Rural / Public News Service

The Texas horned lizard currently is listed as a threatened species in Texas. It can be found from the south-central United States to northern Mexico, throughout much of Texas, Kansas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. (David McGowen/Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 11, 2025

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Wildlife conservationists are working with landowners and concerned Texans to recover at-risk species. Currently, more than 1,100 animals from …

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 41% of beginning producers were female, as opposed to 36% of all U.S. producers. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Congress aims to assist new farmers with accessing land in OH, nationwide

Ohio ranks fourth in the nation for the number of farms, with more than 75,000, and beginning farmers in the Buckeye State and nationwide may soon be …

Two out three voucher recipients are seniors and people with disabilities, according to Nevada Rural Housing. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Rural Nevada facing housing, transportation problem

Rural Nevada is facing a housing and transportation crisis. Advocates for those with disabilities say things are getting out of hand. Dee Dee …

Nearly 75% of all jobs in Colorado, and 95% of top-earning jobs, require a credential or degree beyond high school. (Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Colorado colleges tap NYC program to get homegrown talent into good jobs

Colorado educators are hoping that a successful accelerated degree program known as ASAP, grown at City University of New York, will take root in two …

Rural libraries often serve populations with limited access to transportation and lower incomes, making library services an essential lifeline for these communities. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Library groups fight cuts, warning rural areas in MI and nation will suffer most

Plans to slash funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services have drawn swift opposition from library and union leaders, as cuts threaten …

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship investigated 326 cases of pesticide misuse in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Pesticide 'Cancer Gag Act' dead in Iowa

A bill which would have given pesticide companies legal immunity from health problems caused by their products did not make it through the legislature…

North Dakota farmers said the financial strain they are feeling is not only the result of another global trade war. They say rising expenses, like machinery, are eating into their profits. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

ND farmers back push in Congress to rein in tariffs

With planting season here, North Dakota farmers have plenty on their minds, including the escalating trade war and some hope a bipartisan bill in …

Some 18% of farms operated by beginning farmers report sales of $50,000 or more, compared to 26% of farms run by established producers. (DisobeyArt/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Lawmakers unite to address farmland access 'crisis,' in MI and beyond

Michigan ranks 15th in the nation for its number of farms, with 44,000, a slight decrease from 2023 and reflects a national decline. Now, beginning …

Critics of cuts to the Social Security Administration predict they will further strain an already struggling system, possibly depriving some people of being able to access benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

You won't be able to apply by phone for SSA starting next week

In less than a week, many Wisconsinites will be unable to apply for Social Security benefits over the phone, which could lead to potential …

Steps for poultry farmers to prevent bird flu include restricting birds' movement and enhancing farm sanitation practices. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Poll: People fear bird flu's impact on finances over health

Since January, there have been outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza on four commercial farms in Maryland, affecting nearly 800,000 chickens meant for …

The 1,500 Black farmers in Arkansas grow everything from soybeans to corn, cotton, peas and sweet potatoes. (JackF/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Black AR farmers mostly unaffected by USDA funding freeze

U.S. Department of Agriculture cuts have affected farming communities nationwide but a national group said Black farmers are largely unaffected…

According to a report from the LOR Foundation, roughly 111 media outlets are producing news in Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Montana map of news shows rural regions lose

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for Big Sky Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborati…

According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, 41% of beginning producers were female, compared with 36% of all U.S. producers. (Kostiantyn/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Bipartisan bill aims to tackle farmland access crisis in MO, nationwide

Missouri ranks second in the nation for the number of farms, with more than 85,000. Beginning farmers in the state and across the nation may soon …

Residents of rural counties with a large share of tribal lands are more likely to rely on Medicaid for coverage for all age groups, including seniors, according to the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Nailotl/Adobe Stock)

Federal budget cuts to Medicaid would significantly impact New Mexico

Nearly 800,000 people receiving Medicaid live in New Mexico, and a federal budget proposal could possibly cause major cuts to the program. Senate …

The U.S. Constitution specifies Congress and the states can set the rules for our elections, not the president. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 7, 2025

Arizona voting rights advocates oppose Trump's election order

A number of lawsuits have been filed in opposition to President Donald Trump's executive order which could reshape how U.S. elections are run and the …

Organizations like the Main Street Alliance said growing uncertainty, including fallout from actions by the Trump administration, have left small businesses in a holding pattern, making it hard to hire staff or plan expansions. (Adobe Stock)

Rural SD businesses keep dodging arrows, including tariffs, to stay open

Main Street businesses in South Dakota are playing what some describe as a "scramble game" in the fast-changing and challenging U.S. economy…

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal neurological disease affecting deer, elk and moose. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 7, 2025

Wyoming elk occupancy agreements aim to rein in cattle conflicts

Wyoming's practice of feeding elk over winters is a century old but the spread of disease has increased concerns. Now, the Greater Yellowstone …

Rural leaders in North Dakota said if they want to take advantage of people willing to relocate to their towns, they need to replace amenities that were lost over time, such as housing, retail and other needs. (Adobe Stock)

Could easy-to-grab data aid small-town planning? ND officials think so

North Dakota has launched a new centralized online data hub and small-town mayors see it as an asset because information is power in trying to make th…

Democratic lawmakers' proposed state budget includes increasing the payroll tax for large employers, generating about $2.3 billion a year. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 7, 2025

Working people in WA call for higher taxes on the rich

Washington lawmakers and Gov. Robert Ferguson disagree about how to address the state's $16 billion revenue shortfall. The House and Senate have …

A worker who relocates to a rural area is 13% less likely to have a workplace retirement plan. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Virginians less likely to have work-based retirement plans

Virginians who work at low-wage jobs often don't have a workplace retirement plan so they can save money through payroll deductions. A new study …

In the Biden administration's final year, the USDA and EPA reaffirmed a goal to halve food waste by 2030 but supermarkets are not legally required to comply. Retailers can help by donating unsold food and educating consumers on cutting waste at home. (lado2016/Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, April 7, 2025

Report: Major supermarkets fail to cut food-related methane emissions

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Tennessee News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

USDA data show Black farmers have lost 90% of their land since 1910, while Florida has lost more than 300,000 acres of farmland since 2017. (Pixabay)

FL coalition joins call to honor USDA contracts, support small farmers

Many Floridians watched as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.Y., set a record for his historic 24-hour-plus Senate floor speech protesting President Donald …

Some two million gray wolves roamed North America in the early 1800s but today, fewer than 7,000 remain on just 10% of their historic range in the Lower 48 States. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., has introduced a bill to remove gray wolves from the list of endangered and threatened species under the Endangered …

Economists with the American Farm Bureau Federation said there are still unknowns but it is clear the escalating trade war will decrease demand for U.S. products in the second- and third-largest export markets for American farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Federal moves leave MN farmers in state of limbo

The Trump administration announces its new wave of tariffs Wednesday, and with U.S. Department of Agriculture funding still a question mark, …

Under tariffs imposed by the first Trump administration, losses for farmers prompted a $23 billion taxpayer-funded bailout. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado farmers brace for new round of Trump tariffs

President Donald Trump is set to impose sweeping global tariffs this week, a move expected to spark retaliation against a range of American products …

Boonville's downtown historic district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Adobe Stock)

IN small town grants spur growth, development projects

By Mitzi S. Morris for the Indiana Capital Chronicle.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Indiana Capital …

Preventive steps for poultry farmers regarding bird flu include restricting bird movement and enhancing farm sanitation practices. (PordeeStudio/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Americans fear bird flu's effect on finances over personal health

In January, H5N1 avian influenza struck more than 400,000 birds in Missouri, making it the second-highest state for affected flocks at the time and a …

In 2022, U.S. sales of poultry and eggs totaled $76.5 billion, 14.1% of total U.S. agriculture sales.(Adobe Stock)

Could egg supply and demand be helping avian flu spread?

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, were applied to farms in Johnson County as fertilizer to boost crop fertility. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

North TX county sues feds over PFAS contamination

By Sara Hashemi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration John…

With more people in need, charities must stretch limited resources, increasing financial strain, especially in rural communities. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Rural MO charity braces for 'ripple effects' of federal cuts

Rural communities in Missouri are bracing for a tough reality as they plan ahead for the possibility of federal cuts to programs such as Medicaid…

The USDA reported since April 2024, there have been avian influenza virus detections in 336 commercial flocks and 207 backyard flocks, for a total of more than 90.9 million birds affected.(Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu effects on wallets over health

West Virginians are more concerned about bird flu's effect on grocery costs rather than health implications, and Republican voters are more likely to …

Iowa factory farms dump approximately 109 billion pounds of manure each year, much of which winds up in nearby groundwater, according to Food and Water Watch. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's cancer rate is an 'outlier,' but why?

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration In …

More than 25% of doctors in the United States were born outside the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Doctor shortages in VA lead to changes to licensing rules

By Arielle Zionts for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Virginia News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Ser…

According to the Wyoming Department of Education, Farm to School programs grew to include 90% of schools in the state last fall. The program has been cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Federal programs supporting local food purchasing by food banks and schools have helped feed communities and support farmers but the Trump administrat…

Red flag warnings and fire weather watches are the two main types of fire alerts the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association issues. (Adobe Stock)

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Meteorologists are warning cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will threaten Americans' safety, especially in states like …

The combination of inflation and avian influenza has caused egg prices to rise more than 350% per dozen compared to last year, according to the American Farm Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Importing eggs won’t lower prices, experts say

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

The National School Lunch Program, created in 1946 as part of the National School Lunch Act, provides federal dollars to schools for food purchases. (Adobe Stock)

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

School staffing shortages can affect nutrition in Kentucky school districts, as many districts across the state rely on frozen, processed breakfast …

Farmworkers on the East Coast earn 35% less than the national average. (Adobe Stock)

A week of awareness of challenges farmworkers face

As today begins National Farmworker Awareness Week, North Carolina boasts the sixth-largest number of farmworkers of any state. More than 150,000 …

Mississippi wholesale eggs at $1.98 per dozen in March were 90% more expensive than in 2020, according to the USDA. (RENATOK/Pixabay)

MS egg prices stay high amid industry consolidation

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Trimmel Gomes for Mississippi News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

New Mexico's highways are hazardous when dust storms called

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

A local nonprofit with a mission to advance regenerative agriculture is hoping its new video can open up an untapped world of science to a younger aud…

In 2024, the National Chicken Council estimated per capita consumption of chicken in the U.S. was 104 pounds. (Adobe Stock)

Something to crow about: Technology reduces male chick culling in IN

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Eg…

According to the 2025 Conservation in the West poll, 65% of Western voters oppose giving state governments control over national public lands. That's up from 56% in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

Opponent calls MT resolution 'slap in the face' to public land owners

Months after the nation's highest court declined to hear a Utah case about ownership of public lands, a Montana House committee will debate whether …

Between 2010 and 2018, Ohio's nonmetropolitan areas experienced a 7.6% job growth-nearly 10 times the national average for rural regions.(Adobe Stock)

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

New research indicated less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Despite Ohio's predominantly rural …

When looking for job training, 74% of urban Gen Zers strongly agree or agree that they could access the training they would need, compared with 62% of rural Gen Zers, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Limited opportunity pushes young, rural Marylanders out of town

New research suggests fewer than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job to keep them in their communities. According to U.S…

As part of the Trump administration's budget-cutting moves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has eliminated $1 billion in programs connecting local producers with food banks and school lunch programs. (Adobe Stock)

USDA cuts could halt progress of SD local food scene

South Dakota farmers leading the "locally grown" movement have visions of a dynamic regional food production system but some of it is in doubt with lo…

The most common NOAA warnings in Illinois are for severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, flooding and winter weather, especially during the spring and fall seasons. (Adobe Stock)

Potential NOAA cuts spell trouble for IL weather warnings

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Among other efforts, NOAA has been leading the charge in mapping the bottom of the Great Lakes to improve navigation safety, understand the impact of climate change, locate pipelines and identify fisheries and shipwrecks. (Adobe Stock)

Potential NOAA cuts could put WI weather warnings on ice

One of many federal agencies facing cuts by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm…

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2025 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 25 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app
	Embed this Newscast

PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - April 11, 2025

2025Talks - April 11, 2025

The Yonder Report - April 10, 2025

Rural

From horny toad to Guadalupe bass, Texans work to save wildlife

Congress aims to assist new farmers with accessing land in OH, nationwide

Rural Nevada facing housing, transportation problem

Colorado colleges tap NYC program to get homegrown talent into good jobs

Library groups fight cuts, warning rural areas in MI and nation will suffer most

Pesticide 'Cancer Gag Act' dead in Iowa

ND farmers back push in Congress to rein in tariffs

Lawmakers unite to address farmland access 'crisis,' in MI and beyond

You won't be able to apply by phone for SSA starting next week

Poll: People fear bird flu's impact on finances over health

Black AR farmers mostly unaffected by USDA funding freeze

Montana map of news shows rural regions lose

Bipartisan bill aims to tackle farmland access crisis in MO, nationwide

Federal budget cuts to Medicaid would significantly impact New Mexico

Arizona voting rights advocates oppose Trump's election order

Rural SD businesses keep dodging arrows, including tariffs, to stay open

Wyoming elk occupancy agreements aim to rein in cattle conflicts

Could easy-to-grab data aid small-town planning? ND officials think so

Working people in WA call for higher taxes on the rich

Rural Virginians less likely to have work-based retirement plans

Report: Major supermarkets fail to cut food-related methane emissions

FL coalition joins call to honor USDA contracts, support small farmers

Colorado's Boebert targets renewed effort to remove federal wolf protections

Federal moves leave MN farmers in state of limbo

Colorado farmers brace for new round of Trump tariffs

IN small town grants spur growth, development projects

Poll: Americans fear bird flu's effect on finances over personal health

Could egg supply and demand be helping avian flu spread?

North TX county sues feds over PFAS contamination

Rural MO charity braces for 'ripple effects' of federal cuts

Poll: Americans concerned about bird flu effects on wallets over health

Iowa's cancer rate is an 'outlier,' but why?

Doctor shortages in VA lead to changes to licensing rules

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

NOAA staff cuts could affect Colorado wildfire, avalanche, flash flood warnings

Importing eggs won’t lower prices, experts say

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

A week of awareness of challenges farmworkers face

MS egg prices stay high amid industry consolidation

NOAA employee cuts could curb forecasts of NM 'haboobs'

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

Something to crow about: Technology reduces male chick culling in IN

Opponent calls MT resolution 'slap in the face' to public land owners

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

Limited opportunity pushes young, rural Marylanders out of town

USDA cuts could halt progress of SD local food scene

Potential NOAA cuts spell trouble for IL weather warnings

Potential NOAA cuts could put WI weather warnings on ice