News from around the nation.

Trump considers wider war after 13th night of US strikes on Iran; A new Tennessee law penalizes youth for illegal vape, tobacco purchases; NYC neighbors debate future use of abandoned Queens rail lines; Arizona veterans battle homelessness amid SNAP cuts.

Transcript

The Public News Service Friday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The U.S. military launched the 13th night of military assaults on Iran overnight, with President Donald Trump telling Axios he was weighing whether to launch a massive attack on the Islamic Republic that would be bigger than ever before.

NBC notes Iran has shown little signs of bowing to U.S. demands.

The struggle for control of the crucial Strait of Hormuz has now been extended to another key trade route after attacks by Tehran-based Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

Meantime, Tennessee teens buying nicotine or hemp products now face steeper consequences under a new law.

The new measure expands the current law and imposes fines of $10 to $50 for youth under 21 who use a fake ID to illegally purchase these products.

Dana Reno with the Nashville Thrives Coalition works to curb youth vaping and substance misuse.

She says while the new legislation is a step forward, she emphasizes that community prevention is even more critical.

Research shows that in addition to saving lives, every dollar invested in evidence-based prevention programs can help communities avoid more than $60 in future health care, criminal justice and social service costs.

Danielle Smith reporting.

And in the New York City borough of Queens, an abandoned rail line that has sat unused for more than six decades is now at the center of a fight over the future of city infrastructure.

The three-and-a-half-mile Rockaway Beach branch last carried trains in 1962.

Since then, some neighbors say the tracks have become a source of illegal dumping and neglect.

Travis Terry with the community group supporters of the Queensway say they want to turn the corridor into a 47-acre linear park with walking and biking paths connecting residents to Forest Park.

We got tired of what it had become, which is kind of this blight on the community.

It's a lot of illegal dumping.

There's a lot of bad stuff going on up there.

In 2016, transit advocates proposed the Queenslink plan, which would restore train service by extending the line while also adding park space along the route.

They argue the line could reduce car use, improve north-south transit in Queens, and serve tens of thousands of riders each day.

This story is based on original reporting by Benton Graham for Grist.

I'm Mark Richardson.

And recent food cuts to nutrition programs like SNAP are impacting low-income Arizonans, including military veterans who rely on government help.

Right now, vets receive assistance based on a 100-point scale set by the VA.

It evaluates how a disability affects the whole person.

The higher the score, the higher the level of assistance.

Retired Arizona Navy soldier Mike P., who asked that we only use his first name and initial, he said he scores a 70, and changing the evaluation could have dire implications.

It puts things in perspective, are we going to make it?

So a lot of people end up going to trauma, drugs, or even suicide, just so they don't have to deal with it.

And it's not a good thing for us, rather.

The effort in Washington calls for modernizing the rating system, but does not address veterans who would lose services.

This is Public News Service.

You don't need to remind folks in Minnesota, but researchers say smoky air from wildfires is becoming more of a widespread public health issue.

A local cardiologist says next time air quality worsens, heart risks need to be taken seriously.

As the Midwest sees more waves of smoke-filled air, experts say people should know it's not just something that impacts your lungs.

Minnesota-based cardiologist Dr. Robin Germany says if particulates enter the bloodstream, other problems begin to surface.

And that causes, as you can imagine, inflammation and real stress on the heart and difficulty breathing in and of itself can cause that same problem.

She says prolonged exposure could trigger a cardiac scare, especially if you have pre-existing conditions like heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma.

Just like the rest of the population, Germany says staying indoors when the air quality is poor, with the windows and doors shut and the air conditioning turned on, is one of the best approaches to protect your heart and the rest of your health.

I'm Mike Moen.

On its website, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency provides updates and outlooks regarding the state's air quality.

And a good chunk of New Mexico is desert, which explains why the state ranks fourth in the U.S. for dust storms.

The annual dust bulletin compiled by the World Meteorological Organization shows how many sand and dust storms the planet experienced in 2025 and their danger to air quality, health, and the environment.

Scientist Daniel Tong developed a windblown dust emission model used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to forecast dust storms across North America and globally.

We are seeing this increasing trend over the U.S.

It has already a lot of alarming impacts on human health, transportation safety, and renewable energy generation.

NOAA reports there were 50 reported events in New Mexico between January and March of 2025.

I'm Roz Brown.

Finally, North Dakotans facing housing discrimination issues could be met with even less resources because of a lag in federal funding.

The High Plains Fair Housing Center is the sole organization in North Dakota that helps marginalized clients who claim unfair treatment by a housing provider.

Executive Director Michelle Ridd says about 75 percent of their operations are supported by federal grant funding.

She says they've been waiting on the last installment of nearly half a million dollars from a three-year Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.

The last communication they received from HUD was in May.

So for the last two months, we've been in this gap.

And as a small organization, we can just no longer continue without that third year.

And so we have to lay off staff at the end of the month.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford, and thank you for wrapping up your week with Public News Service.

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