Livable Wages/Working Families / 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 Ukranian 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…

NorthWestern Energy increased electric rates for its Montana customers by about 17% on May 23, legally but without approval. Montana's Public Service Commission on June 9 will hear arguments for another rate hike. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, June 6, 2025

Coalition to rally Monday opposing NorthWestern rate hike

Groups opposed to NorthWestern Energy's latest rate-hike proposal plan to rally on Monday in Helena. In an unusual move, the utility giant used a …

More than 40% of transgender and gender-nonconforming people reported being discriminated against while using the bathroom. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, June 6, 2025

As trans rights roll back, gender-diverse Virginians face job market barriers

Transgender, intersex and gender-diverse people face barriers entering and rising in the workplace and advocates said employers can do better to make …

Small businesses line Main Street in downtown Whitesburg, Ky. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, June 6, 2025

Disaster recovery workshops slated for eastern KY small business owners

As eastern Kentucky communities attempt to bounce back from a string of natural disasters, more small businesses are struggling to get back on their …

Four U.S. states including California, Minnesota, North Dakota and Oklahoma, have banned noncompete agreements entirely. Ohio could be next under Senate Bill 11. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Ohio lawmakers propose ban on most noncompete agreements

By Kaleb Clark / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio Senate Bill 11 …

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 …

According to a 2024 survey, 82% of American transgender employees reported experiencing discrimination or harassment at work. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, June 5, 2025

Advocates shed light on discrimination against trans folks during Pride Month

June is Pride Month, and transgender advocates are speaking out, seeking equal recognition in society and in the workplace. The U.S. Supreme Court …

Landfill regulations are managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In Harris County, 78% of the methane emissions come from three privately owned landfills over which the city has no jurisdiction. (rob245/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

Houston officials look at options for growing trash problem

By Elena Bruess for Houston Landing.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Houston Landing/MIT Climate Change Engage…

Minnesota's current job vacancy rate is slightly less than 6%. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

MN's rural job vacancy rate eases but still on troubled ground

New data show improvements in reducing job vacancy rates in Minnesota but researchers said the numbers are still too stubbornly high in most rural reg…

The new Washington law triples penalties for employers who delay workers' compensation payments. (Courtney H/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

New WA law aims to reel in workers' comp abuse

Workers' rights advocates are celebrating a new law mandating "good faith and fair dealing" in Washington's workers' compensation system. They said …

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)

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 …

Albany County has the lowest homeownership rate of all counties in Wyoming, at just 51%, according to a 2024 statewide housing needs assessment. (Adobe Stock)

Local groups build toward workforce-attainable housing project in Laramie

Laramie, Wyoming is short on affordable housing but a new partnership aims to help. Albany County's population grew nearly 7% between 2010 and 2021 …

In Illinois, laws like the Illinois Equal Pay Act and Pregnancy Discrimination Act serve to uphold equal pay, protections and accommodations for working women across the state. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Study: Past protective labor laws for women benefited men

A new Northwestern University study examining the history of labor laws for women says men ultimately benefited from laws meant to protect women in th…

The Episcopal Health Foundation says the goal of the Collaborating for Healthy Communities Initiative is to improve and strengthen the effectiveness of existing health-focused coalitions and collaboratives. (ILIA/Adobe Stock)

Assistance available for TX coalitions fighting health disparities

Starting next week, the Episcopal Health Foundation will be accepting applications for its next "Collaborating for Healthy Communities Initiative" to …

The global tiny-homes market was valued at approximately $21.93 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $29.88 billion by 2033. (ckellyphoto/Adobe Stock)

Branson fights big housing crisis with tiny homes

Contractors have broken ground on a tiny-home village in Branson, where poverty is a growing concern. While tourists flock to Branson by the …

A study from Community Partners in Asthma Care analyzed attendance and environmental data from three academic years in Clairton City schools and found within two miles of the school and near the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, asthma affected 16.6 percent of students, based on nurse records. (Natalie Schorr/AdobeStock)

PA climate advocates criticize possible partnership between U.S. Steel, Nippon

A possible partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel is drawing publicity but some environmental groups in Pennsylvania are raising …

According to a 2024 report from the Center for American Women and Politics, 44 members of the Michigan House and 14 members of the state Senate are women. (Adobe Stock)

MI senator sponsors tax credit, cash allowance bills to help families

As families in Michigan and elsewhere struggle with daily living expenses, bills introduced this month could alleviate their financial burden…

Montana Fair Housing receives the most requests for assistance from people with disabilities, including veterans. (Lightfield Studios/Adobe Stock)

Proposed cuts in GOP budget bill spur National Fair Housing Week of Action

Housing groups across the country this week have declared a National Week of Action, as federal lawmakers consider a budget eliminating all funding …

In the Southwest, many rural, frontier and tribal communities feel overlooked or forgotten as Congress debates cuts to local services. (A/Adobe Stock)

NM's health care, hospitals face pressures in GOP's 'big beautiful bill'

One in three New Mexico residents lives in rural areas, and groups that represent them are calling on state and federal lawmakers to prioritize their …

Under a bill pending in the state Legislature, members of Louisiana public employee unions would be required to declare annually whether they wish to remain in their union. (Adobe Stock)

Louisiana Democrats call union opt-out bill an 'attack on labor'

A bill pending in the state Legislature which would require public employees to opt in to their unions is being called a "direct attack on Louisiana w…

It is estimated New Mexico's free child care program has lifted 120,000 people in the state above the federal poverty line. (olgademina/Adobe Stock)

NM's near-universal child care a 'life-saver' for many families

Predominantly free statewide child care is helping lift many New Mexico families out of poverty. Three years ago, the state became the first in the …

Although the current version of Texas House Bill 2 does not bring schools back to 2019 funding levels members of the American Federation of Teachers-Texas are calling on members of the House of Representatives to approve the school funding bill. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

Latest school funding bill heads back to TX House

As school districts across Texas continue to work around budget shortfalls, members of American Federation of Teachers-Texas hope the latest version …

Nearly 70% of working caregivers in Ohio struggle to balance job duties and family responsibilities, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio bills aim to ease financial burden for family caregivers

New bipartisan bills in the Ohio Legislature would provide a $2,000 tax credit to working Ohioans who care for family members at home. The goal is …

More than one in 10 Ohioans rely on public pensions for income in retirement, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security. (AdobeStock)

Expert: Ohio pension funds resistant to tariff-related market volatility

Market volatility linked to shifting federal tariff policies is raising questions in Ohio about the long-term effects on public pension funds and reti…

In 2024, Iowa farmers raised 2.63 billion bushels of corn for grain, the highest in the nation, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa farmers fear SNAP cuts would limit their markets

Farmers in Iowa fear that proposed cuts in SNAP benefit funding could limit the market for their products. The Trump administration says it is …

Financial experts said policy changes will influence how small businesses operate, with shifts in tax regulations and tariffs potentially impacting growth strategies. (jackfrog/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR small-business owners less optimistic about future

Optimism among small businesses in Arkansas and the U.S. is hitting lows comparable to early pandemic days, largely because of changing tariff …

Advanced Practice Providers hold up signs during the OHSU Board of Directors' public session on April 25. (Oregon Nurses Association)

Health care providers struggle for first OHSU union contract

Oregon Health and Science University's Advanced Practice Providers, a title encompassing nurse practitioners, physician associates and midwives…

Workers are entitled to 32 ounces of cool drinking water per hour and 15 minutes of rest every hour in the most extreme heat indexes above 100 degrees. (Adobe Stock)

New Maryland heat standards aim to protect summer workers

As the hot summer months begin, Maryland workers will operate on new standards to protect them from extreme heat. The heat standards took effect in …

More than 80 percent of adults without a degree or credential who have thought about going back to school say they are likely to enroll in a program within the next five years. (S Fanti/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: PA adults want degrees but cost, access are barriers

As students graduate across Pennsylvania, a new report shows many adults still hope to earn a college degree -- but high costs and limited access …

Kelly explains how proposed federal budget cuts would impact AZ

As Republicans in Washington continue to negotiate provisions in President Donald Trump's "big, beautiful" bill, a recent report from the Joint …

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 …

Nationally, more than 23% of women of childbearing age in rural areas are covered by Medicaid, compared to 20.5% of women in metro areas. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid cuts could restrict access to rural Utah maternity care

Congressional leaders are looking at major cuts to Medicaid and health care advocates said the proposed changes would be keenly felt by rural Utahns w…

In 2022, one in three SNAP participants in Ohio was a child, and more than 250,000 were seniors. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio leaders warn SNAP cuts could overwhelm state budget, food banks

Ohio advocates said proposed federal cuts to SNAP could force the state to absorb hundreds of millions in costs, threatening food access for families…

According to the Pew Research Center, the Black immigrant population will account for roughly one-third of the U.S. Black population's growth through 2060. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Black immigrant population grows throughout Arkansas, nation

Studies show one in 10 Black people in the U.S. is an immigrant and immigrants' advocates said they face significant challenges blending into the …

Medicaid covered more than 40% of births nationwide and nearly half of all births in rural areas, in 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts would affect AZ rural maternity care

President Donald Trump is urging some of his colleagues to "not mess with Medicaid," even as hard-liners call for steeper cuts to the health care prog…

Housing policy experts said the U.S. has a shortage of 7.1 million rental homes affordable and available to people with extremely low incomes. They worry more people will experience homelessness based on HUD changes taking shape under the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Housing aid, discrimination enforcement face disruptions in ND

North Dakota housing assistance offices helping with rent vouchers and discrimination cases are having to do more with less as federal changes take sh…

A report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University showed 23.3% of women of childbearing age in rural areas are covered by Medicaid. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

TX health care advocates say changes to Medicaid could affect expectant mothers

As members of Congress debate changes to Medicaid, advocates in Texas who work with people covered by the plan are concerned about potential …

In 2022, children accounted for about 40% of all SNAP participants. (Natalie Kiyah, Oregon Food Bank)

SNAP cuts would hit Oregon's wallet hard

SNAP, the federal program which helps feed 42 million Americans, including 700,000 Oregonians, faces cuts under the Trump Administration's huge …

Virginia's rate of workplace deaths has dipped year over year, with 2.7 per 100,000 workers dying on the job in 2023, compared to 3.4 in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Virginia ranks in top 10 for lowest rates of deaths on the job

More than 5,000 workers nationwide died from traumatic injuries while on the job in 2023 and 135,000 more died from occupational diseases, according …

According to a report from the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, labor and delivery is the top reason for a hospital stay nationwide. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Report: Proposed Medicaid changes could hurt AR expectant mothers

Changes to Medicaid being proposed by members of Congress could have a significant effect on women in Arkansas who are of childbearing age, according …

Last week, patients, providers and advocates rallied against Medicaid cuts in front of Dignity Health Mercy Hospital in Folsom, Calif. (CCHI)

Advocates warn proposed Medi-Cal cuts could harm rural maternity care

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives is hashing out last-minute details of a huge funding bill which could come to a floor vote this wee…

Incentive programs such as Double Up food bucks, which allow SNAP participants to purchase more fresh produce and other healthy foods at farmers' markets, have improved family diets. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado seeks SNAP waiver to restrict purchase of soda, not food

As Colorado moves to bar Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants from using benefits to buy soda and other sugar sweetened beverages…

Families that took part in a guaranteed income program in Oakland reported lower psychological distress and reduced rates of depression. (UpTogether)<br />

Report: CA guaranteed income program recipients made progress

A guaranteed income pilot program in Oakland improved housing stability and employment among its recipients, according to a new report from the …

Rural Iowans want lawmakers to do more to protect the state's 236 lakes, and tens of thousand of ponds and other waterways, from manure runoff spilled by corporate agriculture operations. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowans call for clean water during summit

Rural Iowans are asking lawmakers to be more aggressive in fighting for cleaner water in the state's notoriously dirty rivers, lakes, and streams…

Workplace safety for rural Americans is among a host of topics addressed at the Rural Democracy Initiative's 2025 Action Policy Summit in Des Moines, Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Nebraskans want safer workplaces, higher child care wages

Health care wages, the consolidation of nursing homes, and clean water for Nebraska were among the priorities for attendees of this month's Rural …

Rural communities around the country often struggle with higher poverty rates, fewer job opportunities, and a reliance on declining industries like agriculture or manufacturing. <br />(Yvonne/Adobe Stock)

Missouri leaders join nationwide fight to protect rural communities

With nearly a third of Missourians living in rural areas, state leaders are speaking out against federal proposals they said threaten rural …

More than 140,000 people are killed a year by workplace hazards. (Adobe Stock)

MD workplace deaths remain low amid anti-regulation push

More than 5,000 workers died from traumatic injuries while on the job in 2023, and 135,000 more died from occupational diseases, according to a new …

As of July 2022, about 36.8 million U.S. adults younger than 65 had some college but no degree. In the following academic year, more than 943,000 re-enrolled. (Beaunitta V W/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Michigan expands partnership to help adults return to college

Michiganders who left college early might now have a shot at finishing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential's …

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