Six minutes of news from around the nation.

A whirlwind day for Luigi Mangione ends with new charges and transfer to a federal prison Food insecurity prompts ND advocates to eye universal school meals; FL coastline sinking: New study questions safety, future of construction; MA state grants boost rural economies, climate resilience.

Transcript

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, December the 20th, 2024.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Luigi Mangione had a busy Thursday with a two-state courthouse tour turned spectacle, featuring a helicopter ride, a throng of escorts, including the mayor of New York City at one point.

The 26-year-old murder suspect began his day at a jail in Huntington, Pennsylvania, his home for the last 10 days, and it ended in a notorious federal prison in New York.

CNN reports a tourist was seen nearby taking videos and photos upon his arrival at a Manhattan heliport.

Meantime, North Dakota is expected to rejoin the debate over whether all school kids, regardless of their family income, should have access to no-cost meals.

Universal lunch programs have been adopted by nearly 10 states, including neighboring Minnesota.

A broad coalition of organizations gathered Thursday to push for adding North Dakota to the list.

The federal government funds free or reduced-cost meals to income-eligible students.

States with universal policies cover the remaining expenses so all kids eat free.

Michelle Wagner of the North Dakota School Nutrition Association says working in a school cafeteria has opened her eyes about the need.

As a food service director, we see firsthand that many of these students depend on school meals as their primary source of nutrition.

A likely bill sponsor says there appears to be bipartisan support, but expects pushback over cost concerns even with a budget surplus.

I'm Mike Moen.

And when the Champlain Tower South collapsed in Surfside in 2021, taking 96 lives, it sent shockwaves across South Florida.

The tragedy has left lingering questions about the safety of coastal high-rises and whether the ground beneath them is as solid as once thought.

A new study by scientists from the University of Miami uncovers a troubling pattern. 35 buildings along the coastline from Miami Beach to Sunny Owls Beach are sinking, some at rates of up to 8 centimeters in the past seven years.

Lead author Farzana Aziz Zanjani calls the findings significant.

We saw a correlation between the start of the subsidence and the nearby construction activities.

And we also found some correlation between the geology.

So as we move from Sunny Owls to Miami Beach, the amount of subsidence is less.

Using satellite-based technology, the team tracks subtle ground movements that are otherwise invisible.

Sunny Owls Beach, known for its luxury high-rises, showed the most dramatic rates of subsidence.

The researchers believe the Southern Florida geology, softer sandy layers within the limestone, may be a factor.

I'm Tramiel Gomes.

This is Public News Service.

We head next to Massachusetts, where rural communities are benefiting from state grants aimed at strengthening the local food supply and building climate resilience.

State officials have awarded nearly $4 million to help farmers improve soil health, upgrade irrigation systems, and prepare for extreme weather events, including the current critical drought conditions.

Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randall says farms are helping the state meet its ambitious climate goals.

They're a mitigation and resilience strategy so that farms can be best positioned to withstand the changing weather conditions that they're facing.

Randall says grants will help farms improve efficiency and environmental controls and reduce greenhouse gases.

Massachusetts has set a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

I'm Katherine Carley.

Meantime, Indiana's busy holiday roads can put older drivers to the test.

With 2.8 million Hoosiers traveling this season, Triple A Hoosier Motor Club encourages families to help senior drivers stay safe.

The club's Christina Griffiths highlights the importance of preparation for older drivers.

It really isn't about age, necessarily.

It truly is a case-by-case basis of what am I dealing with physically, mentally, emotionally, and what can I do better to be as safe as possible?

Griffiths recommends that older drivers take simple steps to prepare for challenging conditions.

She suggests checking car tires, brakes, and visibility aids like wiper blades.

I'm Joe Ulari, Public News Service.

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Finally, with Christmas less than a week away, experts are giving advice on how seniors and the community can fight against social isolation.

A United Health Foundation report ranks Maryland 27th in the nation for the risk of social isolation to its seniors.

One study by AARP finds more than 30 percent of seniors have felt lonely over the past five years during the holidays.

Psychologist Lois Mazaras with Maryland AARP says that there are common signs that warn family, friends, or seniors themselves that they may be experiencing isolation.

One of those, she says, is shrinking social circles.

They're complaining of their world shrinking.

They're no longer working, so they're not doing things with coworkers.

Friends have moved away to warmer climates or to be closer to grandchildren.

Mazaras says other signs of loneliness include a lack of interest in previously loved activities and unexplainable physical ailments.

That could mean seniors complaining of a sore arm or leg, despite doctors not being able to find anything wrong.

She suggests reaching out to family members and friends on the phone or going for walks in the neighborhood.

Even if they don't feel like accepting an invitation, Mazaras says they should go.

I'm Simone Perez.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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