Human Rights/Racial Justice / Public News Service

A bill before the New Mexico Legislature would add gender to the list of protected classes in the state Human Rights Act enacted in 1969. (Dmitry/AdobeStock)

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

NM Legislation Would Boost Protections for LGBTQ Students, Others

Legislation to close a loophole that potentially allows discrimination against LGBTQ New Mexicans will be debated by the State Legislature this sessio…

About 31% of Idahoans have earned a bachelor's or associate degree. (MelissaMN/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Report: ID Makes Big Jump in Higher-Education Attainment

Idaho and the rest of the country are making progress getting higher education to more people. A new report from Lumina Foundation finds nearly 54% …

Nearly half of all Hispanic-Americans live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Public Health Benefits of Limiting Oil, Gas Methane Pollution

The public has until February 13th to weigh in on new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane pollution at oil and gas…

The U.S. District Court of New Hampshire recently ruled in favor of allowing a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of New Hampshire and teachers' unions against the

NH Businesses, Public School Backers: Repeal 'Divisive Concepts' Law

Advocates for public education in New Hampshire are asking state lawmakers to repeal what's known as the "divisive concepts" law, which educators say …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation will host its seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing on Tuesday. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

According to Tabron, The National Day of Racial Healing is centered around experiences in truth-telling. (Adobe Stock)

UT Events Highlight National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day in which many across the country celebrate the revolutionary words and thoughts of the civil rights …

Organizers of the National Day on Racial Healing promote racial equity, which affirms all people, regardless of racial or ethnic group identification, skin color or physical traits, deserve an equal opportunity to experience well-being in a just society. (Thomathzac23/Adobe Stock)

Events Across CA, U.S. to Celebrate National Day of Racial Healing

Tomorrow is the 7th Annual National Day of Racial Healing, which is commemorated every year, always on the day after the Martin Luther King Jr…

A Poor People's Campaign report examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic found the 300+ counties with the highest death rates have a poverty rate of 45%, which is 1.5 times higher than in counties with lower death rates. (PPC)

Advancing MLK’s Dream of Economic Justice in MA

Advocates for low-income workers in the Commonwealth said today is a reminder of the need to continue to advance Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream …

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was recently awarded $17 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help address student mental health needs. (Adobe Stock)

Foundation Funds Grassroots Efforts to Curb NC Racial Disparities

Following the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - honored today for his civil rights work - one organization in North Carolina is finding ways …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation launched the

National Day of Racial Healing Means Weeklong Events for AR

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s holiday, and tomorrow is the seventh annual National Day of Racial Healing. It's a call to action for racial …

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation offers Racial Healing Conversation Guidelines that include five steps to help facilitate meaningful and impactful conversations. (LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS/Adobe Stock)

"Changing the Narrative" for National Day of Racial Healing

Today is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, designated as a National Day of Service, and tomorrow, the same spirit carries over to the seventh …

Black renters receive a disproportionate share of eviction filings and experience the highest rates of eviction filings and eviction judgments, according to the publication Sociological Science. (WayhomeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Study: TX Cities Spend More on Police, Less on Community Supports

The five largest cities in Texas are spending far more money on criminal justice than on community services, according to a new study. The Social …

More than one-fifth of all college students are student parents, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Education Trust. (Adobe Stock)

NC Colleges Boost Support for Black, Native Student Parents

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University is boosting support for its student parents - with plans to increase access to childcare an…

One of the provisions in a proposed Minnesota bill to restore driving privileges to undocumented people is data protection, so that agencies wouldn't be able to share a person's immigration status. (Adobe Stock)

MN Debates Drivers' Licenses for Undocumented People

It's been two decades since Minnesota stopped allowing undocumented people to apply for a driver's license. But there's renewed momentum in the …

Shop For Care helps consumers make informed decisions on where to access services such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other major services and procedures such as cataract surgeries, deliveries and knee replacements. (Adobe Stock)

Removing Healthcare Language Barriers for Spanish-Speaking Coloradans

Colorado's Spanish-speaking communities can now access comprehensive pricing information for health-care services through a new Spanish portal in the …

Leading up to the pandemic, fewer men were attending college. But the pandemic appears to have prevented more women from enrolling soon after high school. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Women Enroll in College; Racial Equity a Factor

Higher education experts say a concerning trend has emerged in the pandemic - declining college enrollment among young women. Those pushing for …

The number of families with children experiencing homelessness declined by 6% between 2020 and 2022, marking a total decline of 36% since 2010, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (AdobeStock)

Report: 2022 a Mixed Bag on Homelessness as "All In" Program Launches

Volunteers will fan out across New Mexico cities this month for the annual "point-in-time" count of the unhoused, even as a new program launches …

Children are feeling the effects of an increase in online harassment. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Tools for Parents as Harassment Permeates Online Spaces

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

In a recent study, about 15% of middle and high school age young people admitted they had cyberbullied someone in the past. (asiandelight/Adobe Stock)

Online Spaces Ripe for Harassment, But Parents Can Fight Back

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Online harassment has effects on the mental health of targets of the abuse. (ryanking999/Adobe Stock)

Protecting Kids from Online Harassment, Bigotry

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Hate groups target certain people to harass online. (burdun/Adobe Stock)

Tips for Guarding Kids from Online Bigotry

It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online, but there are a few tips they can follow…

Coloradans living in lower-income households are not only at higher risk of harm from climate change, but also suffer from environmental racism and injustice in their day-to-day costs of living, including the expense of purchasing bottled water. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Spotlights Climate Justice Blind Spots

Colorado's low-income workers and communities of color along the Front Range said they face daily environmental threats, including poor air and water …

Last March, Wyoming lawmakers passed a law that would ban abortions in most cases if the U.S. Supreme Court decided to overturn Roe v. Wade, which the high court did in June. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming Supreme Court Sends Suit Over Abortion Ban Back to District

The Wyoming Supreme Court has decided it will not weigh in on a lawsuit that has temporarily halted a ban on abortions in the state. Citing a state …

Data show students of color are significantly more likely to attend for-profit colleges, where students are less likely to graduate and have much higher rates of debt and default. (Terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)

Groups Press for Debt Cancellation to Lessen Racial Wealth Gap

The U.S. Supreme Court just set a date to consider whether President Joe Biden's student debt cancellation plan is legal - and advocates say Black …

Following defacement of New Mexico's centuries-old La Cieneguilla Petroglyphs in January, momentum is growing for permanent protections for Caja del Rio. (sfnfsitestewards.org)

Permanent Protections Sought for NM's Caja del Rio

New Mexico is home to more world heritage sites than any other state, but also a smaller site outside Santa Fe that indigenous leaders and …

The California Reparations Task Force will release its final recommendations next July. (AndriiKoval/Adobestock)

CA Reparations Task Force Meets Today in Oakland

By PennElys Droz for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, some of the largest recent price increases in farm real estate have been in Oklahoma and Texas, where prices grew by 11.4% and 11.3%, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Rising Land Prices Pose Challenges for VA Farmers

Farmers are facing record-high land prices due to a bevy of factors. According to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report, Virginia farm real estate …

Harvard's Peabody Museum has posted an apology on its website for what it calls

Harvard’s 'Hair Collection' Triggers Demand for Legislative Action

Indigenous activists in the Commonwealth are calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation to strengthen protections for Native American remains…

On June 10, 2020, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) renounced jurisdiction over faculty employees at most religious educational institutions, which has resulted in faculty unions being disbanded at some of those schools. (Pixabay)

Florida University Uses Religious Exemption to Disband Faculty Union

Citing a religious exemption, Edward Waters University - a private, historically Black school in Jacksonville - has shut down its faculty union…

The U.S. saw an increase in Black-owned businesses between 2017 and 2019, but their supporters worry the pandemic may have derailed that progress. (Adobe Stock)

Holiday Season Perfect Time to Support WI Black Business Owners

The holiday shopping season is here, and people are being reminded about the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses, in Wisconsin and …

The River Democracy Act would double the number of river miles currently protected as Wild and Scenic. (Jeffrey Schwartz/Adobe Stock)

OR Rivers Vital to State's BIPOC Communities

Oregon is home to a plethora of rivers, but those waterways are not always accessible to every community. A new video series highlights how …

The EPA claims that the EES Coke Battery plant has emitted thousands of tons of sulfur dioxide annually beyond its permitted limit of 2,100 tons. (Wikipedia)<br />

Detroit Neighborhood in Court to Hold Industrial Polluter Accountable

Members of a Detroit-area community are intervening in an Environmental Protection Agency lawsuit against a DTE Energy subsidiary charged with dumping…

Makerspaces allow Native American youths, communities and teachers to engage with culturally connected making activities using high- and low-tech materials, leveraging existing indigenous technologies and craft practices. (Adobe Stock)

Native American Makerspace Coming Soon to Macy and Santee

The Center for Rural Affairs is launching collaborative work spaces on Nebraska Indian Community College campuses in Macy and Santee for making…

At least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2022, although actual numbers are likely much higher due to under-reporting. (Adobe Stock)

Communities Mourn Mass Shooting at LGBTQ Club in Colorado Springs

Communities across Colorado continue to mourn the deaths of at least five people, after a 22-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire inside an LGBTQ …

A Loyola University analysis of Illinois pretrial incarceration outcomes showed no effects on crime or rates of re-arrest, but did find a 3% rise in defendents' failure to appear in court. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect

Illinois lawmakers, meeting in their annual "Veto Session" in Springfield, are taking a look at the controversial SAFE-T Act one last time before it …

Western Nebraska is home to food deserts, where there is no easy way to get good, healthy food regularly, which disproportionately impact seniors in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Reimagining Ways to Get Struggling Nebraska Families Back on Track

With a new legislative session on the horizon and new legislators after the November elections, the Coalition for a Strong Nebraska is bringing …

The average premiums for Colorado consumers are predicted to increase 11.3% next year, but all insurers must offer Colorado Option plans with premiums 5% lower than 2021 levels. (Adobe Stock)

DACA, Undocumented People Eligible for Coverage Under Colorado Option

For the first time, Coloradans without documentation will be able to purchase Colorado Option health insurance plans through the state's individual …

Surveys show the majority of people booked into New Hampshire county and city jails are unemployed, have little or no income and less than a high school education. But advocates for formerly incarcerated people say increasing civic engagement helps reduce recidivism. (Adobe Stock)

Voting After Incarceration: A Tough Stigma to Overcome

It is estimated more than four million Americans are ineligible to vote in their states due to a felony conviction. In New Hampshire the ban on …

As buffalo herds graze, they inspire new vegetative growth across vast tracts of lands in a natural process that mimics the onset of spring. (Adobe Stock)

Buffalo Restoration Key to Wildlife Economy, Tribal Health

By Jake Bullinger for Bitterroot Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Wyoming News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pu…

Colorado's income taxes fund two-thirds of the state's General Fund, the vast majority of which pays for public K-12 and higher education, health care, human services and the state's corrections system. (Adobe Stock)

Tax Cut on Ballot Would Cost Coloradans Earning Less Than $91,000

Proponents of an initiative on the November ballot to lower the state income tax rate by less than 1% say the measure will allow Coloradans to keep mo…

In examining two North Dakota tribal communities, a new data project says the average length voters have to travel to cast their ballot is 60 miles. (Adobe Stock)

ND Tribal Advocates Say Numbers Don't Lie in Voting Barriers

Native Americans have long faced barriers when it comes to voting, and a new North Dakota data project adds another layer to the arguments for access …

After the passage of Prop 209, the University of California-Los Angeles and the University of California-Berkeley saw the largest relative drop in the predicted probability of admissions of underrepresented minorities at University of California schools. (Daniel Ernst/Adobestock)

Supreme Court to Mull Ending Affirmative Action in Higher Ed

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday in a pair of cases which could spell the end of affirmative action on American college campuses…

Little Big Horn College in Montana is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy lbc.org)

Native Americans Urged to Vote with Higher Ed in Mind

Montana is home to seven tribal colleges and universities. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout …

White Earth Tribal and Community College is one of 32 fully accredited Tribal Colleges and Universities in the United States. (Photo courtesy weei.com)

Tribal Colleges Hope Voters Show Support at the Polls

Minnesota is home to three tribal colleges. Higher education leaders for Indigenous populations say they hope to see strong turnout for the midterms…

The 2022 Kids Count report found 56% of New Mexico three- and four-year-olds are not in preschool, the lowest ranking in the nation. (Susan Warner/savethechildren.org)

NM Voters to Decide Major Funding Shift for Early Childhood Education

In educational performance, New Mexico consistently ranks at or near the bottom among the 50 states, but it could change if an influx of dedicated …

More than 80% of LGBTQ students said they felt unsafe at school last year, according to last week's annual report from the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. (needjustice.org)

Many Fear LGBTQ+ Rights Are On the Midterm Ballot

In the past few years, the LGBTQ community has watched hard-won rights erode, and many fear the worst is yet to come, based on the outcome of the …

Karla Hern�ndez-Mats, 42, has been president of the United Teachers of Dade since 2016, but has never held public office. She is now part of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist's ticket. (Karla Hern�ndez-Mats/Twitter)

Teachers Rally to Boost Profile of Hernández-Mats for Lt. Gov.

In the race for governor, Democratic nominee Charlie Crist picked the top teacher's union representative in Florida's largest public school district …

Two Illinois schools are collaborating on the 'RN to BSN' program, which will save nurses a spot for up to two years after graduation. (Adobe Stock)

Malcolm X College, Illinois State U. Offer Nursing Students Dual Enrollment

Two Illinois institutions of higher learning are joining forces to create more options for nursing students. Malcolm X College and the Mennonite …

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