Cultural Resources / Public News Service

Board-certified music therapist Stephanie Johnson, left, works with older adults in a drumming circle through Music Speaks. Her work is part of a movement to bring more signing and music opportunities to people diagnosed with dementia. (Photo courtesy Music Speaks)

A song a day keeps doctors at bay in Midwest choirs

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 a 2023 report, more than one-third of all foreign tourists traveling to the United States, or 14 million people annually, visit a national park site like Wyoming's Yellowstone. (Adobe Stock)

Fee hike for international visitors could bode well for national parks, report finds

International tourists visiting U.S. national parks may pay more at the gate starting next year. Advocates say it's a "common-sense policy" that …

The City of Philadelphia hosts several events today (Thursday) in celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday observed nationwide with storytelling and community gatherings honoring Black history, culture and resilience. (reham/Adobe Stock)

Juneteenth: Celebrating Black literacy and artistic freedom

A Pennsylvania literacy organization is commemorating the Juneteenth holiday by highlighting the history and contributions of Black people in the Unit…

Report: Fee hike for international visitors could pay dividends for national parks

International tourists visiting U.S. national parks may pay more at the gate starting next year. Advocates have called it a "common-sense policy" …

Griot Arts, a nonprofit in Clarksdale, Mississippi, plans to turn 32,000 square feet of vacant downtown property into a vibrant arts and cultural center.

Historic Paramount Theater reborn as community hub in Clarksdale

By Susannah Broun for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Col…

St. Paul's sidewalk poetry program has stamped enough forms of literary art onto wet concrete, everyone living in the city could walk to a sidewalk poem in under 10 minutes. (Photo courtesy of Alana Horton for Arts Midwest)

Step into art: Midwest cities turn sidewalk potholes into poetry

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 Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Texas has about 57,000 undocumented students enrolled in its public universities and colleges who will no longer be eligible for in-state tuition. (K Abrahams/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Ending in-state tuition for undocumented students will cost TX millions

Immigrant rights groups have said they are considering legal action to restore a Texas law allowing in-state tuition rates for undocumented college st…

Volunteers growing taro in Oregon, a crop that is a fundamental part of Hawaiian traditions. (KALO HCC)

OR groups fighting hunger: People need culturally specific food

As food insecurity rises across the state, groups fighting hunger are highlighting the need for food that is not only nutritious, but culturally …

New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument, where many of its Ancestral Pueblo structures date back to 1150 and 1600, is the oldest in the state, designated in 1916. (recreation.gov)

Las Cruces, Taos host rallies in support of national monuments, public lands

New Mexicans will gather in Las Cruces, Taos and other locations tomorrow for a day of action to defend national monuments and public lands. The …

The Eastern Iowa Arts Academy is transforming a 111-year-old schoolhouse into an arts refuge for kids. (Eastern Iowa Arts Academy)

Arts group revitalizes century-old rural Iowa school building

By Frankie (Amy) Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Coll…

Angel Mounds was one of the largest and most complex Indigenous communities ever built in what is now Indiana. (Indiana University)

Indiana’s ancient city comes to life in virtual reality

Hoosiers can now step into the past. A new exhibit opens this weekend at the Indiana University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Bloomington…

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…

Federal funding for arts education is being cut significantly, including the grant for the Student Arts Advocacy Day, an event held in partnership with California State Summer School for the Arts. (Chantal Santoyo/CSSSA)<br />

Arts education advocates speak out against proposed federal budget cuts

Groups championing arts education are criticizing President Donald Trump's proposed cuts to education and the arts, particularly those targeting …

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…

Funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities reached all 56 Montana counties in 2024 via libraries, museums, community organizations and schools, according to Humanities Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Montanans, Americans most affected by federal humanities cuts

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities say President Donald Trump's cuts to the agency disproportionately impact rural Americans - an…

Humanities programs like Maryland History Day are at risk due to funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities. (Adobe Stock)

Trump cuts to humanities endowment hurts Marylanders, advocates say

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities said cuts to the agency by President Donald Trump hurt Marylanders' access to art and culture …

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 …

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities argued the lawsuit is on behalf of every American interacting with the humanities. (Adobe Stock)

Trump admin sued over efforts to dismantle National Endowment for Humanities

Supporters of the National Endowment for the Humanities said cuts to the agency by President Donald Trump hurt Americans' access to art and culture an…

In 2024, volunteers with the Pacific Crest Trail Association worked more that 57,000 hours and maintained more than 1,100 miles of trail. (PCTA)

Access to Pacific Crest Trail threatened by federal cuts

Access to the beloved Pacific Crest Trail may soon be limited - due to a drop in federal grants and big layoffs proposed for federal public lands agen…

Research by economist Raj Chetty and colleagues at Harvard shows Black men's outcomes disproportionately determine economic mobility, with the racial wealth gap linked more to male than female trajectories. (Adobe Stock)

Howard University program addresses Black male enrollment crisis

As historically Black colleges and universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, Howard University's "Kings of Campus" initiative is …

The most common types of vandalism to Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are incised initials, names, <br />and dates and firearm damage, according to a 2024 report. (Tami Freed/Adobe Stock)

Actions by Wyoming, feds could have opposing effects on Indigenous rock art

Protections for Indigenous rock art in Wyoming are in limbo after state lawmakers and the Trump administration took potentially conflicting actions re…

North Dakota's Native American tribes said thanks to a new state grant program aimed at helping them boost their tourism promotion, including powwow events. (Adobe Stock)

With new grants, ND tribes can elevate their tourism game

Tourism generates $3 billion annually in North Dakota but tribal officials say direct spending from visitors does not always reach their areas. Now…

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 …

When a tariff is imposed, the importing business pays the tax to the U.S. Treasury Department. Importers then pass much of the added cost to consumers. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation - and although tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been delayed, Texans are still uneasy about …

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 …

National Library Week was first observed in 1958 to celebrate the contributions of the nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. (amaxim/Adobe Stock)

April celebrates the creative combo of libraries, poetry

April is both National Poetry Month and National Library Month, and younger generations are embracing both. The American Library Association says …

An estimated 67,000 people identify at LGBTQ+ in Nebraska, according to the Williams Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska LGBTQ+ group builds community with 'friend raiser'

The organization OutNebraska is holding an event not only to raise money for LGBTQ+ issues but to help people better understand the issues and their i…

A bill creating a Medal of Honor memorial in Washington, D.C. is being considered by the Senate. (Henry Villarama/Wikimedia Commons)

Celebrating VA’s legacy of Medal of Honor recipients

Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, celebrating the nearly 3,500 service members since 1861 who have been awarded the country's highest military …

New Mexico's nine medal of honor recipients include Hiroshi

Gallup native, others remembered on National Medal of Honor Day

Military bravery and sacrifice is recognized today, with the nation's recipients of the National Medal of Honor being celebrated for their service…

Fewer than .01% of service members in U.S. military history have been awarded the Medal of Honor. (Adobe Stock)

Medal of Honor Day celebrated as bill for monument progresses

Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, celebrating the thousands of service members since 1861 who have been awarded the country's highest military …

Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Vietnam War. (Congressional Medal of Honor Society)

Heroes welcomed for Medal of Honor Museum opening in TX

North Texas leaders are celebrating today's opening of the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington. The museum is dedicated to highlighting the …

West Virginians recognized at new National Medal of Honor Museum

The stories of 57 West Virginians who've received the Medal of Honor, the highest military award, will be on display at the new National Medal of …

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West poll, 65% of Western voters oppose giving state governments control over national public lands. That's up from 56% in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Opponent calls MT resolution 'slap in the face' to public land owners

Months after the nation's highest court declined to hear a Utah case about ownership of public lands, a Montana House committee will debate whether …

Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn C. Cashe, posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, rescued six soldiers from a burning vehicle in Iraq on Oct. 17, 2005, enduring severe burns and enemy fire while refusing medical evacuation until all others were saved. (CMOHS website)

National Medal of Honor Day: Honoring FL heroes and their legacy

Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, a time to reflect on the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of the fewer than 4,000 Americans who have …

U.S. Marine John Canley of Arkansas was a recipient of the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in 1968 during the Battle of Hue. (Congressional Medal of Honor Society)<br />

AR heroes celebrated at National Medal of Honor Museum

Some 29 Arkansas Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized Tuesday as the National Medal of Honor Museum opens in Arlington, Texas. The museum is …

Gregor Willms assists the Cedarburg High School team in the soil pit at Envirothon 2024. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association)

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

A local event that brings students face-to-face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue "green jobs…

Iowa 'dance fighter' Chuy Renteria interprets his world through performance art. (Chuy Renteria)

Iowa 'dance fighter' interprets his world through artform

By Frankie (Amy) Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Coll…

Opened in 2017, Orange County Public Schools Academic Center for Excellence is the first new school in Parramore, Fla., in more than 40 years, serving preschool through eighth grade. It features a three-wall, climate-themed mural by artist Allison Dayka. (VoLo Foundation)

Art, action unite at Florida Climate Correction Conference

As Florida grapples with rising sea levels, stronger hurricanes and extreme heat, the state's vulnerability to climate change is impossible to ignore…

There are more than 500,000 buffalo in North America today, but nearly all of those are livestock, in commercial herds and owned by private landowners. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers consider protecting wild buffalo from poaching

Colorado lawmakers could add buffalo, also known as bison, to a long list of wildlife that have been restored to their natural habitat across the …

As of January, the Aldo Leopold House became the first cabin rental on National Forest land in New Mexico. (fsusda.gov)

NM conservationists celebrate Aldo Leopold amid cuts to Forest Service

Amid U.S. Forest Service firings and layoffs by the Trump administration, conservationists are honoring a former employee this week considered by …

Assal Habibi has done extensive research on how musical training is beneficial for brain development. (Gus Ruelas/USC Photo)<br />

Arts educators reach out after L.A. fire disaster

Music lessons. A trip to the theater. Experiences like these can help students recover from cataclysmic natural disasters like the LA fires, …

Sun Bear Industries coordinates and manages renewable energy projects, connecting tribal governments with contractors specializing in renewable energy. (Adobe Stock)

WI tribal nations working toward energy autonomy

By Robert Chappell for Madison 365.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Madison 365-Public News Ser…

Libraries are tailored to their local communities, Varga says, such as a local library in Virginia Beach offering surfboard rentals. (Adobe Stock)

Show some love to VA libraries

February is Library Lovers Month - and libraries across the Commonwealth are encouraging their long-time and new patrons to celebrate. Lisa Varga…

Rosenwald Schools served rural Black communities across 15 southern states, from Maryland to Texas. (Adobe Stock/AI)

The little-known history and disappearing architecture of Rosenwald Schools

By Kim Kobersmith for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for South Carolina News Service for the Daily Yonder-Public News Service Coll…

Advocates for public lands warn that even drilling on lands adjacent to such places as Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado and Utah can lead to industrial contamination of shared waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Trump order could open CO national monuments for drilling

As the Trump administration considers oil, gas and mining on lands owned by all Americans, including in national monuments designated under the …

Ted Blakey (right) has long been admired for his civil rights work in South Dakota. State historians are hoping to get more artifacts related to Blakey and other prominent Black figures donated as they continue with a museum renovation. (African American Registry)

Short on artifacts, SD historians ask for help recognizing Black trailblazers

Events for Black History Month are being held around the U.S. In South Dakota, leaders of the state's main history museum, which is currently under …

The American Federation of Teachers says schools must be safe havens, welcoming places of learning and free from racism, discrimination and the threat of deportation. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

TX teachers prepare to protect immigrant students

School districts across Texas are grappling with ways to keep migrant children safe and engaged in class now that the Trump administration has made it…

A historic greenhouse sits at the High Plains Arboretum outside Cheyenne, Wyoming, where varieties of crops were engineered between 1928 and 1974 to survive the harsh high plains environment. (Alliance for Historic Wyoming)

A big future for WY historic arboretum hinges on state legislature

Lawmakers could salvage plans to restore a historic Wyoming arboretum after the legislature cut initial funding from the supplemental state budget…

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