Community Issues and Volunteering / Public News Service

The North Dakota group FM Volunteers for Ukraine has helped sponsor Ukrainians granted temporary work status after fleeing the war with Russia. Officials said social integration has been a key benefit. (Photo courtesy of FM Volunteers)

Friday, June 6, 2025

Federal program shake-up leaves Ukrainian workers in ND in limbo

Ukrainians who fled the war in their home country for temporary roots in North Dakota are waiting with worry about their ability to keep working in th…

Summer food feeding sites can be found by texting

Thursday, June 5, 2025

AR summer food programs prepare to feed students

With the start of summer, organizations across Arkansas are ramping up programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. The No Kid Hungry …

More than 40% of senior citizens report feeling lonely on a regular basis. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Senior social isolation: A silent epidemic, as deadly as cigarettes

Senior advocates are sounding the alarm about the effects of social isolation on older people in Illinois, saying loneliness is comparable to smoking …

The Great American Rail-Trail utilizes more than 150 existing trails but has more than 80 gaps. Montana's section is 25.3% complete. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

U.S. Transportation Secretary reviews Montana bike corridor grant

The U.S. Department of Transportation has frozen millions in grant dollars awarded by the Biden administration, leaving those counting on them in …

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has asked the Arkansas Legislative Council for a $15 million allocation to fund the program. Grants will be awarded in the fall. ((JLco) Julia Amaral/Adobe Stock)

Monday, June 2, 2025

Community grant program to improve lives for Arkansans

The application process is underway for a new grant program in Arkansas. The Community Assistance Grant Program is designed to help fill funding gaps …

A survey of Minnesotans by Compassion & Choices found they believe medical aid in dying should be a legal option for terminally ill individuals by a margin of 53 points, 73% to 20%. (mykeyruna/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

MN honors cultural differences during AANHPI Heritage Month

Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders are a rapidly growing population in the United States - but as those living in Minnesota age…

Cure Violence program outreach workers are trained by Temple University's Center for Bioethics to spot patterns of violence and connect with people at highest risk, often those with criminal records, gang involvement or past experiences with gun violence. (Courtesy Tyreek Counts)

PA violence prevention programs hit by federal funding cuts

CLARIFICATION: The grant from Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency is helping to keep program staff employed. An earlier version of the …

Seniors in Cook County, Illinois, said programs like Meals on Wheels providing hot meals delivered to them every day helps them feel safer in their homes. (Adobe Stock)

IL advocates highlight critical services for seniors

Illinois residents and elected officials are participating in a statewide day of advocacy to bring awareness to the Older Americans Act. Services …

In a Johns Hopkins University poll from last fall, nearly half of the U.S. electorate indicated they felt members of the opposing party aren't just wrong for politics - they're

Charting a new path for healthy political discourse in SD

In South Dakota and across the country, groups are working to help tone down the nation's heated political rhetoric. And experts are debating whether …

Proponents of concentrated animal feeding operations said they are good for business and are an economic necessity to keep operating costs down and prices for milk, cheese and meat products affordable. (Adobe Stock)

Pierce County residents say fight against CAFO is a fight for their lives

A group of Pierce County residents is awaiting a response to a petition for a contested case hearing for the expansion of Ridge Breeze Dairy to grow f…

Some 92% of people younger than 65 who are covered by Medicaid are either employed or unable to work because of disability, illness, caregiving responsibilities or school obligations, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

108,000 Coloradans would lose Medicaid coverage under work requirements

The current Republican reconciliation bill in Congress would require able-bodied adults covered by Medicaid to prove they work, go to school or do …

ArtReach St. Croix participates in Stillwater's annual Rivertown Fall Art Festival along the river in autumn. (Photo courtesy of ArtReach St. Croix)

MN arts org connects creatives across a river and state lines

By Frankie (Amy) Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servi…

According to the South Dakota Department of Health, 65% of EMS agencies in the state serve populations of 3,000 or fewer. (Adobe Stock)

SD rural ambulance providers still in need of lifeline

National EMS Week is underway, and South Dakota ambulance providers serving smaller towns and cities say they're barely getting by, with aging crews …

During the Indy 500 race, emergency physicians may treat up to 800 people. The numbers can increase to 1,000 in extreme hot and humid race day conditions, according to the IU School of Medicine. (Adobe Stock)

Indy 500 medical team prepared to treat injured drivers, fans

By Tim Spears for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Col…

High school and college students will take over the airwaves on the first and third Saturday in Arkansas in the revival of the PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show (avdyachenko/Adobe Stock)

Radio show gives AR students a voice

A groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas. The PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show will be back on the …

Federal agencies including the U.S. Forest Service said it can take months and even years to recover from the emotional, financial and ecological impacts of a wildfire. (Adobe Stock)

As MN wildfires burn, relief orgs ramp up for recovery

Large wildfires have ravaged parts of northeastern Minnesota and relief organizations are out in full force to assist displaced residents. They said …

According to Excelencia in Education, for the United States to regain the top ranking in the world for college degree attainment, Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Latino students prefer grants over loans to pay for college

Latino students in Illinois and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

Department of Government Efficiency cuts to AmeriCorps will affedct New Mexico's Boys & Girls Clubs. (bgcsantafe.org)

Program elimination, job loss as DOGE cuts funds for NM's AmeriCorps

The dismantling of the 30-year-old AmeriCorps national service program by the Department of Government Efficiency will have significant effects in New…

Housing First programs provide rapid access to housing and care teams connect people to employment opportunities, medical and mental health care, and substance-use treatment but the services are not required or used as a punitive tool. (Adobe Stock)

Homeless advocates say Common Sense Institute report misses the mark

A new report on homelessness in Colorado released by the Common Sense Institute has come under fire for muddying the waters for lawmakers and other st…

More than 250 rare, threatened or endangered species live along the Appalachian Trail corridor. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio has ties to Appalachian Trail’s uncertain future

As the Appalachian Trail turns 100, conservation groups are sounding alarms over federal funding freezes and staff cuts. The trail runs through the …

Nevadans could save 16% on their utility bills by 2035 by pursuing cost-saving energy-efficiency measures, according to the National Renewable Energy Lab. (Scott Habermann/Adobe Stock)

New website helps Nevadans find help saving on energy costs

Nevada clean-energy proponents have launched a new website to help connect Nevadans to energy and cost-saving programs. One of the nonprofits behind …

As of May 1, 2025, a total of 935 confirmed measles cases were reported by 30 jurisdictions nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY confirms second measles case, doctors urge vaccination

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is reporting a second confirmed measles case in March, in a child who was traveling through the …

After a series of challenging health issues, Angelo Jimenez completed Roadrunner Food Bank's job training program and was offered a full-time role with the nonprofit. (rrfb.org)

New Mexico job training program returns to lift all boats

New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank is again offering job training after its program was temporarily suspended during the COVID pandemic. Teresa …

Experts say Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on Saturday is a good time to move fuels and flammable materials away from homes. (Adobe Stock)

Neighborhood action is more effective for wildfire prep, experts say

Montana's wildfire risk is 74% higher than other states, so experts are encouraging Montanans to think ahead Saturday on Wildfire Community …

The Buffalo Soldiers were the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War. The museum was founded in 2001. (serhiibobyk/Adobe Stock)

Federal funding cuts hit Houston's Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston is one of many historic and cultural institutions across the nation to lose access to federal funding…

The Young Activist Leaders Program provides a place for young people to ask questions, educate each other, and explore social justice work together. (Carlo/Adobe Stock)

WA youth: Money for medicaid, not war

A group of Washington youths, fresh from a grassroots leadership development program, is speaking up against the Trump Administration's plans to cut …

Ohio Department of Children & Youth reports more than 15,000 children are in foster care in Ohio - and nearly a quarter have complex needs that make finding the right placement especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)

Hope and healing in Ohio's foster system

As Ohio approaches National Foster Care Month in May, one family's journey highlights how therapeutic foster care can change lives. A 12-year-old …

Bonnie Miller, President of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas, said

AR League of Women Voters sues over ballot initiative restriction

Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester is facing legal action from the League of Women Voters of Arkansas. The organization filed a federal lawsuit …

Universities across the country have protested against the Trump administration's actions targeting higher-ed funding, speech and international students. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed supporters rally on two IL campuses for students' rights

It has been a busy week for supporters of higher education in Illinois, with two separate protests at Northern Illinois University and Northeastern …

In recent years, California created CARE Courts which can mandate treatment and has encouraged cities to dismantle homeless encampments. (Prime Look/Adobe Stock)

Trump administration rejects 'housing first' approach to homelessness

By Angela Hart for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

Rural development experts said because of food deserts, some rural residents in North Dakota travel 100-200 miles to one of the state's 10 largest cities to buy groceries at a 'big box' store. (Adobe Stock)

ND follows up with new aid to keep rural grocery stores open

North Dakota's governor this week signed a bill maintaining state funding for rural communities in dire need of thriving grocery stores. The state …

With funding from Congress, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System is new a wholesale provider of <br />cleaner water to 20 member cities and rural water systems in three states, including South Dakota. Local leaders said it is a good example of effective federal investments. (Photo courtesy of MN DOH)

SD communities say federal aid isn't 'waste' to them

CORRECTION: This web-version of the story initially listed Rep. Dusty Johnson as "Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-N.D." It has since been corrected to reflect …

Of the nearly 30,000 fire departments in the United States, almost 19,000 are all volunteer. (Adobe Stock)

MN fire chiefs lean on ads, targeted messaging to boost depleted ranks

In many small Minnesota communities, city hall windows display "firefighters wanted" posters. Lack of interest is a reality local fire chiefs have to …

The U.S., New Zealand, Norway and Canada are among the countries with the highest rates of volunteer participation. (theotherhouse/Adobe Stock)

New Mexico's food bank volunteers provide millions of meals

More than 6,000 volunteers who support New Mexico's Roadrunner Food Bank are being recognized during National Volunteer Week, which starts today…

The osprey is found year-round in Florida, both as a nesting species and as a spring and fall migrant passing between more northern areas and Central and South America. (Pixabay)

Annual wildlife survey documents Florida's changing biodiversity

Teams of researchers and volunteers will fan out at dawn Friday with their smartphones and binoculars on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus for …

The U.S. has one of the highest maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the developed world, with more than 50,000 women experience life-threatening complications due to labor and delivery each year. (Adobe Stock)

Maternal death outcomes drop, except for Black women

Today marks the last day of Black Maternal Health Week, a nationally and internationally recognized observance that serves to build community …

The current Housing First program was instituted by President George W. Bush in 2004. (Aevan/Adobe Stock AI generated)

AR advocates concerned by cuts to programs for unhoused

It is estimated more than 2,600 people live on the streets across Arkansas. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has proposed a "treatment …

There are 11 federally recognized Native American tribes in Wisconsin. Indigenous people make up about 1.5% of the state's population. (Adobe Stock)

Tribal communities see historic turnout at Wisconsin polls

Voter turnout from tribal communities in Wisconsin has increased in recent years, with historic numbers for the state Supreme Court election this …

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would require the USDA to give a 60-day notice of any agency closures. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is among those who introduced the bill last month. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed bill aims to pay farmers back for disrupted grants

A Wisconsin-based nonprofit hopes a new law can help some of its struggling farmers quickly recoup federal grant funds they are owed. The Honor …

King County reported more than 16,000 people experiencing homelessness last year, which is more than half the state's unhoused population. (Mallivan/Adobe Stock)

Unique approach to helping WA homeless youth 'highly effective'

A unique approach to preventing youth homelessness in Washington is proving highly effective, with more than 93% of participants still housed one …

The Arkansas State Library receives $850,000 from IMLS that allows Arkansas residents access to essential resources tailored to local needs. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas public libraries face uncertain future

There are 133 public libraries in Arkansas, and many of them could be in jeopardy of closing because of cuts from the Trump administration. The …

The city of Norfolk received the most grants from the agency. (Adobe Stock)

Advocate: Trump order to dismantle federal library service threatens rural libraries

Rural libraries are some of the most at risk of closing in the Commonwealth if they lose federal funding from the Institute for Museum and Library Ser…

In Maryland, the City of Baltimore has had the most federal funds flow into libraries and museums in the area. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland's local libraries brace for federal funding cuts

Public libraries in Maryland are expecting to soon feel the pinch of federal budget cuts, as the Trump administration has opted to dismantle the …

Nearly 75% of all jobs in Colorado, and 95% of top-earning jobs, require a credential or degree beyond high school. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado colleges tap NYC program to get homegrown talent into good jobs

Colorado educators are hoping that a successful accelerated degree program known as ASAP, grown at City University of New York, will take root in two …

Tennesseans to 'Walk Like MADD' to prevent impaired driving

CORRECTION: The number of traffic fatalities in 2024 in Tennessee represents all traffic deaths, not just those that were alcohol-related. (8:18 a.m…

Uptown Community Health Center aims to continue the ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, which opened its first clinic to take care of the poor and vulnerable regardless of their ability to pay in the 19th century. (Photo by: Eric Galatas)

Denver's Uptown Community Health Center to continue historic service

Colorado now has 21 health providers treating patients regardless of their ability to pay, after Denver's Uptown Community Health Center won …

Opponents to Arizona's Proposition 314 called it a dangerous law which could fuel vigilantism and unjust policing. (James Steidl/Adobe Stock)

AZ Latino outlets unite to inform communities amid immigration crackdown

Latino media outlets in Arizona are coming together to ensure the Hispanic and Latino communities are informed and educated about their rights amid th…

In 2024 alone, Ohio's rape crisis centers responded to more than 40,000 helpline calls and educated 95,000 Ohioans about sexual violence prevention efforts. (Talyr Ucker-Lauderman of OAESV)

Ohio advocacy day puts spotlight on sexual violence awareness

More than 100 people came to the Ohio Statehouse to mark National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month late last week. As part of the 13th …

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