News from around the nation.

Montanans highlight fair election progress, but challenges remain; Trump unveils the most extreme closing argument in modern presidential history; Even in a red state, politics take a back seat to welcoming New Americans; Climate Corps workers: California here we come.

Transcript

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, October the 29th, 2024.

I'm Mike Clifford.

With the election just a week away, advocates for fair elections in Montana met recently as part of a coalition to highlight efforts to protect voting rights at the state and federal levels.

The event highlighted recent victories in the ongoing struggles to educate voters and ensure transparency at the ballot box.

Montana Farmers Union President Walter Schweitzer says no matter a voter's political stripe, it's important for people to vote, but also to advocate for fair and open elections.

This is about showing up for the future of our state.

Encourage your neighbors, family, and friends to stay engaged.

Don't just vote.

Keep pushing for transparency and fairness in our elections.

Montana depends on all of us.

Schweitzer was part of a coalition that met recently to highlight progress made toward protecting voting rights.

The group cited a Montana Supreme Court decision that struck down laws that would have made remote ballot collection more difficult, for example, which is especially important on Montana's seven tribal reservations.

I'm Mark Moran.

Next from CNN, Donald Trump anchored his bid to win a second White House term next week on searing anti-migrant fear at a rally at Madison Square Garden, doubling down on his promise for a massive deportation program on day one to reverse an immigration invasion, as he called it.

They report as the ex-president's allies defend him against Democratic claims he's a fascist and an authoritarian.

Trump on Sunday delivered a screed that may augur the most extreme presidency in modern history if he beats Democratic nominee Kamala Harris on November the 5th.

Trump said the United States is an occupied country, that as Democrats projected messages on the exterior of the storied New York City arena, reading "Trump is unhinged" and "Trump praised Hitler."

For more on the fallout from the Trump rally, we head to North Dakota, where those helping New Americans resettle hope politics don't interfere.

Trump's position related to immigration often focuses on undocumented individuals and the southern border.

But while in office, he also placed tighter caps on refugee admissions.

Derek Rose leads Catch ND, a new non-profit that assists non-English speakers adapting to rural North Dakota towns after being approved for resettlement.

Despite the national tone, he sees more positive welcoming examples locally.

One of the families had a couple young kids.

They didn't have their driver's license yet, so they needed a stroller and a wagon so they could walk to the store and get groceries and supplies.

And, you know, neighbors provided those things for them when they put a request out on Facebook.

But if a resident in one of these communities is swayed by misinformation on the campaign trail, Rose urges them to learn about key programs while sharing their concerns.

I'm Mike Moen.

This is Public News Service.

The Biden administration's new Climate Corps has just graduated its inaugural class of workers.

We get the details of this Atmos Earth Solutions Journalism California News Service collaboration.

Jessica Selle is a Solar Corps fellow in the Bay Area with Grid Alternatives, a group helping low-income communities with the clean energy transition.

Solar Corps' mission is to train a diverse green workforce.

Selle just finished an 11-month stint with the program.

I am part of something bigger, and I do look forward to moving into a career in the long term in the renewable industry.

Grid partnered with AmeriCorps to launch Solar Corps, which has provided paid fellowships to more than 300 people.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

And an event in Phoenix today will celebrate and highlight the power of collective giving in the Grand Canyon State.

Ilyasa and Shabazz, with the organization Philanthropy Together, says Arizona's one of the states with some of the most diverse set of giving circles advocating for a wide range of issues impacting Arizona communities.

These groups bring together folks with shared values to decide where they should invest a gift, which Shabazz adds isn't always financial.

It is also about using our voice.

So when you see that there are people advocating, they're using their voice, they're giving their time and volunteering their talent.

Shabazz calls collective giving a movement in Arizona.

Circle Up Arizona's free event will take place from 530 to 730 this evening at the Anchor Center Building Courtyard.

The event is open to all current Giving Circle members, collective giving networks, and anyone looking to learn more.

I'm Alex Gonzalez reporting.

Finally, our Kathleen Shannon lets us know for Colorado voters who want to consider national parks and public lands when they head to the polls, a 2024 congressional scorecard shows lawmakers' voting histories on the issues.

The National Parks Action Fund's scorecard creates members of Congress based on their votes on things like the 2024 spending bill for the Department of the Interior, which was kept by over $430 million, or nearly 13 percent.

Mayor pro tem of the city of Arvada, Randy Morman, says that could result in 1,000 fewer park rangers, a problem in places with high visitation like Colorado.

We have a lot of tourists that come, and being able to manage all of those tourists in a very sustainable way that not only doesn't have an impact on our parks and our wildlife, but also our local communities, it's really important that those parks are well-staffed.

Colorado U.S. representatives who received F scores were Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck, and Doug Lamborn, all three Republican.

Senators weren't scored because they did not vote on parks this year.

I'm Kathleen Shannon.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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