News from around the nation.

The Death toll rises from that pair of Earthquakes that hammered Venezuela, and is expected to increase; North Carolinians can soon use grants to pay for non-degree programs; Connecticut and education leaders across the nation warn Democratic governors against a voucher plan; Despite capacity, Arizona lawmakers balk on solar energy.

Transcript

The Public News Service Friday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The death toll is rising and expected to rise further from the pair of earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday.

As of Friday morning, at least 589 were dead.

Those injured now number nearly 3,000.

Experts say time is rapidly running out to find and rescue those trapped under downed structures.

CBS notes the coastal region north of the capital of Caracas suffered some of the heaviest damage in Casualties.

The country's main airport is there and closed due to damage, complicating aid efforts.

Meantime, the United States will soon enact one of the largest expansions of federal grants for education in more than 50 years.

The policy, known as Workforce Pell, allows Pell grants to be used to pay for non-degree job training, placing a premium on trades, health care, and business, but not all programs may qualify.

One estimate suggests only 4% of community college non-degree programs in North Carolina would be eligible.

Devin Ferguson with Forsyth Community College says it will be critical to innovatively market the pathways that are available to people in the community.

He hopes to capture the attention of those outside of the traditional college demographic.

My hope is that we can actually get to that kind of student, that we're in the workforce.

We're not waiting for her to find us, but we're able to be out there helping her get through the program.

I'm Zamone Perez.

This story is based on original reporting by John Marcus for the Heckinger Report.

Education unions in Connecticut nationwide want Democratic governors to reject the federal voucher program implemented last year.

It provides people a dollar-for-dollar tax credit up to $1,700 for donations made to scholarship-granting organizations.

But education leaders have signed a letter urging Democratic governors not to join the program, saying it drains money from public schools to further endow private education.

Kate Diaz with the Connecticut Education Association says the program has too many unknowns.

We're just talking about taking money, diverting it from the federal budget, and then letting it go into the ether of education with no oversight.

And I think we've always stayed in the landscape of public money should have public oversight.

And we're really talking about taking public money out of the public domain.

Estimates suggest the program would use $50 billion from the federal education budget.

So far, the only Democratic state to sign on to the federal program is Colorado, and the other 23 states signed on are all led by Republicans.

I'm Edwin J. Viera.

And sustainable power advocates are pushing back on Arizona lawmakers' move toward an all-of-the-above approach to energy sources.

Arizona Solar Energy Industries Association Executive Director Autumn Johnson says it would be wrong not to invest in solar, which he says is the most efficient way to deploy clean power.

Policymakers keep getting in the way to try to impede that, which I don't think makes sense standpoint.

Why would you want to impede your greatest resource that, by the way, is also free?

Supporters say it's important to diversify, despite the fact that Arizona is the sunniest state in the nation.

This is Public News Service.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are facing a budget deadline Tuesday, and housing advocates plan to rally in Harrisburg Monday to push a slate of bills aimed at making housing safer and more affordable.

The group says the legislation would expand access to housing, prevent displacement, and protect residents across the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania has just 39 affordable and available rental units for every 100 extremely low-income households.

Eden Tinkleman with Pennsylvania Stands Up says constituents plan to gather outside the Senate chamber to make sure their concerns are heard.

She says one key priority is Senate Bill 643.

If you have minor crimes, like minor drug crimes or just non-violent things, you know, you shouldn't be discriminated against to get a house, particularly like in the rental setting.

Tinkleman notes the group is also hoping to meet with Senator Marty Flynn of Lackawada County after a previously scheduled meeting was canceled.

Danielle Smith reporting.

And some Oregon neighborhoods will become more age-friendly this year thanks to funding from AARP Oregon's Community Challenge Grants.

Thirteen grantees will each receive up to $15,000 for projects benefiting all residents, especially older adults.

In Klamath Falls, an ADA accessible walking path and lit signs will be installed near the senior center.

Teresa Edwards, who works with the center, says the upgrades will make it safer and easier for older adults to stay active, boosting life expectancy and mental health.

They love walking with their friends, having a community.

They meet here every single day.

And right now they're walking inside because some of the path is not accessible.

It just improves their overall well-being because staying active is literally the key to life.

Edwards says the path will be open to the public as well, creating more opportunities for connection with residents.

I'm Isobel Charle.

Finally, in fair warning, the public has just a few days left to comment on a proposed wastewater permit for the Enbridge Line 5 tunnel.

The permit is the latest step in a years-long debate over the aging pipeline and the risk of an oil spill.

Environmental groups are urging regulators to closely examine the amount of treated wastewater that could be discharged, what it could contain, and Enbridge's proposal to use artificial intelligence to monitor the tunnel.

Enbridge says the project would add new layers of environmental protection and wastewater would be treated to meet state requirements.

But Ashley Rosinski with the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities says she's concerned the proposal permit would allow about 7 million gallons of treated industrial wastewater to be discharged into the Straits of Mackinac every day.

There would be 5 million from the south outfall, 1 million from the north, and nearly another million in hydrostatic test water.

There's also unquantified stormwater on top of that.

Crystal Blair reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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