In Kansas News
Federal lawmakers want to tighten eligibility for Affordable Care Act health insurance. As Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga reports for the Kansas News Service, critics say the changes will make it harder for some immigrants to access health coverage.The proposed changes are part of the Trump administration’s budget reconciliation bill. The plan aims to lower taxes and federal spending.
The eligibility restrictions would block lawfully present immigrants earning low incomes from the federal health insurance marketplace. Justin Gust of El Centro, a Kansas City, Kansas group serving Hispanic families, says those people could qualify for Medicaid. But only those who have been in the U.S. legally for five years.
“For the immigrant population that we serve, it’s going to be very impactful in a negative way.”
Gust says the bill would also shrink the enrollment period and make it more difficult to apply for federal health insurance plans.For KNS, I’m BSN
And in Missouri News
The Community Partnership of the Ozarks and the N-double-A-C-P are gearing up for a Juneteenth celebration in Springfield later this week. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky has more.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the U.S. that celebrates the end of slavery. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced the freedom of enslaved people in that state.Darline Mabins (DAR-lin MAY-bins) is CPO’s director of community engagement. She talked about the upcoming celebration at Silver Springs Park as work continued on the park’s pavilion.The theme for the celebration Thursday through Sunday is #Stronger Together.Mabins says, as we work through our differences together and celebrate our successes together, it makes us a stronger community.Several events are planned with the main event Saturday at the Springfield Expo Center.You can find out more at sgfjuneteenth.com.
For KSMU News, I’m Michele Skalicky.
