ways Virginia Can Reduce Human Trafficking

Virginia could be doing more to prevent human trafficking and help survivors, according to the latest report from a state commission tasked with …

Highways are hot spots for soot, fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Naris Dorndeelers/Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA Air Quality Update Not Good Enough, Groups Say

A new air quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public, advocates said. For the first time in a decade…

In the midst of a housing crisis, a program in the state Legislature would create a fund for low-income Washingtonians to buy a home. (Kirk Fisher/Adobe Stock)

WA Baby Bond Bill Could Help Address Racial Wealth Gap

In Olympia, lawmakers want to address the wealth gap early with a fund set aside for children of low-income households. The Washington future fund …

While many circumstances of Native American female homicide are unknown, the largest known circumstance involved an argument between the victim and the offender. (Adobe Stock)

ASU Research Shows Increasing Number of Missing Indigenous Women, Girls

Researchers at Arizona State University are tackling the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women in the state, trying to figure out why it is …

New Mexico is considered one of the U.S. states most vulnerable to climate-change impacts that threaten physical health, the economy and people's way of life. (mmg1design/AdobeStock)

NM Resiliency Bill Aims to Help People Prepare for Climate Change

Worsening environmental conditions because of extreme weather and climate change are cited as why proactive legislation is needed by the New Mexico Le…

Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed budget maintains large investments in post-secondary education despite projections of an overall revenue shortfall. (Angelov/Adobestock)

More CA Students Earn Degrees, Certificates, But Disparities Persist

Some good news to report on college attainment rates - the number of students who have earned a degree, certificate or credential has jumped 16% from …

Most voters in Arizona strongly support creating new protected national areas. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: AZ Voters Worried About Water, Support Cleaner Energy

The 13th annual 'Conservation in the West' poll shows Arizonans are seriously concerned about the state's water situation, and that they support …

AARP Washington set up a demonstration of an accessory dwelling unit near the Capitol in Olympia. (AARP Washington)

WA Lawmakers Consider Backyard Solution to State's Housing Crisis

Lawmakers in Olympia are looking for a solution that can fit in people's backyards to help ease the state's housing crisis. A bill in the Washington …

Civil rights organizations have said they believe the IHRA's definition of antisemitism and its

Palestinian Advocates Applaud New Info from U.S. Education Dept.

The U.S. Department of Education has a new fact sheet about religious discrimination from its Office for Civil Rights, and Palestinian advocates are …

The green scarf is a symbol of the abortion-rights movements, created in Argentina in 2003 and popularized in the United States in 2022. (Clara/Adobe Stock)

TX Judge to Decide Abortion Pill Case with Nationwide Repercussions

Medication is now believed to be used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S., but a Texas judge could soon force one of two abortion pills …

When the Equal Rights Amendment was first approved by Congress, 35 states adopted it within the seven-year time limit. Since then, three more have approved it, to reach the necessary 38: Nevada (2017), Illinois (2018), and Virginia (2020). (Adobe Stock)

VA Senator Wants to Remove Time Restraint on ERA

A growing group of U.S. Senators are supporting legislation to remove the time limit placed on ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment. When originally …

Overtime pay for Washington state farmworkers began phasing in starting in 2022. (Oksana Perkins/Adobe Stock)

Overtime Gains for WA Farmworkers Threatened in Olympia

Legislation in Olympia would roll back recent gains farmworkers have made to receive overtime pay in Washington state. Senate Bill 5476 would allow …

In Colorado, outdoor recreation is considered to be a legally beneficial use of Colorado water. (Adobe Stock)

Revised Colorado Water Plan Prioritizes Conservation

A coalition of conservation groups is giving Colorado's revised state water plan a thumbs-up for its increased focus on protecting Colorado's rivers…

Sixty schools piloted College Board's new AP African American Studies course, which is set to appear in over 200 schools starting in the 2024-2025 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Students Want More Diverse, Inclusive Curriculum

CORRECTION: YouthTruth surveyed more than 28,000 high school seniors from the class of 2022 and the class of 2019 in 19 states, including New York…

While mortality rates for pregnant women have decreased globally, they continue to rise in the United States, with Black women three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. (Inez/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Women’s Rights a Canary in Coal Mine for Democracy

By Jennifer Weiss-Wolf for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would add gender to the list of protected classes in the state Human Rights Act enacted in 1969. (Dmitry/AdobeStock)

NM Legislation Would Boost Protections for LGBTQ Students, Others

Legislation to close a loophole that potentially allows discrimination against LGBTQ New Mexicans will be debated by the State Legislature this sessio…

About 31% of Idahoans have earned a bachelor's or associate degree. (MelissaMN/Adobe Stock)

Report: ID Makes Big Jump in Higher-Education Attainment

Idaho and the rest of the country are making progress getting higher education to more people. A new report from Lumina Foundation finds nearly 54% …

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…

The U.S. District Court of New Hampshire recently ruled in favor of allowing a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of New Hampshire and teachers' unions against the

NH Businesses, Public School Backers: Repeal 'Divisive Concepts' Law

Advocates for public education in New Hampshire are asking state lawmakers to repeal what's known as the "divisive concepts" law, which educators say …

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