Alabama's local news landscape is experiencing a severe divide, leaving rural communities at a significant disadvantage.

The latest State of Local News report pointed out of the state's 67 counties, three have no news outlets, and 37 only have one, which means just over half of Alabamians in rural areas have access to limited news and information about their communities.

Penelope Muse Abernathy, visiting professor in the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, said a lack of coverage can mean fewer eyes on critical developments, a lack of civic engagement and fewer avenues for individuals to be connected to the stories that matter most to them.

"We are losing an average of two and a half newspapers a week now," Abernathy observed. "By the end of 2024, next year, we will have lost a third of all newspapers. Most of those were weekly that served rural America."

She explained it is not an issue isolated to Alabama but is happening across the country with 204 counties having no news outlet and 228 having only one news source.

There is headway being made to tackle what are known as news deserts. She explained more than 20 nonprofit organizations plan to invest a total of $500 million over the next five years in local media organizations as part of the Press Forward initiative.

The report also highlighted the effects of limited high-speed internet in some areas on digital news outlets. Abernathy emphasized it increases reliance on national news leads to increased polarization. Therefore, Abernathy suggested considering incentives for entrepreneur investments and policies supporting sustainable business models in news. She argues it is essential to getting critical information out to people in a fair and impartial way.

"We need to think about strong news organizations at the local level not only nurturing democracy, but also nurturing community, which in an age of political polarization is vitally important," Abernathy stressed.

In addition to philanthropy efforts, the report suggested multiple ways to revitalize local news nationwide, including investments in broadband, supportive policies and initiatives, research and outreach at the university and industry levels.


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The Department of Veterans Affairs is warning that rural America is in drastic need of volunteer drivers to help get vets to medical appointments.

The lack of available transportation can have a dramatic effect in states like Montana, where people often live far from their health care providers. Transportation is the top reason many people report for missing out on medical care and other important appointments.

Sabrina Clark, director of the VA Center for Development and Civic Engagement, said people in the state are stepping up to join the administration's Volunteer Transportation Network.

"There are more than 100 volunteers across Montana who are already serving as volunteers," Clark noted. "We need more, we need more help. We need more volunteers."

Clark is calling on rural Montanans who want to help to join the transportation network. She pointed out drivers can volunteer for as many hours as they want and will have to go through a background check before they get behind the wheel.

Clark emphasized Montana's sheer size and the distance between vets and their care centers makes it difficult to be sure veterans who need medical and mental health services can get them.

"What that means to the veterans to have that transportation is their care, or no care, or limited care," Clark stressed. "And so, that's why we're here, to get more volunteers."

The latest VA data show almost 3,800 volunteers helped more than 222,000 vets get to their appointments nationwide last year. They drove more than 8.3 million miles in the process.


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Coloradans living in rural parts of the state tend to pay a lot more for their monthly energy bills than metropolitan customers but a new Biden administration program aims to bring costs down by helping homeowners and businesses replace older, inefficient heating and cooling systems.

Philip Fracica, policy advocate for the Rural Power Coalition, said if the average Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association connected ratepayer agrees to participate, they should see significantly lower monthly bills.

"You're going to be looking at a 20% energy savings, compared to what you are currently paying now," Fracica pointed out. "You will be getting a bill reduction immediately. And especially if you know you have a high utility bill, and your home is inefficient, you will get saving and benefits from enrolling in this program."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Energy Savings Program is investing $50 million in Tri-State's Electrify and Save repayment program. The money will be used as low-interest rate loans to pay for improvements up front. Customers will make small repayments in their monthly energy bills.

Fracica noted monthly bills should still be lower even with the repayments.

Homes and businesses can sign up for the program through their Tri-state distribution member co-op. Fracica added efficiency experts will be dispatched to conduct a comprehensive energy audit of your home or building to identify potential savings.

"For instance, looking at putting in a new HVAC system, putting in a new furnace, looking at insulation upgrades," Fracica outlined. "So really going to look top to bottom on where they can find energy savings and are going to have a customized plan."

Because the financing is backed by the federal government and tied to the service location, rather than the ratepayer, it will not affect credit scores or add debt for customers. Fracica acknowledged many people have called the program too good to be true but he believes it is an important opportunity.

"The co-op itself can benefit, as well as the members," Fracica emphasized. "It also can create jobs for local contractors in local communities to do the work as part of the program. So there's really multiple groups that can benefit."

Federal investments have given one Arizona community the opportunity to slowly rebuild itself and invest in new areas.

The historic town of Superior, Arizona, in Pinal County, has been known for mining but through the years has experienced economic hardship as mining operations have come and gone. But now, things are beginning to change.

Mila Besich, the town's mayor, credited funding from the American Rescue Plan Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. She said it is being used for to pay for big revitalization and infrastructure projects.

"We know that growth will be happening for us at some point," Besich observed. "Having this opportunity to really prepare for that, and prepare mindfully, is really important."

She added rescue plan funds have helped Superior in a variety of ways from establishing a multigenerational center and a workforce training program, to renovating the town's wastewater treatment plant and improving the food bank serving 15% of the local population. She contended the investments will help ensure the livelihood of rural communities like hers.

Besich emphasized Superior has had to take its renaissance into its own hands, which also includes the potential economic stimulation of the The Resolution Copper Project now in the works. If approved, it would supply copper for the clean energy and semiconductor industries, as well as bring jobs to the region.

"In addition to going through that large federal permitting process with this mine, we also were able to use our ARPA dollars and infrastructure dollars to really work on bigger projects," Besich stressed.

Besich acknowledged most cities and towns struggle to grow the budgets they need to build out infrastructure, which she called "incredibly important" for future generations. She added when federal dollars can be used in rural areas for infrastructure and community spaces, they make meaningful differences.