Six minutes of news from around the nation.

AL bill to review life sentences without parole moves forward; FEMA grant cancellations spark FL outcry as hurricane season looms; NYS lawmakers urged to keep vehicle pollution protection; IRS Direct File saves PA tax filers time and money.

Transcript

The Public News Service daily newscast April the 11th, 2025.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The Supreme Court Thursday instructed the government to take steps to return a Salvadoran migrant and it wrongly deported to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

That's from the New York Times.

They report in an unsigned order, the court endorsed a part of the trial judge's order that required the government to facilitate and effectuate the return of the migrant, Kilmar Armando Obrego Garcia.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court said the order properly requires the government to facilitate Obrego Garcia's release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador.

Next, the House Judiciary Committee has advanced a bill that would give some people in Alabama's prisons, those serving life without parole for nonviolent crimes, the chance to ask a judge to reconsider their sentences.

Senate Bill 156 only applies to those who've served at least 25 years and whose crimes involve no physical injury.

Senator Will Barfoot of Pike Road, who's carrying the bill in the Senate, says this isn't a blanket release.

It simply opens the courtroom door for a review.

There is an estimated 150 to 200 individuals that this may apply to.

This is not what's been called a get out of jail free card.

In fact, it just gives that individual the ability to petition the court.

Supporters say the bill puts the focus on fairness, arguing some people have already served decades for crimes less serious than others who've been released.

But not everyone sees it that way, especially when it comes to victims.

Shantia Hudson reporting.

SB 156 awaits action by the full House.

The bill was amended to give the Attorney General more oversight and to ensure victims and prosecutors have a voice in the process.

And the Federal Emergency Management Agency has abruptly ended a key disaster preparedness program, sparking concerns as another active hurricane season looms for Florida.

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, known as BRIC, had distributed $5 billion nationwide in the last five years for projects ranging from floodplain restoration to storm-resistant infrastructure.

Florida's Leon County Democratic Party Chair Ryan Ray calls the decision reckless in a state still recovering from recent hurricanes.

Hurricane Milton and Helene did billions of dollars of catastrophic damage to Florida.

And the federal BRICS program administered through FEMA is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, infrastructural-oriented funding that we need to get our communities back on track after storms.

In announcing its end, FEMA called the program "wasteful and politicized."

Although it was created during the first Trump administration, BRICS cancellation comes as climate scientists predict increased storm activity this hurricane season.

I'm Trammell Gomes.

This is Public News Service.

The future of New York's advanced clean truck standards could be at risk as a bill in the legislature would postpone their implementation.

The standards prohibit heavy duty vehicles like trucks and buses from idling more than five minutes at a time.

Proponents of the standards say they're crucial to achieving goals in the state's climate law.

At a news conference, Connor Bambrick with the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance said the protections help reduce the health impacts of vehicle exhaust.

Communities like those in the South Bronx that are suffering from the highest asthma rates in the nation, rolling back the advanced clean truck rule will only perpetuate public health harms there and cause even further increased costs to New Yorkers.

While New York City residents face the highest air pollution risks, people in large urban areas are at high risk as well.

The state bill that would postpone these standards comes amid federal rollbacks of environmental protections. to repeal the advanced clean truck standards has been introduced in Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back numerous air quality regulations.

I'm Edwin J. Viera.

And Pennsylvania among a growing number of states offering residents access to the Internal Revenue Service's free tax filing system, Direct File.

The online tool was created to save people both time and money by allowing them to file directly with the IRS while removing the need for costly tax prep services.

Lucas DiBartolo of East Stroudsburg says using Direct File was easy and recommends it for people looking to take advantage of available tax credits.

And it could be, you know, hundreds, to thousands of dollars back in their pocket.

And this software is really good at seeing what tax credits people qualify for.

It's estimated about 20 percent of eligible taxpayers don't claim the earned income tax credit.

DiBartolo says using Direct File was quicker than other online tools he's used and and appreciated his quick refund.

I'm Catherine Carley.

By the way, Direct File is not yet available for freelancers, gig workers, people with complicated investments, or those who work across multiple states.

Finally, Wildlife Conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species.

Currently, more than 1,100 animals from salamanders to mountain lions to birds need protection.

Graham Jones with the Texas Conservation Alliance says the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is at the forefront of the work and has the agency created a comprehensive program to save the near threatened Guadalupe Bass.

Through stockings in different rivers and creeks, restoration projects in watersheds and rivers, and then the management of invasive plants and how that might affect the rivers, and then also bringing in the public to help them.

The department is updating its wildlife action plan that helps manage and conserve various species to keep them off the threatened and endangered list.

A survey is available on the department's website.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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