Washington, D.C
Illinois farmers are in Washington, D.C., advocating for a new farm bill
Speaker 1: Illinois, farmers and advocates are at the nation’s capital this week to pressure Congress on a new federal farm bill. The previous farm bill which governs a huge range of food and land programs was extended but expires this fall. The group from Illinois is pushing for the next bill to address climate change and racial injustice. Joining us on the line from DC is Natasha Nichols. Thanks for being with
Speaker 2: us. Thanks for having me
Speaker 1: and Natasha, you’re the founder of we. So we grow in Chicago’s West Pullman neighborhood. Tell us about we so we grow
Speaker 2: well, the we so we grow project was born out of a desire to connect the community to their food because so often those of us who live in large cities don’t really understand how food gets directly to our tables. We just assume that we go to the grocery store and we have it.
Speaker 1: You know what I heard today that we were gonna be talking about the federal farm bill. Like a lot of people, I was thinking, you know, farming, we picture rural downstate parts of Illinois. But the work that’s governed by the farm bill is very present in cities like Chicago as well. Right.
Speaker 2: Very much so. Um whether people know it or not, we have a very robust urban ag space within any of the 77 neighborhoods that are around the City of Chicago. You can find community gardens, urban farms or other spaces that will teach you how the food that you eat gets to you.
Speaker 1: You’re advocating this week for something called the Justice for Black Farmers Act. What would that legislation do?
Speaker 2: Well, the Justice for Black Farmers Act recognizes the history of discrimination within the U.S.. D A against black farmers and ranchers and it really seeks to correct and prevent further discrimination in the federal agriculture system. Um This bill would bring critical reforms to the U.S.. D A. It would enact policies to protect against land loss and then it would also reinvest in existing and aspiring black farmers. So essentially just giving equity for every single farmer despite their racial background, black
Speaker 1: farmers have been fighting for more justice for years. Do you have hope that this Congress will actually be able to do something
Speaker 2: that I always have? Hope. We always have hope. We’ll, we’ll never ever let go of that hope. Um And we’re also hoping that our elected officials will understand that it is just an inherent right for the people who are producing the food and making sure that the food gets to the consumers will do right by every grower out there.
Speaker 1: Let’s pivot to climate change. It’s certainly a big threat that’s facing farmers. How are you trying to ensure that the next farm bill helps the food sector stay resilient?
Speaker 2: Well, we are also pushing for the agriculture resilience and that would help farmers to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. Um It’ll strengthen every farm, whether we’re urban or rural with research, conservation and energy investments. Essentially, we just want to be really, really good stewards over the land that we’ve been entrusted with. Um And we want to make sure that we’re leaving the land better than we found it for the future growers of the world.
Speaker 1: Like we mentioned, you’re in Washington DC and tomorrow you’ll be meeting directly with legislators who serve on the agriculture committees. What’s your plan? What are you gonna tell them?
Speaker 2: We’ve been inman for the last eight years and we just want to make sure that we have all of the tools and the support that we need in order to continue growing great food. And we are pretty lucky in Illinois to have folks who support the farm bill already. They just need to put faces to, to the people who support them and are asking for their support.
Speaker 1: Natasha Nichols is the founder and director of we, so we grow on Chicago’s South Side. She’s in Washington DC to meet with members of Congress about the next farm bill. Thanks so much for speaking with us, Natasha. Thank you so
Speaker 2: much. For having me.
Speaker 1: This is WBEZ.
WBEZ transcripts are generated by an automatic speech recognition service. We do our best to edit for misspellings and typos, but mistakes do come through.
WASHINGTON (7News) — An early Wednesday morning incident at D.C.’s Metro Center left multiple riders injured after a work vehicle made contact with a Silver Line train just before the end of service.
According to Metro officials, the train was holding at the station when the work vehicle struck the rear car shortly after midnight. Officials said there were 27 customers on board at the time.
Officials say 11 people reported non-life-threatening injuries and that Metro personnel were not seriously injured.
SEE ALSO | Metro’s board to vote on budget that calls for fully automated trains on the Red Line
Passengers who did not report injuries were transferred to another train and continued toward Downtown Largo.
The train involved was the final Silver Line run of the night.
Metro said the incident remains under investigation as crews work to determine the cause.
As of 3:30 a.m., it’s not clear what the potential impacts to the morning service may be.
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Here are a few ways to give you a better idea of how much it may cost you if you’re considering moving to a new city.
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Earning enough to be considered middle class has gotten more expensive, with rising housing and everyday costs pushing the income bar higher, according to a recent report from GOBankingRates.
The median range for middle-class income across the country is between $59,000 and $104,000 in 2026, depending on which state you live in. GOBanking Rates used Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class — income ranging from two-thirds to twice a state’s median household income — and added data from the U.S. Census Bureau to report lowest middle-income, highest middle-class income and median income for each state, including Maryland and Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The current national middle-class minimum of $59,000 would have declared you middle class a decade ago in the U.S. In 2016, earning $39,000 placed a household at the lower edge of the middle class — and in regions like DC, MD and VA, median incomes were already far higher than the national median, so the “middle-class floor” was much higher than $39,000 even then.
In the DC region, the income required to be considered middle class is significantly higher than nationally, with the threshold starting around $61,000 in Virginia and nearly $69,000 in Maryland — compared with about $47,000 nationwide, GOBankingRates data shows. To be considered middle class in Washington DC, you’d have to earn at least $70,200. GoBankingRates omitted DC from their report; however, using the same formula and same US Census data cited, USA TODAY Network was able to calculate the low, high and median middle class income ranges. Here’s what the report shows and what we found for middle-class consideration in 2026.
What is middle class in Washington DC?
The middle class is a socioeconomic group in the U.S. that falls between the working class and upper class, earning around the middle of the income distribution for where they live. Middle class households often are able to cover their bills, rely on loans to buy homes or cars, and occasionally eat out or vacation, but not without careful budgeting, according to Investopedia.
Washington DC’s middle-class income in 2024 (the most recent year available from Census data) was between $70,200 and $209,600. GoBankingRates omitted DC middle-class data; however, USA TODAY Network used the same calculation, using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and the Pew Research Center’s benchmark definition of middle class. Here is the breakdown for middle-class in Washington DC:
- Median household income: $104,800
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $70,200
- Highest end of middle-class income: $209,600
Due to the region’s high cost of living, Washington DC’s middle-class median income surpasses not only the U.S. median, but it’s neighbors in Delaware, Virginia and Maryland. It also slightly surpasses the median middle-class income of New Jersey.
What is middle class in Virginia?
In Virginia, the income needed to be considered middle class starts at about $61,400 and can range up to roughly $184,200, according to GOBankingRates. That is based on Pew Research Center’s definition — two-thirds to twice the median household income. Here’s the breakdown of Virginia’s middle-class income as reported in 2026 using the latest Census data available from 2024:
- Median household income: $92,090
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $61,393
- Highest end of middle-class income: $184,180
What is middle class in Maryland?
To be considered middle-class in Maryland, the income required starts at about $68,600 and can extend up to roughly $205,800, according to GOBankingRates, which used the latest 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data available in their 2026 report.
For many Maryland households, especially in the DC suburbs, earning what sounds like a solid income does not always translate into financial comfort once housing, childcare and community costs are factored in: Maryland housing costs (rent and home prices) are well above national averages, according to Zillow market trends, and commuting costs for DC-area workers are among the longest and costliest, Census data shows. Maryland also consistently ranks among the most expensive states for childcare, often surpassing $15,000 per year per child, according to a Care.com 2024 Cost of Care report.
Highest middle-class incomes in the US
- Massachusetts income range: $69,885 to $209,656
- Maryland income range: $68,603 to $205,810
- New Jersey income range: $69,529 to $208,588
- Hawaii income range: $67,163 to $201,490
- California income range: $66,766 to $200,298
- New Hampshire income range: $66,521 to $199,564
- Washington income range: $66,259 to $198,778
- Colorado income range: $64,742 to $194,226
- Connecticut income range: $64,033 to $192,098
- Virginia income range: $61,393 to $184,180
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
Washington, D.C
US industry leaders take sport fishing issues to Washington DC – Angling International
The impact of tariffs on the US fishing tackle industry and the need for sound fisheries management were among the topics discussed by attendees of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA)’s first ever Keep America Fishing in DC Fly-In.
It included industry leaders who last week joined together in Washington DC and all walked hundreds of miles across the US Capital Complex to advocate for the interests of the US trade and the entire recreational fishing community.
The group also enjoyed conversations with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Director, Dr Neil Jacobs, Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvik, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Representative Blake Moore (R-UT).
ASA President and CEO, Glenn Hughes, said: “We look forward to continuing the conversation with legislators throughout the rest of this Congress and to an even bigger Keep America Fishing Fly-In in 2027.”
Above: From left: ASA President Glenn Hughes and Vice President of Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, with Senator Martin Heinrich (centre).
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