News from around the nation.

The DOJ will keep FBI and ICE agents away from midterm polling places, new data reveals Americans value healthier models of masculinity and leadership, and Texas Latino voters shift toward Democrats as affordability and immigration drive midterm concerns.

Transcript

The Public News Service Thursday afternoon update.

I'm Joe Ulori.

The Justice Department says FBI and ICE agents will not serve as poll monitors during next week's midterm elections.

The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of the Trump administration's role in election enforcement, including efforts to identify suspected non-citizen voters in several states.

The Justice Department has not said whether personnel from other federal agencies will be used at polling places.

The topic of healthy masculinity is being dissected in states like Utah, while national polling suggests some federal officials are out of touch with leadership qualities valued by the public.

Our Mike Moen reports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is described by some as an alpha male, often projecting strength and using insulting language when carrying out duties.

But a new Bulwark survey finds that only 28% of U.S. adults see Hegseth as a strong role model for men, compared with 39% who don't.

In contrast, public figures like Barack Obama and LeBron James scored much better.

Psychologist and retired professor Ron Levant has written about this topic and isn't surprised.

What differentiates these men is really just a stark contrast between a caricature of tough guy masculinity and a modern man who's able to be strong but also compassionate.

Latino voters in Texas are heading into the midterms focused on the cost of living of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

An NBC News Telemundo poll finds Latino voters shifting back toward Democratic candidates after 42 percent supported President Trump in 2024.

Antonita Cotys with Climate Power in Accions says federal clean energy rollbacks are also pushing up household costs.

We were supposed to receive $250 million for solar for low-income areas.

Energy assistance, we were supposed to receive this year $202 million on energy assistance.

Research shows Latino households face an energy burden about 20% higher than white households.

Cuddy says rising utility costs are becoming unsustainable for many families.

New satellites are detecting massive methane leaks in New Mexico's major oil and gas fields, but the Trump administration has eliminated a requirement that companies investigate them.

A new report shows there were 166 large methane pollution events, or super emitters, in the Permian Basin during a recent 16-month period.

It also noted significant discrepancies in whether operators advised the state of the incidents.

Report author Jeff Brumigan with the Gas Leaks Project says the events exposed nearby communities to harmful carcinogens, whether or not operators were aware they had occurred.

Finding that an operator reported a large venting or flaring event only 10% of the time when something was visible from space was a lot lower than I think we would have guessed.

I'm Roz Brown.

This is Public News Service.

Misinformation is being spread about how New York could benefit from fracking, according to a non-profit research firm.

Our Edwin J. Viera has the story.

A 2025 Heritage Foundation report about fracking's economic benefits for the southern tier is an election talking point for some candidates.

The state banned fracking in 2015, citing public health risks and environmental concerns that outweighed any economic benefits.

Sean O'Leary with the Ohio River Valley Institute says nearby Pennsylvania counties with fracking see the same economic impacts as New York counties without it. those counties have actually suffered significant job loss and significant population loss that is statistically almost indistinguishable from the job loss and population loss that have afflicted counties on the new york side of the border the heritage foundation report considers fracking a way to boost revenues for these counties but data collected by o'leary notes this is hardly the case he finds most of the money made from fracking doesn't have local impact since it goes to investors, service providers, and shareholders outside the region.

He also notes income from fracking in Pennsylvania grew just as residents' income dropped, wiping out any net increase.

California wildfire survivors say rebuilding can come with long waits for insurance money and even the risk of losing coverage.

Monica Loya-Clark says her family's five-generation home burned to the ground in the Palisades Fire.

She says FEMA and the state offered no help, and her insurer took nearly two years to pay her claim. people to think that it's going to be there for them when anything really bad happens, it's not.

The only way that we survive is help from each other because we cannot count on any government entity to help us.

Loyola Clark wants stronger protections against long insurance delays.

At the same time, a leaked memo suggests FEMA may shift more disaster responsibility and costs to states.

California's fair plan, the state's insurer of last resort, recently announced a rate increase of nearly 30%.

Changes to social services, including Medicaid and food and nutrition programs like SNAP, have Iowans who rely on those services on edge.

Early Head Start and Child Care Assistance have helped Iowa mother of three Sarah Schilt maintain reliable child care while working full-time.

SNAP helps her feed her children.

Schilt says Medicaid has covered surgeries for her daughter, who was born with a cleft lip and palate, which requires special medical attention.

All the therapies and other medical care that she needs without denying the care so far.

Without Medicaid, our family would face hardship.

Schiltz relies on SNAP and Medicaid, but worries that further cuts could harm her family.

Since the imposition of the Trump administration's budget bill, the number of Iowa SNAP recipients has dropped by about 21,000.

The administration has said it's trying to right-size social service spending, increase accountability, and stop potential abuse.

I'm Mark Moran.

This is Joe Ulori for Public News Service, member and listener supported.

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