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89 Middle Tennessee nonprofits awarded $2.1M in grants by HCA Healthcare Foundation
A $2.1 million round of grants is headed to dozens of nonprofit organizations across Middle Tennessee.
House speaker looks to reconciliation process to pass Trump's voter ID bill
Johnson suggested tying election integrity proposals to a federal grant program
House speaker looks to reconciliation process to pass Trump's voter ID bill
Johnson suggested tying election integrity proposals to a federal grant program
Federal officials plan to offload some warehouses purchased for immigrant detention
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is retreating from a plan to use warehouses to hold up to 10,000 people on a single site, dropping a key piece of former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s $38-billion plan to rapidly expand detention capacity this year.
Health professor to research AI’s impact on hiring people with disabilities
Erblin Shehu, who specializes in healthcare management, will join a major project funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
FSU Health creates grant program for projects on healthcare challenges
Florida State University is giving its researchers and local clinical providers financial support to work on addressing healthcare challenges.
Mayor Helena Moreno pledges grants for French Quarter businesses harmed by street closure
The work was supposed to be done by May.
State advances over four hundred projects in bid for Rural Health Transformation Program funding
The state received about 1800 letters of interest from organizations, and those chosen are advancing to the application phase, or are getting grants for project planning.
Biden judge overruled on key Trump immigration policy
Federal appeals court revives Trump administration's nationwide expedited removal policy, allowing fast-track deportations of eligible illegal immigrants.
Arrests of immigrant parents create mental health crisis for children
An estimated hundreds of thousands of kids, most of them U.S. citizens, have been separated from a parent by the Trump administration’s deportation policies.
Athens approves grant program for downtown business improvements
City leaders are taking applications from owners seeking storefront and signage upgrades
ESPN, Disney Jr. team up with Every Kid Sports to get preschoolers moving
Families can now register for preschool sports grants through "Disney Jr. Let's Play!," a global campaign to encourage young children to get laughing, moving and, of course, playing.
ESPN and Disney Jr. team up to help preschoolers discover the joy of sports!
Disney and ESPN are bringing back grants, sports clinics and Mickey-themed programming to help preschoolers stay active.
ESPN and Disney Jr. team up to help preschoolers discover the joy of sports!
Disney and ESPN are bringing back grants, sports clinics and Mickey-themed programming to help preschoolers stay active.
Trump effort to expand speedy deportations of migrants can proceed, appeals court rules
A federal appeals court handed President Donald Trump a significant win in his mass deportation efforts with a ruling Tuesday reviving his administration’s move to speed up deportations of undocumented immigrants in the United States.
How a new White House proposal could fundamentally change American science
Join us for a discussion on the potential impacts of a Trump admin plan to overhaul how federal research grants are awarded and administered.
Vanderbilt Health lands three of 35 Susan G. Komen research grants
Komen is the largest nonprofit funder of breast cancer research outside of the U.S. government, having invested more than $1.1 billion in research since its founding.
HRSA Announces Maternal Health Grant Opportunity
The grant will support produce prescription programs that aim to improve nutrition access and health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum patients and their families.
SCCSD Board approves purchase of school supplies & science curriculum
The South Conway County School District will once again be providing school supplies for all students in grades K-12 in the 2026-27 school year. The purchase of over $40,000 in supplies from the Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative is among the approvals granted by the […]
Pisgah Health Foundation opens 2026 grant cycle with $250K for 3 counties
Nonprofit organizations working to improve health and well-being across three Western North Carolina counties will soon be able to apply for new funding.
Braves offense lifeless again in loss to Padres
The Braves offense was lifeless against Michael King and the San Diego bullpen on Monday night, losing 1-0 to drop their second game in a row. It was more of the same for Grant Holmes, who labored through 4 2/3 innings. He hung a slider to struggling Manny Machado in the fourth inning that was […]
State advances over four hundred projects in bid for Rural Health Transformation Program funding
The state received about 1800 letters of interest from organizations, and those chosen are advancing to the application phase, or are getting grants for project planning.
THE WEEK OF JUNE 22, 2026
- NSF reverses ocean observatory shutdown - White House to limit stays of international students - OMB nominee defends grantmaking rule
Trump delays billions in HHS grants with political review
The Trump administration is holding up billions in grant funding because of a new political review process that goes up through Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the White House.
The “Luck” of Immigrant Women in Entertainment
As an immigrant woman, my career in the entertainment industry is not built on luck. More like persistence, adaptability, and sacrifice.
UWF professor secures $825,000 grant to support cancer survivors - University of West Florida Newsroom
University of West Florida Assistant Professor of Public Health Dr. Karishma Chhabria Unrue has been awarded a nearly $825,000 grant through the Florida Cancer Innovation Fund to lead a statewide initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of breast and prostate cancer survivors. The award represents one of the largest externally funded research grants […]
Despite transplant referrals, most kidney patients don’t make the waitlist
An NIH grant proposal poses new threats, more cases of a livestock disease in Europe, and more health news from Morning Rounds
University of Hawaiʻi researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine
The funding will be dedicated to accelerating biomedical discoveries through AI and data science to benefit people in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region, and worldwide.
The feds promised Minnesota’s rural hospitals grant money to ease massive Medicaid cuts. Hospitals are still waiting.
Rural health care providers in Minnesota and across the country are bracing for heavy Medicaid funding cuts next year.
SAFES grants to address Critical Issues Initiatives in College of Ag Sciences
Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, through its Institute for Sustainable Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, known as SAFES, recently announced its latest awards to accelerate the advancement of its Critical Issues Initiatives.
Business briefs: Franciscan employee honored, United Way offers grants
Business news from around the region.
Nonprofit behind new Fairview behavioral health center reworks proposal after neighborhood pushback
The Anchorage Assembly will consider updated grant contract on July 7.
Business People: More high-level changes at Target
RETAIL Target Corp., Minneapolis, announced it has hired Grant McGee as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, effective May 31, and Jeff England as chief supply chain and logistics officer to accelerate our…
Coles awards more than $3.5 million to help turn producers’ ideas into reality
June 21, 2026 -- More than $3.5 million in grants has been awarded to eight small and medium-sized businesses across Australia through the lates...
UH researchers awarded $12M grant to advance AI, data science in medicine | University of Hawaiʻi System News
New center will support innovative biomedical research, develop future scientific leaders, and expand research infrastructure in Hawaiʻi.
World Refugee Day 2026
Marking World Refugee Day 2026 and 75 years of the Refugee Convention, WHO calls for inclusive and resilient health systems that ensure refugees access to quality, continuous and culturally sensitive care. With 117.8 million people forcibly displaced worldwide, the organization emphasizes that protecting refugee health strengthens public health, preparedness and social cohesion. WHO highlights progress in integrating refugees into national health policies while urging greater investment, stronger data systems, emergency preparedness and meaningful participation of refugees in health planning and governance.
The Belfast riots: an anti-migrant ‘pogrom’
Disorder over migrant knife attack shines a light on new era of political violence fuelled by social media
Homes, businesses destroyed in Williamstown as strong storms rip through
Powerful winds tore through Grant County, toppling buildings and wrecking cars, leaving residents to face extensive damage and cleanup.
UAM lands $500,000 grant for Weevil Wellness Center, with funding through March 2027
The University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) received a $500,000 grant to construct an integrated health facility designed to serve students, faculty, and sta
Arkansas Food Science & Innovation Center gets State Grant
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has announced a $5 million grant for the construction of the University of Arkansas Department of Food Science’s Center of Excellence for Food Science and Innovation.
‘The purpose of the rule is fascism’: scientists fight back against planned Trump research cuts
Stand Up for Science founder says proposal to control how grants are spent would ‘dismantle US science ecosystem’
HHS announces over $700M in grants for mental health initiatives, addiction treatment and housing programs
The money includes $238.6 million to improve suicide crisis hotlines and $223.1 million to expand community behavioral health clinics. Dozens of programs all over the country are set to receive the funding.
Tech entrepreneur Dug Song helps Michigan's future business founders
After selling a cybersecurity company for billions, the son of a Korean immigrant has focused on making it easier for those who follow.
Northwestern Medicine announces $35 million grant for new community health institute
Northwestern Medicine received a $35 million grant to launch a community health institute, it announced Tuesday. The grant, donated by the Schreiber Philanthropy foundation, will go toward the new John and Kathy Schreiber Community Health Institute. The institute will partner with nonprofit organizations and community-based providers to offer direct care to underinsured patients. It also...
RWJBarnabas Health Invests $1.5 Million to Support Local Community Health Initiatives in New Brunswick, Middlesex County
RWJBarnabas Health today announced a combined $1.5 million investment to support local organizations working to address barriers to care, food insecurity and economic stability among underserved communities in New Brunswick and Middlesex County.
The Role of Immigrants in the U.S. Health Care Workforce
This issue brief provides data on immigrants’ role in the U.S. health care workforce, including within key industries such as direct long-term care and the hospital workforce.
HRSA grants supporting maternal and child health available
The Health Resources and Services Administration Maternal and Child Health Bureau has announced grant opportunities available supporting maternal and child health initiatives.
Some Asheville businesses that suffered Helene losses ineligible for $14M grant program
Small business owners seeking a share of the more than $14 million Asheville Recovers Together grant are being urged to review eligibility requirements.
Get Funding for Your Small Business with Grants!
Funding your small business is easier with GrantWatch at your side. Discover grants for small businesses and learn what it takes to apply!
Supreme court to release opinions with several high-stakes rulings to come including birthright citizenship
Trump’s immigration agenda is on the supreme court docket with rulings still to come on birthright citizenship and TPS for Haitian and Syrian immigrants
Arrests of immigrant parents create mental health crisis for children
Trump changes pregnancy-prevention program to promote childbearing
A federal poverty-fighting program focused on reducing unintended pregnancies is about to undergo a major overhaul. Reproductive health clinics use Title X federal grant money to provide birth control, cancer screenings and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections to people with little or no health insurance. Title X money cannot be used for abortions. The […]
Juneteenth celebration brings $35,000 in grants to Columbus small businesses
A Juneteenth celebration in Columbus brought people together and put thousands of dollars into local businesses.
White House plan to take over federal grantmaking draws criticism from science groups
Science advocacy groups are attempting to mobilize public comments on a proposed rule.
RFK Jr. presents $700 million in mental health funding, but experts say grants aren’t new
RFK Jr. presents funding intended to address mental illness and addiction, particularly among homeless people.
East Prairie High School receives grant to restore agri-science center greenhouse
East Prairie High School is receiving help to restore its greenhouse after severe weather caused thousands of dollars in damage earlier this year.
Another Tucson business dealing with break-in, vandalism
Grant Krueger with Union Hospitality Group said two people broke into the patio area of the old HiFi building and tried to damage his security camera.
Science Has Always Been Political. Now Politicians Want the Final Say.
We cannot afford to stay silent about the proposed federal grant-making rule
Latvia pilots citizen engagement in research grant evaluations
Latvia has introduced an element of citizen engagement to the evaluation of nationally funded research grants. The aim is to both create more connections between science and society, and to improve the quality of its evaluations. The move comes as research funders across Europe are experimenting with ways to improve evaluation processes in the face of a sharpened focus on science’s impact on society. Evaluators of grant applications submitted to Latvia’s Fundamental and Applied Research Programme (FLPP), the country’s main research funder, will this year have the option of consulting citizen feedback on challenges the public thinks science should focus on to inform their decisions. “In recent years, both public discussions and policy-level debates in Latvia have highlighted the importance of demonstrating how publicly funded research contributes to society, the economy and the resolution of real-world challenges,” said a source at the Latvian Council of Science (LCS), which manages the FLPP. “At the same time, research institutions themselves expressed interest in improving the project evaluation framework while continuing to ensure that funding is awarded to the highest-quality projects,” the source added. The citizen input comes from a survey that was conducted between 25 February and 16 March 2025, to which 1,737 people responded. It gathered information on what the public views as problem areas for Latvia, and the role of science and technology in providing solutions to these problems. A summary of these responses has been included as an annex to the FLPP 2026 call for proposals that evaluators can refer to, purely in an advisory manner, when judging proposals. Results from the survey show that the main problem areas identified by the public were in healthcare and public health, followed by the development of new treatment methods and medicines, and then digital technology, data security and cyber security. At the bottom of the list was research aimed at acquiring new knowledge about the universe, matter and the laws of nature. Further analysis looked at the public view of the possible role of science in solving these problems. The survey charted 4,167 individual responses based on open-ended questions that were derived from the participants’ answers. The analysis again found that medical and health sciences topped the scoring, with 788 responses referring to the field. Humanities and the arts were bottom of the list, with 625. Digging further into the details, the survey suggests citizens are aware of and concerned about a number of research areas. This includes technologies and innovation to improve the environment or reduce pollution, the development of modern military technologies and cybersecurity tools, and the development and application of artificial intelligence, among others. “We hope this initiative will help strengthen public trust in science and create a more meaningful dialogue between researchers and society,” the LCS source said, adding that it offers benefits to researchers, evaluators and to the general public. More space for citizen engagement in evaluationsThere is a gradual but increasing use of citizen engagement in research evaluation processes around Europe, especially in healthcare, but it remains relatively rare, said Henry Sauermann, a professor at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin and an expert in citizen science.“Given that we are at a point where citizen involvement is extremely limited, there is presumably space for more, but it's not that we should do it just because we want to do it,” he told Science|Business. He said some research lends itself better to having citizen input, and this usually tends to be on the applied end of the science spectrum where the public can offer useful feedback based on their experiences. He added that advising scientists on certain topics to study is also a useful approach, in the way that Latvia is doing. “The public does fund a lot of science, there's a lot of tax money going into this. We of course do want to preserve academic freedom, but it's also not unreasonable to incorporate more feedback or input from citizens where possible,” he said. Related articlesCitizen science: where, when, and how to let the public contribute to researchHow can Europe cope with a flood of AI-assisted research grant proposals?Data Corner: Horizon Europe’s AI, digital and data call success rate is 5.2%There are several ways of involving citizens in science funding. The most minimal way is having a few representatives on a panel, such as members of a patient group or union. The most direct way is crowdsourcing funding for specific projects. There is an increasing number of online platforms that allow the public to chip in to support scientific proposals.Sauermann studied this in a recent paper and found that it can have its uses, but it still is not clear if there are benefits to it. There are various assumptions linked to citizen engagement, for example that it increases public trust in science, or that it provides a representative view of what the public thinks about science. These are not necessarily true, Sauermann found. People who participate in engagement activities tend to already be very trusting of science, and, on the whole, it is generally the well-off and well educated who contribute, giving a narrow view of public opinion. On whether citizen input can help manage the increasing number of proposals that are being submitted due to assistance from AI, Sauermann is more sceptical. “The obvious answer to the flood of AI-written proposals is AI-driven evaluation,” he said, adding that it doesn’t mean citizen engagement shouldn’t be a part of evaluations in a well thought-out manner. Southern Denmark’s successful approachOne successful example of citizen engagement in science evaluations was implemented in southern Denmark. Between 2019 and 2025, citizens in the region were invited to vote to fund one of five pre-selected projects in the field of healthcare. The project, called A Healthier Southern Denmark, was a collaboration between regional authorities, the University of Southern Denmark, and two media partners. Over the seven years, there were 75,000 votes and significant public engagement online and on social media. “It was a bit of a wild project, we’d never done something like that before and we were a bit nervous about what would be said in the media about it. But actually, people were very positive,” said Anne Kathrine Overgaard, one of the main organisers of the project from the University of Southern Denmark. The university and its researchers have learned a lot from the experience, particularly about engaging with society and shaping their research to match real-world needs. This is important with Europe’s increasing focus on competitiveness and bringing innovations to market faster, Overgaard said. She hopes to see more citizen engagement in evaluation processes and in science more broadly. “For many years, citizen engagement has been a bit of an add-on to proposals, just to check a box. But I think things are changing,” she said. It’s less about citizens just gathering data and more “about the dialogue between the public and the scientists,” she said. The initiative ended last year as the team wanted to regroup to find fresh momentum. The development of AI and AI-written proposals has made Overgaard reflect on how the project could be reworked to help evaluators. She hopes to bring it back in the future. “It could be a good idea to try this initiative again in a slightly re-worked format,” she said.
Entertainment Listing: June 17
Wednesday June 17 Little Nashville • Marion Trivia, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. PK’s • Carbondale Trivia, 8 p.m. – 11 p.m. Advertisement Thursday June 18 PK’s • Carbondale South of 70, 9 p.m. Little Nashville • Marion Jobie Grant, 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. Booby’s • Carbondale DJ Night, 9 p.m. Sunset Concert,...
FSU researcher receives NASA grant to map extreme heat and protect public health
A collaborative, interdisciplinary team with researchers from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has received an
FSU researcher receives NASA grant to map extreme heat and protect public health
A collaborative, interdisciplinary team with researchers from Florida State University’s College of Social Sciences and Public Policy has received an
Trump accused Obama of funding Iranian terrorism. His agreement could grant Iran access to much more money
President Donald Trump’s nascent agreement with Iran is beset by problems right now, but at the top of the list may be the issue of money flowing to Iran.
49th Annual Grantsville Days: Three days of fun, entertainment, community spirit
GRANTSVILLE — Grantsville is preparing to come alive as the 49th Annual Grantsville Days returns June 26–28, bringing three days of family-friendly entertainment, community activities, live music, food, and fun
Toledo announces lineup for new live concert series
The Levitt BLOC Toledo Music Series was made possible thanks to a multi-year Levitt Music Series grant that was awarded to the city.
Northwestern Medicine Announces a $35M Grant to Launch a Community Health Institute
Schreiber Philanthropy is investing in Northwestern Medicine’s efforts to expand access to care, build the community health workforce, and address social health needs
These 36 Scientists Are Leading the Way to Biomedical Discoveries
On June 16, Pew announced the 2026 class of Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences, Pew Latin American Fellows Program in the Biomedical Sciences, and Pew-Stewart Scholars Program for Cancer Research. These researchers will receive multiyear grants and join a community of more than 1,000 scientists who are taking creative approaches to cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, and more.
UC wins $3.3M grant to study microplastics' effects on cardiovascular health
Microplastics are in the food people eat, the water they drink and the air they breathe. UC researchers are studying the impact microplastics have on the heart.
The politics of intergenerational wealth inequality
Letters: Dr Rajiv Prabhakar assesses the best age at which grants should be provided to young people, while Jeremy Galtress argues against redistribution
Regional Economic Development Inc. announces 2026 Small Business Grants
Regional Economic Development Inc. announced the recipients of the 2026 Small Business Grants on Monday.
Supreme Court will decide if 'criminal aliens' can be held indefinitely while they fight deportation
The case could give the administration more power to arrest and hold immigrants, including green card holders, who have criminal records.
Big 12 pursues legal action against Texas Tech, Texas Attorney General in Brendan Sorsby case
The Big 12 seeks clarity in its authority to enforce bylaws after a previous judge granted the Texas Tech QB an injunction to play in 2026 despite gambling on his team's games
Supreme Court to decide if migrants detained for months must receive bond hearings
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide if the government may hold noncitizens in detention for prolonged periods without a bond hearing, a case that could have significant implications for the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
Trump proposes putting political goals above objective criteria in deciding who gets government grants, from childcare to research to public safety
The White House says the changes it seeks would strengthen transparency, accountability and oversight. Critics say federal grantmaking would become too political.
State names first round of projects funded by federal rural health program
The state this week announced its first round of federal rural health grant funding, which allocated $36 million to projects to help communities with one-time infrastructure improvements and improve technological gaps. The Nevada Health Authority on Monday named the 25 projects that were awarded funding as part of the $180 million part of the Rural […]
Mayor’s Office Still Working on Criteria for Nashville Legacy Business Grants
Mayor Freddie O'Connell's office continues to develop a legacy business fund to offset rising property tax payments for small businesses in Nashville.
HMNC Brain Health announces $50 million first closing of Series B financing and a strategic partnership with MEDICE
Financing will accelerate the development of HMNC’s neurosciences portfolio, including Phase 3-readiness activities for Ketabon (KET01) and Nelivabon (BH-200)Agreement grants MEDICE exclusive European commercialization rights for KET01, with tiered double-digit royalties and significant milestone payments MUNICH, Germany, June 15, 2026 – HMNC Brain Health ("HMNC" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage neuroscience company, today announced the successful $50 million first closing of its Series B fin
Temporary Protected Status needs to be protected from political whims
Temporary may be part of the the title, but temporary protected status for immigrants shouldn't be arbitrary, write Jennica Larrison and Ben Coleman, who say a White House push to cancel TPS for a dozen countries is "nothing short of betrayal."
Cambodia Politics
Supporters of Rong Chhun, a prominent Cambodian opposition politician, shout slogans outside the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, June 15, 2026. A banner, front, reads "Granting freedom to
Grant Funds New Business Welcome Kit Program for Arlington Businesses
The City of Arlington is excited to introduce our new Business Welcome Kit program for local Arlington eateries.
Mass. awards $17.9M grants for worker training, business boost
The Healey-Driscoll administration announced $17.9 million in grants for 1,255 Massachusetts businesses, intending to train, upskill, and retain more than 15,900 workers across the state.
Judge gives Kennedy Center until noon Saturday to remove Trump’s name
(CNN) — A judge has granted the Kennedy Center’s request for additional time to fully remove President Donald Trump’s name from the building, giving the arts center until noon Saturday
Ugly scenes in Belfast expose a broken politics
Letters: Readers respond to nights of rioting in the city fuelled by anti-migrant rhetoric
William Floyd High School Science Students Win Second Consecutive LI Water Quality Challenge
For the second consecutive year, a team of William Floyd High School science students under the direction of Christopher Orlando were selected as winners in the Long Island Regional Planning Council’s (LIRPC) annual Long Island Water Quality Challenge. The team received a $2,500 grant to implement its proposal at the school, and earned WFHS the recognition of being the first school to earn back-to-back victories in the competition!
Lost restaurants of San Diego: Nightlife, cocktail lounges and entertainment dining
Clinking glasses, the low hum of conversation, music drifting through dimly lit rooms — San Diego’s nighttime dining culture unfolded in sound as much as sight.
Xtreme One Entertainment Granted Summary Judgment; Court Orders Williamsburg Venture Holdings to Return 6.6 Million Shares Sold in Alleged Fraudulent Transfer of $XONI Stock
Xtreme One Entertainment, Inc. (OTCQB: XONI) (“Xtreme One”), a diversified media and live-event
Defending migrants, Pope Leo calls for ‘legal’ paths, a nod to fraught politics
As he finished a seven-day visit, Pope Leo articulated a fuller position on migration, including the “right” of nations to protect their borders, that his critics often ignore.
Emory University lands $15 million grant to study health risks linked to Brunswick Superfund sites
Emory University has received a five-year, $15 million grant from the National Institutes of Environmental Health to establish a center to research how contaminants from Georgia Superfund sites affect human health.
How small-business loans got caught in Trump's immigration crackdown
For decades, immigrants who are legal permanent residents in the U.S. could get loans through the Small Business Administration, a core pillar of small-business lending. Not anymore.
I’ve spent 40 years in research. I have never seen a threat to science like the new grantmaking rule
“American science is too valuable to be turned into a political football,” writes David J. Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
I’ve spent 40 years in research. I have never seen a threat to science like the new grantmaking rule
“American science is too valuable to be turned into a political football,” writes David J. Skorton, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Tenn. to report information from disabled migrant children in public health care program
Information on sick or disabled undocumented children receiving public health care will soon be reported to Tennessee's new immigration enforcement division.
Tenn. to report information from disabled migrant children in public health care program
Information on sick or disabled undocumented children receiving public health care will soon be reported to Tennessee's new immigration enforcement division.
Emory gets $15M to establish first center to research toxic Superfund sites' health effects
Emory University has received a five-year, $15 million grant from the National Institutes of Environmental Health to establish a center to research how contaminants from Georgia Superfund sites affect human health.
Small business owners receive early look at $14M recovery grant program across Asheville
Small business owners recovering from the impacts of Helene are getting an early look at the application process for a grant program set to provide more than $1
SAMHSA Announces $40 Million in Funding Opportunities to Prevent Addiction, and Address Child Trauma, Suicide, Mental Illness
SAMHSA, an HHS division, announced $40M for eight grant programs supporting President Trump’s Great American Recovery Initiative.
Perspective: Another blow to science in America (and what you can do about it)
Holly Jones looks at the plan to put science grant funding into the hands of politicians, not scientists.
Political reviews are causing a huge grant backlog at the National Park Service
Hundreds of millions of dollars in National Park Service funding is sitting in limbo at the Department of Interior, awaiting a political review that longtime agency staff say has put a stranglehold on the agency’s work.
Behavioral Health: HHS and DOJ Offer Grants to Help Human Trafficking Survivors
Given the trauma that survivors of human trafficking have experienced, they may need behavioral health services, such as therapy or substance use...
Social Security is Facing a Political Crisis
On Tuesday the Social Security Trustees released their latest report on the system’s finances. The numbers didn’t change much: Unless something is done, the Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, Social Security’s official name, will be unable to pay full benefits starting in either 2032 or 2034, depending on some technical issues. That’s not far away: If the Trustees are right, the prospect of a Social Security crisis will loom over the next presidential administration. It’s important to understand, however, the nature of the looming crisis. It won’t be an economic crisis. It won’t even be a serious fiscal crisis. Whatever you may have heard, Social Security isn’t in danger of going bankrupt. What we’re facing, instead, is potential political crisis. Congress and the White House could easily take action to sustain America’s retirement system. But given the current state of our politics, there’s no guarantee that they will. There is a widespread misunderstanding of how Social Security works. While Social Security was designed to look like a pension fund, it isn’t. A pension fund pays benefits out of a stock of assets it has accumulated over time. In contrast, Social Security operates as a government transfer program, like food stamps or Medicaid. Now, unlike food stamps — but like the highway trust fund — Social Security is on paper supported by a dedicated tax, the payroll tax, that is assigned to that program. But I say “on paper” because from an economic point of view assigning the payroll tax to Social Security is just an accounting convention. What matters for the U.S. economy is the overall balance between government spending and government revenue, not the difference between one type of spending and one source of revenue. So there’s no inherent economic significance to the fact that by 2034 payroll tax receipts will be insufficient to cover promised benefits. There is, however, a legislative issue. As long as the Social Security Administration can pay benefits out of payroll taxes and its cash reserve, there’s no need for Congress to vote each year to authorize benefits — they just keep going out until further notice. However, once those resources become insufficient, benefits will fall —by 17 percent according to the Trustees — unless Congress passes new legislation that “tops up” Social Security’s finances. Yet the current administration and Republican party are such extremists that there is a real risk that Social Security will be held hostage on behalf of their goals. If this should come to pass, the hostage-takers will claim that shoring up Social Security is unaffordable. Right on cue, Mike Johnson, the Trump-sycophant Speaker of the House, declared on Monday that “entitlement programs” like Social Security “have to be adjusted and fixed,” and that Republicans will introduce a plan to that effect next year. But this is a ploy, because while the cost of maintaining Social Security benefits at their promised level isn’t trivial, it is in fact affordable. According to the Trustees’ report, the actuarial balance of OASDI up through 2050 — the amount of additional funds it would need to keep paying full benefits for the next 25 years — is 1.06 percent of GDP. To put that number in perspective, the Trump administration proposes increasing military spending next year by $420 billion, equivalent to about 1.4 percent of GDP – without any discussion of whether that’s affordable Yet how did we get to the point where Social Security will need to be topped up? The main answer is that we have an aging population, with a growing ratio of retirees collecting benefits to workers paying into the system: Trump’s anti-immigration policies are making this problem worse. According to the Trustees’ report, lower immigration will deepen Social Security’s financial hole because many immigrants are working-age adults who will pay into the system for decades before they collect benefits. In fact, this problem may be much bigger than the report acknowledges: The report’s baseline assumption is that we’ll have net immigration of almost 1.2 million people a year, and even the pessimistic case assumes 750,000 a year. Meanwhile actual net immigration has already been cut far below that — and may now be negative. Moreover, Social Security is being financially damaged by growing income inequality in America. Payroll taxes are levied only on wages up to $184,500, and they don’t touch capital income. With the distribution of income increasingly shifting from labor to capital, as well as becoming more unequal among wage-earners, revenue from the Social Security payroll tax has been falling as a share of national income. From 1990 to 2024, it fell from 5.02 percent of gross domestic income to 4.46 percent. Which brings me to the question that, these days, we ask about everything: How might Social Security be affected by the advent of AI? A short answer: If, as many of us fear, AI accelerates rising income inequality, it will further reduce the payroll tax receipts that currently pay for Social Security and further endanger its finances. On the other hand, if AI, as its advocates promise, leads to faster economic growth, it will increase the potential tax base that could and should be used to support Social Security and other social insurance programs. But to take advantage of that larger base, we’ll have to get serious about taxing wealth and capital income. Is Social Security in trouble? Yes, but only because of the way its financing is currently structured — a structure that no longer works well because our society and economy have become so unequal. Moreover, Trump’s immigration policies are further endangering its already deteriorating financial condition. So don’t believe Republicans’ gaslighting that it will be necessary to cut Social Security benefits. All that is necessary to preserve Social Security is political will to raise taxes on the wealthy and a sensible immigration policy. MUSICAL CODA Actually 67 under current law.