Six minutes of news from around the nation.

A fiery day as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a defiant speech to UN General Assembly, Arizona's Latino businesses growing twice as fast as the state's economy, and first-generation Utah college students could lose important tools.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, September 25, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

It was a dramatic day at the United Nations as protesters roared against him in the streets of New York and many diplomats in the hall walked out again this year.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel gave a fiery speech at the UN General Assembly Thursday.

The New York Times notes Netanyahu cast his war in Gaza and the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran a battle against barbarians.

New York City's mayor, Zoran Mandami, had called for Netanyahu to be arrested under an international criminal court warrant.

He later acknowledged his lack of power to order the arrest.

In his speech, Netanyahu accused Mandami of being an anti-Semite.

Meantime, Latino-owned businesses in Arizona are growing at twice the rate of the state's overall economy.

During Hispanic Heritage Month, a national campaign is underway to further boost Latino businesses.

In Arizona, these businesses are growing at a rate of more than six and a half percent, twice the pace of the state's overall business growth.

Organizers are asking Americans to commit to spending $30 at Latino-owned businesses during the 31-day commemoration.

Cindy Benavidez with Aki, the accountability movement, says the spending goal is intentionally kept low so more people can participate.

And we wanted to make sure that this was something that was accessible across the board.

I'm Mark Moran.

A key, the accountability movement began early this year to reshape narratives about Latinos, increase representation, and hold public and private institutions accountable.

Next, the Trump administration wants to eliminate a series of programs that help disadvantaged students in Utah and across the country complete degrees beyond high school.

Critics warn the move could create a shortage of skilled workers.

Within the next decade, 72 percent of jobs are expected to require a college degree or professional credential.

CREO programs offer support like mentoring, tutoring, and financial literacy education.

Dan Sullivan with CollegeTrack says cutting them would impact students who are the first in their families to attend college.

These are students that have drive talent, persistence, commitment.

Taking this away is going to take away an incredible resource for country, our workforce.

The proposed 2027 federal budget cuts more than a billion dollars from programs that serve nearly 800,000 first-generation and low-income students, including an estimated 24,000 in Utah.

Administration officials contend that CREO initiatives haven't reached their goals, but lawmakers from both major parties push back on those claims and the idea of major aid reductions.

I'm Mark Richardson.

Sullivan adds college track works with students from the ninth grade through college graduation and into their careers.

This is Public News Service.

In California this Sunday, a Bay Area church won't just be blessing the congregation.

They'll be blessing 21 new solar panels as part of their commitment to caring for the environment.

Grace Episcopal Church in Martinez wants to reduce strain on the grid via renewable energy, which helps in the fight against climate change because it lessens the need to rely on fossil gas-burning power plants.

The very Reverend Dr. Deborah White serves as rector.

She says care for creation is in their mission statement.

Jesus said, love one another.

And so our mission as we see it is to love one another in concrete way.

And so it's important that we take care of all of God's creation.

The church worked with Revolve Solar, which specializes in helping nonprofits secure low-cost loans.

That's how they were able to fix the roof and then install the solar panels and a battery backup.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

Grace Episcopal is one of six churches being honored in October with the 2026 California Cool Climate Award.

It comes from the group California Interfaith Power and Light.

And Texas is one of several states across the country receiving money from the EPA to reduce lead in drinking water.

According to the agency, the funding will go toward finding and replacing lead pipes that deliver water into homes.

Lead pipes are typically replaced with PVC plastic pipes, but a city in Arizona recently opted to use ductile iron instead.

Judith Ink with Beyond Plastic says the city council in Prescott voted unanimously to upgrade its engineering standards.

Their decision was based on wanting to protect the health of people using this drinking water system.

We've got plastic alternatives that are durable, and I think this can be replicated.

PVC is made from vinyl chloride and is categorized as a human carcinogen by the EPA.

Exposure to it has been linked to liver, brain, and lung cancers, as well as leukemia.

Scientists say chemicals can leach into drinking water from the PVC pipes.

I'm Frida Ross reporting.

Finally, a lack of access to affordable, stable housing is an issue felt across Minnesota.

Support organizations say they're working with a maze of complications.

The American Indian Community Development Corporation offers programs addressing housing and homelessness in the area.

The executive director there is Travis Earthwerner and says the support system has had a lot to contend with recently.

The opioid epidemic, the pandemic, all these events that have occurred throughout the last 10 years escalated. homelessness, poverty.

There's a lot of first-time homeless individuals.

The nonprofit has about 500 units available for American Indians overcoming substance abuse disorders and other challenges.

Minneapolis is home to one of the largest concentrations of urban Native Americans in the U.S.

This is Public News Service.