News from around the nation.

Suspect charged with arson in connection with the Spokane Old Trails fire; Wisconsin gears up for BadgerCare work requirements; Ohioans want comment period extended for state oil and gas rules; a new report finds Mississippi's economy and employment rate to stay flat in 2026.

Transcript

The Public News Service Tuesday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Spokane County Sheriff John Knowles announced Monday night the arrest of 37-year-old Aaron F. Farinacci, who was reported by witnesses to be acting suspicious and kneeling in the grass near the ignition site of the Old Trails fire on Saturday.

The New York Times notes law enforcement contacted the suspect more than a mile down the road from where the blaze initially ignited.

Knowles said he was released at the time so first responders could prioritize the fire, which has destroyed hundreds of homes in northwest Spokane.

The suspect taken into custody on suspicion of first-degree arson.

Knowles says evidence at the scene of the ignition point was consistent with being started by a match or a lighter.

Meantime, folks in Wisconsin enrolled in BadgerCare Plus will start receiving notifications from the state this month about how new federal work requirements might impact them in the future.

Adults under age 65 without a dependent child living with them will have to work or volunteer or be in school 80 hours in a month to maintain their coverage.

State officials estimate 200,000 enrollees will be impacted, with about 63,000 people at immediate risk of losing health care coverage.

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Kirsten Johnson says there are exemptions for certain individuals, including those who are deemed medically frail.

Federal and state officials are still determining what classifies someone as being too sick to work.

We may be able to determine that they are medically frail without them having to physically submit anything to us that we may already have that information.

I'm Judith Rui's branch reporting.

Next, inflation, the war on Iran and tariffs are causing Mississippi's employment rate and economy to continue to stagnate.

According to a report from the University Research Center, hiring for the end of 2026 and beginning 2027 will remain flat.

State economist Corey Miller says companies were able to rebuild their workforce after the pandemic in 2020, but right now business owners are reluctant to make major decisions.

Between so many changes in U.S. trade policy, it just creates a lot of uncertainty, and I think firms are reluctant to hire, but at the same time, they're also reluctant to let those workers go.

The transportation equipment industry is the state's top manufacturing sector, followed by food products and fabricated metals.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

Next to Ohio, where regulators say the state's existing rules for the oil and gas industry don't need any changes, but environmental groups disagree.

The state is currently experiencing rapid oil and gas development, largely to meet the voracious energy demands of data centers, explains Becca Pollard with Buckeye Environmental Network.

On top of that, you know, just a few years ago, our Ohio state parks were opened up for fracking.

So those are both things that are new since last time these rules were updated.

Every five years, the rules of cover permits, safety, well provisions, pollution prevention, and more are up for review.

This is Public News Service.

Used tires are polluted Kentucky waterways, leaching toxic chemicals and rubber pollution into wildlife habitat and drinking water sources.

Arnania Rommelgan explains.

In 2024, advocates pulled about 200 tires out of a four-mile stretch of the Red River near Clay City.

Nick Hart, Water Policy Director with Kentucky Waterways Alliance, says that level of tire trash isn't unusual, and the problem only seems to be worsening.

We've worked with some partners who remove tires out of the same stretch of river every single year, and we work with other partners who've removed tens of thousands of tires out of one stretch of river or one river over numerous years.

A new online dashboard developed by the Alliance makes it easier for Kentuckians to report tires dumped in or near local waterways using their smartphone.

Hart says the dashboard creates a visual map of where tires have been reported that the advocates can use to locate and remove them.

Next, Arizona nurses feeling the brunt of changes to accessible and affordable health care.

The federal budget stripped some low-income Arizonans of services that have traditionally been available, causing more patients to use emergency rooms as their first option for care.

The stories of people trying to afford health care run the gamut.

Put food on the table or go to the doctor.

Go to work sick or take a pay hit for staying home.

Health care workers cite stories of diabetic patients forced to ration insulin and blood pressure medications, choosing basic survival over optimal health.

Tucson-based National Association of Hispanic Nurses President Serena Martinez says the changes in health care access and affordability are hitting the elderly population especially hard.

We've seen a lot of them come in related to falls because they're not taking their medications properly or very emaciated because they can't afford groceries.

From the health care provider standpoint, Martinez says nurses who were already overworked before cuts are burning out.

I'm Mark Moran.

Finally, humanitarian groups are calling on the Congress to pass legislation that would block restrictions to foreign aid on ideological grounds.

The Protect Human Rights and Public Health and Foreign Assistance Act would nullify the expansion of President Donald Trump's global gag rule.

The State Department's latest expansion of the rule now includes restrictions on all foreign aid for groups that promote LGBTQ rights, gender-affirming care, or diversity and equity initiatives.

Felicity Gray with Nonviolent Peace Force says such restrictions could hurt organizations that support women who face sexual assault and violence.

Under the current expansion of the DEI provisions, we might not be able to advocate for someone targeted because of their gender or their race or ethnicity, because of the way that this policy silences humanitarian organizations and their ability to do the work that they are mandated to do.

I'm Zamone Perez.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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