Livable Wages/Working Families / Public News Service

Outdoor enthusiasts from all over the world visit rural Pitkin County, where more than one-third of homes are second homes or homes intended for seasonal use. (Adobe Stock)

Addressing Affordable Worker Housing in Mountain Resort Towns

By Sarah Melotte for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

Some Ohioans struggling with skyrocketing electric bills due to the summer heat might qualify for assistance. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's June Heat Could Mean a Busy Season for Cooling Assistance

Community Action Agencies in Ohio are gearing up for what could be a busy season for cooling assistance. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis …

Workers who secured wages at a Lincoln City hospital this week include ER techs, phlebotomists and housekeepers. (SEIU Local 49)

OR Coast Hospital Workers' Union Secures Higher Wages

Workers at a hospital on the Oregon coast are citing a victory in contract negotiations with their employer. More than 100 members of SEIU Local 49 …

In 2020, 2.6 million more U.S. households became homeowners compared with 2019, according to the National Association of Realtors. (Pipkin Family/Self Help Credit Union)

Credit Unions Offer Programs to Help First-Time NC Homebuyers

June is National Homeownership Month - and some North Carolina credit unions and banks say they're working to reduce the racial wealth gap by offering…

Pennsylvania has the lowest minmimum wage among its neighboring states of Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Minimum-Wage Increase in PA Would Benefit 1.4 Million Workers

Pennsylvania's budget deadline is looming on Thursday. Gov. Tom Wolf is calling for a minimum-wage increase that would get the state to $15 an hour …

It's estimated nearly 140,000 Minnesotans aged 62 and older who are receiving Social Security still are working, so they can meet basic needs. (Adobe Stock)

New MN Law Removes Barrier for Older Residents Seeking Jobless Benefits

A new Minnesota law, which goes into effect Sunday, removes requirements restricting Social Security recipients from receiving full jobless benefits …

Last year, Iowa had more than 2,000 job openings that fall under the green-energy umbrella. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IA Has Strength in Green Jobs, Could Be Stronger

By Laura Aka for Working Nation.Broadcast version by Mike Moen reporting for the Iowa News Service Working Nation-Public News Service Collaboration "…

Free school meal waivers passed by Congress during the pandemic reduced childhood hunger, supported academic achievement and improved student behavior. (Adobe Stock)

Clock Ticking Down on School Meal Waivers

Time is running out for Congress to extend school meal waivers passed during the COVID public health emergency to help cafeterias find creative ways t…

Wyoming-based Chelsea's Fund provides financial support for women seeking an abortion, and also is accepting donations. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Roe Resources Available for Wyoming Women

Abortion is on course to be illegal in Wyoming after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade Friday. Justices ruled the 50-year …

According to the Center for American Progress, the average wealth level for a white household was about $1.17 million in 2020, compared with about $242,000 for Black households. (Adobe Stock)

Barriers Persist for Black Illinoisans Looking to Purchase Homes

Black Illinoisans face entrenched barriers to homeownership, part of a decadeslong legacy of racist housing practices known as "redlining." This …

The Aviation Maintenance Technology Program at Portland Community College has a cohort of about 20 students, twice a year. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

OR College Aviation Program Could Set Technicians' Numbers Flying

A program in Oregon aims to ramp up the number of technicians in aviation just as the industry is predicting a major shortage. Over the next two …

More than one-third of Victim Services workers in Ohio say they don't have enough paid time off from their jobs to maintain a work-life balance. (Adobe Stock)

Burnout, Inadequate Pay Plague Ohio's Victim Services Workforce

Ohioans who work, day in and day out, with some of the most vulnerable populations are struggling with major burnout, according to new data. Program …

In a new Minneapolis Fed survey, 24% of workers in North Dakota and Minnesota said the need for skills is a major factor in considering a job change. (Adobe Stock)

Regional Survey: Barriers Restrict Labor Mobility

The so-called "great resignation" isn't playing out for all workers. A new survey covering North Dakota and Minnesota shows people on the lower end …

The Rodriguez family from Porterville was able to realize its dream of buying a home after some coaching from a Community Development Financial Institution. (SHCU)

Families of Color Find Key to Homeownership

As we wrap up celebrations of Juneteenth, the country still grapples with the poverty that is the legacy of slavery, and Community Development …

The Nature Conservancy in Idaho manages a 30-acre teaching farm in Twin Falls, Ida. (Brad Johnson/The Nature Conservancy)

'Soil Health Curious' ID Farmers Explore Regenerative Agriculture

A kinder approach to the soil could be what Idaho farmers need to get more out of their land. The Nature Conservancy in Idaho has a demonstration …

When asked whom they blame more for inflation - corporations for increasing prices to profit more, or the rising wages of workers - voters overwhelmingly blame corporations by a 55-point margin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Impact of Wage Growth on Inflation Dwarfed by Corporate Profiteering

President Joe Biden is calling on oil and gas companies to start steering record profits away from shareholder pockets to give Americans some relief a…

Loss of rural populations to urban centers has caused many hospitals in Nebraska to reconfigure their budgets. (Adobe Stock)

Keys to Keeping Nebraska's Rural Hospital Doors Open

Without federal intervention, a new report warns, rural hospitals across the United States, including many in Nebraska, could be forced to reduce …

More than 80 business, religious and social services groups are calling for an increase to Michigan's state Earned Income Tax Credit. (JJ Gouin/Adobe Stock)

MI Groups: New Census Data Underscores Need for Higher EITC

The latest county census data found Michigan's child poverty rate remains at 19%, and groups advocating for children and families say it is time to …

According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, folks with a bachelor's degree have an average annual salary about $33,000 higher than those with a high school diploma. (Adobe Stock)

Report Details Methods to Address IN Declining College Enrollment

As fewer people in Indiana are opting to go to college, the state's Commission for Higher Education is releasing policy recommendations to increase …

About 45% of Wayne State University recent graduates started their education at other institutions. (llhedgehodll/Adobe Stock)

Wayne State Changes Transfer Credit Policy to Increase Access

A university in Michigan is seeking to make it easier for folks to obtain a bachelor's degree after attending community college, by removing barriers …

Miners' Colfax Medical Center opened in 1906 in Raton to provide acute and long-term care for treatment of miners with lung disease. (members.nmhca.org)

NM-Based Telementoring Supports Sick Miners in Rural America

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborat…

Starting in August 2020, pharmaceutical manufacturers launched an aggressive attack against 340B-covered entities by refusing to ship 340B-priced medications to local pharmacies that expand the reach of health centers, known as contract pharmacies, a new report found. (Adobe Stock)

Health Centers Push Back Against Big-Pharma Tactics

Colorado's community health centers are joining a national effort pushing back against Big Pharma's recent moves making it harder to provide discounte…

Washington state ranks 22nd in average student debt. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

WA Low-Interest Loans Would Cut Student Debt

The cost of higher education is a major headache for people, even years after they've graduated. A program in Washington state aims to make borrowing …

From fall 2019 to spring 2021, Idaho colleges and universities lost more than 5,000 students. (knowlesgallery/Adobe Stock)

Costs Present Hurdle, But ID Provides Ways to Afford Higher Education

Higher education costs are a barrier for students across the country. A recent survey found Idaho is on the cheaper side of places to be a college …

The White House estimates 390,000 families in Connecticut claimed a child- and dependent-care tax credit on their 2021 returns. (Adobe Stock)

CT Child Tax-Rebate Application Open Through July 31

Connecticut parents can apply for the state Child Tax Rebate through July 31. Anti-poverty advocates say the money will serve as additional relief …

Energy Outreach Colorado has helped Coloradans pay overdue utility bills at an average cost of $591, where previous bills averaged between $400 to $500. (Adobe Stock)

Coloradans Brace for Higher Energy Bills in Summer

Coloradans are not likely to see much relief in their utility bills any time soon, as a late May cold spell gives way to the full heat of summer…

The Washington state Legislature set aside $144 million for nursing homes this fiscal year. (CrackerClips/Adobe Stock)

WA Nursing Home Workers Demand Raises Promised by Legislature

Nursing home workers at a Washington state facility are calling on their employer to raise their wages with money set aside in the Legislature's budge…

More than 1,700 Mainers have completed the HiSET since 2020. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

ME Officials Urge Adults Without High School Diploma to Complete HiSET

Maine education officials are encouraging residents who never graduated from high school to return to adult education and complete the High School Equ…

Americans owe nearly $1.75 trillion in student-loan debt, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. (Adobe Stock)

Kentuckians Under “Crippling” Financial Stress from Student Loan Debt

Kentuckians collectively owe more than $20 million in student loan debt, and a new informal survey sheds light on how hefty student-loan payments …

In Arkansas, nearly 500,000 people face food insecurity, with almost 150,000 of them children, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)

Ark. Grants to Help Address Food Insecurity in Pulaski County

A new initiative in Arkansas' most populous county focuses on increasing healthy options at food pantries to help families experiencing challenges as …

With the pandemic inspiring people to move to Montana, the state can't build fast enough to keep up. (Jim/Adobe Stock)

MT Housing Crisis Grows, But Some Protections Available

Montanans across the state are facing a housing crisis. Prices both to rent and buy a place to live have skyrocketed, leaving vacancy rates extremely …

Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in 2007. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Forgiveness Makes Student Debt Disappear for Public Workers

After changes to streamline the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, more workers are getting their student debt erased. The U.S. Education …

For North Dakota's public colleges, average tuition fees are around $8,260 per year. (Adobe Stock)

ND Higher Education Still Affordable, But Accessibility Work Continues

North Dakota is among the top five states for college affordability. That ranking is in a new national report, and higher-education officials say …

For college students or young adults entering the workforce, analysts say short-term insurance plans can help with unexpected injuries or medical events before another plan kicks in. (Adobe Stock)

Preparing for College This Fall? Don't Forget Health Coverage

As graduating seniors in Massachusetts and around the U.S. carve out their immediate future, they are reminded to make health insurance a priority…

Arkansas is short more than 50,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income households, according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. (Adobe Stock)

Second Round of American Rescue Plan Dollars Heads to Arkansas

Arkansas is poised to receive its second round of American Rescue Plan funds, more than $786 million, to help residents still facing the pandemic's …

Julio Ortiz owns Gaspachos restaurant in Sacramento, one of 4.2 million small businesses in California. <a href= — Julio Ortiz owns Gaspachos restaurant in Sacramento, one of 4.2 million small businesses in California. Small businesses employ 7.3 million people, or just under half of the state's total workforce. (Photo courtesy of Ortiz)

State Budget Deal Allocates Hundreds of Millions to CA Small Business

Small business groups are celebrating the new budget deal reached between California state legislators. Next up comes final negotiations with Gov…

The Fair Credit Reporting Act is designed to make sure credit reports are accurate and fair. Advocates say want to change a loophole they say puts consumers at a disadvantage. (Etonastenka/Adobestock)

New Bill Aims to Improve Consumer Credit Repair

A bill just introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives is designed to give consumers a leg up when fighting inaccuracies on their credit reports…

According to Feeding America, more than 834,000 Hoosiers are considered food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Enhanced SNAP Benefits for IN Residents Come to End

Indiana has ended its participation in the federally enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), so going forward, many food-insecure …

Instead of arming teachers, young labor leaders in Minnesota say fostering a more welcoming environments in schools with adequate support staff can help with creating safe buildings and campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Uvalde Tragedy Spurs Calls for Collective Action on Safe Workplaces

The recent mass shootings in Texas and New York intersect with the organized labor movement among younger workers. Some in Minnesota say a safer …

Cleveland had the highest foreclosure rate in the country in the first quarter of 2022. (Tim Evanson/Flickr)

Funding Available to Stem Foreclosures in Ohio

Ohio homeowners who are struggling to stay afloat because of the pandemic may qualify for special assistance. A U.S. Foreclosure Market Report in …

Health-care workers rallied in North Lincoln, Ore., calling for union contract negotiations with Samaritan hospital to restart. (Alan Dubinksy/SEIU Local 49)

Short Staffing Pushes OR Hospital Workers to Demand Action

Health care workers at an Oregon hospital are calling for more support as short staffing takes its toll. More than 100 members of SEIU Local 49 at …

More than 14 million people could lose Medicaid coverage when the public health emergency ends in July, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Experts say text messages could help notify more people about upcoming changes. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Texts Could Help Shrink Post-COVID Health-Coverage Gap

The COVID-19 public health emergency mandating continuous coverage for Medicaid enrollees is expected to expire later this year, and experts say …

Depending on where their homes or businesses are in the state, Pennsylvania residents may be able to save money on electric bills by switching their electric supplier through PA Power Switch, the Public Utility Commission's electric shopping website. (Adobe Stock)

PA Residents to See Significant Increase in Energy Bills This Summer

Starting Wednesday, Pennsylvanians may start to see a sharp increase in energy costs just as summer approaches and inflation hits people hard…

In many instances, say groups that provide free counseling for struggling homeowners, people behind on payments are unsure what to do because they get so many warning letters in the mail. They say it makes it harder to take action. (Adobe Stock)

Foreclosure Pressure Not Easing for Some Minnesotans

Higher consumer costs and expired pandemic protections are putting more Minnesotans on the brink of losing their homes. Some areas are seeing higher …

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Virginia's steel industry generates nearly $2.7 billion in output annually. (Adobe Stock)

Steelmakers Push Biden Administration to Preserve Protective Trade Policies

As the global economy faces an uncertain future, Virginia's steel producers are pushing President Joe Biden to recommit to trade policies designed to …

The National School Lunch Act was signed by former President Harry Truman in 1946. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

USDA Awards Grant to Help MI Build Its School Nutrition Workforce

The Michigan Department of Education has received a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for building and retaining …

Nurse aides in New York are required to complete at least 75 hours of formal training. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns Raised Over Waiving Training Requirements for NY Nurse Aides

As the pandemic began, the federal government waived certain certification requirements for nurse aides to help with health-care worker shortages…

George Floyd's murder sparked global protests over systemic racism, but advocates say there's no silver lining to end decades of racial disparities in states such as Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Mixture of Hope, Stark Realities on 2nd Anniversary of Floyd Murder

President Joe Biden is using today's second anniversary of George Floyd's murder to sign executive orders on police reform. From criminal justice to …

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