Six minutes of news from around the nation.

GOP Senators decided to take a break as the party mulls issues like the Trump 1.8 billion dollar fund; EPA rollback of clean water rules puts Tennesseans at risk; North Carolina survivors reflect on mental health needs after Hurricane Helene; Penn State University faculty win SEIU union vote.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service daily newscast for May the 22nd, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

Senate Republicans departed the nation's capital Thursday without voting on a $70 billion bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies.

QP senators appear to be frustrated with the White House and an impasse on whether to block the new $17.76 billion settlement to compensate Trump allies who believe they've been politically prosecuted.

The AP notes the Republicans had already abandoned part of the bill that provided a billion dollars in security money for the white house complex and president donald trump's ballroom amid backlash from members of their own party they had the settlement announced by the justice department this week prompted more questions spurring a push to limit the taxpayer dollars that some feared could go to trump supporters who harmed law enforcement officers on january 6th meantime an environmental group fighting for clean water is criticizing the environmental protection agency's decision to roll back rules on pfa otherwise known as forever chemicals.

PFAS are used in everyday products such as nonstick pans, food packaging, and firefighting foam.

The federal government would ease four regulations on these substances and allow delays until 2031.

Dan Firth with the Sierra Club of Tennessee warns that could leave residents exposed to polluted water for years.

We're certainly disappointed to see that They're not putting the health of the citizens first, and it will result in people, in citizens of Tennessee, drinking contaminated water that is unhealthy.

This week, the EPA announced it's making more than $10 million available in grants to help Tennessee's small and disadvantaged communities tackle PFAS and other emerging contaminants.

Danielle Smith reporting.

Next, this Mental Health Awareness Month, survivors of natural disasters in North Carolina are speaking out about the trials of rebuilding after the fact.

Hurricane Helene survivor Gina Heath is a trauma specialist and mother of three from Marshall.

Nearly every home in her neighborhood had to be gutted or torn down entirely after floodwaters reached 20 feet high.

And not knowing if her family could recover from the devastation led to extreme stress.

She explains trauma following a natural disaster can take many forms.

For her two-year-old, it involves separation anxiety.

For her neighbors, it involved trips to the emergency room.

That played out in surgeries, hospitalizations, things that may have seemed unrelated, but that I'm guessing were actually fallout from all of the emotional duress and complex PTSD and the stress that put on people's health and wellness.

More than 100 people died during Hurricane Helene in North Carolina.

Official estimates put damages and rebuilding needs following severe flooding and landslides for the state after the disaster at nearly $60 billion.

I'm Zamone Perez.

Nearly 5,000 homeowners in North Carolina are still waiting on government assistance to rebuild their homes.

This is Public News Service.

After six years of organizing, Penn State University faculty have formed a union to gain a stronger voice and greater influence in university decisions.

The Penn State Faculty Alliance reports about 75% of participating faculty voted to join the Service Employees International Union.

More than 2,300 supported the effort and about 850 opposed.

Julio Palma Anda, an associate professor of chemistry, says the move follows years of frustration over limited faculty input on key decisions.

I think employees should have a voice in their workplace.

We have made, through the years, several attempts to raise our voice, our concerns, collaborate with the administration, but we have been quite ignored.

He says without a formal collective bargaining structure, faculty lacked a meaningful voice in decision-making.

The union will represent faculty of all ranks across University Park and Commonwealth campuses.

And during Mental Health Awareness Month, Indiana Youth Advocates say strong relationships and supportive adults can improve teen mental health.

We get more from our Joe Ulory.

Data from the Indiana Youth Institute show nearly 30% of Indiana students in grades 7 through 12 reported feeling sad or depressed for at least two weeks in 2024.

Nearly 14% said they had considered suicide.

Tammy Silverman with the Indiana Youth Institute says small everyday moments can help protect kids from deeper struggles.

So this can be a family dinner without phones.

It can be a mentor who comes back time and time again.

It can be a coach.

Supporters say schools and community groups are expanding counseling and mentoring programs.

Some critics argue schools should stay focused on academics and leave other responsibilities to families.

Mental health experts believe support at home and school often work best together.

Finally, communities across Minnesota will soon see an infusion of state aid for public works projects.

It's from a new bonding bill that was cleared by lawmakers during the spring session.

State lawmakers agreed on a $1.2 billion package to help finance projects like wastewater treatment plant upgrades.

Representative Few Lee of Minneapolis says those types of investments will save money for residents because local entities won't have to foot all of the bill.

He says there's other spending that will benefit all of Minnesota.

We have funding to protect our natural resources, to protect our assets through the DNR, our state parks and trails.

The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, which represents state workers, says the package funds many of its members' needs, although often at lower levels than desired.

MAPE also noted the exclusion of an infrastructure project serving the state-owned St. Peter Regional Treatment Center.

But the union applauded money for the Faribault Vocational Programs Building, citing the importance of inmate and staff safety.

I'm Mike Moen.

This is Mike Clifford for Public News Service.

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