News from around the nation.

Trump taps Zeldin to lead EPA and promises 'fair and swift' deregulatory decisions; Indiana's farmers and Trump's deregulation dilemma; 7 Colorado colleges cited for students' workforce-readiness success; Middletown looks to J.D. Vance to help improve his hometown's economy.

Transcript

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, November the 12th, 2024.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Donald Trump has announced he will nominate Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, saying the former New York congressman and gubernatorial candidate will focus on cutting regulations.

That for the Gardian, and a quote from a Trump statement.

"Lee, with a very strong legal background, has been a true fighter for America First policies.

He will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American business."

Meantime, agriculture policy may not be grabbing headlines, but it impacts millions of Hoosiers and Americans alike.

During his first presidency, Donald Trump took a pro-business stance on agriculture and factory farming, rolling back several protections for the environment and animal welfare.

Seth Milstein is a science reporter for Sentient.

He reports Trump's changes to school lunch standards ties into the broader context of deregulation under the president-elect's former term.

Trump, as president, lowered the standards for school lunches.

He decreased the minimum amount of vegetables required for a meal.

I believe he also increased the maximum amount of sodium allowed in school lunches.

Trump's administration also reduced oversight on pollutants from factory farms, impacting environmental and public health regulations, and allowing farms to emit pollutants without tracking, despite health risks.

This story is based on original reporting by Seth Milstein for Sentient.

I'm Joe Ulery, Public News Service.

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.

And Colorado needs workers.

The state's colleges and universities are on it.

Eric Galatas has more.

Governor Jared Polis has designated seven Colorado colleges and universities as career-connected campuses for their work getting more students from all parts of the state and backgrounds ready for high-demand, good-paying jobs that drive the state's economy.

Dr. Jillian McKnight, to time with the Colorado Department of Higher Education, says these schools have prioritized practical skills for students.

They are committed to the professional development and career readiness while those students are in the classroom. 75 percent of all jobs in Colorado and 94 percent of top jobs that pay enough to sustain a family require some form of education beyond high school.

But just 50 percent of high school grads are pursuing post-secondary education.

The schools receiving the first-ever designation are Colorado College, Colorado School of Minds, the online CSU Global, Pueblo Community College, Regis University, CU Denver, and the University of Denver.

The state has been working to remove cost as a barrier for students, and many certificate and degree programs are zero tuition.

This is public news service.

Republicans in Ohio will soon have stronger representation in Washington, D.C. now that the Buckeye state native and vice president-elect J.D. Vance is set to take office in January.

Across the country and here in Ohio, a majority of voters cast their ballots to elect Donald Trump as the 47th president with Vance as his running mate.

Amy Hagan is a resident of Vance's hometown of Middletown.

Hagan says she voted for him and is hopeful for what she calls a brighter future.

I think it's really cool just to be able to get our name out there, you know, see what he's got.

I just hope he stands up to his word.

That's my biggest thing is trust.

Improving the economy will be a major issue for many voters in Middletown, where the poverty rate is over 19 percent, more than 6.5 percent above the national rate.

Women between ages 35 and 44 make up the largest group of people in poverty in the city, followed by women ages 45 and 54.

Farah Siddiqui reporting.

And the faith-based non-profit Our Calling is working with unsheltered clients in North Texas to create a long-term exit plan to help them rebuild their lives.

More than 4,400 unhoused people live in Dallas and Collin counties.

A recent study by the Dallas County Health Department shows it costs more than $193 million annually to care for people experiencing homelessness.

Pastor Wayne Walker says in Our Calling's 15 years of operation, it has found that a lack of community sends people into homelessness.

All of us have financial problems and every single person has crisis in their life.

The difference between someone who's experiencing homelessness and someone who's not is one of those people had a team of friends that they could call, family in their life, co-workers, and the other one doesn't.

He says before COVID, they assisted about 15 people per week.

That number has now increased to 75 people a week.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

The group also created the Neighborhood Solutions app to help individuals assist anyone experiencing homelessness.

Finally, from Eric Tegethoff, incarcerated young people in Washington state can spend a longer time in detention if they don't have a place to go upon release.

Some of the reasons for longer stays for people under the age of 18 include youth who are experiencing homelessness or are in between homeless shelters.

Sarah Zier is with Team Child, a Washington state-based advocacy group for youth involved with the juvenile justice system.

She says overstaying in detention is devastating for the youth who experience it.

They're facing layers of challenges.

Not only do they not have a safe place to sleep or to go home to or a family and supportive adult to meet their needs, but then they're held in detention where they're isolated and they don't have a chance of those things.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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