Six minutes of news from around the nation.

A federal Judge in Boston expresses concerns that Trump’s mail-in balloting plan could exclude eligible voters. Utahns growing indifferent to food recalls amid surge in warnings, Border Wall construction concerns reach Arizona.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service, Daily Newscast, September the 4th, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

A federal judge said that she is now concerned if she allowed the Trump administration to move ahead with plans to restrict mail-in ballots ahead of the November election, it could cause so much chaos that states would experience major disenfranchisement.

The New York Times notes during a two-hour hearing, Federal District Judge Indira Talwani asked sharp questions of attorneys from the Justice Department and a coalition of Republican states about how they believed they could implement the new rule on the eve of early voting across many states.

Meantime, if it feels like you're hearing a lot about food recalls, you're not alone.

Folks in Utah are seeing alerts for everything from shredded lettuce to eggs and deli meat.

So far this year, the FDA and USDA have issued more than 160 product alerts.

But a new Food for Thought 2026 report says many people still miss those warnings.

Teresa Murray with the Public Interest Research Group says recalls may not grab attention the way they used to.

So there can be this feeling that there's just nothing safe out there.

And that's not a good place to be.

You know, we all have to eat, right?

You can't constantly think that there's some kind of bacteria boogeyman living in your refrigerator or in your pantry.

Murray says people still pay attention when a big brand is involved or when an outbreak makes a lot of people sick.

For information on food recalls and warnings, visit foodsafety.gov.

And for Utah-specific recalls, visit urrt.utah.gov.

I'm Mark Richardson.

And new wells have been drilled and pumped without the proper permits.

As construction of the U.S. Methco border wall resumes in three southwestern states, Arizona families and farmers are concerned about the effects on groundwater as the project unfolds.

Water is primarily used in wall construction to mix concrete for deep structural footers and to build new roads.

The federal government had previously obtained permits, but recently drilled in at least eight unauthorized wells in protected underground water basins.

New Mexico State Engineer Elizabeth Anderson says federal officials have now agreed to pause further drilling, but haven't formally recognized state water authority or provided proper permits.

What we would like them to do is to plug the wells that they've already drilled and properly abandon them and then commit to getting water from permitted wells.

That would be in compliance with state law.

The Trump administration recently paused border wall construction at Big Bandit National Park in Texas.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner said he would visit the site to make a personal evaluation amid bipartisan pushback and criticism that the job has been rushed and is damaging to the environment.

At the same time, a federal judge cleared the path for construction of 62 miles of new border wall in Arizona.

This is Public News Service.

A federal judge has struck down New York's 2024 Climate Change Superfund law.

It would find the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions between 2000 and 2018, specifically those responsible for more than 1 billion tons of global greenhouse gas emissions.

U.S. District Judge Brenda Sain's ruling says the legislation is beyond the limit of state law and is preempted by the Federal Clean Air Act.

Dror Ledeen with Earth Justice says the court got it wrong.

The court basically felt that it was bound to follow this decision by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals that addressed a very different issue.

It addressed the question of whether the city of New York could sue fossil fuel companies called a tort action for the harms their products were causing in New York.

He adds the Second Circuit ruled that kind of lawsuit can't be brought in courts since it asks a series of environmental questions judges aren't able to rule on.

Ledeen notes this could impede New York State's ability to pass laws addressing the harms of out-of-state greenhouse gas emissions.

While Governor Kathy Hochul says this will appeal the decision, this is one of many cases brought against New York's law and a similar law in Vermont.

I'm Edwin J. Viera.

And health care affordability remains a growing concern for folks in Wisconsin.

And new data gives a more exact picture of how federal cuts have reshaped the insurance landscape over the last year.

Research from Protect Our Care shows nearly 20,000 Wisconsinites have lost their Medicaid or CHIP coverage since the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was passed last summer.

Another 45,000 dropped to marketplace coverage after their premium skyrocketed.

State Representative Tara Johnson says Wisconsin is looking at ways to fill in gaps left by federal measures, including expanding BadgerCare income requirements.

So double the poverty level and somewhere between.

Their proposal could also create a state-run marketplace for small businesses and employee groups.

I'm Judith Ruiz-Branch reporting.

Finally, as hospitals in the U.S. work to lower maternal mortality rates, our partners at KFF Health News find some North Carolina hospitals are turning to a small yet impactful tool, wristbands.

Launched by ECU Health, nearly 50 hospitals in the state health department distribute wristbands with the statement, I gave birth.

It's an effort to give mothers and care providers a visual reminder of postpartum risks.

Jessica Noble with ECU Health says information gaps can lead to maternal deaths outside of a hospital or medical facility in the days and weeks that follow a birthing event.

Within that gap, we noted that many of our wonderful emergency medical technicians and paramedics have wonderful training about asking if they are pregnant.

What might go on in the postpartum period was sometimes bewildering to them as well as their families and even patients.

Nearly 70% of pregnancy-related deaths occur after the day of delivery, with 40% happening after the six-week mark.

I'm Zamone Perez.

Credit goes to Andrew Jones for KFF Health News.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service, member and listener supported.

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