Six minutes of news from around the nation.

The GOP Senate pushback on democrats in an effort to protect Trump's $1.8bn fund; Texas congressman wants to roll back Clean Air protections; NYS lawmakers consider broad redistricting amendment; Maine climate group: U.S. coal investment is a step in the wrong direction.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, June the 5th, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

It was a close call, but GOP senators were able to be back a Democratic effort to permanently block President Donald Trump from creating a $1776 billion settlement fund for payouts to allies who claim they were persecuted by the government.

At this point, it's unclear if GOP lawmakers would be able to fend them off and pass legislation.

The AP notes that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats plan to force votes on the tax immunity granted to Trump as part of the settlement and a host of other issues, including Trump's East Wing ballroom project, his tariffs, his war with Iran, and his immigration enforcement campaign.

Meantime, environmental groups in Texas are fighting back against an attempt to roll back another protection under the Clean Air Act.

Texas Congressman August Pfluger of San Angelo co-authored the Protect Domestic Oil and Gas Small Business Act of 2026.

It's designed to exempt low-producing oil and gas wells from federal regulations.

Luke Metzger with Environment Texas says if passed, the legislation would exempt about 80 percent of oil wells in the U.S. from basic pollution standards that prevent dangerous chemicals from being emitted into the atmosphere.

They are responsible only for about 6% of the nation's oil and gas production, but they are likely responsible for about half of the pollution coming from oil and gas sites, at least according to a study of sites here in Texas in our Permian Basin.

Backers of the bill say small oil and gas producers are being squeezed by Biden-era regulations designed for large-scale producers.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

Next to New York State, where lawmakers approved a new redistricting amendment that could end up on the 2027 ballot.

While it empowers them to redraw congressional lines mid-decade, it would also allow legislators to redraw their own state districts.

The measure would partially repeal a 2014 state constitutional amendment creating an independent redistricting commission and remove certain criteria for district lines.

Rachel Foss with Reinvent Albany says incumbent lawmakers could try to maximize their power.

You saw these situations where a challenger's home would be drawn out of a district by a block.

This has happened to challengers in the past where very intentional line drying was done to eliminate challengers to incumbents.

She adds this could depress voter turnout at a time when non-presidential elections see drastically low voter participation.

With the 2026 legislative session over, the amendment must be voted on and approved by the entire legislature next year before it can be put to the voters in November.

If approved in that time frame, the new maps would be used for the 2028 midterms.

I'm Edwin J. Viera.

A summer amendment was introduced when Texas Republicans approved new congressional maps last year, a move that could gain them up to five House seats.

This is Public News Service.

Climate activists in Maine say the Trump administration's latest investment in coal-fired power plants will put the U.S. even further behind when it comes to renewable energy development.

Federal officials say they'll spend nearly $700 million to build, modernize and restart coal plants nationwide.

Amy Eshoo, director of Maine Climate Action Now, calls that a step in the wrong direction, as other countries invest heavily in solar, wind and battery technologies.

We could be right there with them.

And with this kind of backward support for the fossil fuel industry, it's not going to happen.

And that's a shame.

The Trump administration says the move will create more than 14,000 jobs and reinforce the reliability of the nation's electric grid.

Ruby says nearly half of Maine households can't afford their electric bills, but offshore wind projects that could help lower prices have been stalled by the federal government.

I'm Catherine Carley.

And Utah received new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on pending work requirement changes for Medicaid this week.

The stricter rules pushed by congressional Republicans will take effect in January of 2027.

Recipients without an exemption must work 80 hours a month through employment, education, or community service.

Protect Our Cares' Maddie Toomey says the update doesn't have the guardrails to assure that vulnerable populations won't fall through the cracks.

Nearly 3 million Americans have lost their Medicaid coverage.

So this is even before these Medicaid work requirements are taking effect and the bulk of the coverage losses are going to get worse.

Kumi says more than 180,000 Utahns could lose coverage.

Exemptions from work rules include Native Americans, pregnant women, people with disabilities and parents with young children.

Federal officials contend the changes promote economic stability and self-sufficiency.

I'm Mark Richardson.

Finally, for National CPR and AED Awareness Week, Oregonians whose lives were saved by CPR are telling their stories in hopes of inspiring more people to be prepared to save a life.

Currently, 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die, in part because most do not receive CPR.

Crystal Ball was almost one of them when she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest after a run in 2020.

She says she's grateful for the people around her who took action, what she calls the chain of survival.

My husband getting the 911 operator on the line and that operator telling my husband how to give me hands-only CPR kept me alive.

Every link matters.

Ball adds other links in the chain include the first responders in the ambulance and the advanced care that she got in the hospital.

After surgery for placement of an internal defibrillator and a period of recovery, she's back to living an active life.

I'm Isabel Charlay.

The American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn hands-only CPR.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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