News from around the nation.

Supreme court to hear arguments in fight over birthright citizenship; Repeal of clean energy incentives would hurt AK economy, families, advocates say; Iowa dairy farm manure spill kills 100,000 fish; Final piece of AL's Sipsey Wilderness protected after 50-year effort.

Transcript

The Public News Service Thursday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case linked to President Trump's efforts to end birthright citizenship.

That from Como News in Seattle.

They report that's a policy that grants legal citizenship to all children born in the U.S., regardless of the citizenship of their parents.

Several lower courts, including one in Seattle, have issued injunctions to stop the administration.

Today's hearing in the high court will ultimately determine if those previous rulings can hold.

Meantime, some Republican lawmakers, including Alaska's Nick Begich, are considering repealing the Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy incentives.

Supporters of the measure say cuts would threaten jobs in Alaska.

The efforts come as Alaska's liquid natural gas supplies will not be enough to meet demand in the state.

That means the state may have to begin importing gas, causing prices to rise.

Jennifer Hyde with the Alaska Center says she hoped clean energy projects could begin benefiting the state before the crisis takes hold.

We're hoping that communities can seize on IRF funds in order to actualize on solar projects, on wind projects, on hydro projects, on a number of other alternatives before this crisis happens.

Begich and other Republicans signed a letter arguing that the clean energy subsidies in the IRA will undermine America's energy dominance and inflate energy costs.

But Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has supported the clean energy incentives.

I'm Simone Perez.

And the Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports a recent dairy farm manure spill in the northeast part of the state killed at least 100,000 fish.

This isn't the first time the operation has been cited for causing environmental damage.

Iowa Food and Water Watch attorney Danny Rapogol says the state's lack of commercial farm oversight is a big part of the problem.

And that after the spill occurs, efforts to stop the damage are often too late.

There's nothing that you can do on this timeline that these living creatures need as far as remediation to prevent the major harms that we're seeing to the ecosystem from spills from factory farms.

This story was produced with original reporting by Nina B.

Elkady for Settlement Food and Farming.

And after 50 years of advocacy to expand and protect public lands, Alabama's Sipsi Wilderness is finally whole.

The effort to acquire and preserve the parcel was led by the Conservation Fund with support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

Michael Leonard with the Conservation Fund testified before Congress in the early 80s to support its protection.

Today, he says he's grateful to see the land is finally safeguarded for the public.

I remember walking that trail in the late 70s and early 80s.

And there were signs on the trail that said, "You're entering private property.

Stay on the trail."

The Sipsi Wilderness was created in 1975 and later expanded in 1988.

Shantia Hudson reporting.

This is public news service.

Next to North Carolina, where an organization working largely in the South is encouraging Black women to become more civically engaged.

1000 Women Strong is organized in rural parts of the state and more populous counties like Durham and Wake.

In 2024, the organization knocked on more than 50,000 doors in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

But National Outreach Director for 1000 Women Strong, Aja Gaddy, says the group is focused on getting people engaged outside of presidential campaigns as well.

Our goal is to build lifelong voters and making sure that they are not just voting during a presidential election, but to understand that there's always an election.

There's local leadership that needs to be found and also keep accountable.

And what does that look like?

The organization is hosting in-person events, including sister salons, empowerment hubs and student debt clinics.

I'm Eric Tegedorf reporting.

Environmental advocates warned President Donald Trump's proposed budget would cripple Chesapeake Bay restoration.

More on that from our Daniel Smith.

Federal agencies have long partnered with six watershed states to protect its waterways.

Gary Campbell with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says the cuts would severely impact Pennsylvania and beyond.

He adds that the EPA, which oversees the Chesapeake Bay program, faces a 54.5 percent budget reduction from $9.1 billion to $4.2 billion.

This would eliminate critical state grants and other support mechanisms that Pennsylvania relies upon in working with farmers, upgrading wastewater treatment plants and improving fisheries that are so critical to the healthy condition of our rivers and streams, but also to our economic vitality.

Campbell notes the EPA supports states in improving water quality by funding projects and offering low-interest loans for upgrading drinking water and wastewater systems.

Finally, a groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas.

The Fat Lip Youth Talk radio show will be back on the airwave Saturday on KABF 88.3 FM Community Radio in Little Rock.

The show, produced by Ouachita Foothills Youth Media Arts and Literacy Collective, features young people between the ages of 16 and 24.

Director Kwame Abdul-Bey says the broadcast gives teens and young adults a chance to express their feelings about a variety of topics.

We want all young people involved in the conversation, so you'll be hearing what they have to say, particularly as it deals with civic engagement and electoral justice.

The show will air from 3 until 5 o'clock on the first and third Saturday of each month.

It can also be heard on KABF.org and internationally via the shortwave relay service.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service, member and listener supported.

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