For decades, government funding was withheld from historically Black public colleges and universities, such as Tennessee State University. 

States across the South have grappled with the question: What could be possible if those debts were repaid?

In Episode 13, we’ll hear from our colleagues at the Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News. 

Together, they produced The Debt, a reported project and podcast that traces Tennessee State University’s decades-long fight for fair funding. 

You’ll hear from journalists Emily Siner and Camellia Burris, whose reporting examined an overlooked Civil Rights lawsuit, a historic merger with a predominantly white university, a dramatic student hunger strike, and a lawmaker who discovered his father’s old research on underfunding. 

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Tennessee Lookout and WPLN News.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Almost since its founding after Reconstruction, Tennessee State University has fought for funding. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout)

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs have faced constant attacks from the current Trump administration. 

Early in his second term, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders to terminate federal programs with any mention of DEI. This included the end of funding to some National Institutes of Health programs. 

Some states pushed back, and now the Trump administration has agreed to drop anti-DEI criteria for stalled health research grants.

However, for one former Georgia professor, his state didn’t participate in this legal battle.

In Episode 12, you’ll meet Géza Kogler. He most recently was a professor at Kennesaw State University, but was one of the many recipients who lost their NIH grant. 

His program aimed to train the next generation of orthotists and researchers who specialize in designing, constructing and fitting medical devices such as braces, splints and supportive footwear. 

Kogler believes that his NIH funding was terminated because it specifically supported researchers from underrepresented backgrounds. 

At the University of North Carolina System, they’ve been tackling to repeal the system’s policy on DEI in favor of “principled neutrality” since before Trump’s second term. 

You’ll hear from NC Newsline Deputy Editor Clayton Henkel on what is going on at the 17-campus system.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: A photo of a building at University of North Carolina's Chapel Hill campus. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline)

In the days since Jan. 7, when Renee Nicole Good was killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, the public is getting a closer look at how many communities are resisting the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. 

Volunteer rapid-response teams and loosely organized patrols in Minneapolis and other cities are tracking and following federal immigration agents to disrupt operations and alert neighbors.

The work has become increasingly risky as tensions soar and confrontations between federal agents and volunteers escalate. Yet even after Good’s death, volunteers continue to mobilize in targeted neighborhoods. 

In Minneapolis, a Minnesota Reformer reporter rode along on a recent patrol and spoke with several volunteers determined to keep up their work.  

In Episode 11, you’ll also meet Carlos Ochoa. He is a volunteer for Vecindarios 901, a rapid response network reporting on Immigration and Customs Enforcement activities.

They were established during the first Trump term. Now in Trump’s second term, Vecindarios 901 has kicked into high gear to document the activities of the Memphis Safe Task Force. The multi-agency law enforcement force launched September 15, 2025 by President Donald Trump.

Then, you’ll hear from Minnesota Reformer reporter Madison McVan who has been reporting on the ground in Minneapolis. 

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.

Photo: A masked ICE agent knocks on the window and tells observers in Minnesota to stop following ICE vehicles while on an early morning watch Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)

With the rise of AI development, tech companies are investing billions to build massive data centers. 

Virginia is home to over 500 data centers and counting. State officials there say their construction will boost local economies and create long-term jobs. 

One former data center technician in South Carolina doesn’t agree.

And anxious residents are pushing back against the projects worried they could harm drinking water, spike electricity rates and bring noise pollution.  

In Episode 10, you’ll meet Shannon Wait. She was a temporary worker at one of Google’s data centers in Berkeley County, South Carolina. 

While there, Wait spoke out against the unfair labor practices, but was suspended. She filed a case with the National Labor Relations Board, and won.  

Now she’s a senior organizer at Alphabet Workers Union-CWA and a data policy advisor at TechEquity speaking out against the working conditions inside the facilities.

Northern Virginia has especially been seeing a boom in construction, but as more buildings are planned for Southern Virginia, residents are growing concerned about how this will hurt their water and wallets. 

There aren't any statewide data center regulations, so localities are putting their foot down.  

You’ll hear from the Virginia Mercury’s Energy and Environment reporter Shannon Heckt who has been covering this.  

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer.

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Photo: Shannon Wait speaks at a Colleton County public hearing for a proposed 860-acre data center campus proposed for South Carolina’s Lowcountry. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Wait)

State lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom. The controversial herbal supplement is often used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. 

Last summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration pushed to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, saying it posed serious health risks and should be classified as a controlled substance with heroin and LSD. 

In Louisiana, legislators initiated a statewide ban on kratom because of that ingredient. 

In Episode 9, we’ll hear from our States Newsroom colleagues at the Louisiana Illuminator. For their podcast called The Light Switch, they took a deep dive into kratom as Louisiana lawmakers debated the ban in 2025.

Louisiana Illuminator editor Greg LaRose will help us understand both sides of the kratom discussion. This was done in partnership with WWNO, New Orleans Public Radio station.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Greg LaRose from the Louisiana Illuminator and WWNO, New Orleans Public Radio. 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected].

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Photo: An advertisement for kratom at a shop in Phoenix, Arizona. (Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Arizona Mirror)

The Trump administration proposed $12 billion in aid to farmers to help recover from temporary market disruptions and high production costs. 

However, the administration did not mention the effect of the tariffs that Trump put into place, which critics have said are responsible for decreased agricultural exports and hurting farmers’ bottom lines. 

While these one-time payments are expected to provide some relief, some farmers and economists want to see a long-term farm bill. 

In Episode 8, we’re handing the reins to our States Newsroom colleagues at the Kansas Reflector. Over in Topeka, the Kansas Reflector Podcast spoke with Jennifer Ifft, an extension specialist in agriculture policy at Kansas State University.

Ifft talked with Kansas Reflector senior reporter Morgan Chilson about why long-term aid from the federal government is needed to support farmers.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Morgan Chilson from the Kansas Reflector. 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected].

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Photo: Cattle roam in a pasture near Killdeer in southwest North Dakota. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor)

As childhood vaccination rates fall, several diseases once considered eradicated are back and spreading, most notably measles and whooping cough. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been vocal in changing vaccine recommendations for children, particularly calling for restrictions on COVID-19 and Hepatitis B vaccines. It’s all despite the CDC’s own data showing they are safe and effective. 

Some Democratic-led states are banding together to create their own health coalitions to combat reversal of the CDC’s decades-long recommendations and provide clear information to their constituents. While others, mostly Republican-led states, are trying to eliminate vaccine requirements for children.

In Episode 7, Oregon-based Dr. Lisa Reynolds shares how her state is reacting to the confusing and polarizing information from the CDC. Dr. Reynolds is also the Oregon State Senator for District 17.

Then, we’ll head over to Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis and state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo are pushing to end vaccine requirements for public schools and daycare. Christine Sexton, a senior reporter at the Florida Phoenix, will give us the rundown.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Click here for the full transcript.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Photo of a single dose of the MMR vaccine. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

SNAP benefits are back, but the federal government is hinting at changes to the food-assistance program.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has called for the almost 42 million people who receive SNAP to reapply and has threatened to yank funding from Democratic-led states. 

Meanwhile, some food banks and food pantries are experiencing an increase in demand even after the government reopened in mid-November. Now, they’re bracing themselves. 

In Episode 6, we’re heading over to Arnold, Missouri to chat with Patrick McKelvey. He’s the executive director of Gateway Food Pantry.

Now, with upcoming SNAP work requirement changes because of the One Big Beautiful Bill, they’re worried the need will only increase.

And they anticipate other changes too. In recent weeks, the Trump administration has threatened to make additional bureaucratic changes to the federal food-assistance program. Jacob Fischler, States Newsroom’s D.C. Deputy Bureau Chief will help us understand what’s happening.

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Click here for the full transcript.

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: The Gateway Food Pantry in Arnold, Missouri is still seeing an increased demand of need in their community, even after the government reopened in mid-November. (Photo courtesy of Patrick McKelvey)

If you’re standing along the beach in southeast Rhode Island, you might see some wind turbines out in the ocean. They are part of a major project meant to build up the renewable energy supplies in Rhode Island and Connecticut eventually powering 350,000 homes. 

The Revolution Wind project was about 80% completed when the Trump administration abruptly paused its construction. Although work has now resumed, one tradesman working on wind infrastructure projects is worried about the future of the industry. 

In Episode 5, we’re diving into one project that suffered a blow in Trump’s war on offshore wind as a renewable energy source. 

We’ll hear from Nancy Lavin from the Rhode Island Current about what led to the Revolution Wind project being suspended and the politics surrounding renewable energy efforts – who is lining up for and against these projects.

We’ll also chat with Nick Reynolds, a member of Local 195 of District Council 11, a local painters’ union, who worked on the project. 

Finally, Evening Wrap newsletter author Danielle Gaines shares the top stories she’s watching.

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Christopher Shea from the Rhode Island Current. 

Click here for the full transcript: 

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: One of the installed Revolution Wind turbine sitting along the coast of Rhode Island is shown. (Photo courtesy of Ørsted)

This week we’re detouring from our regular programming exploring current events in the states and D.C. to revisit a collaboration delving into the most contentious yet successful wildlife restoration story in U.S. history – wolf reintroduction. 

We’re handing the reins to our colleagues at the Idaho Capital Sun and Boise State Public Radio. Earlier this year, they released a five-episode podcast series exploring how politics and science have collided while these wolves struggled to survive. 

Howl recently won Rode’s Creator of the Year award in podcasting.

In this episode of Howl, reporters Clark Corbin and Heath Druzin trek back 30 years to the beginnings of wolf reintroduction from the people who put the predators back on the Western landscape. 

Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Special thanks to Boise State Public Radio and the Idaho Capital Sun.

To hear the full Howl series, head to https://idahocapitalsun.com/podcasts/howl-a-new-series-podcast-about-natures-greatest-comeback/.

Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners: 

Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at [email protected]

Photo: Logo for “Howl” from a podcast collaboration from Boise State Public Radio and the Idaho Capital Sun.