Livable Wages/Working Families / Public News Service

A new report says child-care expenses make up roughly 10% of a family's income in South Dakota. The percentages are much higher for families of color. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

New Report Details Child-Care Issues in SD

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- If South Dakota wants to turn out a thriving economy, quality affordable child care needs to be a vital component, according to a …

A proposal by Milwaukee City Alder Marina Dimitrijevic would provide 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents, regardless of their gender. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Milwaukee Alder Floats Proposal to Expand Paid Parental Leave

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Like most of the nation, Wisconsin does not have a statewide paid parental leave policy, but in Milwaukee, a three-month paid …

There are currently 80,000 Colorado college students eligible for full SNAP benefits, the program formerly known as food stamps. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

Colorado Struggles to Get Students Back into College

DENVER -- Women and low-income students disproportionately put their college careers on hold during the pandemic, according to a new report. Of the 1…

More than 300 health-care workers at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center began their strike on Monday. (SEIU Local 49)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

OR Health-Care Workers on Strike Front Line Call for Greater Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Strikes that erupted in what became known as "Striketober" aren't over yet. After a two-day strike in October, health-care …

About one in 10 births in the U.S. happens in Texas, but the state's maternal mortality rate is 6% higher than the U.S. rate overall. (regina_zulauf/Pixabay)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Build Back Better Would Close Gap in TX Kids' Health Coverage

HOUSTON -- Children's advocates say the difficulty in providing health coverage for poor families in Texas could be largely solved if the Build Back B…

Florida KidCare is the umbrella brand for the four government-sponsored health insurance programs - Medicaid, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids and the Children's Medical Services (CMS) Health Plan. (Semevent/Pixabay)

Monday, December 6, 2021

FL Health Groups Urge Senate Passage of Build Back Better

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Healthcare reform advocates are asking U.S. senators to pass the Build Back Better Act, saying it would provide a federal fix for …

The Build Back Better Act contains provisions that would bolster coverage through the Children's Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) and Medicaid. (Arlette/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Children's Advocates: Build Back Better 'Crucial' for UT Kids' Health

SALT LAKE CITY -- Health-care reform advocates in Utah are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act. They say it would improve …

Advocates for children and families say the Build Back Better Act would improve Medicaid and CHIP, the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

CONCORD, N.H. -- Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it cleared the House last month. It would …

Healthcare provisions in The Build Back Better Act would increase Medicaid and CHIP coverage for people after a pregnancy, from 60 days to one year postpartum. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 'Build Back Better' Could Shrink NC Health Coverage Gap

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Many low-income North Carolinians without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

Entrepreneur and business magnate Elon Musk, who moved to Texas in 2020, is the world's richest person with an estimated worth of $287 billion. (Tumisu/Pixabay)

Survey: Taxing Billionaires Popular Across Political Parties

AUSTIN, Texas -- Nearly seven in ten Americans say billionaires are not paying their fair share in taxes, according to a new survey. Among likely …

Experts point to a tightening labor market and a labor-friendly administration to explain the rise in the number of labor strikes and protests. (Juan Aunion/Adobestock)

Labor Strikes, Protests Increasing in California

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. -- Labor protests and strikes are on the upswing this fall, compared with 2020 when everyone hunkered as the pandemic closed …

Front-line pandemic workers in Minnesota feel the state is failing them in recognizing them for their work during the crisis, as they were not allowed to work remotely. (Adobe Stock)

Front-Line Workers in MN Demand Fair Compensation

MINNEAPOLIS -- Several regional labor groups rallied in Minneapolis on Wednesday, demanding state leaders take action to reflect the sacrifices made …

A majority of Republican likely voters support taxing billionaires' stock-market gains, which currently are not taxed until sold. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Democrats, Independents, Republicans Support Taxing Billionaires

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nearly seven in ten Americans say billionaires are not paying their fair share in taxes, according to a new survey. Among likely …

Potential in Congress to Close TN Health-Coverage Gap

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Many low-income Tennesseans without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

Healthcare advocacy groups say increasing Medicaid postpartum coverage up to one year after a child's birth can help decrease maternal mortality rates, which disproportionately affect people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Build Back Better's CHIP, Medicaid Changes Support NY Families

ALBANY, N.Y. -- The $1.75 trillion Build Back Better Act will soon get a vote in the U.S. Senate, and in New York, advocates say it could mean major …

When it comes to health coverage, 36% of Iowa children are enrolled in public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: BBB a Win For Kids' Health Coverage

DES MOINES, Iowa -- As Congress continues to debate the Build Back Better Act, a new report shows how it would address health coverage and access …

The Build Back Better Act would require states to provide 12 months of postpartum health coverage and 12 months of continuous health coverage for children, as well as making federal funding for CHIP permanent. (didesign/AdobeStock)

Children's Advocates See Build Back Better Act Improving AZ Kids' Health

PHOENIX -- Health advocates in Arizona and across the country are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would …

North Carolina ranks sixth in the nation for the number of migrant farmworkers employed on agricultural farms. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Leaders to Meet with Reynolds Tobacco on Farmworkers’ Rights

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Faith leaders are urging tobacco companies to support migrant workers employed by their contract farms. A group of clergy will meet …

Idaho student-loan borrowers have an average of about $32,000 in public and private education debt. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Ready or Not, Student-Loan Payments Set to Resume Next Year

BOISE, Idaho - Student loan borrowers take note: a pause on federal student-loan payments is set to end in February. The moratorium on payments has …

The federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program in Massachusetts runs from Nov. 1 to April 30. (pololia/Adobe Stock)

Stay Warm This Winter with Fuel Assistance, Weatherization Programs

GLOUCESTER, Ma. -- As cold weather moves in, agencies are working to make sure Massachusetts residents know how to apply for fuel assistance and …

Minnesota student-loan borrowers have an average of $31,250 in public and private education debt. (New Africa/Adobe Stock)

Student Loan Payment Relief Set to Expire

MINNEAPOLIS -- Student loan borrowers take note: A pause on federal student-loan payments is set to end when February rolls around. The moratorium on …

The <a href= — The 2021 Nevada Children's Health Report from the Children's Advocacy Alliance found that only 56 percent of uninsured kids receive regular medical attention. (Rawpixel/Adobestock)

Advocates Tout Child-, Maternal-Health Aspects of Build Back Better Act

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to approve the Build Back Better Act, because it would improve Medicaid and CHIP - …

State data show that between 2017 and 2019, the number of paid-leave claims from the lowest-wage workers declined while claims from the highest earners rose by one-third. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi)

Paid-Leave Advocates Press for Build Back Better, Aim to Improve CA Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The push to offer paid leave nationwide is in high gear. A plan already passed the U.S. House as part of the Build Back Better …

The Michigan Energy Assistance program can help with paying utility bills and weatherization tips to keep the heat in your home. (weyo/Adobe Stock)

As Winter Nears, Groups Raise Awareness for Heating Help, Weatherization

DETROIT -- As cold weather moves in, state agencies are working to make sure Michiganders know how to apply for the Michigan Energy Assistance …

In the United States, more than 4 million youths and young adults experience some form of homelessness each year. (Adobe Stock)

New App Part of Effort to End Youth Homelessness in MN

BEMIDJI, Minn. -- November is National Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month. Compared with other Midwestern states, Minnesota has some of the …

The Providence R-N Medical Advice Line has been a valuable tool during the pandemic, where people can ask about COVID-19 symptoms. (Courtesy of Heidi Sweeney)

OR Nurse Advice Line Plagued by Understaffing

PORTLAND, Ore. - Nurses provide a range of care, and not all of it is delivered in person. The Providence RN Medical Advice Line is a phone number …

Nearly 1.5 million low-income children benefited from suppers through after-school nutrition programs in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

More CO Kids Received Supper During Pandemic School Closures

DENVER - Colorado was able to increase student participation in Afterschool Nutrition Programs in 2020, even during school closures, according to new …

Nationally, more than 4.5 million households reported being at risk of eviction in the next two months, according to recent Census surveys. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Identify Barriers to Rental Assistance in MO

ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Groups working to keep Missouri residents in their homes since the pandemic began are trying to identify the barriers to receiving …

Nancy Hagans, president of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), speaks to nurses, lawmakers and community supporters rallying outside New York Presbyterian Hospital in Washington Heights. (Michayla Savitt)

NY Nurses Speak Out, Alleging Hospital Staffing Shortages

NEW YORK -- Members of the New York Nurses Association (NYSNA) union are sounding the alarm about what they say is a nursing shortage at hospitals in …

A single person in New Hampshire can make up to $37,696 and still be eligible to receive fuel assistance for home heating. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

As Winter Moves In, Granite Staters Urged to Apply for Fuel Assistance

CONCORD, N.H. -- As cold weather moves in, Granite Staters are being urged to apply for fuel assistance, if they think they might need some help …

The child tax credit provides families $300 a month for children younger than age six and $250 for children ages 6 to 17. (vetre/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better to Provide Boost to MT Families, Supporters Say

HELENA, Mont. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Montana and across the country…

The United States is one of six countries in the world with no federal family paid-leave program. The Build Back Better Plan could change that. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave on Forefront as Build Back Better is Finalized

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Congress is finalizing the Build Back Better plan, and proponents of paid family leave are pushing for the provision to remain in the …

The Build Back Better Act could add 3,900 rental vouchers to Oregon that could house 8,000 people. (Aisyaqilumar/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Act Could Support Families, Affordable Housing in OR

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Supporters of the Build Back Better Act are touting the benefits it will bring to families in Oregon and across the country…

Groups are spotlighting the affordable-housing provisions in Build Back Better that they say could make a big difference for Michiganders. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

MI Advocates Call Affordable Housing Key in 'Build Back Better'

DETROIT -- Groups say the Build Back Better Act would bring economic opportunity to many Michigan residents, from helping with access to affordable …

The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009, despite inflation. (Missouri Workers Center)

MO Workers Group Launches to Bridge Racial, Geographic Divides

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A new group aims to bridge racial and geographic divides between Missouri workers, to help bring economic prosperity to everyone…

Older workers are more likely to experience serious medical conditions that require a family member's care. (AdobeStock)

Paid Leave Policies Not Just About Working Moms

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Congress is close to passing the Build Back Better plan, and policy groups are hopeful a provision to ensure more Ohioans can …

Education Support Professionals, such as bus drivers, have been celebrated during American Education Week since 1987. (nadorozhna.uliana/Adobe Stock)

Support Staff Celebrated During American Education Week

SEATTLE -- This is American Education Week, and the celebration Wednesday focuses on education support professionals (ESPs). The work of ESPs in …

Between two and four years after aging out of foster care, 46% of young people had not finished high school, 51% were unemployed and 84% became parents. (Adobe Stock)

Resources for Foster Youths During Holidays

OMAHA, Neb. -- Some 24,000 teenagers in foster care across the nation officially become adults each year; in Nebraska it happens on their 19th …

A legislative report shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are considered food insecure and regularly depend on food banks for assistance. (areogondo/Adobe Stock)

Task Force Recommends Ways to Cut Utah's Poverty, Food Insecurity

CEDAR CITY, Utah - A new legislative study shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are periodically food insecure, meaning they do not have the …

When schools were able to offer free meals to all kids regardless of their financial situation at home during the global pandemic, school nutrition departments saw an increase in participation. (Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Urge Congress to Pass Build Back Better Act

DENVER - This week the U.S. House is expected to finally put the Build Back Better Act up for a vote, and children's advocates in Colorado are …

According to a new AARP report, rural New Yorkers are more likely than urban residents to die prematurely from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Older, Rural New Yorkers Need Greater Healthcare Access

ALBANY, N.Y. -- A new report showed rural New Yorkers face disparities in access to healthcare, and advocates for older residents said it underscores …

Many educators are without health insurance after the Scranton School Board authorized health-insurance cuts if the union went on strike. (Scranton Federation of Teachers Facebook)

Scranton Teachers Rally in Harrisburg as Strike Enters Seventh Day

SCRANTON, Pa. -- More than 800 public school teachers and paraprofessionals in the Scranton School District are entering their seventh day of a …

The number of children in foster care in Kentucky increased to more than 53,000 between 2018-2020, according to the 2021 Kids Count County Data Book released by Kentucky Youth Advocates. (Adobe Stock)

Report: How Racial Disparities Impact KY Kids’ Well-Being

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A new analysis of county-level data sheds light on how systemic racial disparities are affecting the wellbeing of kids in the …

Advocates for extending pandemic-related universal free school meals say the program helps remove the stigma of so-called "poor kids meals." (Adobe Stock)

Congress Urged to Make Free School Meal Program Permanent

GOTHENBURG, Neb. -- During the COVID health emergency, the federal government made school meals available for free to all students, regardless of …

The Build Back Better reconciliation proposal also seeks to extend the Earned Income Tax Credit for 17 million workers in retail, food-service, and other low-wage industries. (Clarksgirl/Morguefile)

Masto, Lee Tout Need for Build Back Better Reconciliation Bill

CARSON CITY, Nev. -- More affordable child care, universal Pre-K, an extension of the child tax credit, a new hearing, vision and dental benefit for …

In addition to roads and bridges, labor leaders say the new infrastructure bill approved by Congress allows for work on other needs, such as adding more capacity to electric grids. (Adobe Stock)

ND Unions Applaud Infrastructure Bill Passage

FARGO, N.D. -- Labor leaders said North Dakota is poised to benefit from a boost in federal infrastructure spending, after the public works package …

Peak enrollment for federal marketplace plans in Ohio was in 2016, when more than 243,000 people signed up for insurance coverage. (Adobe Stock)

More Navigators On Hand for 'Healthcare.gov' Enrollment

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The federal health insurance marketplace is now open, and this fall, there's more help to guide Ohioans through the process of …

Demand has skyrocketed for high-protein foods such as meat and poultry, foods least available to food-insecure individuals. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Inflation, Food Banks See Increased Demand for Protein-Rich Foods

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. - Anti-hunger advocates say inflation, supply-chain issues and a labor shortage are driving up the demand for protein, as the …

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