News from around the nation.

TSA workers contract provides better working conditions; Mass shooting outside Indianapolis mall leaves 7 injured; Iowa focuses on 'restorative justice' for young offenders; Mississippi kids will miss out on Summer EBT food program.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, April the 1st, 2024.

I'm Mike Clifford.

First, we head to New York where Transportation Safety Officers will see improved working conditions thanks to a newly ratified contract.

The new American Federation of Government Employees and the Transportation Safety Administration Agreement creates an engaging workplace for employees.

Some points in the agreement include a new grievance and arbitration process to resolve cases quicker and better leave conditions.

Mark Schumacher with AFGE Local 2222 says this contract will also help with employee retention.

We have had a lot of attrition through the years.

A lot of young employees get into the TSA and then they jump to other agencies because the pay is not commensurate with the difficult work we do nor are the benefits.

Between late 2022 and mid-2023, TSA attrition rates dropped 61 percent due in part to a new compensation plan.

The contract is significantly longer than the 2020 contract with 37 total articles.

It may seem like a lot, but even something like uniform rates can have meaningful impacts on these workers' lives.

The new contract is valid for seven years with an option to be extended for another year if both parties agree.

It's currently under review by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

During the contentious federal budget process, Republican lawmakers introduced legislation to reverse pay increases for TSA workers who weren't Transportation Safety Officers, but it wasn't in the final budget.

Now from CBS News, seven minors were hospitalized with injuries late Saturday night after a mass shooting broke out in downtown Indianapolis.

The children and teens, who were between the ages of 12 and 17 years old, each sustained gunshot wounds in the shooting, which happened just after 11 p.m.

No suspects have been arrested, but investigators believe more than one weapon was used to carry out the shooting.

CBS notes the police report filed after the incident identified four boys and three girls as victims.

All of them, as of this report, were stable.

Next to Iowa, where a new report by national researchers says the state is making progress in reforming its juvenile justice system and finding ways to steer kids away from crime long term.

The state convened a task force last year to study youth crime diversion programs.

Youth justice researcher with the sentencing project Dick Mandel says Iowa is one of the states making progress on addressing juvenile justice issues.

Diversion tends to be cheaper, especially in net savings financially.

It's a lot cheaper to get a criminal record.

It's a lot cheaper to get a criminal record.

It's a lot cheaper to get a criminal record.

It's a lot cheaper to get a criminal record.

It's a lot cheaper to get a criminal record.

Recently from our Deborah Van Fleet, the Nebraska-Winnebago Tribe's Ho-Chunk Community Development Corporation has been awarded $2 million through McKenzie-Scott's Yield Giving Company.

Some 6,300 nonprofits applied to Yield Giving's open call for grants and HCCDC was among 279 to receive a top tier rating. 82 organizations in the next highest tier each received $1 million.

HCCDC Executive Director Christine Earth says the tribe has a lot to be proud of but a lot of work left to do.

We're so excited and we're so thankful for this generous gift for our community.

We do have a lot of issues.

We have a lot of health disparities and so a donation like this really is going to make an impact for our entire tribe as a whole.

This is Mike Clifford and thank you for starting your week with public news service, member and listener supported.

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