Six minutes of news from around the nation.

Pentagon flags risks of a major operation against Iran; SOTU address: Environmentalists say OH, U.S. climate is worse off; TX home construction market could be hit hard by deportations; Could a temporary price cap on groceries help NH families?

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, February the 24th, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

As the Trump administration weighs an attack on Iran, the Pentagon's top general has cautioned the president and other officials that shortfalls in critical munitions and a lack of support from allies will add significant risk to the operations and to US personnel.

That's according to people familiar with the discussions.

The Washington Post reports General Dan Cain, chairman of the Joint Chiefs expressed his concerns at a White House meeting last week, cautioning any major operation against Iran will face challenges because the US munitions stockpile has been significantly depleted by Washington's ongoing defense of Israel and support for Ukraine.

Meantime, like most presidents before him, President Donald Trump is expected to tout his energy policy accomplishments when he delivers his State of the Union address tonight.

Our Mark Richardson reports, environmentalists say those policies are hurting both the economy and the environment.

In the past year, Trump has emphasized carbon-based energy, downgraded renewables, and decimated climate regulations.

David Key with the Environmental Defense Fund says Ohio and the rest of the country are not better off.

One year into the second Trump presidency, the state of our union is worse off than it was before.

It's worse off environmentally, and it's certainly worse off in terms of the cost that the American people are paying. under the second Trump administration, energy prices have risen at more than twice the rate of inflation.

Clean energy has been constrained and sources of dirty energy have been propped up.

The president will deliver his address at a joint session of Congress tonight at 9 p.m. Eastern time.

Democratic response will follow.

I'm Mark Richardson.

And a recent study shows that construction business in Texas could be affected if the Trump administration reaches its goal of net zero migration into the U.S.

A report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University shows the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington Metroplex leads the nation in home building with nearly 350,000 permits annually and migrants make up the majority of the workforce for new home builds and remodeling.

Reardon Frost with the Center says the most productive metro areas are building houses, condos and apartments that often rely heavily on immigrant labor. role is even more disproportionate in metropolitan areas with really high home building activity or really high remodeling activities.

So essentially really high demand for those trades workforces. 61 percent of the trades workforce in North Texas is foreign born.

Last year for the first time in 50 years, the US had net zero migration, a trend the administration has attributed to President Donald Trump's efforts to deport what it describes as criminal aliens and end what it calls a migrant invasion.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

This is public news service.

Some affordability advocates are now calling for a price freeze on key food items as New Hampshire residents struggle with high costs.

The Center for American Progress claims a negotiated temporary cap on dozens of staples like beef, eggs, and milk would provide relief and allow wages to catch up to food prices.

Senior fellow Michael Negron says lawmakers could then crack down on anti-competitive practices among the food industry's largest players.

"Give them some breathing room on grocery prices, provide some relief, do that while creating space to undertake some bigger reforms that we think are important."

He adds grocers could recover any lost income through lowered credit card transaction fees, expanded SNAP benefits and exemptions from certain tariffs.

Critics argue the plan could lead to food shortages while failing to address the root causes of inflation, including supply chain issues.

I'm Catherine Carley.

And early voting in North Carolina's 2026 primary election is underway.

People who've been involved in the justice system are still eligible to vote in many cases.

In-person early voting began on February 12th and lasts through the 28th.

Primary election day is March 3rd.

Whitley Carpenter with the North Carolina based organization Forward Justice says people with misdemeanors can vote, but those with felony convictions lose their right to vote while they're incarcerated or if they're on probation or parole after release.

Once you have completed any of that supervisory period of your sentence, then you can re-register to vote and can legally do so.

North Carolinians are able to register to vote in person during the early voting period.

For people with questions about their voting status, Forward Justice has what it calls a second chance voter hotline at 1-877-880-VOTE.

I'm Eric Tegethoff reporting.

And finally, money for Montana wildlife conservation is now available to the public.

Folks can learn more at an event this week.

The Montana legislature passed a law last session investing millions of dollars in wildlife habitat, public access, and outdoor recreation.

Ginny Cloutier with the Flathead Avalanche Center says the money could help maintain her group's weather stations, which provide data for avalanche forecasts and warnings.

Up to date information for the public as trail users are making decisions, in particular winter trail users are making decisions about their own safety and terrain choices.

The money, about 32 million dollars over the next two years, comes from recreational marijuana taxes.

People can learn more about these funds at the first Montana Land and Legacy stop this Thursday at Bias Brewing in Kalispell from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund and other groups are planning more events like this across the state this spring including in Billings and Livingston.

I'm Laura Hatch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service, member and listener supported.

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