Six minutes of news from around the nation.

The House ends the government shutdown by funding most of DHS; LA GOP Governor Jeff Landry puts US House primaries on hold; California May Day gatherings focus on immigration and affordability; Small-town Mainers join nationwide May Day general strike; Philadelphia food bank sees surge in demand as 700,000 face hunger.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service daily newscast May the 1st, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The U.S. House ended the record 75-day government shutdown Thursday by approving a Senate-passed bill that would fund much of the Department of Homeland Security.

President Trump signed the measure into law, funding DHS agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, the TSA, and the Secret Service through the end of September.

And from the Washington Post, Louisiana's GOP Governor Jeff Landry Thursday suspended next month's House primary elections so state lawmakers can pass a new congressional map first as states face pressure from Republican leaders to redraw districts in time for the midterms.

Meantime, today is May Day, also known as International Workers Day.

This year, gatherings in California and across the U.S. will call for immigration reform and policies that improve affordability and defend democracy.

Union organizers are calling out cuts under the Department of Government Efficiency that decimated the federal workforce, as well as immigration and customs enforcement raids that are sowing fear in immigrant communities.

David Huerta, president of SEIU United Service Workers West, says the immigration crackdown disrupts the economy and hurts thousands of California working families.

They are attacking people who have been here working hard and demonstrating every day they're wanting to be part of this country, but yet this president treated them as criminals.

Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives approved $70 billion for immigration enforcement, saying the funding is necessary to protect American jobs and the rule of law.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

Across the nation, in Maine, James Cook is a volunteer with the Knox County-based group The Audacity, which is encouraging Mainers to take part in a nationwide general strike.

So asking people to take a day to avoid their workplace if they can, any shopping, and to step out of school if they feel comfortable.

Organizers nationwide say the goal is to show the collective power of workers to disrupt what they call business as usual, including the war in Iran.

Next to Pennsylvania, where rising costs and uncertainty about federal aid are putting pressure on food banks.

One in six children across the region and one in three children in Philadelphia specifically are facing hunger.

Dorothy Wong with Philabundance says the Hunger Relief Organization has already seen a spike in need after changes to SNAP last fall.

Wong emphasizes that Philabundance is taking a broader approach to fighting hunger, recognizing that many people also face challenges related to housing and mental health.

We are really grateful that we have a lot of strong partnerships and really committed donors and volunteers that are really helping the cause right now.

Wong points out that Phil Abundance is part of the National Feeding America Network and serves nine counties, including five in southeastern Pennsylvania and four in southern New Jersey.

Danielle Smith reporting.

This is Public News Service.

We head next to Virginia, a state that ranks in the middle of states for its enrollment, quality, and funding of preschool education, according to a new report.

The report by the National Institute for Early Education Research places Virginia at 28th among all U.S. states for this kind of funding.

However, when all public spending is considered, Virginia jumps to 18th.

In the state, just 3 percent of 3-year-olds and 22 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled in preschool during the 2024-2025 school year.

Allison Gilbreth, with Voices for Virginia's Children, says educational access and quality often go hand in hand.

We have to increase our per pupil investment at the state level.

That is going to get us at quality because we're going to pay the true cost of care.

And it's also going to increase access when we're able to add additional slots across the state.

Per pupil spending increased over the last five years from $4,800 in 2020 to more than $6,000 in 2025.

I'm Zamone Perez.

And Native American advocates say a Supreme Court ruling this week that deemed racial redistricting under the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional significantly weakens protections for Native voters.

The Voting Rights Act historically served to protect minority groups from racial discrimination in voting practices.

In a landmark decision on Wednesday, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana redistricting map that created a second-majority Black district.

Jacqueline DeLeon, senior attorney with the Native American Rights Fund, says the court issued a backward analysis, blurring the line between racial and political discrimination and essentially condoning bias on the basis of politics.

The outcome is going to be discrimination where Native and minority voters are blocked out of any representation.

And that really is what the Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent.

Legal experts warn the ruling could potentially influence a Supreme Court petition from North Dakota tribes that would determine whether private citizens and groups have the right to sue over discriminatory voting maps.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

Finally, Michigan educators are joining a national push for better pay.

New reports from the National Education Association show wages are rising, but not fast enough to keep up with inflation over the past decade.

Survey data and educator accounts reveal many are taking on second jobs to make ends meet.

Michigan special needs paraeducator Robert Gaines III spoke out about the crisis during an NEA webinar this week.

This very week, I celebrate 20 years in education.

And I do believe that out of the 20 years, there has only been one year that I've been able to do two jobs or less.

Supporters say Better Pay could help schools retain staff, while critics warn it could strain budgets and taxpayers.

Crystal Blair reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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