Social Justice / Public News Service

Jeanette Vizguerra, currently being held in a Geo Group ICE detention facility in Aurora, was recently named a 2025 recipient of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. (Galatas)

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Poll: Most Americans say Trump has gone too far on immigration

Some 15 community and faith-based organizations gathered again this week outside the Geo Group ICE detention facility in Aurora where longtime Denver …

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. (Jacob Lund/AdobeStock)

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…

Nearly one-third of Illinois' state budget is allocated to Medicaid and more than 60% of the funding is federal dollars. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Medicaid cuts: Disproportionate effects predicted for LGBTQ+ in IL

Advocacy groups are speaking out about how they believe congressional cuts to Medicaid will disproportionately affect caregiver LGBTQ+ communities in …

In addition to affecting hospice services, the new federal budget is estimated to significantly increase health care costs for more than 1 million low-income Medicare enrollees. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 7, 2025

Former WI mayor: Potential Medicare cuts would worsen aging crisis

A former Wisconsin mayor said the new federal budget will only worsen the current aging crisis families like hers have already been facing. Analysis …

In rural America, 3.7 million residents do not drive, making access to such services as medical care especially challenging. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio project helps older adults access medical care beyond county lines

A new AARP grant is helping older adults in Marion County access medical care they cannot find close to home. The $15,000 award is part of AARP's …

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…

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition is working to build a more inclusive Tennessee by organizing communities to advocate for their rights. (JP Photography/Adobe Stock)

Civil rights group sues to block TN’s 'anti-harboring' law

A Tennessee immigrant-led group and other advocates are suing the state over a new law they said unfairly targets people who offer shelter to undocume…

Incarcerated Ohioans said they are charged 5 cents per page to receive scanned copies of court documents, a burden for those with little to no income. (Ibrahim Rayintakath for The Marshall Project)

OH legal mail policy draws lawsuit, raises access concerns

By Doug Livingston for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Marshall Project-Public News…

The economic boost of wedding spending by same-sex couples in the western United States since Obergefell v. Hodges totals $1.7 billion, according to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. (Adobe Stock)

NV protects gay marriage as law celebrates 10 years

This week, the law guaranteeing same-sex marriage equality turned 10. But advocates are concerned about the growing number of threats it now faces…

Treehouse, an organization helping foster children graduate high school, lost a third of its funding due to state budget cuts. Graduation rates for foster kids have gone up in recent years but cuts could reverse the trend. (Diego Cervo/Adobe Stock)

WA budget cuts hit orgs serving at-risk youth

Washington nonprofits supporting vulnerable youth have faced large state funding cuts this year and are calling on communities to help keep the progra…

The Natural Resources Defense Council points to a large body of research showing communities of color are disproportionately exposed to fumes, toxic dust, ash, soot and other pollutants from hazardous facilities in their neighborhoods. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental justice activism finds energy in MN's Latino communities

Minnesotans are cooling off after last weekend's extreme heat but communities bearing the brunt of environmental injustice said there will be more cli…

During Pride Month, LGBTQ+ organizations say it's important to draw a distinction between businesses that openly express support for the community and those releasing statements of solidarity but failing to be an ally throughout the year. (Adobe Stock)

LGBTQ+ organizations in SD team up to land more business allies

As Pride Month winds down, LGBTQ+ support groups in South Dakota said they are strengthening a resource tool detailing which businesses are willing …

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 …

The president of the Indianapolis-based NCAA says fewer than 10 transgender athletes compete in college sports nationwide, with none in Indiana. (Adobe Stock)

IN college sports ban on trans athletes starts July 1

A new Indiana law takes effect July 1 banning transgender women and girls from playing on women's college sports teams, expanding the state's earlier …

Social determinants of health, such as housing, education, income and access to transportation, account for up to 80% of health outcomes. (Zerbor/Adobe Stock)

Missouri trailblazers awarded $200,000 for health equity work

The Missouri Foundation for Health has named the first five winners of its new "Spark Prize," an award backing Missourians who are working to promote …

Nebraska is celebrating Pride month with events across the state, including a parade and festival in Grand Island on June 28th. (Adobe Stock)

Out Nebraska rebrands, increases outreach during Pride Month

The nonprofit Out Nebraska is marking Pride month with a series of parades, marches and other events across the state in June. The group is also …

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 …

As the nation's political tensions rise, Ohio poll workers have faced fentanyl-laced letters, bomb scares at the Secretary of State's office, and online harassment, leading officials to implement bullet-proof glass, panic buttons and address protections. (Wikimedia Commons)

As political violence rises, Ohio grapples with growing threats to democracy

Ohioans can't help but feel the emotional weight of political violence after last weekend's assassination of a top Democratic state lawmaker in Minnes…

The City of Philadelphia hosts several events today (Thursday) in celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday observed nationwide with storytelling and community gatherings honoring Black history, culture and resilience. (reham/Adobe Stock)

Juneteenth: Celebrating Black literacy and artistic freedom

A Pennsylvania literacy organization is commemorating the Juneteenth holiday by highlighting the history and contributions of Black people in the Unit…

Between 2016 and 2023, Ohio reported fewer than 100 annual voyeurism cases statewide, but it is believed the actual number is far higher, as most incidents go unreported. Hidden devices have been discovered in dorms, restrooms and short-term rentals. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio legislation seeks felony charges for repeat voyeurs

By Savana Capp / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio legislators are …

The California Civil Rights Department website includes tips on how to file a complaint under state LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination laws. (Leonidkos/Adobe Stock)

Fighting discrimination on LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day

Today is LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day and California advocates are speaking out against federal attacks on workplace protections. On his first …

Organizers said demonstrations throughout the country Saturday drew more than 5 million protesters. (Joe Ulery/Public News Service)

Hoosiers reject crowns and chaos at 'No Kings' protest

It is estimated 3,000 to 4,000 Hoosiers marched around the Indiana Statehouse during the "No Kings" protest in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday…

Research shows students of color are more likely to be suspended and also less likely to receive support with schoolwork while they are out of class. (jovannig/Adobe Stock)

Child rights advocates: New WA school discipline rules roll back protections

Washington's Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction has revised its public school discipline policies, and advocates for children said …

Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, was Minnesota House speaker from 2019 to early 2025. In this spring's legislative session, through a power-sharing agreement between Democrats and Republicans, Hortman was named Speaker Emerita and DFL leader in the Minnesota House. (Photo courtesy Hortman's Facebook page)

Rep. Melissa Hortman leaves lasting legacy for women in MN politics

Fighting for a wide range of people with a skill for compromise, is how Rep. Melissa Hortman, D-Brooklyn Park, is being remembered for following her …

California law bans unnecessary animal suffering but enforcement is rare in large-scale factory farms.(Adobe Stock)

Cal student faces prison for rescuing chickens

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

The May 4 Visitor Center at Kent State University educates the public about the 1970 campus shootings and their lasting impact on civil liberties and protest rights. Canfora calls her brother (holding a black flag) away from a school parking lot while National Guard troops are on the scene in May 1970. (John Filo)

OH's Kent State lessons loom over military response to L.A. protests

A Kent State University shooting survivor is warning Ohioans and others to take note of the U.S. military's involvement in immigration-related …

Immigration and Customs Enforcement recently arrested 11 undocumented workers at a New Mexico dairy farm. (Lawrey/Adobe Stock)

Amid migrant roundups, 'No Kings' rallies scheduled in 17 NM cities

New Mexicans will join what's expected to be thousands of "No Kings" rallies across the country tomorrow to protest against the Trump administration…

More than two dozen ‘No Kings’ events planned Saturday across Montana

While the Trump administration throws a parade tomorrow funded by taxpayers, Americans will gather at 1,800 protest events around the nation…

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…

A single Abercrombie dairy facility will house 12,500 cows. Combined with the planned 25,000-cow Herberg site, these two operations will generate manure equivalent to that of a city of 1.5 million. (Adobe Stock)

ND mega-dairies draw criticism at Winnipeg news conference

North Dakota is facing growing opposition to two massive dairy operations planned near the Red River. Environmental advocates say the projects could …

Colorado communities to join national 'No Kings' protests Saturday

As President Donald Trump celebrates his birthday on Saturday with a $45 million military parade in the nation's capital, organizers are expecting a …

In 2023, 6% of Ohio teens ages 16 to 19 were neither in school nor working, a rate unchanged since 2019. (Craig Adderley/Pexels)

Ohio urged to prioritize kids as education, poverty trends worsen

New national data show worsening outcomes for Ohio kids, especially in the areas of education and family economic stability, and state and national …

In 1981, the first Pride event was a dinner at the now-gone Essex House Hotel, where many of the attendees wore masks upon entering the hotel so as not to be recognized. (Adobe Stock)

Indy Pride turns 30, refuses to be quiet

Indiana's largest LGBTQ+ celebration kicks off this weekend as Indy Pride marks its 30th anniversary. The event expands this year to two days…

If the House budget reconciliation bill becomes law, annual cuts to Medicaid would average more than $70 billion in coming years, the same amount people earning $1 million or more per year would gain in tax cuts each year. (Adobe Stock)

'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' could close Colorado hospitals

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

It is estimated 250,000 workers in New Mexico will endure the summer without any protection rules from heat Illness or injury. (RCP/Adobe Stock)

Another summer without heat-protection rules for NM's outdoor workers

A New Mexico coalition is stressing an urgent need for the state to adopt the strongest possible heat risk standards for indoor and outdoor workers…

While not traditionally considered part of

MO nonprofits give financial boost to tornado-ravaged communities

Missouri Foundation for Health and its partners are putting $500,000 toward tornado recovery, boosting local relief efforts after storms devastated …

Black transgender people experience higher unemployment rates, at twice the rate of the overall transgender community, according to The National Transgender Discrimination Survey. (Adobe Stock)

NV governor vetoes pair of transgender bills, community calls for equity

It is Pride Month but this year's celebrations in Nevada may be tempered by state and federal actions prompting concern from the transgender community…

Some 17% of students surveyed said they felt like they could not express their opinion on a subject at least a couple of times a week because of how fellow students, a professor or the administration would respond. (Gatot/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX college students feel free speech is targeted

Texas colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech on campus. The College Free Speech Rankings include survey results …

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)

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 …

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

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 …

There are currently some 15,000 producing oil and gas wells in Weld County, not counting shut-in wells and temporarily plugged and abandoned wells. (Adobe Stock)

New alert system brings oil and gas spill data directly to Colorado residents

Over the past 12 months, 884 oil and gas spills were reported near homes in Greeley, Fort Lupton, Kersey, La Salle and Platteville, according to …

Screening represents Mississippi's most severe failing in national rankings, as the state missed all six benchmarks for identifying maternal mental health needs, mirroring national struggles. (Pixabay/TC Torres)

Report: MS gets failing grade for maternal mental-health support

Mississippi ranks among the worst states for maternal mental health care, receiving an 'F' on a new national report card, far below the national …

Among those surveyed, 85% of Americans believe CEOs have a responsibility to speak up about things that matter to their consumers and shareholders, according to GLAAD. (Adobe Stock)

Coloradans support companies selling LGBTQ+ Pride products

In 2023, Bud Light faced backlash after transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney promoted the beer and Target has experienced backlash for selling LGBTQ+…

Some college students reported their campus is more tolerant of certain viewpoints, usually liberal, while conservative perspectives often face more pushback. (Lomb/Adobe Stock)

Michigan college bucks national trend in free-speech rankings

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under assault on college campuses but one Michigan school stands out for protecting it. The …

Ohio State University ranked 174th out of 251 colleges in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, with an overall score of 42.34 out of 100. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio colleges rank low in national free-speech study

A new study found college students across Ohio and the nation feel increasingly uneasy about expressing their views on campus. The nonprofit …

A new study showed more than 40% of U.S. university students now feel uncomfortable sharing their views on controversial political topics. (photo courtesy unm.edu)

Study: NM university students' views diverge over campus free-speech climate

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses, from both right and left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit Foundation …

The report recorded more than 1,000 instances of students or student groups who were targeted for or received punishment for their speech. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government increasingly involved in campus free speech crackdowns

Students and faculty are facing more investigations and punishment for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according to a …

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