Six minutes of news from around the nation.

Trump tests presidential authority in revamping NM, U.S. voting laws; NV legislators, conservation groups demand action on lower rates, clean energy; North TX county sues feds over PFAS contamination; Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu impacts on wallet over health.

Transcript

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, March 28, 2025.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The White House Thursday polled Representative Elise DeFolik's nomination to be the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. amid concerns over slim margins in the U.S.

House of Representatives, keeping one of Trump's most vocal allies in Congress.

That from CNN.

President Trump declared he was withdrawing the nomination, which had already languished for months, to help preserve the House GOP's razor-thin majority, critical, he said, to enacting his agenda.

Under the current breakdown, Republicans could only afford to have two defections and still pass a bill on a party-line vote.

Meantime, an executive order signed by President Trump to dramatically overhaul voting laws is unlikely to stand up in court, according to an election law expert.

But some states may adopt its provisions to gain political favor.

David Becker, who leads the Center for Election Innovation and Research, calls the order an "executive power grab" meant to dictate how all 50 states will run their future elections.

He notes the president's order would require proof of citizenship on the National Voter Registration Form and require the invalidation of ballots received after Election Day.

I think it's very, very unlikely that this will take legal effect.

It may be that some states adapt procedures, if they're friendly to the president, to comply with the EO.

But it's very unlikely that the federal government will be able to enforce many aspects of this EO, if not all of the aspects.

Becker expects voting rights groups and state attorneys general to file challenges.

I'm Roz Brown.

The order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that don't comply with its directives ahead of the 2026 midterms.

And this week, Nevada lawmakers and conservation groups stood up for policies they say will help lower energy bills, protect the outdoors, and grow the state's economy.

Kristi Watson with the Nevada Conservation League explains NCL is working to hold utility monopolies like Envy Energy and Southwest Gas accountable.

A recent survey says almost 90 percent of respondents agree that both utility companies must do more to keep bills affordable.

Watson says Nevada families are crunching numbers to cover expenses.

So it's our job to show up and tell our legislators that we are going to advocate for ourselves and the rest of everyday Nevada.

Times are tough.

The fight is hard.

I'm frustrated.

I'm exhausted.

I know all of us are.

But this is also a worthwhile fight.

Watson says they're advocating for legislation to create rate-payer protections to ensure utilities spend customer dollars wisely and responsibly.

I'm Alex Gonzalez reporting.

And Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday the State Department has revoked more than 300 student visas as the Trump administration continues to detain and deport pro-Palestinian student activists at universities across the country.

That from Politico.

They report the waiver revocations as part of a larger push by Trump to punish perceived enemies or critics.

This is Public News Service.

Next to the Lone Star State where officials in Johnson County just south of Fort Worth are awaiting a decision from Governor Greg Abbott on a request for a state disaster declaration because of PFAS contamination.

The county declared a state of disaster two years ago after it was determined biosolids applied to land on one farm contaminated other properties in the county.

Kyla Bennett with public employees for environmental responsibility says many farmers are losing their livelihoods.

The FDA either halted entry or pulled cans of tuna and clams that had between 22,000 and 25,000 parts per trillion of PFOS in them.

We found in the fish 57,000 parts per trillion of PFOS and 74,000 parts per trillion.

Farmers are suing the biofertilizer company as well as the EPA.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

This story produced by Sarah Hashimi for Sentinet Health.

And folks in West Virginia are more concerned about the bird flu's impact on grocery costs rather than health implications and GOP voters are more likely to distrust CDC information about the virus.

That's according to a new poll from the health and policy research and news organization KFF.

Rising economic pressure has households more worried about paying for housing, gas, transportation and everyday expenses explains Audrey Carney, a senior survey analyst with KFF.

We found that only half of the public says that they are really hearing a lot about bird flu on a day-to-day basis so it might not be resonating in the way of health but it definitely is resonating when they go grocery shopping.

Since 2022, officials have identified just two backyard flocks, around 260 birds in the state, impacted by the virus.

Nadia Ramlagan reporting.

And finally, a new report takes a look at differences in state juvenile justice system financing, looking at how local control can improve outcomes.

The report, titled "Transforming Juvenile Justice Through Strategic Financing," compares seven states and highlights Ohio's Reclaim initiative as influential.

Reclaim began in 1993 and encouraged courts to implement community-based alternatives to youth incarceration with the aim of decreasing the likelihood of repeated arrest.

Gabriella Celeste with Case Western Reserve University says Reclaim and its recent updates have transformed the state's juvenile justice system.

In the last 10 years or so, it's really upped its game, the state of Ohio, in ensuring that the kinds of interventions are based on what works with kids.

And that's where we see the new kind of iterations of Reclaim, the targeted Reclaim, and especially competitive Reclaim.

Brett Pivito reporting.

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

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