Poverty Issues / Public News Service

Along with the increase in the number of family caregivers, their stints are getting longer. The study found 30% have been caregiving for more than five years, a significant increase since 2020. (Marco/Adobe Stock)

Report: OR programs work to help family caregivers

More people are providing care at home for aging family members or those with disabilities - and a new study says they face mounting financial and emo…

Colorado is now the 10th least affordable state in the country for housing, slightly better than eighth in last year's

Report: Colorado workers must earn $36.79 per hour to afford housing

Minimum wage workers in Colorado have to work two full-time jobs, or 82 hours per week, to afford a one-bedroom apartment, according to a new report …

Research shows nearly 60% of Washington residents have avoided seeking medical treatment or modified their use of prescriptions in the last year because of the cost. (Kanokwan/Adobe Stock)

WA law wipes medical debt from credit reports

While a new ruling by a federal judge allows medical debt to remain on Americans' credit reports, Washington residents will be protected from the …

168,000 Colorado residents, including older adults and children, are at risk of losing SNAP food assistance due to expanded work requirements under the GOP's new tax and spending law. (Adobe Stock)

298,000 Coloradans relying on food assistance could see benefit cuts

Nearly 300,000 Coloradans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to meet their basic nutrition needs are expected to lose some or…

Beth and David Chase at their new Home in Sisters, OR last fall. (Habitat for Humanity, Sisters)<br />

OR funding for affordable homeownership dwindles

The latest round of state-funded LIFT Homeownership grants will fund 239 new affordable homes across Oregon. Previous LIFT grants totaling over $100…

At least one in seven Nebraskans, or 287,240 people, are facing hunger, with one in five children considered food insecure. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska creates learning pathways for food insecure

Groups working to end hunger in Nebraska are reaching out to all parts of the state to train food insecure people to advocate for others facing simila…

April's Clean Water Lobby Day was held by Oregon Rural Action and the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem. (Oregon Rural Action)

Environmentalists: OR's new groundwater law too diluted to be effective

Environmental groups say Oregon's new groundwater law, meant to curb pollution, has been diluted to the point they can no longer support it. …

Workers pose in front of supplies in Wasco County. (Columbia Gorge Food Bank)

OR Food Bank vital to Rowena Fire recovery efforts

It has been about three weeks since the Rowena Fire in Oregon's Columbia Gorge was put out, and the local food bank remains vital to recovery efforts…

Other states in the FutureReady States initiative include Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. (CarlosBarquero/Adobe Stock)

National program to increase short-term workforce credentials in TX

Texas is one of 12 states in a new national program to increase the number of Americans who have a college degree or short-term workforce credential…

Refugee and Immigrant Connections Spokane will use its AARP Community Challenge funds to teach digital literacy skills to refugee seniors. (Adobe Stock)

Amid rising homelessness, grants help more WA seniors age in place

More seniors in Washington state are facing financial strain or even losing their homes and seven local organizations will expand support for them wit…

The Community Compass app, maintained by Indy Hunger Network serves between 4,000 and 8,000 users per month seeking food access resources. (Adobe Stock)

IN food pantries hit by SUN Bucks blackout

Indiana families are navigating the summer without SUN Bucks, a federal grocery benefit which delivered $120 per child last summer. Gov. Mike …

The Washington State Health Care Authority estimated rebalancing spending for state workers and school employees through Senate Bill 5083 could save the state over $400 million by 2029. (stokkete/Adobe Stock)

New law will lower health care costs for WA state employees

As federal Medicaid cuts loom, consumer advocates are celebrating Washington's new bill limiting hospital prices for state and public school …

Federal private school tax incentive draws mixed reviews

Mixed responses continue to swirl about the new federal law offering tax incentives to people who donate to organizations providing scholarships to pr…

The Feeding Texas network said despite federal cuts, the organization stands united in its commitment to fight hunger but food banks cannot fill the gap left by the cuts. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)

Food banks across Texas prepare to help the needy despite federal cuts

Almost 3.5 million Texans utilize the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to purchase food. The budget reconciliation bill recently signed …

Nearly 30% of Americans said they have not taken their medication as prescribed due to high drug prices, according to a 2024 report by the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock/Nuttapongpunna)

New online portal allows New Mexicans to compare prescription costs

Nearly 1,000 New Mexicans have already accessed a new online portal which provides transparency about how much the cost of prescriptions and medical p…

Research shows when federal funding for Medicaid decreases, states tend to cut optional benefits, such as home- and community-based services, first. (Adobe Stock)

WI nonprofit uncertain how Medicaid cuts will affect clients with disabilities

A Wisconsin nonprofit serving people with disabilities is waiting to hear if federal changes to Medicaid will affect their clients and caregivers…

Men in Arizona typically paid about 18% more than women who are doing the same jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Gender pay gap persists in Arizona

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid in Arizona for doing the …

Women in Iowa make roughly 79 cents for every dollar a man makes. The gap widens for women of color, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite recent progress, gender pay gap persists in Iowa

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing in Iowa, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid for doing the same …

On average, Nebraska women earn $13,365 less annually than men. The disparity is larger for women of color and LGBTQ+ people, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite progress, gender pay gap in Nebraska remains

A new report shows while the gender pay gap is closing, there is still a wide margin between what men and women are paid in Nebraska for doing the …

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

Nearly one-third of Illinois' state budget is allocated to Medicaid and more than 60% of the funding is federal dollars. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts: Disproportionate effects predicted for LGBTQ+ in IL

Advocacy groups are speaking out about how they believe congressional cuts to Medicaid will disproportionately affect caregiver LGBTQ+ communities in …

Protesters gathered in Baker City on July 2nd to protest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. (Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon)

Anti-hunger groups warn OR must backfill federal SNAP cuts

Oregon lawmakers would have to find an extra $850 million in the state budget starting in 2028 to cover cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

The new tax cut and spending law contains the largest federal cuts to SNAP benefits in the nation's history. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

AR hunger rating could worsen under new federal budget

Now that President Donald Trump's big budget bill has been signed into law, Arkansas nonprofits that rely on federal funding to help people in need …

Vanderbilt University's Spring 2025 survey polled more than 1,200 registered voters in Tennessee. (Adobe Stock)

TN poll suggests predicted Medicare cuts will prove unpopular

While cuts to food support programs and Medicaid gained attention as the debate over the budget bill went on, there is also a long-term likelihood it …

In Tennessee, more than 37% of SNAP recipients are in households that include older adults or individuals with disabilities. (Selene Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee hunger relief group warns SNAP cuts would affect rural families

Tennessee hunger-fighting advocates warn that proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps, could deepen food …

The budget bill being debated in Congress would shift some Medicaid administrative costs to states, which could force some hospitals in rural Iowa to reduce services or close. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid reductions would end coverage for tens of thousands of Iowans

Members of Congress are still debating the massive tax and spending bill which could include deep cuts to social service programs critical to Iowa…

The process known as budget reconciliation bypasses the usual Senate filibuster rules and allows bills to be passed with a simple majority of 51 votes, or 50, plus the Vice President's tie-breaking vote. (Adobe Stock)

IL professor: Senate-passed budget bill not a win, yet

An Illinois professor cautions against premature celebrations of victory or defeat after the U.S. Senate passed President Donald Trump's budget …

The Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform predicts six of California's 58 rural hospitals would have to close if the Republican budget bill is signed into law in its current form. (Pitchayaarch/Adobe Stock)

CA members of Congress face pressure to reject cuts to Medi-Cal

As the U.S. Senate has approved President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending bill, health care advocates are hoping to get California's Republican …

Homelessness among children in Ohio has increased by 10% since January 2020 and family homelessness has risen 11%, highlighting deepening housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio mayor says rising rents drive 'hidden homelessness'

As housing costs continue to squeeze Ohio families, Youngstown's mayor warned out-of-state landlords are pushing many out of their homes, undermining …

Meals are free to kids in Texas during the Summer Food Service Program. They are paid for by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX summer meal programs keep kids fed while out of school

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger. Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the …

Rogue Climate staff and volunteers are seen at the community-led Fire Relief Center, following the Almeda Fire in the Rogue Valley in 2020. (Rogue Climate)

Oregon state budget defunds climate resiliency programs

Oregon's new state budget cuts funding for programs intended to protect residents from extreme weather and make renewable energy more accessible…

Nebraska's food insecurity rate of 12.2% is a percentage point higher than the national average, according to an October 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Social service cuts would hobble Nebraska food banks, families

Pending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts could mean large reductions to services that provide meals to Nebraska's most vulnerabl…

The study found 51% of Medicaid recipients connected to small businesses are children of owners or employees. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV small business labor force at risk from Medicaid cuts

A new report says cuts to Medicaid will weaken the small business workforce nationwide, potentially shrinking local economies in rural states like …

In 2023, $70.6 million in SNAP benefits were spent at farmers markets, a 431% increase from $13.3 million in 2013, according to Investigate Midwest. (Photo courtesy Farmers Market Coalition)

ND to boost awareness of SNAP acceptance at farmer's markets

When North Dakotans head to farmers markets this summer, they might want to see which ones accept SNAP benefits, as the state is enhancing a search …

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is seeing an increase in out-of-state patients seeking gender-affirming care as neighboring states enact restrictions and bans. (Adobe Stock)

IL abortion services continue to skyrocket, straining provider resources

Illinois serves as a crucial access point for abortion services and sees the most out-of-state patients in the country. Since Roe v. Wade was …

In Wisconsin, 300 farmers participated in the Local Food Purchase Assistance Program, which funded $4.2 million worth of food to more than 250 pantries. (Adobe Stock)

WI communities grapple to make up for fresh food grant cuts

By Olivia Herken for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indep…

A clean energy project in Cuyahoga County will leverage $60 million in federal tax credits and create over 250 jobs, including retraining coal plant workers for solar and battery storage roles, according to Power a Clean Future Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio groups: Reconciliation bill threatens jobs, schools, energy future

Ohio union and clean energy leaders are urging their U.S. Senators to reject a sweeping reconciliation bill they said would devastate families and …

LIHEAP is holding a virtual public hearing today and again on July 1, where Pennsylvanians can weigh in on the proposed 2024-2025 state plan. (Adobe Stock)

LIHEAP cuts could leave thousands of Pennsylvanians without heat this winter

As Congress considers defunding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP in the budget reconciliation bill, Pennsylvania …

The Venice Dell project, if built, would add 120 units of affordable housing to the Venice Beach neighborhood. (Adobe Stock)

Beleaguered L.A. affordable housing proposal goes before judge

Los Angeles faces a severe shortage of affordable housing but Monday, the city is asking a judge to put a hold on a lawsuit which aims to clear the …

According to federal data, SNAP benefits cover 34,000 children and 9,000 seniors in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD food bank: We're stretched too thin to absorb SNAP cuts

Federal data show roughly 75,000 South Dakota households rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table and hunger-fighting groups paint a troubling p…

According to federal data, 48,700 people in North Dakota use SNAP benefits to help put food on the table. Relief organizations warn if Congress drastically cuts program spending, more people will wind up on the streets. (Adobe Stock)

ND org: SNAP cuts would worsen other instability woes, like housing

Nearly 10% of North Dakotans and almost 14% of children face food insecurity and if Congress passes a budget with big SNAP cuts, aid groups said …

Medicaid is the largest source of medical care or health care in Kentucky, covering about one and a half million Kentuckians, according to state data (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky’s new Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board convenes

Kentucky's newly established Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board convenes for its first meeting this week - on Wednesday June 25th. Lawmakers …

The new law could increase people's credit score by 20 points on average. (Delmaine Donson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

New law strikes medical debt from Oregonians' credit scores

A bill prohibiting credit reporting on Oregonians' medical debt has been signed into law by Gov. Tina Kotek. Hailed as a significant victory for …

Colorado's workforce development efforts are in sync with the Lumina Foundation's new goal for 75% of America's labor force to have a college degree or professional credential. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Polis raises bar for Colorado agencies on education

Colorado, already considered a national leader in workforce development, is aiming to raise the bar even higher. Gov. Jared Polis recently issued an …

Military families are more likely than civilian families to have children with special or mental health needs that require additional care and coverage. (Pexels/George Pak)

Medicaid cuts risk health-care access for MS military families

As Republican lawmakers weigh billions of dollars in potential Medicaid cuts, a new report warned the move could affect health coverage for …

More than 3 million undergraduate students in the United States are also parents. (Adobe Stock)

GOP spending cuts could fall on Maryland's student parents

More than 70,000 Marylanders are student parents, raising kids while attending college full or part-time and proposed cuts in this year's big budget …

In Fiscal Year 2024, Ohio's state-funded food programs created or sustained 292 jobs, supported $11.3 million in income and generated $38.4 million in economic output. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio foodbanks: Funding needed for fresh food with local roots

Ohio food banks are urging state lawmakers to approve what they said is a modest budget increase needed to get more fresh, local produce into the …

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
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 25 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast: December 5, 2025

2025Talks - December 5, 2025

The Yonder Report - December 4, 2025

Poverty Issues