Livable Wages/Working Families / 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 …

The Warrior Way Back program at Wayne State University works with older students who may have families or jobs competing for their study time. (digitalskillet/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

University Makes It Easier for Former Students to Return, Finish Degree

Everyone starts college with pretty much the same dream - to earn a degree and have a better life. But sometimes life gets in the way, and dreams get …

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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 …

A report from AARP New York finds older New Yorkers living in rural areas are struggling to age in place because of how expensive modifications to homes would be. While they can utilize New York's Access to Home for Medicaid Recipients program, it only gets enough funding to handle $1 million in improvements, but has received requests totaling $12 million. (Andre Carrotflower/Wikimedia Commons)

Thursday, March 30, 2023

NY Mayor Eager to Address Numerous Issues After Conference

A New York state mayor is eager to implement new initiatives he observed during the National League of Cities Congressional City Conference. …

Supporters of providing no-cost school meals to all students argue that it helps them learn better, reduces stigma, and provides financial relief to working families. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

ND Lawmaker: Still Hope for Expanding School Meals

This week, the North Dakota Senate rejected a plan to expand eligibility for free school meals, but the idea has support from many agencies and …

California is home to banks of all sizes, including 36 Minority Depository Institutions and 111 Community Development Financial Institutions. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Banking Woes Send Consumers Looking for Safer Alternatives

The recent collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank has put a spotlight on the safety and stability of the U.S. financial system. Now…

A report based on federal data shows New Mexico's rate of homelessness is 12 individuals per 10,000 people, compared with 18 per 10,000 nationwide - lower than neighboring Colorado, also at 18 per 10,000, but higher than Texas at eight per 10,000. (M-SUR/AdobeStock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

In the past two years, homelessness in America has risen only 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development - which …

The average annual pay for a fast-food worker in the U.S. is $27,040 a year, or approximately $13.00 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Chipotle Pays Augusta, Maine Union Organizers for Labor Violations

Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle will pay workers at its former location in Augusta, Maine as part of a settlement over labor law violations…

In 2009, through what is known as the CARD Act, Congress mandated that fees be

Monday, March 27, 2023

CFPB Proposal Would Lower Credit-Card Late Fees

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed new regulations on credit card late fees, which could save Americans billions of dollars…

Americans' total credit card balance is $986 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to consumer debt data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Report: More Ohioans Rely on Credit Cards for Basic Needs

More than one in three Ohioans are relying on credit cards for spending needs, and nearly a quarter say they've increased their credit-card use in …

More students are seeking apprenticeships to match their career choices and boost employment chances. Indiana hit a milestone in 2020 with its 100th SEAL program for apprentices. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Apprenticeships Give IN Students a Job-Market Edge

High school graduates have the option before taking their next academic step to choose a gap year - for traveling, relaxing, or researching different …

During this year's ACA open-enrollment period, a record high of more than 16 million people signed up, with 4.4 million more enrolled for health insurance coverage since 2021, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, March 27, 2023

As ACA Hits 13th Year, West Virginia Makes Coverage Gains

It's been 13 years since more than 156,000 West Virginians gained health insurance coverage through the Affordable Care Act. As sweeping and …

The new AARP survey says Eight in ten (81%) say they are 'very likely' to vote in the 2023 primary election for Philadelphia Mayor, with just 4% saying they will not vote. (Rawpixel.com/AdobeStock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Poll: Pennsylvanians Over 50 will Play Major Role in Mayoral Primary

With fewer than 60 days until the May 16 mayoral primary election, a new survey by AARP Pennsylvania shows what key issues voters over the age of 50 …

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

Monday, March 27, 2023

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 …

Texas, with about 367 miles of coastline, is expected to benefit from the output of offshore wind projects proposed by the Biden administration. (zentilia/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Texas Unions Want Offshore Wind to Provide Well-Paid, Safe Jobs

Offshore wind development is coming to Texas under the Biden administration's plan to grow America's clean-energy economy, and union members want the …

Monday, March 27, 2023

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Iowans are marking the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the health-care plan, Iowans have saved thousands of dollars in …

According to the Arizona Education Association, there are also more than 1,600 vacancies for special-education paraprofessionals in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

AZ Educators Rally to Address "Teacher Retention Crisis"

Arizona educators spoke out about what they're calling a teacher retention crisis in the state and released a proposed budget for how the state should…

About 92% of surveyed small-business owners say hospitals are unfairly charging high prices leading to high health-care costs and that it is time for price regulation. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

Report: NV Small-Business Owners Want Less Hospital Consolidation

New research shows Nevada's small-business owners say hospital consolidation in the state is exacerbating high health-care costs and want action to be…

People are put in precarious positions when they cannot afford their medical bills. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 27, 2023

OR Nonprofit Hospitals Fail to Provide Financial Aid to Low-Income Patients

Oregon's nonprofit hospitals are not doing enough to provide assistance on medical bills for low-income patients, but a bill in Salem aims to change …

Graduate workers at the University of Maine say they are required to pay 50% of health insurance costs with large payments due at the beginning of each school year, on plans which do not cover vision or dental care. (UMGWU)

Monday, March 27, 2023

U of Maine Grad Students Join Growing Union Movement

Graduate-student workers throughout the University of Maine System are taking steps to unionize and seek recognition from university officials…

Illinois advocacy groups say they are educating policymakers on the benefits of hospital screening as a solution to prevent medical debt, both for low-income patients and the hospital. (volgariver/Adobe Stock)

IL Legislation Would Help People Avoid Medical Debt

A new report finds thousands of low-income or uninsured people in Illinois face medical debt that is depleting their savings and, in some cases…

Family caregivers provided 770 million hours of unpaid work in Washington state in 2021. (Svyatoslav Lypynskyy/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA's Unpaid Family Caregivers Provide $16.8 Billion Value

Family caregivers provide valuable work to Washington state - even if they don't get paid. A new report puts a value to the unpaid work they do…

Businesses would have to pay up to $1,000 if they delay releasing their employees' personnel files longer than four weeks. (JRB/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Gives Workers Access to Important Employment Info

A person's work personnel file can be important to review, but some Washingtonians are finding them hard to obtain. A bill in Olympia would ensure …

According to the Center for American Progress, nearly nine in 10 employers, four in five landlords, and three in five colleges use background checks to screen for applicants' criminal records. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

MO 'Clean Slate' Bill Would Make 'Expungement' Automatic

A large percentage of Missourians who could to have their criminal records "expunged" have not done so, despite the effects expungement -- referred …

In Arkansas, more than 400,000 people face hunger, and 138,410 are children, according to Feeding America. (Oksana Kuzmina/AdobeStock)

March is 'School Breakfast Month' in Arkansas

Better health and educational outcomes are being touted as Arkansans recognize March as School Breakfast Month. Research has proven providing …

At a rally in Harlem, members of Citizen Action of New York call for a bevy of changes to public money in Albany. They want taxes raised on the wealthiest New Yorkers, to increase the state's minimum wage, and to end 'pay-for-play' by reducing state subsidies for corporations. (Citizen Action New York)

NYC Group Calls for Significant Community Investments

Community leaders in Harlem are calling on local and state elected officials to make significant community investments. As part of their 2023 …

Some 37.3 million Americans, or about one in 10 people, have diabetes. About one in five don't know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin Price Cap Doesn't Apply to All Iowans Who Need It

Drug-maker Sanofi has joined two other large manufacturers in capping monthly insulin prices at $35. In Iowa, advocates for more affordable health …

Kiplinger rates Missouri, and nine other U.S. states, as

MO Lawmaker Proposes Raising "Circuit Breaker" Tax Credits

Every Missourian knows property values and property taxes have risen dramatically in the past 15 years, as well as the cost of rent. State lawmakers …

In 2023, community college completion rates are 44% for first-time, full-time students in Georgia, according to the Community College Review. (KDavis/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Online, Community Colleges Offer Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students

Many Georgia college students have to balance family and work responsibilities with academics. Some are finding non-traditional higher education is …

Las Vegas employment increased by 4,000 jobs since December, an increase of 62,600 jobs since January 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Nevada Exceeds 1.5 Million Jobs but has High Unemployment Rate

Nevada now supports 1.5 million jobs, according to a new report. The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation's January 2023 …

Housing availability has been squeezed by a near-record increase in the number of American homeowners in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.(Adobe Stock)

Report: Ohio’s Affordable Housing Shortage is Worsening

Ohio's affordable housing shortage has worsened over the past year, according to new data from the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio and …

Just 18% of premature deaths from air pollution from coal-fired power plants occur in the states where facilities are located. (Tomas/Adobe Stock)

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Thousands of lives are cut short every year because of air pollution from coal-fired power plants in Wyoming and across the United States, according …

New polling from the Massachusetts Teachers Association finds 83% of respondents favored establishing a state commission to study and make recommendations on a better student assessment system, one that considers more than just standardized test scores. (Adobe Stock)

Public Supports Changes to High-Stakes Testing for MA Students

As educators across Massachusetts prepare to administer high-stakes tests for students this spring, new polling shows the public supports changes to …

Tacoma Art Museum workers have held multiple rallies calling for recognition of their union. (Washington Federation of State Employees)

Tacoma Art Museum Workers Persistent in Calls for Union Recognition

Tacoma Art Museum workers are rallying Thursday outside the museum while the Board of Trustees meets, to call for recognition of their union from the …

Federal and California state regulators stepped in after Silicon Valley Bank's collapse on March 10. (MichaelVi/Adobe Stock)

Bank Collapses Highlight Alternative Structure of Credit Unions

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

In Indiana, 6% of the workforce is employed in transportation and warehousing. (Adobe Stock)

Booming Trucking, Warehouse Businesses Need Indiana Workers

The transportation and warehousing industry continues to lead as Indiana's fastest-growing business sector, and has been for over a decade now…

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting their budgets as the session begins to wind down in April. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Housing Assistance on Docket for Lawmakers in Olympia

Affordable housing is a major concern in Washington state and lawmakers in Olympia are considering a slate of measures to address it. One option is …

The National Credit Union Administration is a government-backed insurer of U.S. credit unions. (Timon/Adobe Stock)

Bank Collapses Highlight Credit Unions as Alternatives

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

Iowa currently has a graduated individual income tax, with rates ranging from 4.40% to 6.00%, according to the Tax Foundation. But that will change under recently passed laws. (Adobe Stock)

IA Senate Panel Votes to Abolish State Income Tax

The Iowa Legislature's powerful Ways and Means Committee has advanced a measure to eliminate the state income tax. The move is the latest in a series …

Oregon nurses at Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center in Gresham filed a petition to have their union voluntarily recognized but were denied. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Nurses Fear Fallout from Closure of OR Birth Center

Nurses are concerned about the closure of a Portland-area birth center set to go through today. The Family Birth Center at Legacy Mount Hood …

There are about 1.7 million credit union members in Arizona. (Sundry Photography/Adobe Stock)

Credit Unions Step Out from Shadow Cast by Bank Collapses

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

Signature Bank's collapse was the third largest in U.S. history. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Credit Unions in Conversation After Banks' Collapse

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

The Silicon Valley Bank is effectively under the control of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation after the bank's failure. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

After Banks' Failures, Credit Unions Tout Independent Structure

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

GoWest Credit Union Association represents about 16.5 million members across six states. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Uncertain Banking Market Puts Local Institutions in Spotlight

The collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus this week. Some are considering the alternative structures of institutions …

Georgia teachers are eager for increased mental-health support and planning time in schools. (Robert Peak/Adobe Stock)

GA Proposes Teacher Pay Hikes; Educators Say More Work Needed

Georgia's Fiscal Year 2024 budget could bring a $2,000 salary boost for teachers, addressing the alarming educator shortage. Educators say low wages…

In the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 federal legislation provided states with significant funding to ensure continuous Medicaid coverage of individuals enrolled in the program. But that is ending. (Pixabay)

FL Group Works to Keep Eligible People on Medicaid

As Florida "unwinds" from the COVID-19 public health emergency and returns its Medicaid program to pre-pandemic rules, there's a possibility that …

More than 65 million people in Colorado and across the United States depend on Medicare coverage, but the fund's trustees warn that cuts to benefits will be necessary by 2028 without increased revenues. (Adobe Stock)

Millionaires: Medicare Tax Proposal Just What the Doctor Ordered

President Joe Biden's proposal to increase taxes on Americans earning more than $400,000 a year from 3.8% to 5% in order to shore up Medicare is being…

Nationally, pay increases for state and local government employees have not kept pace with those of private workers, according to data from the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Critics Say Proposed Kentucky State Worker Pay Bill Isn’t Enough

Critics of a proposed pay raise for state workers said it barely keeps up with inflation and is not enough to alleviate Kentucky's long-standing gover…

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