News from around the nation.

Nobel Peace Prize goes to Maria Corina Machado, Venezuela's opposition leader; Palestinians begin returning to Gaza's north as Israel says ceasefire now in effect; Expert: Mass deportations would harm all OR workers; Missouri expert chimes in on renewed federal autism research; Will new TX voting map be used next year? 3-judge panel to decide.

Transcript

The Public News Service Friday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Maria Carina Machado for promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela.

Machado is a leader of the democracy movement in Venezuela.

That was CNN.

They report she went into hiding after the Venezuelan government moved to crushed dissent following last year's election.

And from the BBC, Palestinians are now beginning to return to Gaza's north.

As the Israel military says, a ceasefire is in effect.

Forces have to pull back to the lines agreed upon by Trump's plan, the IDF says, but will continue to remove any immediate threat.

Meantime, as deportations escalate in Oregon and across the country, experts are highlighting the role immigrants play in powering the state's economy.

Research shows immigrants make up 10 percent of the state's population and account for 13 percent of Oregon's GDP, about $33 billion.

Alejandro Carral of the Oregon Center for Public Policy says immigrants are being blamed for taking jobs from US-born workers, but history shows that mass deportations do not create more jobs.

Every time there's been mass deportations, there is a decrease in available jobs and there is also a decrease in wages.

Research from the Economic Policy Institute estimates that a national deportation of 4 million people as proposed by the Trump administration could eliminate 6 million jobs nationally.

I'm Isabel Charlay.

And in Missouri, health experts are welcoming renewed public interest in autism.

The National Conversation explores both genetic and environmental factors and the potential role of certain medications.

In Missouri, the most recent data show about one in 41 8-year-olds has been identified as being on the autism spectrum.

Pediatrician Dr. Benjamin Black with the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment in Columbia says although there's nothing conclusive, research continues to point to genetics as a key factor.

More and more as the technologies improve, we get better at interpreting genetic studies.

We are able to identify specific genetic ideologies for more and more of the patients that we serve.

Crystal Blair reporting.

And testimony continues in El Paso this week in the Texas redistricting trial.

Plaintiffs of the case say the new boundaries violate the U.S.

Constitution by discriminating against minority voters.

Republicans say they redrew lines for partisan reasons.

Southern Methodist University political science professor, Cal Gillison, says since black people largely vote Democrat, it could be hard for justices to decide.

You can say as a Republican, I'm drawing district boundaries to advantage the Republican Party and disadvantage my opponent, the Democrats, and still be disadvantaging virtually all blacks.

That overlap by race with partisanship makes it difficult for courts.

A three-judge panel will decide if the new congressional map drawn in a special session year should be in place for the 2026 midterm elections.

This is public news service.

Now more news with our Edwin J. Vieira.

It's National Fire Prevention Week and at Decatur Fire and Rescue putting out fires is only part of the job.

As Shantia Hudson reports the department is launching a program to help connect residents to community resources before a crisis strikes.

Captain Gary Menard says years of fire safety education have drastically reduced fire incidents allowing the department to focus on another kind of prevention, helping people who rely on 911 for basic needs.

He says about 70 percent of their calls are now for emergency medical services or lift assist for seniors who may not have access to regular care.

People will call when they have a stomachache or things a lot of people would just go to their primary care physician for.

There are members of our community that know nothing other than calling 911 for those things.

So the department is working to bridge gaps in access with help from a Georgia Health Initiative grant, Menard says Decatur Fire and Rescue is building a team of community health workers to help connect residents with local clinics, housing support, and other resources.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Stressed cancer patients may seek treatment from anyone willing to offer it.

One doctor advises patients to keep a clear head and stick with a medical professional.

Terry Dee has more.

A 2025 Ohio Department of Health report indicates between 2018 and 2022, Montgomery County represented almost 16 percent of all breast cancer cases. 78 cases of breast cancer in men were reported in the state.

With expensive medical treatment, a certainty, a patient may seek alternative cures they find online.

Breast surgeon and breast cancer survivor Dr. Liz O'Riordan says after a diagnosis, patients are often scared and willing to try anything.

She explains scammers prey on desperation.

There are lots and lots of people who are selling products or cures or clinics and they have glowing testimonials.

They promise you a miracle cure.

It's clever marketing.

They spend thousands and thousands trying to lure you in.

The Ohio Department of Health reports nearly 11,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed among Ohio women each year between 2017 and 2021.

Connecticut organizations are coming together for a day of action tomorrow to help immigrant families.

The Families Belong Together Day of Action kicks off a community engagement campaign to inform people in Danbury about their rights as arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement increase in the city and statewide.

Compared to last year, ICE arrests in Connecticut have doubled under the Trump administration.

Juan Fonseca Tapia, with Danbury United for Immigrants, describes just one example of the local effects, a local grocery store that's losing business because of ICE.

People are afraid of going to the store, especially in that area, because in the vicinity of the courthouse is where we have seen most of the kidnappings have happened.

He says the day of action includes building partnerships to develop a neighborhood-based safety network and one-on-one outreach sharing immigrants rights resources like the Danbury United for Immigrants helpline where people can report ICE activity and connect with resources to help get a family member out of ICE detention.

The event begins at 9 a.m. at Kennedy Park in Danbury.

I'm Edwin J Viera for Public News Service

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