Livable Wages/Working Families / Public News Service

In 2024, women earned an average of 85% of what men earned, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings of both full- and part-time workers. (Nina Lawrenson/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Gender pay gap still a problem for TX women

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study reveals that women from Texas and …

A survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers found among women graduating with a bachelor's degree, the average salary was $59,778; for men, the average was $72,190. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Utah women often face career 'segregation,' significant pay gaps

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study revealed women from Utah and other …

Indiana ranks 11th in the nation for the share of residents with medical debt in collections, with more than $2.2 billion owed, more than any of its Midwestern neighbors. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Hoosiers' medical bills under state review

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

Report: Colorado women face significant pay gap

Women from Colorado and other states who earned bachelor's degrees within the past seven years get paid an average of 18% less than similarly-educated…

Workers in the nonprofit sector predict veterans, children and older adults will be most adversely impacted by the new federal funding package. (Yingyaipumi/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

AR nonprofits prepare to fill gaps from federal funding cuts

Among the hundreds of pages making up the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" just signed into law is a requirement some people must work to receive Medicaid…

Monday, July 7, 2025

Study: Career 'segregation' means PA women face significant pay gap

Women who recently graduated from college are earning significantly less than their male counterparts. A new study revealed women from Pennsylvania …

Protesters gathered in Baker City on July 2nd to protest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. (Partners for a Hunger-free Oregon)

Monday, July 7, 2025

Anti-hunger groups warn OR must backfill federal SNAP cuts

Oregon lawmakers would have to find an extra $850 million in the state budget starting in 2028 to cover cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance …

The new tax cut and spending law contains the largest federal cuts to SNAP benefits in the nation's history. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 7, 2025

AR hunger rating could worsen under new federal budget

Now that President Donald Trump's big budget bill has been signed into law, Arkansas nonprofits that rely on federal funding to help people in need …

Laboratory technicians were among the 1,100 employees at Portland's Providence St. Vincent Hospital recently voting to join Service Employees International Union Local 49. (Adobe Stock)

Portland hospital workers vote to organize, join service employees union

More than 1,100 caregivers at Portland's Providence St. Vincent Medical Center have voted to unionize, joining the Service Employees International …

Pennsylvania gets $4.3 billion yearly for SNAP, helping 1.9 million people but the reconciliation bill could cut benefits for 401,000 Pennsylvanians, according to the Center for American Progress. (Kleberpicui/Adobe Stock)

PA educators warn federal cuts threaten health care, food benefits

As the Senate passes President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill and sends it back to the House, Pennsylvania educators warned in its current form…

Homelessness among children in Ohio has increased by 10% since January 2020 and family homelessness has risen 11%, highlighting deepening housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio mayor says rising rents drive 'hidden homelessness'

As housing costs continue to squeeze Ohio families, Youngstown's mayor warned out-of-state landlords are pushing many out of their homes, undermining …

Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for electric vehicle-related manufacturing jobs, with more than $3 billion invested in recent EV and battery projects, according to EV Jobs Hub. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio manufacturer warns federal rollbacks could stall EV progress

Ohio's fast-growing electric vehicle sector could face serious setbacks if proposed changes to federal clean energy tax credits move forward…

Nevada Assembly Bill 121 protects tenants from hidden or

NV housing advocates express concern over Lombardo's vetoes

Housing advocates in Nevada are criticizing Gov. Joe Lombardo's decision to veto what they call essential housing measures. Anwar Green and other …

More than 1.3 million women now work in construction nationwide but men still outnumber them nearly 10 to one. (A. Frank/peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Philadelphia Women in Construction tout DEI for industry strength

As more women enter the construction industry, a group in Philadelphia is working to support them and advance diversity amid political challenges to …

The Montana Nurses Association said the decision from Providence Health Services to close St. Patrick Hospital's maternity center lacked

Negotiations begin next week on Montana maternity center closure

The multistate Providence Health System announced it will close the maternity center at one of its Montana hospitals in October. Opponents are …

Meals are free to kids in Texas during the Summer Food Service Program. They are paid for by grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

TX summer meal programs keep kids fed while out of school

Statistics show one in five children in Texas struggles with hunger. Approximately 10,000 students a day are getting a nutritious meal through the …

Nebraska's food insecurity rate of 12.2% is a percentage point higher than the national average, according to an October 2023 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Social service cuts would hobble Nebraska food banks, families

Pending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cuts could mean large reductions to services that provide meals to Nebraska's most vulnerabl…

The study found 51% of Medicaid recipients connected to small businesses are children of owners or employees. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WV small business labor force at risk from Medicaid cuts

A new report says cuts to Medicaid will weaken the small business workforce nationwide, potentially shrinking local economies in rural states like …

Solar giant Mosaic, based in Oakland, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection a few weeks ago, citing uncertainty around solar tax credits. (Surangkanang/Adobe Stock)

Clean-energy advocates: Spending bill before Senate would cost jobs in CA

Groups representing workers in the renewable power sector are slamming the possible repeal of clean-energy tax credits in the "One Big Beautiful Bill …

In 2023, $70.6 million in SNAP benefits were spent at farmers markets, a 431% increase from $13.3 million in 2013, according to Investigate Midwest. (Photo courtesy Farmers Market Coalition)

ND to boost awareness of SNAP acceptance at farmer's markets

When North Dakotans head to farmers markets this summer, they might want to see which ones accept SNAP benefits, as the state is enhancing a search …

While South Dakota has removed a language barrier for obtaining a driver's license, it also raised the standard license fee by $10. Cost is one of many obstacles New Americans encounter as they to create stability in their new settings. (Adobe Stock)

SD removes driver's license barrier for New Americans

Starting Tuesday, South Dakota will allow interpreters to accompany driver's license applicants who have limited English proficiency during the road …

In 2023, rural hospitals in Pennsylvania created $17 billion in economic impact and supported more than 80,000 jobs statewide. (Alexander Raths/Adobe Stock)

PA rural hospitals, seniors at risk if Congress cuts Medicaid

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has hit a roadblock. The Senate parliamentarian has ruled that a key Medicaid provider tax change violates chamber …

A clean energy project in Cuyahoga County will leverage $60 million in federal tax credits and create over 250 jobs, including retraining coal plant workers for solar and battery storage roles, according to Power a Clean Future Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio groups: Reconciliation bill threatens jobs, schools, energy future

Ohio union and clean energy leaders are urging their U.S. Senators to reject a sweeping reconciliation bill they said would devastate families and …

Ho-Chunk, Inc. is a major economic driver in Nebraska, North Dakota and Iowa, generating annual revenue of $417 million, according to its annual report. (Adobe Stock)

Ho-Chunk launches summer internship program, offering path to career success

Ho-Chunk has kicked off its summer internship program in Nebraska after sifting through 600 applicants. It is opening pathways to higher education …

LIHEAP is holding a virtual public hearing today and again on July 1, where Pennsylvanians can weigh in on the proposed 2024-2025 state plan. (Adobe Stock)

LIHEAP cuts could leave thousands of Pennsylvanians without heat this winter

As Congress considers defunding the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program known as LIHEAP in the budget reconciliation bill, Pennsylvania …

Minneapolis Climate Action says a 365-kW community solar garden atop North High School produces enough clean energy to power dozens of Minneapolis homes and apartments every year. (Photo courtesy of MPS)

Community solar lives on in Minnesota

Minnesota's high-profile community solar program will stick around after state lawmakers opted not to approve a sunset provision. Assistance groups …

The Inflation Reduction Act will create approximately 11,500 jobs annually in Utah between 2025 and 2035, according to the American Clean Power Association. (Adobe Stock)

Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' could mean big changes for Utah

Utah communities could feel many effects from proposed changes within President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Several of the Republica…

Companies taking part in a Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption survey said they offer an average of just over $15,700 in financial reimbursement for adoption costs. (Riccardo Niels Mayer/Adobe Stock)

UT father considers workplace adoption benefits 'transformational'

Based in Provo, Utah, the software company Qualtrics ranks among the top employers providing adoption and foster-care benefits to its workers…

According to federal data, SNAP benefits cover 34,000 children and 9,000 seniors in South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

SD food bank: We're stretched too thin to absorb SNAP cuts

Federal data show roughly 75,000 South Dakota households rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table and hunger-fighting groups paint a troubling p…

According to federal data, 48,700 people in North Dakota use SNAP benefits to help put food on the table. Relief organizations warn if Congress drastically cuts program spending, more people will wind up on the streets. (Adobe Stock)

ND org: SNAP cuts would worsen other instability woes, like housing

Nearly 10% of North Dakotans and almost 14% of children face food insecurity and if Congress passes a budget with big SNAP cuts, aid groups said …

Energy Innovation projects the bill would reduce Ohio's new electricity capacity by 7.8 gigawatts by 2035, including a drop of 8.7 GW in solar, 0.9 GW in wind, and 1.4 GW in battery storage. (Adobe Stock)

Ohioans face higher bills under House energy plan

Ohioans could soon feel the pinch of rising energy costs. A bill passed by the U.S. House, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," would repeal key clean …

Medicaid is the largest source of medical care or health care in Kentucky, covering about one and a half million Kentuckians, according to state data (Adobe Stock)

Kentucky’s new Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board convenes

Kentucky's newly established Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board convenes for its first meeting this week - on Wednesday June 25th. Lawmakers …

Nationwide, 10% of the farm labor force is in the United States on an H-2A visa. (nick barounis/Adobe Stock)

WA workers could be harmed by H-2A visa expansion

Advocates for immigrants' rights in Washington state are voicing concerns about the possible expansion of the H-2A visa program, which they say …

A 2024 Indiana Realtors Association report says migration and growing birth rate are strong factors behind the jump in housing demand. (Adobe Stock)

IN homebuying hopefuls face supply, demand, price shock

June is National Homeownership Month. However, both buyers and sellers in Indiana are wary of the housing market, amid unwavering interest rates and …

Yellowstone National Park supports about 8,500 jobs in surrounding communities including Gardiner, Montana, which in 2023 had a population of 791. (Melissa MN/Adobe Stock)

Senate bill cuts would ‘decimate’ National Park Service, advocate says

The U.S. Senate's answer to the House Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" includes proposals that advocates for public lands say would …

Colorado's workforce development efforts are in sync with the Lumina Foundation's new goal for 75% of America's labor force to have a college degree or professional credential. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Polis raises bar for Colorado agencies on education

Colorado, already considered a national leader in workforce development, is aiming to raise the bar even higher. Gov. Jared Polis recently issued an …

More than 3 million undergraduate students in the United States are also parents. (Adobe Stock)

GOP spending cuts could fall on Maryland's student parents

More than 70,000 Marylanders are student parents, raising kids while attending college full or part-time and proposed cuts in this year's big budget …

Critics of the federal reconciliation bill said it could worsen pollution and climate change by slashing clean energy incentives, boosting fossil fuel development and rolling back emissions rules. (industrieblick/Adobe Stock)

Could Congress' big budget bill derail PA's clean energy progress?

Pennsylvania's clean energy progress could stall if the U.S. Senate passes what's known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." The legislation would …

Indiana Department of Insurance data lists the top agency complaints as claim denials and delays, adjuster handling, unsatisfactory settlement offers and coverage inquiries. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Slow insurance responses, weather affect IN home coverage costs

Homeowners' insurance costs continue to skyrocket and few choices remain for Hoosiers who cannot afford a premium increase or receive a coverage denia…

In Fiscal Year 2024, Ohio's state-funded food programs created or sustained 292 jobs, supported $11.3 million in income and generated $38.4 million in economic output. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio foodbanks: Funding needed for fresh food with local roots

Ohio food banks are urging state lawmakers to approve what they said is a modest budget increase needed to get more fresh, local produce into the …

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Mountain State has seen a total of $339 million invested into the local solar industry.(Adobe Stock)

AEP proposes rate hikes, changes to net metering for WV customers

Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power, subsidiaries of the national utility American Energy Power, are asking West Virginia energy regulators to …

The Social Security Administration has been encouraging more people to use online services to access their benefits, but many rural Nebraskans lack access to high-speed internet or other technology that would allow them to take advantage of that option. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Nebraska marks Social Security's 90th anniversary

At least 10,000 people retire every day in the United States, with nearly half of them relying on Social Security as their sole source of income…

Around 16.1 million people in rural communities rely on Medicaid, according to the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock)

NV disability advocate alarmed by proposed cuts to Medicaid

Nevadans with disabilities are concerned with proposed federal cuts to Medicaid, despite claims from GOP lawmakers that the cuts target only waste…

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, thousands of Arkansans could lose Medicaid coverage because of work requirements. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

AR residents could lose Medicaid under budget reconciliation bill

As Congress considers cuts to safety-net programs for what Republicans are calling the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," new analysis from the nonpartisan…

The First Amendment protects people's right to assemble and express their views through protest, according to the ACLU. However, the nonprofit, nonpartisan organization says police and other government officials are allowed to place certain restrictions on the exercise of speech rights. (Indivisible)

AZ protests push back against the Trump administration

Protests are planned this Saturday throughout Arizona as organizers mobilize a "nationwide day of defiance" against what they're calling the Trump adm…

Each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Book aggregates national and state data from 16 indicators in four domains including economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors, and ranks states according to how children are faring overall. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IL shows mixed results in child well-being despite high ranking

A national report finds mixed results in child well-being in Illinois with improvements in health care coverage for children and poverty rates and dec…

President Donald Trump will also be celebrating his 79th birthday on Saturday. (Indivisible)

NV demonstrations aim to push back on Trump agenda

Protests are planned this Saturday throughout Nevada as organizers mobilize a "nationwide day of defiance" against what they're calling the Trump admi…

According to KFF, Medicaid enrollees with disabilities face more challenges in finding work. Among people ages 19-64, 32% receive disability income while 68% do not. Employment rates are lower for Medicaid-eligible adults with disabilities (37%) compared to those without (68%). (Adobe Stock)

Work requirements could push over 300,000 Tennesseans off Medicaid

As Congress pushes for Medicaid cuts and new work requirements for the program, experts have warned more Tennesseans could lose their health coverage …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 25 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 10, 2025

2025Talks - July 10, 2025

The Yonder Report - July 10, 2025