News from around the nation.

Senate agrees to fund DHS, except ICE - TSA agents expected to get paid; 'No Kings' in MN: ICE fallout still looms large; Vendors applying for CT festivals affected by scammers; IL group identifies harmful social media use trends among teens.

Transcript

The Public News Service Friday afternoon update.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The Senate unanimously agreed to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, excluding ICE and Border Patrol.

Senators approved the package at 2.20 a.m. by a voice vote.

The 42-day funding lapse has seen TSA workers go without pay, leading many to call out of work and causing long lines at airports.

NBC News notes, while the measure still needs to pass the House, the Senate vote does pave the way to allow airports to fully function again.

Meantime, cities across the U.S. are gearing up for the latest No Kings protest Saturday, and Minnesota's turnout is likely to garner attention.

Residents opposed to the Trump administration's crackdown say the fallout is still fresh in their minds.

The series of nonviolent nationwide protests the past year is tied to mounting frustration over many different actions by the Trump White House.

More recently, Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota fueled extensive outcry following what many describe as overly aggressive tactics by federal immigration officers.

An event is planned in Kandiyohi County.

Its county seat, Wilmer's population, is 25 percent Latino.

Rain Headland of nearby New London will be in attendance, saying she wants to stand in solidarity with her neighbors.

Wilmer has a large immigrant community.

They help our community thrive and are a huge part of a lot of really positive things that are happening in the community.

Minneapolis drew attention for ICE arrests and the fatal shooting of two protesters, but Wilmer organizers also reported controversial enforcement.

I'm Mike Moen.

Next to Connecticut, where vendors for some festivals are falling victim to scammers.

Our Edwin J. Viera has the story.

Potential vendors for the Norwalk Oyster Festival are receiving emails about booth fees and vendor applications from someone claiming to be the Norwalk Seaport Association.

It began last year with emails to vendors, but continued as a social media ad using official logos.

Jerry Tony with the Norwalk Seaport Association says there are red flags people should look for.

Payment method is one of the big issues because they ask you to buy gift cards, some Apple gift card or some other process other than what would be traditional method by which anyone would make a purchase, a credit card or something like that.

Tony says one of the best ways to confirm if the Norwalk Seaport Association is genuinely reaching out is to call them directly.

I'm Edwin J. Viera.

Next, the amount of time teens spend on social media is raising eyebrows among Illinois parents.

NAMI, Illinois, works to improve the quality of life for people with mental health conditions and their families through support and education.

Its executive director is Sarah Gray.

Adolescents are in a critical stage of development, and young people are forming their sense of self.

That is largely built around how they identify themselves with their peers.

Research links high social media use with lower self-esteem and body concerns and strongly connected to depressions.

Mental health advocates say young people in rural areas spending about five hours a day on social media.

This is Public News Service.

State officials are warning folks in Utah now that an unusually dry winter season could mean that water will be in short supply during the spring and summer months.

Utah is facing a significant water shortfall due to record low snowpack, which is at about half of normal levels.

State officials are urging residents and communities to conserve water, follow local watering guidance, and prepare for ongoing drought impacts.

Laura Haskell is with the Utah Division of Water Resources.

Typically, we would have 16 inches of water.

In Utah, about 95 percent of our water supply actually comes from our snowpack.

Haskell says most western states have experienced a dry winter season, aligning with atmospheric cycles seen in previous years.

She adds that although reservoirs are currently around 68 percent full, Reduced spring runoff means the state will rely heavily on stored water this year.

I'm Mark Richardson.

Haskell says nearly all of Utah is experiencing drought conditions, raising continued concerns for major boundaries of water like Great Salt Lake and Lake Powell.

An environmental advocacy group says going a day without using plastic is nearly impossible, but that's exactly the problem.

Plastic production is crucial to the Pennsylvania economy, with the industry generating over $16 billion in annual shipments.

Melissa Valiant with Beyond Plastics says industry giants have made people dependent on their products while shifting the blame for pollution to the public.

She says policy change in Pennsylvania and across the country is badly needed.

For way too long, it's been half a century now that the fossil fuel and plastics industry have tried to put the blame on consumers.

This is not a problem created by consumers. it is a problem created by companies.

Danielle Smith reporting.

The EPA cites data that finds that carcinogenic chemicals found in plastic can lead into tap water, which may cause a wide range of health disorders.

Finally, as our country approaches its 250th anniversary, the traditional American dream has become more difficult to attain, says one Midwest professor.

Recent polling mirrors this view as more than half of Wisconsinites and people across the country say they're worse off now than a few years ago.

Washington University professor Mark Rank says economic security, personal fulfillment, and a hope for a better future are all key parts of the American dream, which people assumed they could achieve through hard work.

But Rank says stagnant wages and big cost-of-living hikes have dampened their optimism.

This idea of more and more people falling behind in terms of the American dream really explains a lot of the disillusionment, a lot of the frustration, a lot of the anxiety that people are experiencing in this country today.

I'm Judith Ruiz Branch reporting.

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

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