News from around the nation.

Major storm to bring severe weather and create critical wildfire risk for millions; CT families face impacts from the congressional budget proposal; Accountability demanded amid training failures as OH jail deaths scrutinized; SNAP cuts would disproportionately impact Colorado's rural communities.

Transcript

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

Spring may almost be here, but winter still has a sting in its tail with a robust winter storm set to bring severe weather and potential power cuts to millions across much of the country this week as southern states face a critical risk of wildfires as winds and temperatures rise.

That from NBC News.

They report the major winter storm will make its way through the southern and central plains today before reaching the Midwest on Tuesday and the Great Lakes by Wednesday, affecting almost two dozen states.

NBC notes the National Weather Service warned that this low-pressure weather system is set to bring hazards including up to 12 inches of snow in the Sierra Nevada and as much as 24 inches for higher parts of the Great Basin and the Rockies.

And Connecticut families could face harsh impacts from the proposed congressional budget cuts.

The budget reconciliation passed by the House of Representatives calls for almost $2 trillion in spending cuts to pay for extending tax credits to corporations and the wealthiest households.

The cuts would likely impact Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Emily Byrne with Connecticut Voices for Children says there are ways Connecticut can offset the impacts of these cuts.

Connecticut lawmakers this year can enact a state-level child tax credit.

They can increase expansions to Medicaid so providers have the resources they need to provide health care and more access is available to residents across the state.

The state child tax credit would provide families with $600 per child for up to three children.

The bill creating a state credit has come before the General Assembly every year since 2021, but it's failed to pass.

However, the tax credit received unanimous support at public hearings.

I'm Edwin J. Vieira.

Meantime, medical neglect inside Ohio's jails is under scrutiny following the release of a new toolkit by the Marshall Project to aid in investigating in-custody deaths.

An investigation into the Cuyahoga County Jail uncovered serious lapses in emergency response.

Families of those affected are demanding answers and accountability.

Tanya Anderson waited eight months to see surveillance footage of her nephew's death while he was incarcerated.

What kind of people are they?

They're not doing anything but just walking around my nephew, Glenn Williams Jr.'s body and not even trying to help him or revive him.

The state found the jail out of compliance with medical training requirements in this case, but no disciplinary action was taken against staff despite nine minutes passing before CPR was attempted.

This story was produced with original reporting by Mark Puente and Brittany Haler for the Marshall Project.

Farah Siddiqui reporting.

And that budget resolution recently passed by the U.S.

House calls for reducing agriculture funding to the tune of $230 billion.

Diana Leyva is with the Colorado Blueprint and Hunger.

These cuts to SNAP benefits will be most harmful for rural communities as SNAP enrollment in rural counties are higher than in urban areas.

She says the food assistance program currently serves over half a million Coloradans.

Six in 10 recipients are families with kids.

This is public news service.

Following President Donald Trump's executive order lifting immigration and customs enforcement or ICE restrictions in protected areas, the American Federation of Teachers is offering guidance to colleges in Michigan and nationwide.

The AFT National Immigration Law Center and President's Alliance teamed up to release a guide to help colleges handle ICE encounters, including establishing school protocols and understanding constitutional rights.

Eric Rader, AFT president at Henry Ford Community College in Dearborn, says the school provides support for its large Arab and Muslim student population affected by current events.

All of our students at Henry Ford are eligible for free counseling in our counseling department.

We also have a lot of affinity groups, student groups that are a great place for students of Arab or Muslim descent to talk to other students.

Rader says the college also offers specialized support for international staff members.

Immigration law states that ICE can enter public areas of campus without a warrant, but an authorized official must approve access to non-public areas.

Crystal Blair reporting.

And a recent study showed high rates of tooth decay among young kids in Kentucky, particularly in rural areas.

The Kentucky Oral Health Coalition is backing proposed legislation that would allow public health registered dental hygienists, or PHRDHs, the ability to treat schoolchildren and others.

Jennifer Harrison with the coalition says the law, House Bill 223, would allow hygienists with additional qualifications an exemption from current regulations.

In Kentucky, dental hygienists have to work for a dentist.

For them to see a patient, that patient must have had an exam from a dentist.

There are exceptions, one of which is the PHRDH model.

It just removes barriers so that hygienists can go straight out into the community.

Public health hygienists are allowed to provide assessments, cleanings, education, fluoride varnish and sealants to mainly underserved populations.

I'm Mark Richardson.

Finally, our food systems contribute more than a quarter to all greenhouse emissions on the planet.

Scientists offer guidelines on how to eat more sustainably for the planet, but questions remain for those with few grocery options or low incomes.

Americans are relying more on so-called dollar stores to do their grocery shopping.

Maryland is home to hundreds of dollar stores.

Rachel Santo with the non-profit World Resources Institute says where people can shop has an outsized role on their diets.

Their choices are based on what is around them.

Therefore, food retailers and other outlets where we purchase food are really important in driving kind of the general direction of our diets.

The Center for Science for the Public Interest finds that dollar stores offer limited healthy food options.

Yet, these stores are relied upon more heavily in Black, Latino, rural and low-income communities.

This story is based on original reporting by Darna Noor for Sentient and is part of a collaborative reporting project exploring a just and climate-friendly food system.

I'm Zimone Perez.

This is Mike Clifford.

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