Six minutes of news from around the nation.

The latest Trump move is guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz; Alabama special session sparks voting rights fight ahead of primary; Former Nevada Senate leader: No wars over oil; Massachusetts community college educators fight for fair pay and respect.

TRANSCRIPT

The Public News Service daily newscast for May the 4th, 2026.

I'm Mike Clifford.

The latest move from the Trump administration starting today, the U.S. will begin guiding ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

They're calling it a humanitarian gesture.

CNN notes the U.S. Central Command said military support for the defensive mission will include guided missile destroyers, more than 100 aircraft, and 15,000 service members, even though a U.S. official said the initiative is not an escort mission.

Meantime, Governor Kay Ivey called for a special session to begin today, hours after the Supreme Court's landmark ruling in Louisiana.

Republican leaders say they want a fighting chance to send seven GOP members to Congress, but Robin Hyden of Alabama Arise says the timing and substance of the move threatens fair representation.

We know there's been a long strategy from the far right to undermine the Voting Rights Act, which protects fair representation and districting, especially for black voters.

So unfortunately, Alabama is now one of the states.

Following Florida's move last week, Alabama joins Tennessee in holding special legislative sessions this week to draw new congressional and state Senate maps.

Governor Ivey has said the state is preparing in case courts allow Alabama to use previously drawn maps.

Republican legislative leaders acknowledge uncertainty, but argue they have a responsibility to pursue new district lines.

Ivey has filed an emergency motion with the Supreme Court seeking permission to move forward.

I'm Tramiel Gomes.

We head next to Nevada, where Democratic leaders are speaking out against the Iran war, saying the U.S. should be investing in social services and renewable energy instead.

A top Pentagon official testified last week that the U.S. has spent about $25 billion on the war since February, not counting the damage to U.S. bases.

Former President Pro Tempore of the Nevada State Senate, Pat Spearman, is now involved with the non-profit elected officials to protect America.

She says voters need to make their voices heard.

Everybody ought to contact whoever it is that represents them in Congress and say, I don't want to spend one more dime on this war.

I want to make sure that we have money for health care.

We have money for child care.

The White House maintains that the war in Iran is necessary to prevent that country from developing nuclear weapons.

I'm Suzanne Potter.

And community college educators in Massachusetts say the state can't fulfill the promise of the mass education program if they can't afford food or rent.

Angela Avondano is with the Massachusetts Community College Council.

We have folks that are working at our colleges that have to use the basic needs services of food pantries in order to take care of their families.

She says ongoing contract negotiations need to result in a living wage.

This is Public News Service.

More than a half million folks in Maine are starting their week eligible for a paid family and medical leave program should they or a loved one experience a major life event.

Employees began contributing to the program through a 1 percent payroll tax last year and can now apply for up to 12 weeks off to care for an ailing parent or a newborn without fear of losing their job.

Dusty Homan Sprague, executive director of the Maine Women's Lobby, says she herself was forced to choose between earning a paycheck or caring for her 8-week-old child.

With this program, now there's the comfort and reassurance of knowing that people don't have to make those kinds of hard choices anymore.

The program also applies to workers in need of safe or military leave.

Maine is now the 14th state to offer a paid family and medical leave program, along with the District of Columbia.

I'm Catherine Carley.

And Idaho is one of the five U.S. states without state-funded and instead emphasizes local and private solutions.

That's despite increased spending by other states.

According to the latest State of Preschool report from the National Institute for Early Education Research, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, South Dakota, and Wyoming don't fund public preschool programs.

Nicole Kreiner with the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children says that doesn't mean the state is doing nothing for early childhood education.

Idaho really has taken a parent choice approach for early learning opportunities.

And what I mean by that is we really value the opportunity for parents to provide those for early years, that foundation for early learning.

Universal public preschool remains a complex topic in Idaho, with polls showing public support for expanding early learning options.

Idaho's legislature, however, has shied away from debating it.

This year, a budget committee turned down $16 million in federal grant money intended to expand child care availability.

I'm Laura Hatch reporting.

Finally, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade deal is up for renegotiation in July.

The Magnolia State exports billions of dollars in products to Mexico and Canada, including transportation equipment, computer and electronic products, and chemicals.

President Donald Trump replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement with the USMCA during his first term.

Katie Hettinga with the Rethink Trade Program at the American Economic Liberties Project says a new report from her team shows the agreement doesn't live up to the president's promises.

Trump said the deal would create hundreds of thousands of American jobs, that offshoring would end and U.S. industry would be revitalized, that the deal will fix our giant trade balance.

The USMCA simply has not delivered.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

This is Mike Clifford.

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