News from around the nation.

MI nonprofit opposes bill that opposes paid sick leave, wage hike; China swiftly counters Trump's tariffs with a flurry of trade curbs; Experts have consumer tips on navigating tariff scenarios; Advocates: NY lawmakers must do more for disability-rights issues.

Transcript

The public news service Tuesday afternoon update, I'm Mike Clifford.

First to Michigan where a bipartisan nonprofit group is opposing pending legislation that would reverse a Michigan Supreme Court ruling stripping paid sick leave and minimum wage protections slated to take effect this month.

In 2018, Michigan voters approved initiatives to raise the minimum wage and provide paid sick leave, but the GOP-led legislature amended them in the same session, which the court ruled was unconstitutional.

Michigan's minimum wage is currently slated to rise to $12.48 on February 21st and reach $14.97 by 2028.

Monique Stanton heads the Michigan League for Public Policy and stresses how the proposed laws would affect Michiganders, especially low-income residents.

You get sick, your child breaks their leg and you need to take a day or two off of work, you're not able to do so.

That means you're making a choice between taking care of your child or being able to pay your utility bills or being able to make your rent.

Crystal Blair reporting.

And Beijing responded swiftly today to the tariffs President Trump had promised, announcing countermeasures targeting American companies and imports of critical products.

That from the New York Times.

They report the Trump 10 percent tariff on all Chinese products went into effect at 12.01 a.m. this morning.

So Chinese government came back with a series of retaliatory steps, including additional tariffs on liquefied natural gas, coal, farm machinery, and other products from the U.S. States like North Dakota could see unique effects under the Trump-approached tariffs.

Uncertainty lies ahead, but one expert says consumers should be prepared.

Going into this week, prospects were raised about the U.S. imposing tariffs on goods from countries like Canada and Mexico.

Those plans were paused for a month, but Ernie Tedeschi with the Budget Lab at Yale University says people should expect more of this rhetoric and know how to protect their wallets.

If tariffs against Canada come back into play, the ripple effect on household budgets could be noticed in certain ways, especially in this part of the U.S.

We import a great deal of crude oil and natural gas from Canada, particularly in the Midwest.

There's a heating bill effect.

There's also a gasoline price effect.

Groups like AARP say one way to prepare for these impacts is to find deals on dining out, with restaurants offering more discounts these days.

I'm Mike Maung reporting.

And New York disability rights advocates want state lawmakers to focus on issues such as housing and healthcare in the budget.

Dr. Sharon McLennan Weir is with the Center for the Independence of the Disabled New York.

She says they're advocating for a bill creating accessible prescription labels.

There's a bill right now for people that are blind or have print disabilities to make sure they are able to read and understand the prescriptions.

A lot of labels are very difficult for seniors that may have vision loss or people that have dyslexia or other reading disabilities to understand.

New York is facing a shortage in all aspects of mental health care, which keeps people from being able to access necessary services.

This is public news service.

Next to Colorado, where state representative Emily Sirota recently introduced House Bill 25-1090 to regulate the so-called junk fees charged by landlords.

The bill would protect tenants from getting bills that can add hundreds of dollars to their monthly rent for things such as valet trash service, internet service, surcharges on rent payments, pest control, and more.

All sorts of additional fees are being added to folks' bills.

And we think if landlords wanna charge those fees, they should be reflected in the rent.

Some see junk fees as deceptive and unfair trade practices because landlords advertise one price to lure renters, but that price isn't what they'll actually have to pay.

Industry groups argue fees are necessary to recoup hard costs and point out all fees are listed in black and white before tenants sign their leases.

I'm Eric Galatas.

And Arizona's largest high school district has stated it won't voluntarily help the Trump administration with its immigration promises by declaring itself a safe zone for all students, regardless of their citizen status.

The Phoenix Union High School District also announced it'll be conducting a series of Know Your Rights workshops for students and families.

Data shows that about one in nine children in the state live with at least one undocumented family member.

Kristen Rauh-Finkbeiner with the social welfare group Moms Rising says they're hearing from folks and students around the country that say Trump's directives are inciting real fear for children and families, posing serious consequences.

A terrified child in a classroom full of fearful children can't learn or thrive.

And that creating a climate of fear at schools harms every child.

We will demand that our government acts humanely and with compassion.

Rauh-Finkbeiner says her organization has successfully worked with teachers to defeat book bans, as well as supporting the need for civil and LGBTQ+ rights education in schools.

She says this immigration fight will be no different.

I'm Alex Gonzalez reporting.

Finally, our Daniel Smith reports, the Eastern Hellbender, North America's largest salamander and Pennsylvania state amphibian, is one step closer to receiving federal protection.

Cassie Finn from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says that their student leadership programs research and advocacy efforts led to the Eastern Hellbender becoming Pennsylvania state amphibian in 2019.

She adds that protecting ecosystems and habitat for the Hellbender will also protect habitat for other organisms.

It's really important for the Eastern Hellbender to make it on the endangered species list.

Not only will it draw attention to the Hellbender habitat, but it will also draw attention to freshwater habitats in general and the importance of clean water and the impact it has on ecosystems.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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