Stories From The States

States Newsroom
  • 4.7 (16)
  • Politics
  • Updated Weekly

A weekly podcast focused on one theme in the news. Host and States Newsroom publisher Chris Fitzsimon, with producer Mallory Cheng, will explore one issue with the help from local journalists, experts and community members who are experiencing the fallout of sweeping changes happening across the country. By zooming into one story each week, Stories From The States contextualizes what is happening now. New episodes every Friday. For more information visit, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stories-states.  Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.

  1. 6d ago

    Flight 93 crashed on his land. He remembers the heroes 25 years later.

    When United Flight 93 crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 11, 2001, Tim Lambert was on his way to work at a public radio station. In the newsroom, he saw the televised images of the wreckage in a field near Shanksville and thought the trees looked familiar. Later that night, his dad left a message on his answering machine saying, “Those trees are ours.” Lambert and his family, by chance, became a part of the story of Flight 93. In Episode 45, you’ll hear from Pennsylvania Capital-Star Editor-in-Chief Tim Lambert. For 25 years, he has reported on Flight 93, kept in contact with many of the victims’ families and shared their stories. You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer Danielle Gaines. She’s got you covered on the latest about: the uneven growth of labor unions, wrinkle in the national school voucher debates and the latest on the Rhode Island and New Hampshire election results. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer.  Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Remembering Flight 93 through the lens of healing (Pennsylvania Capital-Star) On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, States Newsroom editor remembers the heroes of Flight 93 (Stateline) Part of Flight 93 crashed on my land. I went back to the sacred ground 20 years later (WITF) Walking Flight 93 crash site helps family member heal (Tim Lambert/WITF) How 9/11 changed the way America surveils its citizens (Stateline) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Tim Lambert, center, interviews Somerset County Coroner Wallace Miller, left. Former WITF News Director Damon Boughamer on the right records the conversation at the Flight 93 crash site on Oct. 6, 2001. (Courtesy of Tim Lambert)

    Flight 93 crashed on his land. He remembers the heroes 25 years later.

  2. Sep 4

    Colorado ranchers join fight against fossil fuel companies

    In Colorado, officials in the city of Boulder and Boulder County have filed a lawsuit against Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil. They are seeking monetary damages for costs incurred responding to wildfires, repairing transportation infrastructure, restoring watersheds and other devastation caused by climate change.  The officials are not seeking to regulate emissions or fossil fuel production, but they want the companies to help pay for harms Boulder contends were caused by their industry. Some counties, however, have filed court records in support of Suncor and Exxon Mobil at taxpayers’ expense. When Deirdre Macnab learned hers was one of them, she rallied her fellow ranchers in support of Boulder’s cause.  In Episode 44, you’ll meet Macnab and Kathleen Sullivan Kelley, both ranchers in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. They’ll discuss their firsthand experiences of how climate change is taking a toll on their lands and why they decided to get involved. You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer Danielle Gaines and Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. They’ve got you covered on the latest about: the death of a Ohio Haitian college student who lost temporary protected status, the growing interest from tech developers and data center companies to expand their efforts on tribal land in the Southwest and the future of e-scooters in Pennsylvania.  Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. A special thank you to Sharon Sullivan from Colorado Newsline.  Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  These Colorado ranchers want fossil fuel companies held accountable (Colorado Newsline) Oil lobby tanking climate Superfund bills in Oregon, 11 states despite public support, study finds (Oregon Capital Chronicle)  Private gas plants to power data centers would skirt state’s renewable energy law (Nevada Current) Georgia cattlemen push back on Trump’s plan to import beef in bid to lower prices (Georgia Recorder) What climate science tells us about the causes of the Colorado River crisis (Colorado Newsline) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Kathleen Sullivan Kelley rides one of her horses at her Rio Blanco County ranch. (Photo courtesy of Kathleen Sullivan Kelley)

    Colorado ranchers join fight against fossil fuel companies

  3. Aug 28

    States move to fortify elections against Trump

    Since his loss in the 2020 election, President Donald Trump has continued to deny the official results and baselessly sow doubt about election integrity. With an executive order to restrict mail-in voting and lawsuits demanding states turn over their voter rolls, Trump and his administration have been pushing for more federal involvement in how elections are run. That has some state leaders preparing for worst-case scenarios.  In Episode 43 of Stories From The States, you’ll hear from Stateline staff writer Kevin Hardy. He spoke to some state attorneys general about how they’re preparing for the possibility of federal agents at the polls and contested election results.  You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer Danielle Gaines and Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. They’ve got you covered on the latest about: the nation’s first confirmed measles-related deaths of the year, Meta paying out penalties and the declining enrollment in the Affordable Care Act insurance.  Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  No more ‘hypothetical situations’: States move to fortify elections against Trump (Stateline) Active court order still blocking Trump effort to restrict vote-by-mail (States Newsroom D.C. Bureau) WA sues again to stop Trump administration mail-in voting requirements (Washington State Standard) Amid multiple court battles, a guide to the status of mail-in voting (New Hampshire Bulletin)  No issues reported as DOJ conducts monitoring of GOP Senate runoff in Charleston County (South Carolina Daily Gazette) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Georgia residents line up to vote in 2024. State Democratic officials nationwide are bracing for potential federal interference during November’s midterm elections. (Photo by Ross Williams/Georgia Recorder)

    States move to fortify elections against Trump

  4. Aug 21

    More extreme heat days are coming. Will states be ready?

    In states such as Colorado and New Jersey, record-high temperatures have led to a spike in heat-related illnesses. In agricultural states like North Dakota and Wyoming, farmers are struggling to grow crops amid withering drought.  Throughout the U.S., extreme heat days are becoming more frequent and more intense. State policymakers are now attempting to plan for extreme heat’s growing risks, which could strain public health and infrastructure budgets and the agricultural economies. In Episode 42, you’ll hear from Andrea Snyder, an associate manager at The Pew Charitable Trusts. She’s been researching how the hotter summers could affect communities across the country and how some states are responding. You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. She’s got you covered with the latest on: Flock camera misuse, a ballot measure about Arizona’s school voucher program and data center legislation. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Heat-related illnesses spike in Colorado as climate change fuels record temperatures (Colorado Newsline) July heat produces ‘flash drought’ with more than half of North Dakota affected (North Dakota Monitor) As summer heat waves intensify, North Carolina advocates push for farmworker protection (NC Newsline) ‘Extreme drought,’ record-breaking heat confront Wyoming ranchers with difficult choices (WyoFile) Cattle producers cope with ‘gut-wrenching’ losses from July heat wave (South Dakota Searchlight). Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Crowds gathered in downtown Denver for Colorado Day celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of statehood on Aug. 1, 2026. Heat-related illnesses spiked in Colorado as the state experienced high temperatures. (Photo by Chase Woodruff/Colorado Newsline)

    More extreme heat days are coming. Will states be ready?

  5. Aug 14

    Ohio Haitians brace for what's next after Trump cancels their TPS

    Earlier this year, the Trump administration terminated temporary protective status for hundreds of thousands of Haitian immigrants. Many communities are preparing for a possible surge of federal immigration enforcement.  However, Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, are being targeted and forced to wear ankle monitors, according to local advocates. The community became a focus of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign promise to conduct mass deportations when he falsely accused Haitians there of eating house pets. He vowed to terminate their legal protections in order to deport them. In Episode 41, you’ll hear from Ohio Capital Journal reporter Megan Henry, who has been covering the Springfield community since 2024.  You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer Danielle Gaines. She’s got you covered on the latest on: states passing legislation cracking down on social media companies, what companies are financially benefiting from increased immigration enforcement and New Hampshire’s new king crustacean.  Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Some Haitians targeted for ankle monitors by ICE as they face threat of mass deportation (States Newsroom D.C. Bureau) Ohio cities brace for possible uptick of ICE activity after protected status ends for Haitians (Ohio Capital Journal) Nursing home group asks for exemptions for Haitians working in Florida facilities (Florida Phoenix) Haitians who made Indiana home prepare for end of legal protections for thousands (Indiana Capital Chronicle) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Signs of support for Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, after temporary protected status for Haitians ended on July 27, 2026. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal).

    Ohio Haitians brace for what's next after Trump cancels their TPS

  6. Aug 7

    Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in 7 states

    As community pushback against data center construction grows, new commercials are cropping up in an attempt to improve public opinion. If you live in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas or Virginia, you might have seen the 30-second ads on social media or TV.  The ads are running in states where a growing number of local governments are considering and passing policies meant to slow data center growth. For example, a group called Oregon Connects registered as a nonprofit business in the state. This came just days before the state legislature passed a one-year pause on a popular tax incentive program for data centers. In Episode 40, you’ll hear from Alex Baumhardt, a senior reporter at the Oregon Capital Chronicle. She has been covering who is behind the pro-data center ads and how communities are responding. You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer, Danielle Gaines and Daybreak newsletter writer Madyson Fitzgerald. They got you covered on the latest on: the latest wildfires in the West, Indiana’s “Medicaid churn”, and how the prediction markets offered some insight to Kansas’ primary races. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in Oregon, six other states (Oregon Capital Chronicle) Bell County passed a data center moratorium. Residents worry that work continues. (Kentucky Lantern) Rising tension in central WA as farmland is eyed for energy and data center projects (Washington State Standard) As Meta data center expands, advocates push harder for transparency (Louisiana Illuminator) Alabama Public Service Commission approves solar project supporting data center (Alabama Reflector) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Screen grabs of similar videos, clockwise from the left, from Connected Ohio, Oregon Connects, Pennsylvania Connects and North Carolina Connects. The groups were founded by leaders at the Data Center Coalition, a nonprofit data center advocacy group backed by large tech companies. (Collage by Alex Baumhardt/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

    Pro-data center industry group behind ad campaign in 7 states

  7. Jul 31

    Arkansas private schools charge more than what vouchers cover

    Nearly 57,000 students applied for Arkansas’ universal school voucher program, where any student in the state is eligible and can use that state funding towards private school.  However, there’s a gap between how much students are receiving and what private schools are charging. A study by the National Center for Research on Education Access and Choice showed private school tuition increased in states with universal voucher programs.  A report from the Arkansas Advocate found that the state followed that trend, where the average private school tuition among applicants is about $2,600 more than state funding. Some critics are concerned this could leave children behind in a state with one of the nation’s highest poverty rates, while the vouchers pull funds away from public schools.  In Episode 39, you’ll hear from Arkansas Advocate Deputy Editor Antoinette Grajeda about how she combed through the data to break down the private school tuition costs.  You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer, Danielle Gaines, with the latest on: a pro-data center group behind a multi-state ad campaign, Diné community leaders protesting a Trump proposal to remove a mining ban and why a South Carolina tattoo parlor is suing the state. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Applications show gaps between Arkansas vouchers and private school tuition rates (Arkansas Advocate) This Private School Had Students Scrub Floors and Attack a Fellow Classmate. The State Still Funds It. (ProPublica and Arkansas Times) Judge tosses GOP voucher measure that would have blocked all future reforms (AZ Mirror) After voucher data leak, Missouri treasurer’s office pointed at its contractor (Missouri Independent) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: Students study on laptops inside an elementary school in Farmington, Arkansas on March 19, 2026. (Photo by Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

    Arkansas private schools charge more than what vouchers cover

  8. Jul 24

    What happens when private equity joins your doctor’s visit?

    Across the country, joint ventures between private equity firms and healthcare nonprofits are growing increasingly popular. However many critics say investors and nonprofit care providers can be partners with fundamentally different missions. As these joint ventures grow, they will test a wave of recent state laws that were designed to increase oversight of private equity in healthcare.  In Episode 38, you’ll hear from Anna Claire Vollers, a reporter at Stateline. She’s been covering how private equity is changing hospital operations to make a profit for shareholders at the expense of the patient.  You’ll also get a weekly news wrap-up from Evening Wrap newsletter writer, Danielle Gaines, with the latest on: ICE’s arrest tactics, drama in New Orleans and why an Alaskan state legislator chased a black bear. Episode produced and edited by Mallory Cheng. Music for Stories From The States composed by David Singer. Click here for the full transcript. Relevant reading from States Newsroom outlets and partners:  Private equity might dodge state laws by partnering with healthcare nonprofits (Stateline) ‘Shell game’: When private equity comes to town, hospitals can see cutbacks, closures (Stateline) New report cites ‘harmful effects’ of private equity firms buying nursing homes (Iowa Capital Dispatch) Senate advances bill to keep private equity out of the clinic (VT Digger) Bill enacting nation’s strictest limits on corporate health care influence signed by Gov. Kotek (Oregon Capital Chronicle) Got questions? An episode idea? Email us at podcast@statesnewsroom.com Photo: April Frazier, left, and Milli Palmer sit together before speaking last month at a meeting of the Washington State Investment Board, in Olympia, Washington, about their experiences at Providence at Home with Compassus, a home health and hospice company. (Photo by Saiyare Refaei)

    What happens when private equity joins your doctor’s visit?
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Trailer

4.7
out of 5
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About

A weekly podcast focused on one theme in the news. Host and States Newsroom publisher Chris Fitzsimon, with producer Mallory Cheng, will explore one issue with the help from local journalists, experts and community members who are experiencing the fallout of sweeping changes happening across the country. By zooming into one story each week, Stories From The States contextualizes what is happening now. New episodes every Friday. For more information visit, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/podcast/stories-states.  Subscribe to Stories From the States on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube.

Information

  • Creator
    States Newsroom
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    49
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © States Newsroom 2025
  • Show Website
    Stories From The States

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