View From The Pugh

It's beginning to feel a lot like winter in the Buckeye State, and the Winter Crisis Program offers the gift of warmth to Ohioans burdened by their home heating bills.

Ohio News Connection

The new year is just around the corner, and one Ohio faith leader is asking folks to find comfort in community during uncertain times.

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(Illinois News Connection) - As the court system works to catch up from pandemic disruptions, many courts continue to use remote technology or are testing new ways to incorporate it. But groups that advocate for criminal-justice reform and juvenile justice are voicing concerns. They say these steps raise questions about litigants' rights, their access to representation and other resources.

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Rural areas are promised more equity from the U.S. Agriculture Secretary while the AgrAbility program offers new help for farmers with disabilities; and Pennsylvanians for abandoned mine reclamation say infrastructure monies are long overdue.

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(Ohio News Connection) - Ohio's rural educators said the funding for broadband in the bipartisan infrastructure package signed into law last month is critical for their communities.

While many acknowledged the problem has existed for decades, the pandemic put a spotlight on the increased need for high-speed internet for virtual work and learning.

Lauren Metcalf, president of the Vinton Local Teachers Association, teaches fourth grade in Vinton County, which had one of the lowest rates of household internet availability in the state at the start of the pandemic.

Metcalf said without educational materials available at home, some students started to fall behind.

"A lot of them did not have broadband access, so they weren't able to do some of the assignments that the other kids could do, and we had to prepare paper packets for them," Metcalf recounted. "So, even within our class, we could see a small gap growing."

The newly-signed infrastructure law has allocated $65 billion for broadband improvements. Ohio will receive at least $100 million dollars to help with coverage gaps, with the possibility of more money based on need.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, 68% of people living in rural areas do not have access to broadband internet.

Metcalf argued for students living in remote areas, broadband is a gateway to the world, and she sees the difference between those who have access and those who do not.

"When parents are having conversations with their kids at home, and they can't look up an example of, you know, what Mount Everest looks like... all the little missed opportunities," Metcalf explained. "Children who I know have Wi-Fi at home they say, 'Oh, I've seen videos of that,' or 'Oh, I've heard of that before.'"

Metcalf feels broadband should be considered a necessity, like electricity was a century ago.

"The internet is kind of the great equalizer, in that anyone has access to almost any information on the internet," Metcalf contended. "If everyone did have access to it, a child could really expand their horizons within their homes."

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(Ohio News Coverage) - While Ohioans still have plenty of time to shop for holiday gifts, the deadline to shop for health insurance on the federal insurance marketplace is here. People in need of coverage starting Jan. 1 need to select a plan and enroll by midnight tonight.

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(Tennessee News Connection) - The tornadoes that ripped through multiple states, killing more than 100 people, were created by a very specific set of climate conditions, according to two Tennessee climatologists.

Kelsey Ellis, an associate professor of geography at the University of Tennessee, explained that December tornadoes are not unusual in the Southeast, and said these types of storms occur when cold, dense air interacts with warm air, creating unstable climate conditions. However, Ellis noted the fact that one of the powerful tornadoes traveled more than 230 miles is, as she put it, an "extreme anomaly."

"The time of year is not, the time of day is not, even though both of those can surprise people, that it's a cool season and that it's overnight," she said, "but the long track of this one is extremely rare, and it requires a very specific set of environmental conditions."

The previous record for a long-track tornado is from 1925, when an F-5 "Tri-State Tornado" traveled 219 miles through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. Now, the so-called "Quad-State Tornado" is expected to break that record.

In the Department of Geosciences at Middle Tennessee State University, professor Alisa Haas pointed out that because tornadoes can occur any time of day, it's important to have multiple reliable methods for receiving warnings, since power and cellphone service often go down during severe weather. She added that increasing research on these events could help with preparedness.

"We don't know every single thing that goes into the formation of a tornado," she said, "and that can affect whether we have timely warnings or not."

So far, the National Weather Service has reported at least 38 tornadoes occurred simultaneously during the outbreak.

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This story is a collaboration with The Conversation. 

(Florida News Connection) - As more than 200 organizations call on the Biden administration to extend the pause on student-loan repayments, some borrowers are finding success through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

The Biden administration's approach to student-loan relief so far has been on improving or expanding a handful of programs that already were on the books, even as advocates press for the campaign promise of canceling $10,000 in student debt per person.

Susan Garcia is a professor of the New World School of the Arts at Miami Dade College, who said she was able to see her loans forgiven in the modified program for educators, nurses and public employees who give 10 years of service.

"It is $92,000 of payments that are being forgiven, that have been forgiven," said Garcia. "And for me that is, like, incredible because I'm, like, 58 years old, headed toward retirement, I have a 17-year-old son who is looking to go to college and trying to figure out how he's going to do that."

Garcia is encouraging others to take advantage of the now-streamlined program which, according to the education department, already has forgiven $2 billion dollars in debt. The pandemic moratorium on federal student loans is set to expire after January 31.

Garcia said the student-debt crisis is real. She credited organizations such as the American Federation of Teachers for pushing for reforms to make it possible for her loans to be forgiven, which started out at around $120,000.

"Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like I didn't make payments," said Garcia. "I paid over $148,000, mostly interest only since I separated from school."

One major change to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program allows all payments by student borrowers to count, regardless of loan program or payment plan. That waiver runs through October of next near.

However, a survey by the Student Debt Crisis Center found that 89% of fully employed student loan borrowers said they were not financially secure enough to resume loan payments on February first.

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(Greater Dakota News Service) -- If you've been to the supermarket lately, chances are you have noticed meat prices are higher.

Family-farm advocates say profits are not making their way to smaller cattle producers, and they urged federal lawmakers to not let up on market concentration reform.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle have been calling attention to the issue, concerned that four companies are able to purchase and process roughly 80% of beef in America.

Patty Lovera, policy adviser for the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment, said it is not a new problem, and while ranchers and consumers are missing out, others are not.

"Fewer companies run the middle of that food chain," Lovera pointed out. "They're getting bigger, and they have more control, and they keep more of the dollar."

At the federal level, the Biden administration recently announced a series of moves aimed at breaking up market consolidation. And several bills in Congress have been considered to address the problem.

Lovera said more urgency is needed, including immediately reinstating a requirement for meat processers to adhere to country-of-origin labeling. A key industry group has pushed back against reform, saying it will lead to unintended consequences for customers and producers.

Backers of reform noted prior to relaxed regulations, ranchers were paid much higher prices per animal, but they observed it has dramatically declined since 2015, with more imported meat being sold in stores.

Nick Nemec, a cattle producer in central South Dakota, said the lack of a viable market has made it harder for younger generations of his family to turn a profit.

"My daughter and son-in-law, who've been ranching with me now for six years, and [they] have kind of struggled to make ends meet because of cattle prices," Nemec stated.

Nemec added he has been able to help them see through the lean years, but he fears other younger producers without family ties to farming might not be as lucky.

The renewed calls for action follow a recent White House report showing the larger meat processing companies are recording massive profits amid inflation issues in the economy. Industry leaders argue they are being made scapegoats by the situation.

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(Iowa News Service) -- A healthier and more nurturing work environment appears to be a stronger consideration these days by people reevaluating their career choices.

An upcoming event in Iowa aims to reinforce the need for companies to consider "wellness perks" for their workforce. In a new national survey, a majority of businesses and employees say job sites prioritizing workers' health are likely to be more prosperous after the pandemic.

Wesley Franklin, community impact director for the American Heart Association in Des Moines, said it is vital to implement a culture which gives staff a chance to break away from the day-to-day grind.

"You know, if we're sitting at our desk 9 to 5, are we really prioritizing our health?" Franklin questioned.

He pointed out wellness resources are key as researchers continue to learn how the pandemic has affected people's health, including heart health. The topics will be covered at the annual Iowa Workplace Health Symposium. The event is free and takes place Jan. 19 at Des Moines University's Olsen Center, with options for virtual participation. There's no charge to attend, but organizers say you need to register ahead of time.

Franklin noted some Iowa companies have already taken steps in this area, including Grinnell Mutual, which has a dedicated wellness center. He added it is a chance for other regional employers to take notice.

"Making sure that, 'Hey, we value you. We value employees. We want you to stay here. We understand, you know. Yeah, get up for those 10 or 15 minutes, move around,'" Franklin suggested.

He emphasized the ideas could especially help companies struggling to attract and retain workers as the economy reopens.

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