Higher Education / Public News Service

Nebraska Children's Justice and Legal Advocacy Center, which represents children in low-income families, is a model for other states working to place qualified attorneys in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 7, 2025

Nebraska program adds juvenile justice attorneys in underserved rural areas

The University of Nebraska is addressing a shortage of lawyers who represent the state's most vulnerable children, especially in rural areas…

Constance Meadors, director of the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium, said an $800,000 NASA grant will help develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators in Arkansas. (PhotoSpirit/Adobe Stock)

AR Space Grant Consortium receives $800,000 NASA grant

The Arkansas Space Grant Consortium at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will use an $800,000 NASA grant to train students in STEM education a…

The growing demand for artificial intelligence specialists has prompted more universities to offer specialized AI degrees. (MissIrine/Adobe Stock)

NM university to offer state's first artificial intelligence degree

Artificial intelligence is expected to significantly change people's lives and New Mexico State University is meeting the challenge by offering the st…

The student enrollment figure at Indiana's four-year colleges and universities in 2024 was nearly 172,000, according to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. (Adobe Stock)

IN students weigh politics, mental health factors for college choices

University officials in Indiana are rewriting guidelines for on-campus protests to address a tense political backdrop. More students are watching …

Some 67% of college students say a characteristic of

Report: To Gen Z, ‘campus safety’ includes ideology, mental health

Nearly 30% of "Gen-Z" college students decided where they would attend school based at least partly on political reasons, according to a new report…

Report: Gen Z considers politics, mental health in choosing a college

Nearly 30% of "Gen-Z" college students decided where they would attend school based at least partly on political reasons, according to a new report…

Each week, participants in Ohio State University-Lima's

Drumming through Parkinson’s at The Ohio State University

A drumming program at Ohio State University-Lima is helping people dealing with Parkinson's disease improve coordination, memory, and overall …

Dr. Tierney Brosius' friend, professor and fellow artist, Wendy DesChene, and her husband helped to photograph insects for an eight-foot-tall display. (Wendy DesChene)

'Dr. Beetle': Local biology teacher uses art to pique curiosity about bugs

By Jonathan Feakins for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News S…

The Knight Center for the Future of News was made possible because of a $10.5 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and an additional $4 million investment from Arizona State University. (Deanna Dent/Arizona State University)

ASU launches initiative to build 'stronger news ecosystem'

Journalism and the way people consume news is changing, and Arizona State University will soon launch an initiative it claims will "build a stronger…

Colorado's workforce development efforts are in sync with the Lumina Foundation's new goal for 75% of America's labor force to have a college degree or professional credential. (Adobe Stock)

Gov. Polis raises bar for Colorado agencies on education

Colorado, already considered a national leader in workforce development, is aiming to raise the bar even higher. Gov. Jared Polis recently issued an …

More than 3 million undergraduate students in the United States are also parents. (Adobe Stock)

GOP spending cuts could fall on Maryland's student parents

More than 70,000 Marylanders are student parents, raising kids while attending college full or part-time and proposed cuts in this year's big budget …

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ordered audits of state universities to identify potential budget cuts. (Adobe Stock)

Florida universities face budget scrutiny as part of 'anti-woke' push

By Michael Vasquez for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Florida News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public N…

Student workers help distribute food as part of the 'Oh SNAP!' program at Cal Poly Humboldt. (Kellie Brown)

CA colleges and universities take food pantries to the next level

Hunger among college students in California has jumped dramatically since the pandemic, yet Cal-Fresh -- a statewide low-income food assistance …

The May 4 Visitor Center at Kent State University educates the public about the 1970 campus shootings and their lasting impact on civil liberties and protest rights. Canfora calls her brother (holding a black flag) away from a school parking lot while National Guard troops are on the scene in May 1970. (John Filo)

OH's Kent State lessons loom over military response to L.A. protests

A Kent State University shooting survivor is warning Ohioans and others to take note of the U.S. military's involvement in immigration-related …

According to the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Texas has about 57,000 undocumented students enrolled in its public universities and colleges who will no longer be eligible for in-state tuition. (K Abrahams/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Ending in-state tuition for undocumented students will cost TX millions

Immigrant rights groups have said they are considering legal action to restore a Texas law allowing in-state tuition rates for undocumented college st…

A new survey found about two-thirds of students disciplined or threatened with discipline said it happened during campus protests held in public spaces like the quad or campus green. (Lomb/AdobeStock)

Report: Free speech rights curtailed for students on Tennessee campuses

Students and faculty are increasingly being investigated and punished for exercising their right to protected speech on Tennessee college campuses…

Purdue Global Law School traces its roots to 1998, when Concord University School of Law went live online. (Adobe stock)

Purdue Global grads make Indiana legal first

By Marilyn Odendahl for The Indiana Citizen.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Citizen-Free Press India…

Some 17% of students surveyed said they felt like they could not express their opinion on a subject at least a couple of times a week because of how fellow students, a professor or the administration would respond. (Gatot/Adobe Stock)

Report: TX college students feel free speech is targeted

Texas colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech on campus. The College Free Speech Rankings include survey results …

About 2,500 women are housed in Indiana's correctional facilities, including some held in county jails, according to a June 2024 Indiana Department of Corrections report. (Adobe Stock)

Indiana women get new start on college from behind bars

By Claire Rafford for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News…

Some college students reported their campus is more tolerant of certain viewpoints, usually liberal, while conservative perspectives often face more pushback. (Lomb/Adobe Stock)

Michigan college bucks national trend in free-speech rankings

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under assault on college campuses but one Michigan school stands out for protecting it. The …

Florida State University is among the top five ranked schools for free speech according to the nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Adobe Stock)

Free speech under fire? Report ranks Florida campuses

Florida colleges are getting mixed marks when it comes to protecting free speech. A new national report, the College Free Speech Rankings, lists …

Ohio State University ranked 174th out of 251 colleges in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, with an overall score of 42.34 out of 100. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio colleges rank low in national free-speech study

A new study found college students across Ohio and the nation feel increasingly uneasy about expressing their views on campus. The nonprofit …

A new study showed more than 40% of U.S. university students now feel uncomfortable sharing their views on controversial political topics. (photo courtesy unm.edu)

Study: NM university students' views diverge over campus free-speech climate

A new study revealed free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses, from both right and left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit Foundation …

According to USA Facts, 28 is the average age a woman in Indiana gets married. (Adobe Stock)

Study shows marriage habits straying from traditional patterns

Women college graduates are not sticking to traditional compatibility traits when choosing a husband, according to one study. Preferences are …

The report recorded more than 1,000 instances of students or student groups who were targeted for or received punishment for their speech. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Government increasingly involved in campus free speech crackdowns

Students and faculty are facing more investigations and punishment for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according to a …

A majority of students said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is difficult to

Survey: UT universities could do more to foster free speech on campus

A new survey revealed many college students believe free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses. The nonpartisan nonprofit …

In the survey, politically conservative students reported self-censoring more often than those who consider themselves moderate or liberal. (Adobe Stock)

Study: NV universities fare 'average' for free speech climate

A new study reveals free speech is increasingly under threat on college campuses, from both the right and the left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit …

Industry reports show South Dakota has more than 1,800 wind-energy jobs. (Adobe Stock)

With wind energy at its back, SD tech school resumes training program

Meeting America's future energy demands requires big decisions by utilities and policymakers about the best way to do it. A South Dakota technical …

Of 251 U.S. colleges and universities ranked in 2024 for free speech, University of Wyoming scored at about the middle of the pack at 121 but received a

UW gets a 'red light' in free speech report

A new study showed free speech is increasingly under assault on college campuses from both the right and the left. The nonpartisan, nonprofit …

Two in five speech controversies in 2023, after the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began, were about the war in Gaza, according to a report from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Campus free speech curtailed as government punishes students

Students and faculty are increasingly being investigated and punished for exercising their right to protected speech on college campuses, according …

In 2023, the American Dental Association's Health Policy Institute issued a survey, with nearly 90% of practices reporting challenges in filling open dental assisting jobs. (Adobe Stock)

ND college aims to ease dental workforce woes with scholarships

Workforce shortages have taken a bite out of dental offices in North Dakota but new scholarships at one of the state's colleges could help train the n…

Health care is the fastest growing industry in Spokane, Washington, with nearly 4,000 jobs created locally in the last five years. (imtmphoto/Adobe Stock)

Spokane coalition aims to diversify the city's economy

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Coll…

In Iowa, the United States' largest pork producer, factory farms produce 109 billion pounds of manure annually, more than any other state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa partners to study agriculture's link to cancer

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

David Campbell, professor and director of the Democracy Initiative at the University of Notre Dame, hopes by bringing people from different sectors together, the group can have a fruitful discussion that will get the ball rolling for responsible use of social media. (Adobe stock)

Notre Dame rallies leaders to shape social media

Notre Dame is launching a major effort to shape the future of social media policy and it could affect every corner of Indiana. This week, the …

More than 80 percent of adults without a degree or credential who have thought about going back to school say they are likely to enroll in a program within the next five years. (S Fanti/AdobeStock)<br />

Report: PA adults want degrees but cost, access are barriers

As students graduate across Pennsylvania, a new report shows many adults still hope to earn a college degree -- but high costs and limited access …

According to the poll, nearly nine in 10 adults without a higher education degree or credential believe at least one type of academic credential is valuable. (D Lahoud/Adobe Stock)

Report: Despite barriers, Tennessee adults want college degrees

As students graduate across Tennessee, a new report shows many adults still hope to earn a college degree -- but high costs and limited access often …

According to the Pew Research Center, the Black immigrant population will account for roughly one-third of the U.S. Black population's growth through 2060. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Black immigrant population grows throughout Arkansas, nation

Studies show one in 10 Black people in the U.S. is an immigrant and immigrants' advocates said they face significant challenges blending into the …

Florida A&M University, a public historically Black land-grant institution in Tallahassee, was founded in 1887. It is one of the largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities by enrollment and the only public HBCU in Florida. (Adobe Stock)

Controversy erupts over FAMU’s presidential selection process

The selection of Marva Johnson, a longtime corporate executive and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, as the next president of Florida A&M University has …

As of July 2022, about 36.8 million U.S. adults younger than 65 had some college but no degree. In the following academic year, more than 943,000 re-enrolled. (Beaunitta V W/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Michigan expands partnership to help adults return to college

Michiganders who left college early might now have a shot at finishing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential's …

High school and college students will take over the airwaves on the first and third Saturday in Arkansas in the revival of the PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show (avdyachenko/Adobe Stock)

Radio show gives AR students a voice

A groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas. The PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show will be back on the …

According to Excelencia in Education, for the United States to regain the top ranking in the world for college degree attainment, Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Latino students prefer grants over loans to pay for college

Latino students in Illinois and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

Texas is part of a pilot program by the North Carolina-based Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. The organization is directing a project designed to increase employment skills for rural students. Each state taking part will use its own approach, guided by local priorities. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Program aims to connect rural TX college students with universities

By Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder C…

As part of its training standards, community health workers are required to complete initial training, either in-house or through outside programs, within 30 days of their start date, before they begin working with clients on their own. (Adobe Stock)

Accreditation for TN community health workers can improve health outcomes

Despite uncertainty about Medicaid funding in Congress, Tennessee is moving ahead to help improve people's health outcomes with a program for …

Harvard economist Raj Chetty's research reveals Black men's outcomes drive the racial wealth gap nearly twice as much as women's, with profound mobility implications. (Adobe Stock)

FL schools could learn from HBCU enrollment initiative

As Historically Black Colleges and Universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, a program at Howard University is working to reverse …

Research by economist Raj Chetty and colleagues at Harvard shows Black men's outcomes disproportionately determine economic mobility, with the racial wealth gap linked more to male than female trajectories. (Adobe Stock)

Howard University program addresses Black male enrollment crisis

As historically Black colleges and universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, Howard University's "Kings of Campus" initiative is …

Latino students make informed and pragmatic choices to pay for college and the institutions intentionally serving them are making strides to ensure the price of a college degree is affordable. (Kateryna/Adobe Stock)

AR Latino students use various forms of aid to pay for college

Latino students in Arkansas and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

In 2023 in Tennessee, 26% of Hispanic adults had an associate degree or higher, compared to 40% of white, non-Hispanic adults. (Cambo27/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN Latino college students rely less on financial aid

Latino students in Tennessee and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups, according to new research but they …

Researchers said a new SkillsUSA and Northern Illinois University study is the most comprehensive to date on how many students are involved in apprenticeships, internships, courses and other work-based learning activities. (Adobe Stock)

IL apprenticeships on the rise but disparities remain

A new report shows Illinois youth now have more apprenticeship and internship opportunities, with an increase in women and minority participation but …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 7, 2025

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