Campaign Finance Reform/Money in Politics / Public News Service

According to the Trump administration's 2026 fiscal year budget, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will cut 22% of its workforce, in addition to the workforce reductions that have already taken place. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, July 11, 2025

Federal impacts to ag conservation in WI 'complex'

Wisconsin's agriculture industry could see both wins and losses under the new federal budget. Climate change isn't a priority for the Trump …

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 …

The rate of ideologically driven out-of-state federal campaign contributions nearly doubled between 2012 and 2022, according to a report. (Radomir Rezny/Adobe Stock)

Upcoming Supreme Court case could loosen rules for federal campaign funding

Good-government groups are warning of big changes to the way federal campaigns are financed, after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case …

Groups tracking campaign spending said nearly $16 billion was spent on federal races in the 2024 election. (Adobe Stock)

Pending SCOTUS arguments reignite thorny issue of campaign spending

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider arguments about removing spending caps between national political parties and individual candidates and …

A case coming to the U.S. Supreme Court challenges limits on campaign spending by political parties, based on the 2010 Citizens United case, which found that money given to campaigns is a form of protected free speech. (Mehaniq41/Adobe Stock)

Supreme Court to consider lifting limits on campaign cash

Good-government groups are warning of big changes to the way federal campaigns are financed, after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case …

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…

Summer food feeding sites can be found by texting

AR summer food programs prepare to feed students

With the start of summer, organizations across Arkansas are ramping up programs to ensure kids have access to healthy food. The No Kid Hungry …

U.S. Senators are digging into the Trump administration's 1,116 page budget reconciliation bill that was already passed by House Republicans. (CreativeMania-AI enhanced/Adobe Stock)

Legal experts: Does rule of law still matter in second Trump term?

A government watchdog group is joining others in raising concerns about last-minute additions to the budget reconciliation bill passed by the House of…

Some 92% of people younger than 65 who are covered by Medicaid are either employed or unable to work because of disability, illness, caregiving responsibilities or school obligations, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

108,000 Coloradans would lose Medicaid coverage under work requirements

The current Republican reconciliation bill in Congress would require able-bodied adults covered by Medicaid to prove they work, go to school or do …

A global survey of 130,000 people across 125 countries found that 89% say their government should do more to fight climate change. (Adobe Stock)

9 in 10 surveyed in CO, across globe back climate action

Nine in ten people in Colorado and across the globe are worried about climate change and want governments to do something about it, according to a …

Since Seattle's Democracy Voucher program was implemented in 2017, data show campaign donations from large contributions, over $250, have decreased by 93%. (Suriyo/Adobe Stock)

WA voting rights advocates push for democracy vouchers state-wide

Seattle's City Council voted last week to put the city's Democracy Voucher Program on the ballot to be renewed in August and supporters of the program…

In Spring 2023, Arkansas created the Office of Early Childhood within the Arkansas Department of Education, which unifies the Arkansas early-childhood system. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR pre-K suffers from funding gap

A report by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows Arkansas needs to improve its reach with pre-K students. The state fell from …

Feds fast-track Wyoming energy projects through environmental permitting

The Trump administration has announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process down to 28…

Bonnie Miller, President of the League of Women Voters of Arkansas, said

AR League of Women Voters sues over ballot initiative restriction

Arkansas Secretary of State Cole Jester is facing legal action from the League of Women Voters of Arkansas. The organization filed a federal lawsuit …

Every dollar invested in SNAP generates between $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity. There are currently 3,100 authorized SNAP retailers in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Coloradans' hand-written letters on SNAP cuts heading to nation's capital

Two leading Colorado nonprofits working to end hunger are collecting hand-written letters from a wide range of people who would be directly impacted i…

Among those who voted down Montana House Bill 838, which would have state Supreme Court candidates to identify a political party while running, were Rep. Marta Bertoglio, R-Clancy; Rep. Sherry Essmann, R-Billings; and Valerie Moore, R-Plentywood. (Adobe Stock)

Push to make Montana judicial elections partisan fails

A handful of Montana bills pushing for partisan judicial elections as part of a broader movement in the state were defeated this month. Montana law …

When a tariff is imposed, the importing business pays the tax to the U.S. Treasury Department. Importers then pass much of the added cost to consumers. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation - and although tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been delayed, Texans are still uneasy about …

Elon Musk claims Social Security can be cut by $500 billion without reducing people's benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security cuts could impact one in six Coloradans

The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, plans to cut 7,000 jobs from the U.S. Social Security Administration as it works to reduce the size …

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 'Department of Education v. California,' the future of federal Fair Housing grants now sits with a Massachusetts district court. (Adobe Stock)

District court to determine future of MT fair-housing grants

Since February, 66 fair-housing groups across the country have been in limbo while their federal grants were cut, temporarily restored, then tied in …

Online datasets already archived include FEMA's Future Risk Index and the U.S. Department of Energy's Local Investments Map. (Adobe Stock)

Groups race to archive federal environmental data before it disappears

As U.S. government website purging continues, the Open Environmental Data Project is one of several groups working to preserve public access to …

Good-government groups have long argued that in American democracy, one citizen - not one dollar - should equal one vote. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SCOTUS to blame for money pouring into elections

Outside groups spent more than $45 million in congressional races across the Commonwealth, according to the Virginia Public Access Project. It's …

In its 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled spending money for political purposes was protected by the First Amendment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Blame SCOTUS for money buying elections

Tomorrow's Wisconsin Supreme Court election is now the most expensive judicial race in American history and a new report said ironically, one of the …

Analysis: Corruption in U.S elections legal thanks to SCOTUS

After Elon Musk, a man once worth $327 billion, spent a quarter billion to elect Donald Trump, he was rewarded with unprecedented powers over the …

Voters in Wisconsin's April 1 election will also select a State Superintendent of Public Instruction, local judges and public officials at all levels across the state. (Adobe Stock)

WI’s Supreme Court race laced with cash, power, vast implications

Political maneuvers continue with the pivotal Wisconsin Supreme Court race less than a week away - the latest coming from the White House. In the …

PoliChic Engagement Fund says it's critical Texans make sure lawmakers are voting in their public interest. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Texans encouraged to use their voices during current legislative session

Many Texans feel strongly, one way or another, about the proposed school voucher bill before state lawmakers. Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed a plan to …

According to Wisconsin's Judicial Code of Conduct, judges are not required to recuse themselves based on an endorsement or campaign contributions. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WI’s ‘nonpartisan’ Supreme Court race is anything but

Early voting for the Wisconsin Supreme Court race starts next week and, although the seat is technically nonpartisan, both candidates have clear …

One of several major concerns expressed in a statement signed by nearly 1,000 American political scientists is the Trump administration's transferal of some federal responsibilities to people who are

'Democracy is not a business,' warns MT political scientist

Nearly 1,000 political scientists from across the U.S., including Montana, have signed a statement expressing how they feel the Trump …

Workers covered by a union contract earn 10.2% more than nonunionized counterparts on average, and are more likely to have employer-provided health and retirement benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1943 law suppressed Colorado union membership rates

A Colorado law passed in 1943 amid intense big-business and white-supremacist campaigns to block worker organizing has suppressed unionization in the …

In trying to drastically reduce the federal workforce, the Trump administration has faced numerous legal challenges, while also having to rehire staff deemed essential. However, political scientists and voters opposed to these moves still warn of a

ND expert, national colleagues say U.S. Constitution under duress

Nearly 1,000 political scientists from across the U.S. have signed a letter, saying American democracy is under threat based on the early actions of …

A Lumina Foundation report noted undergraduate and graduate degree attainment for minorities living in Connecticut has slowly grown between 2009 and 2023. However, the increases started occurring around 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT ranks high for degree attainment but lacks opportunity for all

A new report found Connecticut ranks high for undergraduate and graduate degree attainment. The Lumina Foundation's Stronger Nation report noted the …

Four of the five richest men in the world attended the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Wikimedia Commons)

Ohio's political landscape, 15 years after Citizens United

This week marks 15 years since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The ruling reshaped campaign …

According to the Arkansas Department of Finance, the short-term outlook for the Arkansas economy indicates stable and moderate growth for total personal income from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2025. (diy13/Adobe Stock)

Economists cautiously optimistic about 2025 AR economy

Economists are optimistic about the Arkansas economy in 2025. According to the Arkansas Economic Development Institute, the state has outperformed …

As of 2023, Wisconsin is home to over 450,000 small businesses, employing nearly 1 million people.<br />(Adobe Stock)

An Eau Claire small business braces for Trump tariffs

As the new year quickly approaches, Wisconsin business owners and shoppers alike are bracing for the prospect of tariffs from a new administration …

Coastal erosion threatens Washington state as sea levels rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fossil-fuel lobbyists fail to disclose in WA

A new report found fossil fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws were not making full disclosures, including …

In a report on the lobbying transparency laws of each state, Colorado was the only state to receive an 'A' grade. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland fossil fuel lobbyists fail to disclose activities

A new report says fossil-fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws are not making full disclosures - including in Mary…

The Wyoming Family Alliance Action's 2024 school board candidate questionnaire asked candidates how much they agree with this statement:

Some WY school board elections echoed national politics

School boards are nonpartisan, but a recent trend in Wyoming shows far-right candidates are bringing national politics to local elections. Public …

According to the South Dakota Secretary of State, South Dakota's Referred Law 21 was ousted by voters 59% to 41%. (Brent Coulter)<br />

Eminent domain reform could follow ousted SD pipeline law

In last week's election, South Dakota voters defeated the carbon pipeline law by a wide margin, but pipeline companies could still gain ground in …

Advocates are suing the state of Montana over a change that allows documents used in the Legislature's bill-drafting process to be kept secret, reversing a 25-year-old rule. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental advocates sue Montana over public documents

Montana citizens and environmental advocates have sued the state for withholding documents that have, for decades, been considered public information…

The proposed Net-Zero 1 corn-starch-to-jet-fuel plant in Lake Preston, S.D., would stem the release of over 600,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Ethanol companies back SD pipeline ballot question with big bucks

A proposed corn-starch-to-jet-fuel plant in South Dakota is on track to get big federal funding, but its feasibility could hinge on election results…

Pro-cryptocurrency political action committees, winning 36 of 42 primary races they supported, have used their funds to help unseat candidates like U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y. (WindyNight/Adobe Stock)

Crypto backers pour millions into Ohio; U.S. regulation on the line

Ohio's U.S. Senate race between the incumbent, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Republican Bernie Moreno has become one of the most expensive in …

Many political pundits, voters and candidates themselves have said the outcome of the 2024 presidential election could have a dramatic effect on the future of democracy. (Adobe Stock)

Historian: Past U.S. events offer clues for leaders to confront today's division

Election Day is inching closer and the battleground state of Wisconsin will see more visits from the two main party presidential campaigns. It was …

Climate change, marked by rising temperatures, sea levels and extreme weather, poses significant threats to Tennessee. The environmental shifts are predicted to cause more illness, death and forced relocation of Tennesseans. (michelmond/Adobe Stock)

Report exposes donors funding climate change disinformation in TN

As Tennesseans deal with record-breaking heat, hurricanes and prolonged drought linked to a changing climate, a new report showed how American …

Advocacy groups are asking folks in Wisconsin to pledge to become a Supreme Court voter. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

Overlap cited between SCOTUS and presidential election

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Wisconsin are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

New billboards in Philadelphia raise awareness about the role voters in the 2024 Election when it comes the future of the nation's highest court. (Brianna Gonsalves/Clear Channel Outdoor)

The link between the presidential election and future of SCOTUS

With a month to go before the presidential election, voters in swing states such as Pennsylvania are likely to hear more messaging about the outcome …

Some 83% of registered Democrats, 73% of Republicans and 83% of Independents support having open primary elections, according to a 2024 Clark University study. (Adobe Stock)

South Dakotans to vote on nonpartisan primaries

Voters next month will be shaping how future elections operate in many states, including South Dakota, where nonpartisan primaries are on the ballot…

FollowtheCrypto.org finds that the crypto industry provided more than $174 million for the 2024 election so far. (VideoFlow/Adobe Stock)

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

As cryptocurrency becomes more prevalent, it's also making its way into the political arena. With millions of dollars being funneled into campaigns …

For decades, the fossil fuel industry has been able to slow or prevent policies to reduce climate pollution by laundering false claims and junk science through allied think tanks and media outlets. (Adobe Stock)

Report names donors bankrolling climate change disinformation

As Coloradans deal with record-breaking heat, wildfires, and prolonged drought - linked to a changing climate - a new report shows how American …

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' federal indictment claims he has sought out and accepted improper gifts and benefits since he was first elected as Brooklyn Borough President in 2014. (Marc A. Hermann/Wikimedia Commons)

Reactions to NYC Mayor's charges in federal corruption probe

New Yorkers are reeling from the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with wire fraud, bribery and campaign finance offenses. The charges …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 11, 2025

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