Battle Over School Funding

MONDAY, JULY 21
PROGRAM #10841 12:00 PM PT

Battle Over School Funding. 

Twenty-four states have sued the Trump administration for withholding billions of dollars earmarked for education, just before the start of the school year. The frozen funds include critical resources for training teachers in low-income communities and supporting programs in the arts, mental health, and migrant education. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has given the green light to dismantle the Department of Education. Why this sudden freeze in school funding? What impact will it have on children? What’s the likely course of the litigation? What are the consequences of frozen funds and the possible end of the Department of Education? What’s behind the Court’s decision?

Guest: Zaidee Stavely, Immigration and Education Reporter, EdSource, Oakland, CA. 

Public Media: Funding at Stake. Under the banner of ending government subsidies for so-called “biased media,” Trump pressured Congress to revoke already authorized funding for public radio and other public media outlets. Republicans rushed to vote ahead of the July 18 deadline. How did the debate unfold in Congress? What role should citizens play in this discussion? How much does the loss of federal funding threaten public broadcasting? What is truly at stake in this debate?

Guests: Elizabeth Torres, Operations Director, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA; Francisco Rios, General Manager, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA.

Protecting Workers from Heat: A New Try. Legislation designed to safeguard workers from heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths has been reintroduced in Congress. The bill, named after Asunción Valdivia—a farmworker who died after picking grapes in 104°F heat—seeks to establish standards such as paid rest breaks in cool areas, access to water, limits on heat exposure time, and emergency response protocols for workers suffering from heat-related conditions. What’s the road ahead?

Guest: Teresa Romero, President and Director, United Farm Workers-UFW, Keene, CA.

Photo: The Design Lady/Unsplash

For more information about Linea Abierta and to find previous shows visit our  Linea Abierta page.