Latest news with #Congressionally-approved
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump cut funding for Lawrence museum. How community rallied to raise it back
After facing federal grant cuts, the Douglas County Historical Society has regained its financial footing with the support of the Lawrence community, an online fundraiser and a generous private donor. The society's museum, the Watkins Museum of History, located at 11th and Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, celebrated its 50th anniversary in April. But the party was rained on when, also in April, a $50,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services was terminated due to an executive order from President Donald Trump. Executive Order 14238 continues the reduction of the federal bureaucracy that President Trump has maintained is unnecessary. But the move has also put Congressionally-approved federal funding like the musueum grant in jeopardy. 'It was granted to us by a federal institution authorized by Congress,' said Will Haynes, the deputy director for engagement and learning at the Watkins Museum. 'This was illegal what they were doing, and what they are doing still.' The grant would have funded an educational project called 'Seeking a More Perfect Union, ' said Haynes. It included lesson plans and teacher resources on the Underground Railroad, which was active in Lawrence. The society has an important duty to share the roots of the city, he said. 'Lawrence has a history that is nationally significant because the city was founded as part of the movement against slavery,' said Haynes. 'We take that special history seriously, and we try to interpret history in such a way that we show folks how it's relevant to this day.' The grant cut caused a $13,000 loss for the society. The termination was due to the project being deemed to 'no longer serve the interest of the United States,' stated a letter from the IMLS. 'The claim that it does not serve the interest of the United States was false, and I think evidence of that is seen in the great outpouring of support that we got with the GoFundMe campaign,' said Haynes. Last week, the society finally recovered the $13,000 lost due to the grant funding being pulled after a private donor contributed $6,000, in addition to the more than $5,000 raised from GoFundMe, Haynes said. 'It was a very gratifying thing to see the support of the public, and it was a reminder that the public supports what our museum and other museums and historic sites do,' he said. Watkins Museum is considered a staple of the Lawrence community by many, according to Haynes. The free museum brings in about $1.5 million yearly in revenue for the county. In fact, the society recently received a proclamation from the city commemorating their work. 'We're still following the same mission that we did back in 1933 of preserving the county history, and I'm having it available to tell stories of local history and then interpreting those artifacts, documents, and stories for people today,' said Haynes.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Columbus' $500,000 tree grant paused due to improper planting
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The City of Columbus' nearly $400,000 reimbursement for trees already planted in 'historically Black neighborhoods' is paused after Ohio Department of Natural Resources inspections revealed that many newly planted trees did not meet grant standards. In a statement to NBC4, ODNR said the city's reimbursement is temporarily halted because many trees were planted incorrectly, violating grant standards. However, City Attorney Zach Klein's office said the real problem lies with Washington, accusing federal officials of illegally freezing funding and forcing cities like Columbus to take legal action. Organization offering 'bounty' for removal of invasive trees in central Ohio In February, ODNR told grant recipients to halt work on the tree project, saying the U.S. Forest Service had paused the Urban Forestry Grant. That suspension was lifted in mid-March, and ODNR resumed processing reimbursements. Still, during inspections, the state agency flagged Columbus for improper tree plantings, delaying the city's payments. Columbus maintains it followed the rules and that ODNR even requested the city submit its reimbursement paperwork for $393,930 of a $500,000 total grant, knowing payouts might not come through. Then, on March 19, Columbus joined a nationwide lawsuit, saying the Trump administration did not have the right to 'illegally freeze and/or delay Congressionally-approved federal funding' for numerous projects, including the tree-planting grant awarded to Columbus. A little more than a week later, on March 27, ODNR notified the city that its reimbursement would be delayed until the tree planting issues were corrected. While ODNR insists the city must fix its tree plantings before it gets paid, Columbus argues that is a separate issue and that the broader fight is about stopping the federal government from weaponizing grant money for political reasons. City officials said they are committed to holding the Trump administration accountable in court. 'The Trump administration's actions and executive orders threatening this funding warrant legal action by the city to ensure this administration follows the law and funds these grants without delay,' Klein's office said in a statement. Ohio museums, art groups hit by DOGE cuts ODNR Division of Forestry said it is working with city officials to properly re-plant the trees so they can qualify for reimbursement. 'Once that occurs, the city will be eligible for reimbursement through the Urban Forestry Grant,' ODNR wrote to NBC4. Klein's office said the 'implementation' of the city's tree planting program is under the authority of Columbus' Recreation and Parks Department, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the trees. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Future of Missouri's low-income utility assistance program uncertain after federal cuts
(Brian Brown iStock / Getty Images Plus). Included in the massive federal workforce cuts at the Department of Health and Human Services this week was the elimination of an office that runs a program over 100,000 Missouri families rely on to help pay their heating and cooling bills. The layoffs within the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides Congressionally-approved funds that are administered by Missouri's social services department, leaves the program's future in limbo. LIHEAP is designed to help those with few resources cover their home energy bills in the summer and winter. Since October, the program has helped offset utility costs for 100,839 households, according to a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services. The state received over $136.4 million for the program in fiscal year 2023, and the average benefit for the heating and cooling program was around $675 per household. The Department of Social Services has 'not received any official updates regarding potential program reductions,' said spokesperson Baylee Watts, and the federal government hasn't announced program cuts. But advocates fear that without the federal staff, the future allocation of funding is uncertain. 'Any cuts to LIHEAP will be detrimental to Missourians who are already struggling to keep up with increasing electric and gas bills,' said Sandra Padgett, executive director of Consumers Council of Missouri, in a press release. States are still waiting for around 10% of their annual funding allocation for the federal fiscal year that began in October. That amount usually arrives in June. Watts said Missouri hasn't been notified yet of what that amount is, but it was $8.1 million last year. Those funds aren't expected to be needed until the fiscal year that starts in October, though, Watts said, based on the way Missouri has allocated funding. 'At this moment, DSS does not anticipate any impact on services,' Watts said. At the same time, a bill adding a charge onto utility bills passed the state legislature and is awaiting the governor's signature. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Axios
16-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Trump guts government-funded media outlets
The Trump Administration on Saturday ordered nearly all 1,300 employees of Voice of America (VOA) to be placed on leave. It also terminated funding for its sister broadcasters such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Middle East Broadcasting Networks. Why it matters: The decision sparked outrage from press freedom groups who say gutting those programs represents the latest effort by the Trump Administration to abandon the historic role the U.S. has played in championing democracy and press freedom abroad. Catch up quick: VOA is the largest of five international broadcasters represented by U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), formerly the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Those broadcasters operate on Congressionally-approved funding. VOA was created more than 80 years ago to combat Nazi propaganda during WWII. It's mission is to promote democracy and American interests abroad through fact-driven journalism. A legal firewall is supposed to protect it from any government interference. Those boundaries were tested during the first Trump Administration. Zoom in: On Saturday, employees at VOA were informed by USAGM's director of human resources that they were placed on leave, barring them from entering VOA's headquarters and using USAGM-provided equipment. The move came as part of a directive issued late Friday by The White House to reduce statutory functions of "unnecessary governmental entities to what is required by law." USAGM special advisor Kari Lake cancelled USAGM's 15-year lease, with a notice calling it "obscenely expensive." Other USAGM-funded broadcasters were told their funding would be terminated. What they're saying: "Attempts to defund @RFERL would be a massive gift to America's enemies, many of whom are already celebrating," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty president and CEO Steve Capus said in a statement. "VOA needs thoughtful reform, and we have made progress in that regard. But today's action will leave Voice of America unable to carry out its vital mission. That mission is especially critical today, when America's adversaries, like Iran, China, and Russia, are sinking billions of dollars into creating false narratives to discredit the United States," Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz wrote on LinkedIn. Zoom out: Trump allies have long criticized the VOA and USAGM press agencies as propagandists. Elon Musk has called for VOA to be shut down. Saturday's actions were foreshadowed two weeks ago, when Gavin Kliger, a former Twitter software engineer who is now part of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) team, was spotted inside VOA headquarters, sources told Axios. The week prior, USAGM placed one of the VOA's most visible journalists, chief national correspondent Steven Herman, on "excused absence" pending an HR investigation, and reassigned the broadcaster's longtime White House bureau chief Patsy Widakuswara to another beat. Yes, but: Attempts to defund USAGM-funded entities were halted by courts during the first Administration, and could come up against legal pressure again this time around. Michael Pack, the conservative filmmaker who was nominated by President Trump to lead USAGM during his first term, was accused of fraud, as well as misuse of office, during his short tenure from 2020 to 2021. What to watch: The gutting of USAGM's broadcast agencies would leave an information vacuum in parts of the world where fact-based journalism is difficult to access, advocated have argued. "The termination of RFA's grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space," RFA president and CEO Bay Fang said in a statement.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DC officials, advocates make last-ditch effort to prevent the stopgap spending bill from Senate approval
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)—With just hours to go to avert a government shutdown, local DC advocates and officials are making a last-ditch effort to address a provision in the federal spending bill that would have devastating impacts on the district budget. 'The impact is almost immediate for us as District residents if this goes through,' said Ward 4 councilmember Janeese Lewis George. Lewis George was one of several councilmembers lobbying at the Senate Hart Building Friday. 'We've been here since 9 a.m. making calls to legislative directors, trying to meet with Senators,' she explained. 'This is going to impact your day-to-day life and your families and your children and your staff.' The spending plan, which was already approved by the House, is a continuing resolution (CR) that would keep the government open for the next six months at 2024 spending levels. Proposed federal bill would cut DC budget by roughly $1 billion, city officials say Unlike in previous continuing resolutions, however, this CR treats the District as a federal agency, forcing the city to also spend at 2024 levels, despite already operating under its Congressionally-approved 2025 budget. Should the CR be passed by the Senate, D.C. would need to make an immediate $1 billion cut to its local budget, which is funded by local tax dollars, not federal dollars. 'If the language (excluding DC) is omitted we will almost immediately be going into triage mode because these are ongoing payments. This is mid-year. There are payments we will not be able to make,' said Lewis George. 'I have been in a daze since the 2024 election,' said Travis Ballie, organizing director with DC Action. 'I feel angry, I feel hopeless but I feel in community and that's what's keeping me going right now.' Ballie has been one of the many people lobbying senators since Wednesday. 'We are running at the senators in the hallways and lobbying them on the spot,' he said. 'Washington, DC is treated like a canary in a coal mine. Republicans like to experiment in the District before they take policies nationally, so this is not just about the District, this is about standing up for the next fight.' If the CR passes, advocates said there could be other ways to address the situation. 'There are lots of potential remedies because we have a robust system of government and despite challenges with checks and balances, they still exist,' said Jasmine Tyler, Executive Director of the Justice Policy Institute. 'We could see a stand-alone piece of legislation introduced.' That's what happened when the last CR was passed. Congress voted on a separate piece of legislation granting DC control over the RFK Stadium site, a measure that was omitted from the CR. Still, Tyler said the vote could have lasting impacts on policy. 'The message to DC is clear, you don't get a chance to govern yourself despite the fact we've had home rule status for five decades,' she said. 'This is part of a package approach to undermining DC sovereignty. And it's just the one that worked.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
