Six minutes of news from around the nation.

Trump, E.U. reach contours of trade deal with 15% tariffs; Report: Colorado workers must earn $36.79 per hour to afford housing; Maine farmers assess climate risks as USDA cuts conservation funding; Tennessee celebrates 35 years of Americans with Disabilities Act.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service daily newscast July the 28th, 2025.

I'm Mike Clifford.

President Donald Trump on Sunday touted a trade agreement with the European Union following months of contentious negotiations with one of the US's top trading partners.

That from the Washington Post.

They report Trump said he would impose a 15 percent duty on most imports from the European Union.

That's about half of his latest threat of 30 percent in levities.

The White House did not release specific details of the trade agreement.

The Post notes with few details made public, many trade specialists were reluctant to comment on the announced agreement.

Some note that the earlier presidential announcements of trade deals have actually referred to skeleton agreements that require additional negotiations to finalize.

And minimum wage workers in Colorado have to work two full-time jobs, or 82 hours per week, to afford a one-bedroom apartment.

That's according to the National Low-Income Housing Coalition Project.

There are just 26 affordable housing units in Colorado for every 100 low-income households, but almost all new housing comes with price tags only top earners and investors can pay.

Kathy Alderman with the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless says the report underscores the need to build more low- and middle-income housing.

And not just building housing that is luxury or market rate and oftentimes out of reach even for households that are receiving more than the minimum wage.

The report cites decades of disinvestment in public housing initiatives as the primary driver of the nation's current shortage of more than 7 million affordable housing units.

There's not a single state or major metropolitan area with enough housing for its lowest income workers.

Colorado's most expensive areas include Summit, Eagle, and Pitkin counties in metro Denver, but moderate to low-income tenants still can't afford the rent in the state's least expensive areas.

I'm Eric Galatas.

Next to Maine, where farmers are benefiting from free climate risk assessments as federal funds for conservation efforts are on the decline.

Warming temperatures and extreme weather events are increasingly disrupting planting schedules, eroding soil and impacting crop yields.

Allison Beislein East with Maine Farmland Trust says her organization helps farmers find quick and practical ways to become more climate resilient.

You know, we've talked to farmers that were like, I know that I'm experiencing climate impacts, but I don't have the language to describe what it is.

She says farmers can sign up for a two-hour consultation or work with her staff to develop climate adaptation plans over the course of six months.

Scientists say Maine is likely to experience colder, wetter springs and hotter summers in the coming decades.

I'm Catherine Karley.

USDA officials say the Biden-era climate programs were cut due to concerns over high administrative costs.

Maine lawmakers have introduced legislation to ensure access to zero-interest loans in the event of another extreme weather event.

This is Public News Service.

Communities across Tennessee are celebrating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act with events, proclamations and public recognition.

The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and ensures equal access in employment, education, transportation and public life.

Sarah Sampson with Tennessee Disability Coalition says the ADA has a meaningful impact affirming that people living with a disability are worthy of dignity and equal opportunity.

It means that kids with disabilities can play at the park and Memphis together.

It means that Nissan in Franklin has to post accessible job applications and grocery stores in Johnson City have curb cuts so that folks in wheelchairs can get in.

Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly 1.8 million Tennesseans are living with a disability.

Danielle Smith reporting.

We head next to Alaska, where rural power customers are likely to pay higher electricity rates as a result of the elimination of incentives to switch away from traditional fossil fuels.

More than 90 percent of Alaska residents rely on power cooperatives for their electricity, which have made an effort in recent years to invest in wind and solar, especially in the most remote areas.

Alaska Energy blog author Aaron McKittrick says rate payers will pay higher prices as a result of fewer alternative energy options.

Renewable energy is holding out this promise to maybe keep rates down, but the way things are going, we may not get that option, or if we get it, it might be more expensive than it is otherwise, so everybody's going to see their rates go up.

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski tried to negotiate some alternative energy tax credits into the bill for her state just prior to a final vote, but was not able to secure money for Alaska's indigenous whale hunters.

I'm Mark Moran.

Finally, the uncertainty in public schools is continuing, even as the Trump administration released K-12 funding that had been withholding.

In Illinois, $280 million in federal funds were frozen for a number of weeks, placing an additional burden on struggling school districts.

Illinois relies on that money for about 12 percent of its education budget.

But John Berkey with the Large Unit District Association of Illinois says low-income school districts depend on the funding more than others.

He says Chicago Public Schools, the state's largest school district, is especially vulnerable.

"The impact of this is very different depending on the district.

It's bad for every district but it's not equal for every district and so some are being impacted by this more than others."

The Trump administration has said it will now release all frozen funds but did not provide a clear timeline.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford and thank you for starting your week with Public News Service member and listener supported.

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