News from around the nation.

Three states plan to execute three men on the same day - It’s scheduled to happen today; The DOJ sues Connecticut over the in-state tuition for undocumented students law; a Pennsylvania civil rights complaint alleges school closures harm Black students; Line 5 tunnel gets the federal nod, but Michigan fight continues.

Transcript

The Public News Service Thursday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

It has not happened for a decade, but three states all plan to execute inmates on the same day today.

The executions are set to be carried out by lethal injection in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

The New York Times notes nationally states are on track to execute fewer people in 2026 than in previous years.

Public support for capital punishment is at its lowest level in decades, according to the Gallup polls. even as the Trump administration has called the death penalty an essential tool for deterring and punishing horrific crimes.

Meantime, the U.S. Justice Department is suing Connecticut over a law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition.

Our Edwin J. Viera has the story.

It's one of more than a dozen lawsuits against primarily Democratic states with similar laws.

The DOJ argues the law discriminates against U.S. citizens from other states, But Tabitha Sukdeo with CT Students for a Dream says most students benefiting from the law must meet certain residency requirements.

For one, you would have had to go on to a Connecticut high school for at least two years.

You would have had to graduated from a Connecticut high school.

And you would have had to arrive to the U.S. before your 17th birthday.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong and Governor Ned Lamont are vowing to fight the lawsuit.

And Pittsburgh public schools are facing a civil rights complaint alleging that district school closures discriminate against black students and violate the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act.

The board's May 27th vote will close nine school buildings, eliminate 12 schools, reconfigure 10 others, and terminate magnet programs, displacing at least 6,000 young people, many of whom are students of color.

Adaku Anyaka Crawford with Advancement Projects as her group filed the complaint with 412 Justice on behalf of five black students who would lose their school under the closure plan.

She notes families have pushed for investment and alternatives to closures, but the district has shut them out of the process while moving ahead with the plan.

Pennsylvania has this law that prohibits discrimination based on race and other traits in schools.

We are hoping to use this avenue to force PPS to stop their actions and come to the table and actually talk with communities.

District officials say the closures address declining enrollment and budget deficits.

Danielle Smith reporting.

And the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a key federal permit for the Enbridge proposed Line 5 tunnel, but opponents say the fight is far from over.

David Holtz is coalition coordinator for the Oil and Water Don't Mix Coalition.

The Michigan Supreme Court fundamentally changed the legal landscape for the tunnel project.

They threw out the Public Service Commission's approval because the state failed to consider the environmental consequences of the tunnel.

Environmental groups in Michigan tribal communities argued the tunnel, which would run between the Straits of Mackinac, threatens the Great Lakes, tribal cultural resources, and the climate.

This is Public News Service.

Washington state is investing millions and grants to help workers level up through its job skills program, and demand for the funding this cycle was the highest in the program's 40-year history.

Awarded by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the grants match dollar for dollar with employers to provide customized short-term training for employees provided by the state's community and technical colleges.

Carolyn McKinnon with SBCTC says this funding cycle drew a record 52 applications. employee turnover is very expensive for any employer.

They want to keep and grow their good employees.

Those employers are also facing a lot of competition and new regulations, and so it's to their benefit to continuously train their workers.

McKinnon adds that SBCTC was able to fund 35 of the proposals, amounting to nearly $8 million in matching grants.

She says companies focused on manufacturing are the most frequent applicants.

I'm Isobel Charle.

Next, investigative reporting from the Marshall Project alleges horrific conditions at the Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Documented incidents include 126 suicide attempts by kids in more than three years and the mishandling of a sexual assault allegation.

Fox Run is a 100-bed residential treatment center for preteen youth who struggle with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

Marshall Project Cleveland reporter Brittany Haler investigated the facility for over a year.

She says some former residents preferred being arrested over spending time at the facility.

Several survivors told me that they were treated better in the detention center, that the corrections officers spoke to them with respect, that they got decent food, and that it was the place where their parents could actually come and see them.

The CEO of Fox Run noted the facility had not been cited for violating the law in its handling of any of these incidents.

This story was produced with original reporting from Brittany Haler for the Marshall Project.

I'm Terry Dee reporting.

Finally, as Kernza gains momentum in Wisconsin and across the country, agriculture experts say the crop could offer farmers a new way to diversify their operations while improving soil and water health.

It can be planted once and harvested for three to four years, unlike traditional grain crops.

Matt Lovett is an agronomist with the University of Minnesota.

He says as Kernza products become more available in retail and online stores, the crop also has the potential to be used as forage for livestock.

A true perennial crop has a lot of add-on benefits, and there's a lot of exciting market development on the crop.

The events taking place in East Troy on August 21st.

People can learn more at michaelfields.org.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service. member and list of supported, find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.

Washington State is investing millions in grants to help workers level up through its job skills program, and demand for the funding this cycle was the highest in the program's 40-year history.

Awarded by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the grants match dollar for dollar with employers to provide customized short-term training for employees provided by the state's community and technical colleges.

Carolyn McKinnon with SBCTC says this funding cycle drew a record 52 applications.

Employee turnover is very expensive for any employer.

They want to keep and grow their good employees.

Those employers are also facing a lot of competition and new regulations, and so it's to their benefit to continuously train their workers.

McKinnon adds that SBCTC was able to fund 35 of the proposals, amounting to nearly $8 million in matching grants.

She says companies focused on manufacturing are the most frequent applicants.

I'm Isobel Charle.

Next, investigative reporting from the Marshall Project alleges horrific conditions at the Fox Run Center for Children and Adolescents in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Documented incidents include 126 suicide attempts by kids in more than three years and handling of a sexual assault allegation.

Fox Run is a 100-bed residential treatment center for preteen youth who struggle with emotional, behavioral, or mental health issues.

Marshall Project Cleveland reporter Brittany Haler investigated the facility for over a year.

She says some former residents preferred being arrested over spending time at the facility.

Several survivors told me that they were treated better in the detention center, that the corrections officers spoke to them with respect, that they got decent food, and that it was the place where their parents could actually come and see them.

The CEO of Fox Run noted the facility had not been cited for violating the law in its handling of any of these incidents.

This story was produced with original reporting from Brittany Haler for the Marshall Project.

I'm Terry Dee reporting.

Finally, as Kernza gains momentum in Wisconsin and across the country, agriculture experts say the crop could offer farmers a new way to diversify their operations while improving soil and water health.

It can be planted once and harvested for three to four years unlike traditional grain crops.

Matt Lovett is an agronomist with the University of Minnesota.

He says as Kernza products become more available in retail and online stores, the crop also has the potential to be used as forage for livestock.

A true perennial crop has a lot of add-on benefits, and there's a lot of exciting market development on the crop.

The event's taking place in East Troy on August 21st.

People can learn more at michaelfields.org.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

Member and listener supported.

Finder trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.