Public News Service

Mamdani will be first N.Y.C. Mayor to use the Quran at his swearing-in; Some TN renters launch tenants' union to address complaints; More than 21,000 nurses authorize strike at NYC, LI hospitals; NV preps for higher health care costs in 2026; Wisconsin quilting group benefits seniors in memory care.

SNAP bans on soda, candy and other foods take effect in five states Jan. 1; UT student loan borrowers in default could face collections; EPA delays tougher coal wastewater standards in Michigan, nation; Not much New Year's cheer for MT health insurance costs.

HHS says it's freezing child care payments to Minnesota after fraud allegations; Ohio civic group encourages engagement as New Year's resolution; AARP CT gets head start on 2026 legislative priorities; Study: 15% of pregnancies linked to cardiovascular complications.

CIA carried out drone strike on port facility on Venezuelan coast; Report: Organic farming most reliable path to profitability; Ohio researchers address hidden concussion risks among police; Pennsylvanians to vote for the state's 2026 River of the Year.

Winter storm could become "bomb cyclone" over Great Lakes and Northeast; What Indiana shows the nation about Trump-era voting; New report offers roadmap for Michigan's Great Lakes in 2026; FL employers assist families with adoption policies, funding.

WV community protests closure of homeless encampment; a new report calls for greater investment in MA's public colleges and universities; video games are being used to teach Indigenous language; Trump Administration forces last WA coal-fired power plant to remain open; NM residents encouraged to comment on clean water rule change; and GA advocates work to end the death penalty nationwide.

Expert says it will take several election cycles to know what lies ahead for American politics; the federal government gets aggressive on student loans in default; President Trump says a Russia-Ukraine peace plan is almost done; 2025 saw a great deal of news but one group is highlighting stories that slipped through the cracks; Medicaid coverage could be lose as Missouri lawmakers gear up for another possible government shutdown and Ohio sees surge in immigration enforcement.

Nigeria averts unilateral US action by cooperating on airstrikes; More rain heading for southern California, Heightening flood risk; IL pushes clean energy forward; rural town reflects on community gains; CA Working Group fights for more oversight of AI; NYS advocates seek to improve clemency process, rates.

Another storm slams California on Christmas Day with flooding rain, high winds and mountain snow; Ohio wastewater data signals early flu surge; NM's LGBTQ+ community champions expanded data privacy laws; NYC immigration judges fired in justice system purge; MI researchers create lab-grown human hearts for breakthrough study.

Flash flood, thunderstorm alerts in effect for California with heavy rain expected to last days; Reuters Exclusive: US Coast Guard lacks forces to seize Venezuela-linked tanker for now, sources say; MN state workers applaud push to restore federal bargaining rights; Plymouth PTA works to ease students' holiday hunger gap.

At least 2 dead in 'catastrophic' explosion at nursing home in Pennsylvania: Officials; New data: Poverty eases in AL but basic needs still out of reach; NYS experts offer ways to address holiday mental health challenges; Avian flu detected at AR commercial poultry farm.

Supreme Court refuses to allow National Guard deployment in Chicago; Immigration advocates press for limits on ICE in hospitals; Medicare drug talks bring major savings for Ohio seniors; Indiana Guard member fears missing child's birth.

Angering Denmark, Trump appoints special envoy to Greenland; Flight records show Trump traveled on "at least eight" Epstein flights; CT, U.S. offshore wind projects face second federal pause; Mpls. ends contract with controversial Israeli-founded tech firm; Proposed offshore fish farms along Florida's Gulf Coast spark debate.

President announces plans for new 'Trump Class' battleships; Lawmakers threaten legal action against Bondi, DOJ over partial release of Epstein files; Starbucks barista strike reaches NH stores; Nearly 1 million in NC to see health premiums skyrocket in 2026; Mississippi jails helping ICE identify, detain immigrants.

Nearly half a million in GA could be left uninsured, advocates warn; WV residents say they want gas power plant permit revoked and AR legislation targets illegal vape products.

Reader scrutiny of Epstein file release, Hoosiers face tighter SNAP rules and rising uncertainty and MA retailers seek federal guidance as U.S. Mint stops penny production.

New report finds apprenticeships increasing for WA; TN nursing shortage slated to continue amid federal education changes; NC college students made away of on-campus resources to fight food insecurity; DOJ will miss deadline to release all Epstein files; new program provides glasses to visually impaired Virginians; Line 5 pipeline fight continues in Midwest states; and NY Gov. Kathy Hochul agrees to sign medical aid in dying bill in early 2026.

IN Gov. says redistricting won't return in 2026 legislative session; MN labor advocates speaking out on immigrants' rights; report outlines ways to reduce OH incarceration rate; President Donald Trump reclassifies marijuana; new program provides glasses to visually impaired Virginians; Line 5 pipeline fight continues in Midwest states; and NY endangered species face critical threat from Congress.

Trump pushes back on criticism of economy in contentious prime-time speech; 'A gut punch': GA small-business owner on loss of ACA subsidies; Conservationists: CO outdoor economy at risk from development; Report: MO outpaces nation on after-school meals but gaps remain.

Dan Bongino stepping down as FBI deputy director; VA braces for premium hikes as GOP denies vote extending tax credits; Line 5 fight continues as tribe sues U.S. Army Corps; Motion to enjoin TX 'Parental Bill of Rights' law heads to federal court.

Trump announces 'complete blockade' of sanctioned oil tankers to Venezuela; CA's Prop 36 turns one: More in prison, few complete treatment; Caps on nursing education funding threaten TN health-care workforce; OR farmworkers union calls for day of action against ICE tactics.

Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles says the president 'has an alcoholic's personality' and much more in candid interviews; Mainers brace for health-care premium spike as GOP dismantles system; Candlelight vigil to memorialize Denver homeless deaths in 2025; Chilling effect of immigration enforcement on Arizona child care.

U.S. unemployment rate rises, a warning sign for economy; NYS group helps Hispanic, Latina maternal mental health; KY board greenlights more than $2 million for ag diversification; OH residents raise concerns about injection wells near Marietta aquifers.

FBI offers $50,000 reward in search for Brown University shooting suspect; Rob and Michele Reiner's son 'responsible' for their deaths, police say; Are TX charter schools hurting the education system? IL will raise the minimum age to jail children in 2026; Federal aid aims to help NH farmers offset tariff effects.

Person of interest identified in connection with deadly Brown University shooting as police gather evidence; Bondi Beach gunmen who killed 15 after targeting Jewish celebration were father and son, police say; Nebraska farmers get help from Washington for crop losses; Study: TX teens most affected by state abortion ban; Gender wage gap narrows in Greater Boston as racial gap widens.

Director Rob Reiner and wife Michele Singer stabbed to death in their LA home, sources say; Groups plan response to Indiana lethal injection policy; Advocates press for action to reduce traffic fatalities in CA, across U.S; Program empowers WA youth to lead.

FL advocates worry about the EPA delaying an important decision on emissions; WV is a leading state in criminal justice reform thanks to national backing; CA groups are celebrating a judge rejecting a federal moratorium on offshore wind; U of MI child care workers are fighting for a livable wage; gray whales might not be bouncing back as fast as previously thought; and NY advocates are celebrating a federal ruling saying the Trump Administration's wind energy ban was illegal.

MN political commentators analyze the social program fraud scandal; the ACLU of IL is busy with hundreds of lawsuits against policies they say 'violate constitutional rights'; rollbacks on bonding requirements for oil and gas companies could leave NM footing the bill; gray whales might not be bouncing back as fast as previously thought and NY advocates are celebrating a federal ruling saying the Trump Administration's wind energy ban was illegal.

Over 30 sanctioned ships in Venezuela at risk after US tanker seizure; Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia be released from ICE custody 'immediately'; NY communities get resources, help to prepare for ICE raids; 'Rebalance the scales': A push for taxing WA's wealthy; WI diversified, specialty farmers could be slighted in federal aid.

US seizes sanctioned oil tanker off coast of Venezuela, Trump says; House advances Defense Bill; USDA food buying favors industrial ag: MT farmers react; MA Starbucks workers join nationwide Red Cup Rebellion strike; ICE arrests create fear, separate families in West Virginia communities.

Trump says Americans are doing great, even as views on the economy sour; Truth Initiative expands GA 'quit smoking' support to Celebration Bowl; AL could face setbacks after loss of digital equity funds; New report claims Michigan taxpayers could foot the bill for Line 5.

Australia begins enforcing world-first teen social media ban; MN expert: Farmer bailout package seen as temporary fix; Report: Proposed OR biofuel plant falls short on green goals; Low-income Angelenos get $363 million in medical debt relief; Wyoming voters prefer candidates with animal welfare policies.

Supreme Court is asked to take another ax to campaign finance limits; Supreme Court poised to expand Trump's power over independent agencies; IN Senate panel moves bill to redraw districts early; National campaign resonates in MS as death penalty scrutiny grows; KY task force offers new guidance to ease housing strain.

Habba resigns as New Jersey's top U.S. prosecutor; Experts: Trump announces $12 billion in aid to farmers; EPA's proposal to weaken PFAS rules bad for the environment; New deadline for PA property tax and rent rebate comes soon; Rural resilience runs deep but crisis looms for WI schools.

A major media takeover fight unfolds as Paramount challenges Netflix for control of WBD, while rural advocates, graduate workers, and housing officials highlight how consolidation, inflation, and state policy decisions are reshaping local economies and family stability across the U.S.

New photos of Rosa Parks expand the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, while new rankings highlight the nation s best places to live as states grapple with holiday-season pressures including addiction risks, rising energy costs, school cardiac preparedness, and gaps in rural health care.

Supreme Court clears the way for Republican-friendly Texas voting maps; In Twin Cities, riverfront development rules get on the same page; Boston College Prison Education Program expands to women's facility; NYS bill requires timely state reimbursement to nonprofits; Share Oregon holiday spirit by donating blood.

Pentagon announces another boat strike amid heightened scrutiny; An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns; DeWine veto protects Ohio teens from extended work hours; Wisconsin seniors rally for dignity amid growing pressures; Rosa Parks' legacy fuels 381 days of civic action in AL and the U.S.

'Not becoming of a president': Somali-Americans respond to Trump's 'garbage' remarks; With MN tragedy still in mind, women in trades call for better treatment; NYers skeptical about electric school buses despite benefits; Across the Atlantic, two national parks collaborate.

U.S. Military's boat strikes planning takes on new significance; New campaign aims to end death penalty in NC and the nation; Amid ICE raids, immigrant children find peace on Boston soccer fields; New bill would boost MT ecosystem restoration; Colorado invests $1.7 million total to food pantries, banks.

GOP senator: Hegseth is either lying about second boat strike or incompetent; Black leaders still mobilizing for midterms despite NC gerrymandering; Marketing overhaul: Transforming SD ranchers into 'influencers'; High school vocational training boosts attendance, graduation rates; FoodShare's back but SNAP snafu keeps Wisconsin families hungry.

Republicans win closer-than-expected Tennessee election. Report: AL court fees can trap people in long-term debt; Bill to sell off NV public lands in Clark County heard in U.S. Senate; Report: CT bird conservation work slows due to funding cuts.

US admiral to brief lawmakers as bipartisan scrutiny grows over boat strike; Colorado worker wages siphoned to pay medical bills; Hoosiers pack Indiana Statehouse as map fight erupts; Rural FL maternity care gaps persist; fed funds may help.

Lawmakers spoke privately to Trump's top general after boat strike revelations; TX cattle ranchers support investigation into foreign meat companies; PA uninsured children hit 153,000 as federal funding cuts loom; ND officials: High-speed internet goal within reach; IL student hopes detained father will be home for the holidays.

Trump reportedly gave Maduro ultimatum to relinquish power in Venezuela; US lawmakers demand answers over Hegseth Venezuela boat strike claims; Kentucky unions make gains after coordinated bargaining; MD advocates rally for legislation to make solar energy more affordable; Fed energy tax credits expire soon, OR incentives remain.

Lawmakers suggest follow-up boat strike could be a war crime; faith leader debunks 'Memphis Safe' claims of reducing crime; West Virginia communities mourn death of National Guard member; Homeownership path may be hard, but SD has options.

Trump promises to pause migration from 'Third World Countries' after D.C. shooting; Pilot program helps NC businesses grow beyond holiday season; New certificate program aims to transform end-of-life talks in NJ; Turkey hangover? MN DNR recommends a state park visit.

Putin says US plan could be 'basis' of a Ukraine deal but threatens to take land by force if Kyiv doesn't withdraw; OH's grace period for voting absentee could soon be eliminated; Illinois entrepreneurs looking for boost on Small Business Saturday; GA caregiver calls for better support as families face growing needs; Proposed Endangered Species Act changes may harm NYS wildlife.

Trump vows immigration crackdown after shooting of 2 National Guard members in DC; In rural MN, mental health care is scarce for BIPOC residents; NYC office cleaners worry about job future under new contractor; Child advocates, pediatricians warn AI toys unsafe for kids.

2 National Guard members shot in 'targeted' attack near White House: Officials; MS Medicaid patients face hurdles to getting weight loss drugs; Report: 'Inaction' blamed for rise in NY, U.S. long-term care costs; Judge dismisses Georgia election interference case against Trump; AL students see new opportunities under statewide direct admission.

Sen. Kelly says Pete Hegseth 'totally unqualified' as Hegseth focuses on potential punishments for Sen. Kelly; Health literacy a challenge for some Kentucky populations; Long-term costs of Alabama Power's 'rate freeze' under scrutiny; Colorado's caregivers face increased financial, physical, mental stress.