Arts & Culture / Public News Service

State law specifies the governor may remove any member of the Prisoner Review Board at any time for incompetence, neglect of duty, malfeasance or inability to serve. (Illinois Prisoner Review Board in 2024, In Their Hands)

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Film highlights reform need of IL’s parole system through one man’s fight

An Illinois documentary takes a deep dive into the Illinois Prisoner Review Board and the politics that influence its decision-making through one man'…

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…

An arts project, led by Drew Arrieta and Maddy Bartsch, aims to bridge the communication gap between rural and urban Minnesotans through honest, anonymous conversations. The chats take place in makeshift phone booths. (Springboard for the Arts)

Forget the divide! Arts project seeks urban-rural solidarity instead

By Anya Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborati…

On March 7, 1965, police and state troopers brutally attacked civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. Known as Bloody Sunday, the violence left many injured and sparked national outrage, fueling the fight for voting rights. (Nate Blunt/Adobe Stock)

Alabama teens use art to honor Bloody Sunday and push for change

Sixty years ago this weekend, young activists marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, demanding their right to vote and changing history in …

On March 7, 1965, police and state troopers brutally attacked civil rights marchers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. Known as Bloody Sunday, the violence left many injured and sparked national outrage, fueling the fight for voting rights. (Adobe Stock)

GA performance honors Bloody Sunday, spotlights today’s challenges

Sixty years ago this weekend, young activists marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, demanding their right to vote and changing …

Raye Montague was honored with a United States dollar coin released by the United States Mint in January as part of a set honoring innovators and innovations from Arkansas, Michigan, Florida and Texas. (Photo Courtesy UALR)

AR engineer honored with U.S. coin

March is Women's History Month and an Arkansas native has made history by being honored with a $1 coin from the U.S. Mint. The late Raye Montague …

Produce at an upcoming farmers market will come directly from Catawba Trail Farm in Durham, N.C. (Volodymyr Kyrylyuk/Adobe Stock)

NC farmer's market, hike mark Black History Month

An urban farm in North Carolina is celebrating Black History Month this weekend with a farmers market and historic group hike. Urban Community …

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, …

Iowa City poet Caleb Rainey had a banner year in 2024, saying many of his 'wildest dreams came true.' (Arts Midwest)

Iowa poet stays 'centered' after 'wildest dreams' come true

By Brianne Sanchez for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabora…

According to the site datausa.io, about 60% of theatre workers are white, nearly 13% are Black, 5% are Asian, and less than 1% are Indigenous. (Photo courtesy University of Michigan)

MI university professors address diversity gaps with online makeup tutorials

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Michigan News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabor…

One study finds that 63-percent of libraries are funded through a local city or county government. Twenty-nine percent are funded through an independent library district. (Adobe Stock)

MD Librarian: Show libraries some love this month

February is National Library Lovers Month and libraries across the state are encouraging their long-time and new patrons to celebrate. David Dahl…

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…

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…

The major sources of groundwater contamination in Ohio are due to volatile organic compounds and heavy metals, according to a 2024 Ohio Integrated Water Quality Monitoring and Assessment Report. (Adobe Stock)

Turning sludge from Ohio streams into art

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collaboratio…

Two Open Book participants embrace after an Open Book event held to connect their respective churches in Des Moines. (Arts Midwest) <br />

Social impact group works to open conversations between Iowans

By Brianne Sanchez for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabora…

In today's polarized climate, college campuses are working to rebuild a sense of community and foster understanding after divisive events, according to the Constructive Dialogue Institute. (Adobe Stock)

AL dean prioritizes bridge-building, empathy training for students

Samford University in Birmingham is paving the way for students to have meaningful conversations and foster connections across cultural and ideologica…

Gov. Tate Reeves's executive order requires artificial intelligence technologies to be carefully deployed in Mississippi, to mitigate potential risks and harms. (Adobe Stock)

AI leader praises MS governor’s push for responsible tech

Mississippi is embracing the future of artificial intelligence with Gov. Tate Reeves' executive order establishing a framework for its responsible …

The Manhattan School of Music's Precollege Program faculty pay has increased 15% since 2017. However, the president and the school executive's salaries have risen 78% and 87%, respectively. (MSM Precollege Union)

NYC music school hits sour note in union contract negotiations

The faculty of a New York City music school is planning to strike after contract negotiations stalled. The Manhattan School of Music's Precollege …

Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy game filled with sorcerers, warlocks and wizards, could offer important lessons for today's political leaders. (Adobe Stock)

At 50, Dungeons and Dragons offers lessons for leaders

As the popular role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons turns 50, one Colorado State University instructor suggests today's political leaders could …

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates more than one billion birds fly into glass each year in the United States, with most fatal crashes occurring at homes and buildings less than four stories tall. Applying patterns to window exteriors can help avoid these incidents. (Florida Gulf Coast University)

Art, science unite in FL to prevent birds hitting windows

With a thud, the tranquil sounds of nature are shattered as a bird crashes into a glass window. It's an all-too-common, deadly occurrence that …

Some 4.1% of Wyoming workers are employed in arts and culture industries, a rate higher than all neighboring states, according to a University of Wyoming report. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming arts scene could get AmeriCorps support

A Wyoming arts hub is surveying organizations across the state to see if a potential new AmeriCorps program could help fill gaps in arts and humanitie…

Designers of The Gun Violence Memorial Project hope for a permanent home in Washington, D.C. Between January and May 2024, an estimated 18,600 people died from gun-related injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (National Building Museum/Elman Studio LLC)

Boston gun violence memorial reveals people behind statistics

CORRECTION: The next stop for the exhibit is the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, not the Detroit Institute of Arts. (1:30 p.m. MDT, Jan. 6…

Rocky Casillas Aguirre adds a pop of color to 'Twitch the Flame,' a main character in his comic series which focuses on mental health for kids. (Photo courtesy of Casillas Aguirre)

Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collabo…

Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is currently routed as close as 11 feet to a riverbank caused by flooding and erosion. (Bad River: A Story of Defiance)

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

The Georgia Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence has released a report featuring input from experts in higher education, law and business. The goal is to get ahead of AI and how it will impact various industries. (Kevin Ruck/Abode Stock)

Georgia lawmakers aim to chart AI future with new recommendations

Georgia lawmakers are mapping out the state's future in artificial intelligence. This week, the Senate Study Committee on Artificial Intelligence …

From 2010 to 2020, the American Indian and Alaska Native in combination population increased by 160%, according to the US Census. (Adobe Stock)

The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among AZ Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

Only 6% of Native young people living in cities feel represented by state and national decisionmakers, according to the Center for Native American Youth, compared to 18% of those living on reservations. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: The term 'Indigenous' grows in popularity among Native youth

A new survey of Native American teens and young adults highlights a growing preference for the term "Indigenous" rather than being referred to as "Ame…

Ava Bruneau plays Ginebig: The Snake Game, a game of chance. Players roll or toss

Game time: Reviving the Ojibwe way with dice, cards

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

Anj Karna, director of Fargo's community art space Parachigo, rearranges art for sale. (Photo courtesy of Amy Felegy).

DIY art space in Fargo looks to hit its stride

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Prairie News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collaboratio…

The Independent Colleges & Universities of Florida serves 175,000 students across 200 sites statewide, while the Association of Private Colleges and Universities of Puerto Rico represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) with a combined enrollment of more than 80,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

New Florida-Puerto Rico partnership poised to transform higher-ed landscape

In an unprecedented collaboration, the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida have partnered with the Association of Private Colleges and …

Some wins, but more needed for Native artists in WY

A great way to observe National Native American Heritage Month is to support Native artists but some in Wyoming said there are barriers to their expos…

School districts in 29 states banned books during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the latest PEN America report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland ties for ninth in book bans

Book bans are on the rise in Maryland, according to a new report from PEN America. The nonprofit that tracks issues of free expression says …

In 2022, total arts and culture compensation in Wyoming topped $1.3 billion, just behind the health care and social assistance industry and the real estate and rental industry, according to a new report. (Carol Highsmith, Library of Congress Collection)

Report: Arts a significant contributor to WY economy

A new report quantifies the contribution of Wyoming's arts and culture sector to the state's economy and shows it is significant. Wyoming in 2022 …

Comedians lobbing political jabs from a right perspective are gaining ground through popular podcasts such as the Joe Rogan Experience. (Adobe Stock)

Right-wing comedians gain ground in conventionally liberal spaces

Uproar over racist jokes at a Madison Square Garden rally for former President Donald Trump has put a spotlight on the increasing influence of right-l…

Adults and youth get ready to play double ball during the first annual Indigenous Dakota Games event in Lake Traverse Reservation. (Dustina Gill)

Sharing traditional games with Dakota youth

By LaVerne Whitebear for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News…

The proposed Chuckwalla National Monument near Joshua Tree National Park is home to more than 50 species which are threatened, endangered, sensitive or otherwise of concern. (Adobe Stock)

CA Tribes call for national monuments at world biodiversity conference

This week, more than 100 Californians are in Cali, Columbia, for the 16th United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity. Tribes, policymakers …

Before Madeleine Ahlborn bought an empty church, the most expensive thing she owned was a 2002 Toyota 4Runner with 340,000 miles on it. (Madeleine Ahlborn)

Old House of Prayer becomes community art space

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

The gray bat, one of Tennessee's two endangered bat species, is the state's largest mouse-eared bat. Its gray coat sets it apart from other Myotis bats, and it's mainly found in eastern and middle Tennessee. (creativenature.nl/Adobe Stock)

Debunking the horror: Tennessee bats essential to ecosystem, economy

From vampires to Dracula to the Halloween thriller Bats, stories often paint bats as scary animals. A spooky Halloween-themed campaign Real Scary …

Guaranteed-income programs tend to run 12 to 18 months, but a Minnesota initiative that helps artists is tinkering with a several-year approach. (Adobe Stock)

MN effort helps artists nurture creative spark with extra funds in their pockets

One in three Americans indicates they're living paycheck-to-paycheck, and that includes many artists. A Minnesota organization is expanding its …

Firearms are used in only 5% of suicide attempts, yet due to their extreme lethality, they still result in 900 deaths annually in Pennsylvania. This statistic demonstrates a strong link between gun access and suicide fatalities. (Keystone Progress Education Fund)

Pennsylvania arts exhibition tackles gun violence, democracy

A new arts event, "Art of Democracy: Resiliency Impacted," is showcasing regional artists' work on democracy as the presidential election nears…

The oldest continuously running LGBTQ+ film festival is San Francisco's Frameline, formerly called the San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival, which was started in 1977. (Andrey Lapshin/Adobe Stock)

OutNebraska's 14th Prairie Pride Film Fest in 3 locations this week

OutNebraska's Prairie Pride Film Festival returns for its 14th year this week. Johnny Redd, communications manager for OutNebraska, said the …

The kiosk is operational 24 hours a day. Books, DVDs, and Audiobooks can be returned at the kiosk. <br />(Photo courtesy Little Elm Library)

Library kiosks in TX expand book access in the state

With book bans in public schools increasing, public libraries have a larger purpose. The Town of Little Elm in northeast Texas has found a unique way …

Throughout the Wyoming Frontier Prison's 80 years serving as the state's penitentiary, it contained a factory producing, at different times, brooms, shirts, wool blankets and license plates. (Kit Leong/Adobe Stock)

WY historic sites capitalize on Halloween

Halloween is a busy time of year for some of Wyoming's historical sites, where staff throw thematic events to help fund programming for the rest of …

Drag shows are currently banned in Montana and Tennessee. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

TX LGBTQ community fights back against drag show bans

By Nico Lang for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service Collaboration In …

In 2021, 48 of 50 states recorded the highest number of online shopping fraud reports within the past five years. (A2Z AI/Adobe Stock)

Ohioans confront event ticketing challenges

Concert and sports fans in Ohio are expressing growing frustration over rising ticket prices and hidden fees. In response, Congress is considering …

The Fair collaborated with the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) and other local organizations to devise ways to make Sensory-Friendly Mornings beneficial and fun. (State Fair of Texas)

State Fair of TX hosts Sensory Sensitive Mornings

Big Tex is up and the Ferris wheel is spinning at the 138th State Fair of Texas. And again, this year the Fair is making special accommodations for …

Last year, nearly 20,000 teens turned 18 or 21 and aged out of foster care without a permanent home. <br />(Rido/Adobe Stock)

Almost 30,000 TX children remain in foster care system

It's a week to celebrate kids, with National Daughters Day today and National Sons Day on Saturday. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is …

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