News from around the nation.

Bill Clinton testifies before lawmakers over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein; EPA plans to release scaled-back coal ash regulations in OH; USSD campus hopes Black History Month events elevate inclusivity; Georgia leaders align systems and funding to improves health.

Transcript

The Public News Service Friday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Former President Bill Clinton is testifying today before members of Congress investigating convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, answering for his connections to the disgraced financier from more than two decades ago.

The Washington Post notes the closed-door deposition in Chappaqua, New York, will mark the first time a former president has been compelled to testify to Congress.

Meantime, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency will soon release proposed changes to regulations surrounding coal ash, a toxic byproduct of coal-fired plants.

After coal is burned, about 15 to 20 percent remains as coal ash that can pollute groundwater.

Experts say it contains heavy metals including arsenic, lead, mercury and radium, toxins that are known to be harmful.

Gavin Kearney, deputy managing attorney of Earth Justice's clean energy program, says the Buckeye State may have the most to lose.

Ohio has the most coal ash of any state in the country.

What we've documented so far is 172 million cubic yards of coal ash in dumps around the state.

But we know that there's even more coal ash at older dumps that haven't been regulated until very recently.

The move is part of a coal industry push to have the Trump administration scale back regulations on carbon-based fuels.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

And as Black History Month comes to an end, black college students in South Dakota hope this year's outreach has a lasting effect.

The Black Student Union at Augustana University led a variety of activities throughout February, with leaders noting they blended fun with a true sense of belonging.

ESU president Jenna Hageman says because of federal efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs within higher education, it felt important for students to pick up the slack.

She emphasized a tone acknowledging that racial inequities still exist, but so do the achievements of black students.

And we need to not only like honor people's experiences, but also celebrate it, not just focus on trauma of being a black student right now, but also like celebrating the joy.

Lumina Foundation says America's success depends on helping more people obtain college degrees and other high quality credentials.

And the nation can't stop addressing unjust disparities that get in the way of those goals.

I'm Mike Moen.

And Georgia continues to rank near the bottom nationally for maternal health outcomes, but a new statewide collaboration is working to change that among the partners hoping to shape the strategies is Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Angela Alla.

It helps to ensure that we can be able to deploy information, support and care to a lot of Georgians and other stakeholders to receive the necessary information that they need to make decisions around their reproductive lives and well-being.

Health providers, researchers and community leaders formed the maternal health vitality think tank, an effort focused on making it so families experience healthier pregnancies, safer births, and stronger recoveries.

This is public news service.

Next to Idaho where folks are watching the confirmation hearings for Steve Pierce as director of the US Bureau of Land Management closely.

Pierce is a former Republican New Mexico congressman and owner of an oil services business who, if confirmed, would oversee 245 million acres of BLM land.

But his past comments pushing for the sell off of public lands has wrinkled people across the West.

Head of Conservation Voters for Idaho, Alexis Pickering, says public lands are treasured in the Mountain West.

The idea of selling lands, of not staffing the BLM, to leave it vulnerable to wildfires, is something that is deeply politically unpopular, especially in places like Idaho.

There are nearly 12 million acres of BLM land in Idaho, more than a fifth of the state's land area.

When confronted with his record on public lands, Pierce offered contradictory statements, but noted that selling these lands is currently illegal.

I'm Eric Tegethoff reporting.

We head next to Indiana, where college students brought research projects directly to the state house, focusing on regional research that impacts communities across the state.

56 students from Indiana University regional campuses presented more than 40 research and creative projects during an event called Regionals at the Rotunda.

University leaders say the work supports workforce preparation and economic development.

Jerica Miles, an online student based at IU East, studied whether small pollinator gardens improve insect biodiversity and ecological health in rural Indiana.

My research examines whether or not small-scale pollinator gardens make a difference on insect biodiversity and whether or not these small community-based projects can work to help ecological health.

Lawmakers set higher education funding last year in the state's two-year budget.

University leaders will continue to make their case at the Statehouse today as the legislative session wraps up.

Finally, as rental costs continue to rise across Tennessee, some Nashville residents say the use of third-party building companies is adding to housing affordability challenges and creating confusion over charges and payments.

Nashville's average rent is over $1,650 per month as of February 2026, slightly higher than the national average.

Janelle Burns, a Nashville resident, says her base rent started at $1,300 but after additional fees billed through the third-party company, Conservice, her monthly housing costs are now over $1,600.

I don't qualify for a three-bedroom and the three-bedroom I think it's 15 something.

It's cheaper than 1610, but I'm paying more for my two-bedroom than a three-bedroom would be.

According to the National Consumer Law Center, many landlords add harmful junk fees that people must pay to secure and maintain housing.

Danielle Smith reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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