This week Matter of Fact looks at what’s being done to preserve the Cherokee Nation’s language. Plus, how the founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey is diversifying the spirits industry. And, we travel to Chicago to learn why a scholarship program is sending students and parents to college for free.
This week Matter of Fact focuses on issues facing youth. We travel to a rural California high school where teachers are coming together to address teen mental health. Plus, the Luddite Club founders explain why they gave up smartphones and social media. And, the high cost of college is prompting young adults to consider other options.
Several agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services are facing job cuts by the Trump administration. These cuts could result in thousands of layoffs at agencies responsible for health and food safety in America. Dr. Ashish Jha is the dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health and the former White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator. He joins Soledad O’Brien to explain how this move could have a negative impact on the overall health of Americans and slow research on diseases and treatments.
A growing number of older Americans are facing homelessness. That increase is being driven by two factors: inflation and lack of affordable housing. On a single night in 2024, about 20% of the people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. were ages 55 and older. In Phoenix, Arizona, the CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services says the number of unhoused seniors has more than tripled since 2020. Now, city and state officials are working on solutions to get people off the streets. Correspondent Jessica Gomez traveled to Phoenix to see some of the housing alternatives.
This week Matter of Fact travels to Phoenix where city and state leaders are working to find shelter for seniors experiencing homelessness. Plus, we look at the potential impacts of laying off federal health agency workers. And, Michigan residents debate changes to the cash bail system.
President Donald Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education. He says his administration’s goal is to return control of education back to the states. Jill Underly, Ph.D., is the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction. She says that change could be “absolutely disastrous” for public schools and students. She joins Soledad O’Brien to talk about the role of the department and how the move to dismantle it would increase the workload for states and educators.
More data centers are popping up across the country as the need for facilities to store digital data increases. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of megawatts of storage under construction in primary markets, including Texas, California and Virginia, more than doubled. Data centers also require a considerable amount of energy to operate – with energy consumption expected to go from about 4% to as much as 12% by 2028. While data centers bring in an influx of tax revenue, many residents are concerned about having these massive facilities basically in their backyard. Correspondent Dan Lieberman travels to Ashburn, Virginia to learn how the data centers are impacting the communities they’re built in.
This week Matter of Fact travels to Ashburn, Virginia to see how residents are reacting to an increase in data centers. Plus, a state superintendent explains how dismantling the Department of Education could impact public schools. And, a New York grassroots program gives kids access to bike racing.
For years, the city of Baltimore has grappled with two interconnected problems – thousands of vacant properties and a high rate of drug overdoses. In 2023, the city saw more than 1,000 drug and alcohol-related deaths. Fraud within the treatment industry and a lack of affordable housing often hinder people’s efforts to get clean. Realtor Angel Brown was flipping abandoned rowhouses when she had an idea that could address both issues. She and her husband opened a substance abuse and mental health treatment center that also offers housing in some of the properties Angel renovated. Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to Baltimore to see how the realtor is improving homes and lives.
This week Matter of Fact travels to Baltimore to see how a realtor is providing housing to people going through addiction treatment. Plus, an organization focuses on the financial struggles of working families. And, a nonprofit helps aspiring homeowners compete against real estate investment firms.