Childcare money runs out

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I don’t think they understand what our profession does through day in and day out. If they really understood they would support us, but they don’t. It doesn’t just affect us, it affects the broader economy.”

– Beth Markut, who owns and operates childcare centers in Boscobel, Prairie du Chien and Dodgeville, on Wisconsin lawmakers’ decision not to continue childcare support funding

Money to stabilize childcare programs that helped improve teachers' wages and keep tuition down will stop at the end of June. Advocates warn that 25% of providers could go out of business, while those who remain will have to increase their rates to keep operating. Erik Gunn reports on an uncertain future.

Researchers, advocates and survivors of domestic violence say it’s vital to keep telehealth access to medication abortion available for women in abusive relationships. A Louisiana lawsuit, however, argues that mifepristone has been weaponized against pregnant women in abusive relationships and shouldn’t be available by telehealth. Kelcie Moseley-Morris reports on the issue and the people affected.

Last year the median age of first-time home buyers reached a record 40 years old, while the median repeat buyer was 62, as the housing market became dominated by repeat buyers who could sell a house at today’s high prices. Tim Henderson of Stateline reports on the fallout.

Congress is looking to roll back state animal welfare laws as it wrangles over reauthorization of the federal farm bill. A pending version of the legislation includes the Save Our Bacon Act, which would block states from regulating the raising of livestock. Kevin Hardy of Stateline has the story.

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