News from around the nation.

Trump plans to sign an executive order aimed at dismantling the Education Department; Advocates push Alabama Senate to fully end grocery tax; More Wyomingites get degrees, but anti-DEI law could slow progress; Competition prepares students for environmental science careers.

Transcript

The Public News Service Thursday afternoon update, I'm Mike Clifford.

President Trump plans to sign an executive order today instructing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to begin dismantling the agency, according to two White House officials, that for the New York Times, they report the department cannot be closed without the approval of Congress, which created it.

But the Trump administration has already taken steps to narrow the agency's authority and significantly cut its workforce, while telegraphing plans to try to shutter it.

We head next to Alabama, which is one of just 10 states that still taxes groceries, and advocates say it's time for that to change.

Today, Alabama Arise action, along with about 200 supporters, is rallying at the statehouse, urging lawmakers to give families more room in their budgets for food.

Carol Gundlach with Alabama Arise says grocery taxes hit struggling families the hardest in a state where food insecurity is already high.

Those taxes are the most regressive taxes.

Necessities like groceries take up a much bigger percentage of low and moderate people's incomes than they do for the very rich.

They're backing House Bill 386 legislation from Representative Danny Garrett of Trustville that would cut the state's grocery tax to 2 percent starting in September.

Shantia Hudson reporting.

And the number of working age Wyoming adults with college degrees or valuable credentials increased by over 18 percent between 2009 and 2023.

One expert called that jump incredible, but wonders if a new state law could affect that trajectory.

Kathleen Shannon reports.

Governor Mark Gordon signed a law earlier this month that prohibits state institutions from using differential treatment based on race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin.

That broad language includes religious groups, programming for international students, single sex dorms, and even groups including dads making a difference.

Courtney Brown with the Lumina Foundation encourages the state to ensure everyone in Wyoming has the opportunity to pursue more education.

There are probably many people that don't have the opportunity and without programs that encourage diversity, those people may be left behind.

Support for this reporting was provided by the Lumina Foundation.

Next an event that brings students face to face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue green jobs.

The Wisconsin Envirothon is an environmental science competition for middle and high school kids hosted by the Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association.

Gregor Wilms is a past participant and says the event helped to change his mind about a topic he never would have imagined embracing.

The first time I competed in the soils part, I absolutely despised soils and I didn't know anything about it and I was so frustrated.

So it is a little bit ironic that I would go on to graduate with a soil science degree and now have a really deep appreciation for soil science.

The one day event immerses students in hands on activities in wildlife, aquatic ecology, forestry, soil, land use and a current environmental issue.

This is public news service.

An audit by Allegheny County reveals most public defenders face excessive caseloads and lack of resources, putting clients at a disadvantage.

Our Daniel Smith lets us know it shows that 36 of 42 trial attorneys carry caseloads above the national average.

Attorney Robert Perkins says the state has a history of underfunding public defenders, allowing only $100,000 per county annually.

But he adds that this is the first time the county comptroller's office has reviewed public defense focusing on areas of improvement in a neglected system.

On average, your typical public defender trial lawyer has two to three times as many cases as they should.

And you can be the best lawyer in the world if you have triple the caseload that you should per national standards, then you can't do a good job for every client.

You end up having to pick and choose.

Perkins notes that while the American Bar Association outlines 10 key principles for an effective public defense system, the recent audit only examined one for both the public defenders and court appointed counsel system.

And many Texans feel strongly one way or the other about the proposed school voucher bill that's currently before state lawmakers.

Governor Greg Abbott proposes a plan to provide $10,000 vouchers to parents to help cover the cost of private schools.

Christina Sanders with the nonprofit Polychic Engagement Fund says taxpayers should pay close attention to the details of the policy.

Taking that money away from schools and forcing our districts to shut down schools and forcing teachers to not be able to have living wages.

So just the school conversation in general is something that people should really pay attention to.

Hundreds of Texas school teachers spent their spring break testifying before lawmakers against the bill.

The governor says vouchers give parents the freedom to make the best education choices for their children.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

Finally, the organization Practical Farmers of Iowa, helping urban crop growers use beneficial insects to control pests, boost soil health and increase pollination.

Farmers don't like most bugs, but in some cases they can help.

Waverly, Iowa flower farmer, Tricia Engelbrecht introduces ground beetles, lacewings and parasitic wasps into the habitat to stay ahead of the pests that like to feed on her flowers.

So I can never get rid of pests.

They're just part of the ecosystem.

But if I could manage them, that would be very helpful to me.

Like aphids, they suck the plant.

So they're like killing the plants.

You know, some bugs go after the bloom.

Engelbrecht uses native insect strips and beetle banks, which allow the good bugs to integrate into the habitat and keep the pests under control.

I'm Mark Moran.

This is Mark Clifford for Public News Service.

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