News from around the nation.

Trump posted Wednesday, “MOST CRUSHING ECONOMIC OPERATION EVER”; it will be aimed at crushing Iran’s economy; A study finds an 'awareness gap' in Americans' understanding of HIV in Georgia; A Washington official cautions: to avoid disaster scams, 'pause and check the cause.' Anti-hunger groups say Ohio food programs reduce waste and help farmers.

Transcript

The Public News Service Thursday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

President Donald Trump turned to a familiar platform on social media Wednesday promising the most crushing economic operation ever taken against any country.

CNN notes his new approach is something of a face saver after he failed to bomb the Islamic Republic into surrender or to coax it into nuclear talks with sweeteners in a memorandum of understanding.

The president has halted all conversations with Iran.

CNN reports his team has told political allies he's settling into a war of economic attrition that he believes will demolish Iran's economy and compel its capitulation.

Meantime, HIV diagnoses are rising in Georgia and across the U.S., even though medical advances have made the virus preventable and with effective treatment untransmittable.

A new report from the nonprofit GLAAD finds that most Americans don't fully understand HIV and that stigma affects testing, treatment, and public awareness.

Gerald Hardinett is the Associate Director of Education and advocacy at GLAAD.

He says discrimination around HIV remains widespread and can discourage people from getting tested or seeking life-saving care.

We are not doing stories that are reflective of people living with HIV today who are going to work every day, having sexual intimacy, having families, having mothers who are living with HIV and their children are negative.

We don't have stories that are portraying these real-life people.

GLAAD is using the results of its biannual HIV stigma report to help the news media and Hollywood present HIV issues more accurately.

I'm Mark Richardson.

And in the wake of those devastating wildfires in Spokane and around Washington, experts are reminding residents to stay vigilant about potential scams that will spring up to take advantage of survivors and those who are trying to help.

In one survey from 2024, the Census Bureau found over three quarters of disaster survivors experienced a possible scam within a month of the event.

Josh Studer with the Washington State Consumer Protection Division says the most important thing to avoid fraud is for people to pause and check the cause before they give.

Scammers try to take advantage of impulsive giving.

They'll create a feeling of urgency.

Usually charities don't need to do that.

They don't need an immediate amount of support.

They have reserves.

Studer says a simple internet search with the name of the charity and the word scam can go a long way.

I'm Isobel Charle.

And the Ohio Food Program and Ohio Agricultural Clearance Program help ensure that surplus or blemished produce from local farms are distributed to local food pantries.

Sarah Coons with the Ohio Association of Food Banks says Ohio is making an effort to eliminate agricultural waste and move fresh product through pantries quickly.

Not all states actually have something like this and to be able to have it for so long is really incredible.

Anti-hunger groups say these state-level initiatives are especially critical as more families struggle with higher grocery bills.

This is Public News Service.

Most who work in the film industry didn't get a sudden lucky break, but instead succeeded through hard work.

The National Indian Youth Council wants underserved college students to know what's involved.

The council recently hosted free training sessions for production assistance at Doña Ana Community College in Las Cruces.

Arts Department Chair Matt Burns says it complements training offered by the two-year institution in film, television, commercial, and digital media production through its Creative Media Technology Program.

The production assistant route is typically the first step into the industry for most people who want to get in the film industry.

They get a role as a production assistant in just about any craft area.

In recent decades, blockbuster movies and TV shows such as Oppenheimer, No Country for Old Men, and Breaking Bad have all used the state's landscape to tell their stories.

I'm Roz Brown.

And lawmakers in the Golden State are weighing the final approval of four bills meant to lower electricity bills and promote clean energy.

Senate Bill 868 would adjust the rules to make it easier for renters to put a small solar panel on their balcony.

Brendan Garcia is with Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade association.

He says the state needs to cut red tape so more people can use portable solar to power their home.

More people having access to solar means that they get more access to being able to drive down their individual utility bills.

It's a great reliability tool if you're cut off from the grid because your local utility does a public safety power shutoff.

Southern California Edison opposes the bill, saying they are concerned that utilities won't have sufficient visibility to oversee customers' ability to send energy back to the grid.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

Finally, an Oregon nonprofit is putting young people to work outside all summer in the hopes of inspiring more people to pursue a career in natural resources.

For decades, the sector has been struggling to replace retiring professionals like geoscientists and foresters.

Jacob Losby is with Wallowa Resources, which runs the eight-week paid summer internship called the High School Apprenticeship Work Program, or HAWC, in Wallowa County.

He says it offers young people a broad survey of potential careers. 85% of their time is out in the field actually working alongside professionals.

We do everything from rangeland management and noxious weeds to fish and wildlife to forestry.

This year we added some GIS training.

LOSB says this summer's program just wrapped up, earning participants college credits through Treasure Valley Community College.

He adds the program also focuses on professional development like goal setting, leadership, and job hunting skills. 16-year-old Katie Hellinger was part of this year's HAWC internship program.

She says one of her favorite parts was learning about fish and wildlife biology.

I'm Isobel Charle, Oregon News Service.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

Member and listener supported.

Find your trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.