Six minutes of news from around the nation.

In a closed-door vote, the GOP selects Ohio's representative Jim Jordan as the next House minority leader; women veterans call for greater representation in battle for services, and Latino faith leaders in Washington get back the care they give.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service, Daily Newscast, November the 11th, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The House GOP elected a new leader Tuesday to replace outgoing Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican of Louisiana.

NBC News notes House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio defeated Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, a close Johnson ally, for minority leader.

The vote was held by secret ballot.

And for CNN, House GOP leaders successfully killed a push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hexeth, a surprising show of unity from a battered and divided Republican Party after last week's midterm drubbing, preventing a humiliating vote for President Donald Trump.

Meantime, to mark this Veterans Day today, women veterans are calling for greater female representation within the military to address the high rate of sexual assaults and the lack of adequate mental health care.

Under the Trump administration, the Pentagon has removed several high-ranking female military officers and blocked the promotions of dozens more.

Rebecca Cornell-DeHoux runs the Sisters in Arms Center in Augusta, Maine, which provides emergency shelter to women veterans and their children.

She says women leaders are more likely to champion policies that demand safety and respect.

It is really necessary that we create a culture where sexual assault harassment isn't permitted.

And it goes back to ensuring that we have women in leadership positions.

One in three active duty service members reported incidents of unwanted sexual contact or sexual assault to the Department of War last year.

That's up from one in four in 2023.

But Cornell DeHu notes that many assaults still go unreported.

I'm Katherine Carley.

Military sexual trauma significantly increases the risk of suicide and also homelessness for women veterans, who now make up 10% of the overall homeless veteran population.

And Latino pastors and faith leaders in Washington state and across the country are getting more support to better serve their communities thanks to a program providing them new skills, connections, and resources.

Hispanic Access Foundation just wrapped up its latest 10-month leadership training program for pastoral leaders serving high-need Hispanic congregations across the U.S.

Jasmine Larocque with the Thriving Clergy Program says faith leaders are often the first place people go for material and emotional support, but they aren't always equipped to meet the needs and often face burnout.

We recognize that these leaders play an important role in the churches and in their communities, and so our goal is just to provide them with the tools, resources, training, and relationships they need to lead effectively.

LaRock explains the Thriving Clergy Program offers a handful of tracks, including one focused on mental health first aid and two focused on leading children and families.

She says people can apply for the free 10-month leadership cohort at HispanicAccess.org with a soft deadline of November 16th.

I'm Isobel Charle.

This is Public News Service.

Pennsylvania has a new law that will ban the manufacture, sale, and distribution of Class B firefighting foams that contain intentionally added PFAS chemicals. 96% of waterways tested in Pennsylvania from 2020 to 2024 contain PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, according to a new study.

Jennifer Quinn with the Sierra Club Pennsylvania Chapter says Senate Bill 804 passed both chambers this session and Governor Josh Shapiro signed it into law in October.

She notes that environmental organizations have worked with the state's firefighters union for six years to get the bill passed.

Getting PFAS containing firefighting foam band not only protects firefighters, it protects drinking water, right, and soil and communities.

These long-lasting chemicals have been linked to certain cancers, immune system problems, and other health risks, with firefighters facing greater exposure through firefighting foam and contaminated protective gear.

Danielle Smith reporting.

And a new report offers a roadmap for California colleges to attract more working adults to pursue a degree.

The nonprofit California Competes is out with new findings showing the state has more than 6 million adults of prime working age without higher education credentials.

The organization's Sujin Jez says colleges around the region must make it easier for people to pursue their studies while working full-time to support a family.

So this means flexible schedules, making financial aid and child care more accessible, and providing the concrete support today students need to finish.

Among California adults ages 25 to 54 who graduated high school but not college, almost half took college classes but did not complete a degree.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

And finally, November is National Family Caregivers Month.

New research finds helping loved ones age safely is becoming increasingly more expensive, with out-of-pocket costs associated with care surging nearly 60% in five years.

New AARP research finds family caregivers spend more than $11,000 a year on out-of-pocket expenses, with those costs swallowing a third of their household income on average.

Josh Askfig with AARP North Dakota notes for those earning less than $40,000 a year, those expenses can account for more than 75% of household budgets.

Folks are already feeling pinched, but when you combine that with the fact that you're seeing this big increase of those unpaid family members helping their loved ones, you realize very quickly that caregivers need practical support.

AARP estimates 82,000 North Dakotans provide unpaid care for adult family members and friends, work valued at $1.3 billion annually.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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