Six minutes of news from around the nation.

Americans race to meet 'REAL ID' deadline, the UN rejects a controversial Gaza aid plan, and state leaders debate Medicaid, child tax credits, youth apprenticeships, lead pipe disclosures and clean energy funding.

Transcript

The Public News Service Daily Newscast, Monday, May 5, 2025.

I'm Farah Siddiqui.

Jury selection begins today in the high-profile trial of music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs, who faces charges including racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking.

As the deadline for real ID approaches, Americans are scrambling to update their IDs before new rules take effect for domestic travel May 7.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, a humanitarian crisis deepens as the U.N. and aid groups reject a proposed Israeli-U.S. plan for aid delivery, warning it violates international principles and endangers lives.

And now, potential Medicaid cuts could have a negative impact on early childhood education professionals in Arkansas.

A report from Georgetown University's Center for Children and Families shows 31 percent of the state's child care workers are covered by Medicaid.

Nicole Carey with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families says having health care coverage impacts the overall well-being of the educator.

Which then plays into their relationship with the kids they're serving and their longevity in the profession and it has this ripple effect.

Arkansas has expanded Medicaid coverage.

It's one of 13 states nationwide that covers more than one-third of the child care workforce through Medicaid.

I'm Freda Ross reporting.

May is Family Wellness Month and Minnesota households are encouraged to work on goals beyond the surface level of success.

One expert says family members can explore dimensions that go a long way in shaping well-being.

Mike Moen reports.

University of Minnesota Extension educator Sharon Powell acknowledges that society isn't as laser-focused on career or academic success in defining how well a person or family is doing.

Powell adds that with mental health a bigger priority these days, it's one way in which households can get a sense of whether or not loved ones are thriving.

You feel happy and content and like you're contributing to your family's well-being and to your community and even beyond.

Powell says if you notice sudden mood changes or a family member becomes withdrawn, it might be good to inquire about their emotional state.

A new report shows Illinois youth now have more apprenticeship and internship opportunities with an increase in women and minority participation, but significant disparities in representation remain.

Judith Ruiz Branch reports.

The study by SkillsUSA and Northern Illinois University found the number of women in apprenticeships has doubled since 2019, but Jason Klein with Northern Illinois University says apprenticeships and internship opportunities for women are often low-paying or unpaid, which can hinder their options in the workforce.

Lots of students then have to choose between an internship or a paid job doing something else, which may not be contributing towards their movement forward within a desired career pathway.

This is public news service.

A refundable child tax credit aimed at helping families with young children was proposed by Governor DeWine's budget, but was stripped out of the Ohio House.

Advocates say it's not too late for lawmakers to restore it and offer families some financial relief.

Lynanne Guitera is president and CEO of Groundwork Ohio.

"This is a really, really strong policy that acknowledges the needs of families.

It won't solve everything, but it is a almost billion-dollar investment, and so I think the largest investment in young children and families that has been proposed in his tenure."

If passed, the child tax credit would be Ohio's largest direct state investment in young children to date, providing up to $1,000 per child under age seven, at a time when more than eight in 10 Ohio parents say inflation is forcing them to cut back on groceries.

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would require property owners to disclose the presence of lead water service lines during a real estate transaction.

As Mark Moran reports, some of Iowa's residential water lines date back more than a century.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least half of the children in the United States are at risk of lead exposure from water lines.

The Iowa Environmental Council's Cody Smith says the problem is especially acute in Iowa and adds it will be extremely expensive to address."

"It's estimated that fixing Iowa's lead service line issue would cost about $900 million statewide, so this is a pressing health concern for the children in our state."

Iowa is responding to a federal rule passed last year that requires all service lines that contain lead to be replaced by 2035.

House File 876 would require sellers to disclose that their house has lead service lines in a real estate transaction.

As Congress prepares to vote next week on a budget bill that would repeal solar energy tax credits, Florida solar advocates warn the move would jeopardize the state economy.

Tramiel Gomes reports.

"According to industry data, the tax credits have funded over $12 billion in clean energy projects and supported 175,000 jobs in Florida.

Caleb Quaid, with Tampa-based Regenerative Shift, says his company's landmark solar project relies on the funding."

"This project would not have been possible without these clean energy tax credits.

They are currently in the process of installing what will be the largest rooftop solar project on a school in Florida history.

In addition to providing lower cost of energy for Manatee School for the Arts, this project is also paying all of its laborers prevailing wages."

Opponents of the tax credits argue renewable energy should be able to compete without help from the government.

Representative Vern Buchanan is facing mounting pressure to defend the solar tax credits because his district hosts many jobs related to clean energy.

This is Farah Siddiqui for Public News Service.

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