Six minutes of news from around the nation.

While it will be located only blocks away from the Pentagon, President Donald Trump now says his triumphal arch will be a "top-grade military complex." WNBA showdown in Minnesota puts spotlight back on trans athletes, and the Back-to-school transition can be tough on Ohio foster families.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service, Daily Newscast, September the 21st, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

National security concerns have been President Donald Trump's way of getting projects, however unpopular, approved around Washington, D.C.

ABC News notes Trump is arguing another one of his projects, his proposed Triumphal Arch, would also be used as a top-grade military complex.

Trump posting on social media Sunday at the request of the U.S. military, he agreed to convert the magnificent Triumphal Arch, planned since the Civil War era many years ago, into a top-grade military complex Triumphal Arch.

The Pentagon declined to comment.

Meantime, another media circus is expected later this week when the Minnesota Lynx host the Indiana Fever.

Allies of the transgender community hope the off-the-court rhetoric doesn't cloud the facts about inclusivity.

The last time these two WNBA juggernauts played in Minneapolis, protesters gathered outside Target Center in response to fever player Sophie Cunningham's remarks about trans athletes.

LGBTQ voices say her statements reignited hateful comments toward transgender girls participating in girls' sports.

Jess Braverman of the Minnesota group Gender Justice says despite the national backlash, it's comforting to be in a state that fosters a welcoming tone.

The Minnesota High School League has been trans-inclusive for over a decade.

And during that time, Minnesota has led the nation in girls' high school sports participation.

Cunningham says her comments were misinterpreted as an attack on the entire trans community, while reiterating she wants to protect young girls in sports she feels shouldn't have to go against biological men.

I'm Mike Moen.

While Cunningham's stance has garnered attention, other prominent WNBA figures, including Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve, have called for including trans athletes.

And Ohio schools had more than 54,000 students in foster care last academic year.

Experts say the back-to-school season prevents challenges for kids who may have had to change schools and living situations.

Research shows that youth in foster care are more likely to perform poorly in school and face disciplinary actions.

Kara Webster, a Montgomery County resident and foster and adoptive parent, says patients with kids who have experienced serious trauma can go a long way.

It's very different when your teacher says, I'm going to call your foster parent versus your mom.

They aren't getting on the bus with their parents there, which is really hard for some kids.

Webster and her husband fostered and adopted two boys, Caleb and Dylan, who were split up when they entered the foster care system, but were adopted together.

Experts say siblings experience significantly better emotional, behavioral, and stability outcomes when they go through this journey alongside each other.

This is Nadia Rumlagan for Ohio News Connection.

The foundation has helped place nearly 1,800 kids from foster care into permanent homes in Ohio through the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program.

This is Public News Service.

This week, the public gets a chance to meet candidates for political office at two nonpartisan public forums.

They are being held in northern and southern Nevada.

Candidates from all parties running for mayor, Congress, County Commission, and State Assembly will be given time to speak and then answer questions from the audience.

Ben Innes from the Nevada Housing Justice Alliance teamed up with colleagues from the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition and the Nevada Immigrant Coalition to organize the event.

The whole purpose is for community to engage with these candidates and challenge the idea that civic engagement is just that one and done process where we vote and then hope for the best.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

People can sign up to attend either event on the website of the Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition.

The event will be live streamed on the Nevada Housing Justice Facebook page.

And folks in Maine are encouraged to attend the Office of Affordable Health Care's annual public hearing this week to share their experiences of navigating today's health care system.

Surveys show nearly half of Maine households have taken on medical debt in the past two years and the majority point to hospital-based services like surgeries or emergency care as the primary cause.

Kate Endy with Consumers for Affordable Health Care says data can show how insurance premiums or prescription drug prices are rising, but it's the personal stories that help state officials find ways to lower costs.

We hear from people through our helpline who are delaying an appointment, putting off a procedure, stretching a prescription, or taking on medical debt because of the cost.

And those experiences really need to be part of the conversation.

The hearing takes place this Wednesday, September 23rd at the Department of Health and Human Services Building in Augusta.

Mainers can register to speak in person or virtually, or submit written testimony by October 2nd.

I'm Katherine Carley.

Finally, plans for next year's crop planting season are taking shape, and Iowa landowners are changing what tenants can grow on the land, they're leasing.

They're focusing on sustainable crops and at the same time requiring tenants to reduce the use of neomics and other pesticides.

Almost half of landowners in the Midwest are called non-operators, meaning they don't farm the land they own.

They rent it to someone else.

They receive financial incentives from the government to move away from row crops and livestock and plant things that are more sustainable.

Carol Boschka owns and rents out Highland Farm in northeast Iowa's Winnishe County with her three sisters.

Boschka has put in 20 acres of pollinator fields and planted 4,500 trees and shrubs.

To create this windbreak on our farm.

And those are for habitat for insects, birds and mammals and to sequester carbon.

I'm Mark Moran.

This is Mike Clifford and thank you for starting your week with Public News Service.

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