Social 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 …

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 …

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-…

Data from the New Economy Project finds during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, banks across New York State exacted more than $1.6 billion in a myriad of fees from New Yorkers. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

NYS Legislation Considers Bill to Create Public Banks

The New York State Legislature is considering a bill to allow the creation of public banks. The New York Public Banking Act would authorize municipal …

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…

According to a 2022 report from the American Library Association, 80% of parents have confidence in librarians to make good decisions about the books they make available in their collections. (Adobe Stock)

NY Libraries Grapple With Increase in Book Challenges

As National Reading Month ends soon, libraries across New York and the nation are dealing with the increasing number of book challenges. New data …

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 …

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 …

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has identified several locations across the state as having forever chemicals at their sites. Some are Fentress Air Base, Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, DuPont Spruance Manufacturing in Richmond. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Issues New Guidance on ‘Forever Chemicals’

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is implementing new rules on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as forever chemicals. The new …

Many of the nation's more than 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States do not have access to any form of identification, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

NC’s Anti-Community ID Bill Could Harm Immigrant Families

Providers of community IDs for North Carolina's immigrant communities say proposed legislation banning police officers and local governments from reco…

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 …

More than one in ten transgender people in the U.S. have been evicted from their homes because of their gender identity contributing to higher rates of food insufficiency among this population. (Adobe Stock)

Study Finds High Food Insufficiency Rates Among LGBTQ+ New Englanders

A new study from the University of New Hampshire found New England's LGBTQ+ residents experience higher rates of food insufficiency, the measure of …

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adopting new standards for soot can help prevent up to 4,200 premature deaths per year and 270,000 lost workdays per year. It can also yield as much as $43 billion in net health benefits in 2032. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Soot Proposal Not Enough, NY Environmentalists Say

A New York environmental group feels the Environmental Protection Agency's latest regulations on soot in the air do not go far enough. The new …

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 …

Legislation being considered by Texas lawmakers would prevent Houston from adopting labor union bills meant to protect workers from the summer heat. (peuceta/AdobeStock)

TX Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Prevent Cities from Self-Governance

Texas' GOP-dominated legislature is considering bills to flip the script on powers traditionally afforded home-rule cities, instead forcing them to …

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 …

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 …

Multiple states have strengthened protections for election workers, following a surge in threats and harassment over the past few years. (Krakenimages.com/Adobestock)

Election Officials Call for Action to Protect Democracy

American democracy is in mortal danger as the 2024 election approaches, according to experts at a conference held at the University of California…

At least 124 bills have been introduced nationwide this year targeting LGBTQ rights in schools and educational settings, freedom of speech and expression, and access to medically necessary health care for transgender people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students. The legislation requires …

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 …

A report from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation found children and young adults will be disproportionately affected by the loss of pandemic-era Medicaid coverage protections. About 4.6 million of those who could lose coverage are Latino. (Adobe Stock)

CT Hispanic Population Faces Risk of Medicaid Coverage Loss

When the pandemic ends this spring, Medicaid's "continuous coverage" requirement will end with it. In Connecticut, the state will start checking …

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…

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 …

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 …

Grace Raymond Hebard's second home, known as the Doctor's Inn at 318 S. 10th St. in Laramie, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the University Neighborhood Historic District. (Andrea Graham/Alliance for Historic Wyoming)

Project Highlights Women Who Forged, Documented Wyoming's History

Wyoming became the first U.S. territory to give women the right to vote in 1869, half a century before the nation finally followed the Cowboy State's …

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 …

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…

Indiana House Bill 1186 would give officers the authority to ask anyone to step back at the scene of a police investigation. (Adobe stock)

Indiana Lawmakers Consider 'Buffer Zone' for Police Investigations

A proposal to create a perimeter around working police investigations has made it through the first half of the 2023 Indiana legislative session…

The Best Colleges rankings take into account a school's academic outcomes and overall college affordability. (Adobe Stock)

Three NC HBCUs on List of Best LGBTQ+ Campuses

Three North Carolina Historically Black Colleges and Universities are on a recent "best of" list for LGBTQ+ campuses. The Best Colleges Campus Pride …

It costs taxpayers $13,400 to provide supportive housing per person each year, compared with between $21,000 and $40,000 for medical care, incarceration, detox treatment and shelter services. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

Advocates for people experiencing homelessness are pushing back against proposals by several Denver mayoral candidates who are including forced mental…

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 …

The Employee Organizations Representing Public Employees Bill would change how union dues and fees are collected for some public employees in Florida. (Pixabay)

Could Legislation Targeting Public-Sector Unions Threaten Academic Freedom?

Union leaders and public-sector workers say bills advancing in the Florida Legislature, if passed, will strip them of their representation and could …

According to Extinction Rebellion, at least eight activists have been arrested at the construction site of the East Boston substation since Eversource began work on January 11. (Extinction Rebellion)

Protests, Construction Continue at East Boston Substation

Environmental activists are calling on Gov. Maura Healy to end construction of the Eversource electrical substation in East Boston, and move it to …

Trinidad Luna, a double amputee from Los Angeles, is expecting his CalFresh benefits to drop to $25 a month. (Trinidad Luna)

Recipients Prepare for Big Drop in CalFresh Benefits

CalFresh benefits are set to plummet for almost five million people in the state starting in a few weeks - as the emergency COVID increase expires…

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council attend the signing of House Resolution 9 at the State Capitol, observing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month in Iowa. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

To recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, state lawmakers have signed a resolution to raise awareness surrounding people with …

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies rally at the Capitol in Concord in opposition to a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which they say aim to criminalize members of their community.(603 Equality)

Community Members Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in NH

LGBTQ+ advocates rallied at the New Hampshire Statehouse this week in protest of a slate of bills which they say aim to demonize members of their comm…

In 2021, around 132.3 million tons of poultry meat were consumed worldwide, making it the most consumed type of meat globally. Pork came in second, followed by beef and veal, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Proposes New Requirements for 'Product of USA' Label Claim

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled 'Product of USA.' Current laws contain …

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, alongside people age 25 or older, a quarter of people who would see benefits from increasing the minimum wage over $20 are parents. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Bill Would Raise NY Minimum Wage Over $20

A bill in the New York State Legislature would increase the minimum wage to over $20 by 2026. The Raise the Wage Act would increase New York's $15 …

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…

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Social Justice

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

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

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

After Generations of Exclusion, Black Americans Embrace the Outdoors

NYS Legislation Considers Bill to Create Public Banks

NM Homelessness Declines, But Rural Folks Face Barriers

Chipotle Pays Augusta, Maine Union Organizers for Labor Violations

NY Libraries Grapple With Increase in Book Challenges

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Report: Apprenticeship Programs Need to Improve for Black Workers

EPA Issues New Guidance on ‘Forever Chemicals’

NC’s Anti-Community ID Bill Could Harm Immigrant Families

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

Study Finds High Food Insufficiency Rates Among LGBTQ+ New Englanders

EPA Soot Proposal Not Enough, NY Environmentalists Say

NYC Group Calls for Significant Community Investments

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

TX Lawmakers Consider Legislation to Prevent Cities from Self-Governance

Online, Community Colleges Offer Flexibility for Non-Traditional Students

Report Counts Deadly Impacts of Coal-Fired Power Plants

Public Supports Changes to High-Stakes Testing for MA Students

Election Officials Call for Action to Protect Democracy

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Bank Collapses Highlight Alternative Structure of Credit Unions

CT Hispanic Population Faces Risk of Medicaid Coverage Loss

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

Bank Collapses Highlight Credit Unions as Alternatives

IA Senate Panel Votes to Abolish State Income Tax

Credit Unions Step Out from Shadow Cast by Bank Collapses

Credit Unions in Conversation After Banks' Collapse

After Banks' Failures, Credit Unions Tout Independent Structure

Uncertain Banking Market Puts Local Institutions in Spotlight

Project Highlights Women Who Forged, Documented Wyoming's History

MN Could Include Environmental Justice in Deciding Industrial Projects

Millionaires: Medicare Tax Proposal Just What the Doctor Ordered

Indiana Lawmakers Consider 'Buffer Zone' for Police Investigations

Three NC HBCUs on List of Best LGBTQ+ Campuses

Report: Denver Mayoral Candidates Off the Mark on Homeless Crisis

SNAP Benefits Drop as Food Prices Soar

Could Legislation Targeting Public-Sector Unions Threaten Academic Freedom?

Protests, Construction Continue at East Boston Substation

Recipients Prepare for Big Drop in CalFresh Benefits

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

Community Members Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in NH

USDA Proposes New Requirements for 'Product of USA' Label Claim

Proposed Bill Would Raise NY Minimum Wage Over $20

Bills Aim to Restore Vote for People Incarcerated for Felony Convictions

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals