Rural / Public News Service

Most of the buses in Minnesota's rural transportation system are ADA-compliant and equipped with wheelchair lifts for passengers with disabilities. (Arrowhead Transit)

Friday, July 26, 2024

Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options

Traveling around rural Minnesota can be difficult but in more than half the state, nonprofit transit systems are helping people get where they need …

Gov. Mike Parson chose not to sign or veto Senate Bill 751, allowing it to become law automatically. (M. Suhail/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

New Missouri law ensures medication access

Gov. Mike Parson recently announced Senate Bill 751 would become law, allowing Missourians to access essential medications within their communities …

Eastern Oregon University is located in the northeast Oregon town of La Grande.(IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

OR university helps region avert rural 'brain drain'

A university in eastern Oregon is figuring out ways to prevent rural 'brain drain.' Eastern Oregon University was officially designated "Oregon's Rur…

Medicaid expansion has the potential to reduce the number of uninsured individuals in the state by 43%, according to a report by the nonprofit Alabama Arise. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

AL nonprofit urges Medicaid expansion to 'save rural hospitals'

An Alabama group is sounding the alarm about the need for Medicaid expansion, in part to keep rural hospitals in business. Many hospitals in Alabama …

Colorado has been a leader in prioritizing intact habitat and migration corridor conservation, most recently through an executive order by Gov. Jared Polis and in new guidelines for the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

BLM moves to sync oil and gas management with state big-game protections

The federal Bureau of Land Management has published a new plan for managing public lands which will put oil and gas management in sync with Colorado's…

A high-tech approach to studying Iowa's future soil health

Farmers in Iowa are studying interactions between crops, water usage, carbon and nitrogen storage, and how those factors combine to affect longterm …

Cherokee Health Systems serves East Tennessee and its surrounding counties through 19 health centers,<br />telehealth services and a mobile unit. (Cherokee Health Systems)<br />

East TN health centers' community gardens: More than fresh produce

In rural Tennessee, many residents lack access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. So, two health center systems in the state are sprouting …

Wyoming ranks 47th in the nation for coverage, access and affordability of women's health and reproductive care, according to a new Commonwealth Fund scorecard. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WY ranks low on women’s access to health and reproductive care

Wyoming ranks 42nd in the U.S. for women's health and reproductive care, according to a new report - and some are urging lawmakers to make changes…

Giant sequoia and other conifers were incinerated in the 2020 Castle

Report: CA giant sequoia groves in peril after megafires

Two new studies find that without sustained intervention, California may permanently lose big sections of old-growth giant sequoia groves. The …

Two South Dakota ethanol production facilities are considered high-priority emission violators, according to EPA data, including plants in Redfield and Aberdeen. (Adobe Stock)

Report: SD ethanol plants release hazardous air pollutants

Biofuels are painted as a greener energy alternative to fossil fuels but a new study found the industry produces plenty of its own air pollutants…

Ohio has more than 13 million acres of farmland and agriculture is responsible for about 3% of the state's gross domestic product. (Donley Desdain/Adobe Stock)

USDA invests millions for 'climate-smart' ag programs in Midwest

Farms in the Midwest should become more resilient to challenges created by climate change, with a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of …

Student Fellows, Lorena and Camila, participating at a community event in Tyler, TX. (photo courtesy of Este Poder)

East TX nonprofit works to register young voters of color

The nonprofit Este Poder has a goal of helping more young people of color in rural east Texas exercise their right to vote. The organization holds …

The Northwest is the biggest supplier of cherries in the country. (Dmitry/Adobe Stock)

Supports available for migrant workers' families during peak harvest in OR

A program in the Columbia River Gorge helps migrant farmworkers' families during harvest season. The Resources Available for Migrant Access to …

In Colorado, more than 195,000 people work in agriculture across 38,900 farms and ranches. The industry supplies $47 billion to the state's economy annually. (Adobe Stock)

Addressing mental health needs of Colorado farming communities

In the past year, the Colorado AgrAbility Project added four behavioral health specialists to help the state's agricultural producers, workers and …

Tenth Circuit Court expected to decide on public lands access

A court is soon expected to decide a Wyoming case between hunters and landowners which could affect public land access. When a group from Missouri …

About 25% of people covered by Medicare in 2023 used a telehealth service that year, according to data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Jeff Bergen/Adobe Stock)

Clock ticking on Medicare telehealth provisions

Telehealth has been key to health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic but some of the flexibilities for this type of care for Medicare patients …

Researchers Anna O'Brien, left, and Ciana Lazu examine a sample of duckweed found at Mill Pond in Durham, New Hampshire. (UNH Marketing)

NH duckweed study aims to counter impacts of manure, farm runoff

University of New Hampshire scientists said a common aquatic plant called duckweed could help filter polluting runoff from dairy farms and so-called m…

Wyoming's Bighorn Basin is located between mountain ranges that block the flow of moisture-laden air from both the east and west, making it one of the driest places in the state, according to the Water Resources Data System and State Climate Office. (BLM Wyoming)

Projected costs loom over benefits of proposed Bighorn Basin dam

Wyoming's irrigation infrastructure is aging and the state gets regular requests to update it but in some cases, project benefits may not outweigh …

Between 2019 and early 2021, the number of Medicaid telehealth visits increased 15-fold in five states the U.S. General Accounting Office selected and Medicare telehealth visits increased tenfold. (Westock/Adobe Stock)

Report: Keep some COVID-era telehealth 'flexibilities'; research quality, costs

Receiving medical services via telehealth was a requirement for some during the pandemic but has continued to grow in popularity since then. In …

Telehealth was expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic when Americans were under lockdown orders. (supamotion/Adobe Stock)

Report: Congress needs to act quickly, wisely on Medicare teleheath provisions

Telehealth has been key to health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some of the flexibilities for this type of care for Medicare …

Telehealth can cut down on the miles that folks in rural communities have to travel to see a doctor. (kalinichenkod/Adobe Stock)

Medicare telehealth policies need updating, reapproval, report says

Telehealth has been key to health care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but some of the flexibilities for this type of care for Medicare …

Agriculture accounts for nearly 85% of Oregon's water use. (Deyan Georgiev/Adobe Stock)

Oregon seeks public comment on large-scale farming regulations

Oregonians have until July 22 to submit comments on the implementation of new environmental restrictions for the state's largest farms. When the …

The Environmental Working Group said in a new report when someone thinks of farm subsidies, they might not picture the recipient living in a downtown Minneapolis apartment but it showed loopholes approved by Congress allow it to happen more frequently. (Adobe Stock)

'Big city' farmers cash in on government aid, drawing fairness questions

Minneapolis-St. Paul is in the top five metro areas where investors in farms are receiving large amounts of government subsidies. Authors of a new …

Nearly 60% of people who borrowed medical equipment from Owen's Outfitters in June were enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare, according to data from the organization. Roughly 9% of clients were uninsured. (Eleanor Turner, The Legacy Foundation)

SD medical supply library prepares to go mobile

A lending library for medical and mobility supplies opened in Sioux Falls just last fall and now its parent nonprofit is making moves to go mobile…

Agriculture contributes about $83.6 billion annually to Georgia's economy, according to the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development. (Adobe Stock)

University of Georgia farm program helps veterans transition to agriculture

A University of Georgia outreach program is giving veterans a new start in agriculture. With the help of a $750,000 grant, the Farm Boot Camp will …

Key improvements made as a part of the Selma 14 Project for riverbank stabilization include re-grading the riverbank, installing articulated concrete matting and adding protective stone elements to prevent erosion and stabilize the slope. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Selma announces infrastructure milestone, river walk plans progress

Alabama officials have announced critical infrastructure improvements in Selma this week, paving the way for a new river walk. The "Selma 14 …

The Federal Transit Administration's Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Pilot Program has supported access to health with $24 million over five years, according to the agency. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Federal grant will upgrade SD rural transit system

The Biden administration announced nearly $8 million in grants to improve public transportation, including a large and rural system in South Dakota…

The Wind River Canyon corridor is part of U.S. Route 20, the longest highway in the country, which spans 2,542 miles from Boston, Massachusetts to Newport, Oregon, according to the Federal Highway Administration. (Rita Robinson/Adobe Stock)

WYDOT gets grant for Wind River Canyon corridor study

Wyoming's Wind River Canyon corridor turns 100 years old this year, and federal grant money will soon support a study on potential improvements…

Transfarmation provides resources and support to industrial animal farmers interested in transitioning their farms to plant-focused operations. (Evgeniya Grande/Adobe Stock)

The Transfarmation Project: Empowering farmers to escape a destructive cycle

By Lena Beck for Modern Farmer.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Modern Farmer-Public News Servic…

Using the data and maps, Bastrop County Cares has been convening different stakeholders to identify areas of need to help develop solutions to address the broadband shortage in rural Texas areas. (tippapatt/Adobe Stock)

Retired TX geoscientist uses talent to connect rural community to the web

By Kristi Eaton for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Doctors and the Montana Department of Health and Human Services have structured the previously informal process of

'Drive-thru' blood network addresses critical shortage in rural MT

By Arielle Zionts for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Col…

Untreated factory farm waste runoff contains high levels of fecal pathogens such as E. coli, antibiotics and cleaning chemicals. (Adobe Stock)

Clean-water advocates head back to court over Colorado factory farms

Clean-water advocates are heading to state district court after Colorado regulators turned their back on a judge's decision last year calling for bett…

Farmworkers laboring in extreme heat are at risk of heatstroke or even death. (F Armstrong Photo/Adobe Stock)

Biden administration's proposed heat rules would protect ID farmworkers

The Biden administration is proposing rules to protect workers from extreme heat. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said its …

Recent wildfires and subsequent flooding have made some low-income households in New Mexicans eligible for federal disaster food assistance. (AdobeStock/goodmanphoto)

NM wildfires prompt precautions, new food assistance

New Mexicans affected by recent wildfires and subsequent flooding may be eligible for Disaster Supplemental Nutritional Program benefits. The …

In addition to answering nearly 390,000 calls in May, counselors with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline responded to approximately 49,000 chats and 95,000 texts. (artitwpd/Adobe Stock)

Report: NE crisis response system needs bolstering

A new report gives Nebraska a positive review for its operation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline but identifies shortcomings in two crucial area…

Around 97% of the Utah hog inventory is on farms with 5,000 or more hogs, according to the National Pork Producers Council. (Adobe Stock)

Utah feels impact of California's ban on gestation crates

Farm advocates claim price gouging on meat and poultry in California is spreading across the country, including Utah's pork industry, which garnered …

There are no income or registration requirements for kids to participate in the state's Summer Meals program, which serves breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner to all youths up to age 18. (Adobe Stock)

Summer meals for kids available to-go and by delivery in remote rural areas

With school cafeterias closed for the summer, community groups and nonprofits are working to ensure that Colorado's one in five children who go …

The 1,117 tornadoes reported for the January-through-May period this year is second only to 2011's 1,238 tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Changing climate contributes to record Iowa tornado season

Weather researchers at Iowa State University say a shifting climate and warmer ocean temperatures are partially responsible for a record number of tor…

Beyond legal-related maneuvers, the USDA has taken other steps to create more market fairness in the heavily consolidated livestock and meat production industry, including funding for more local processing options. (Adobe Stock)

The little guy could get a bigger voice in proposed USDA fairness rule

From North Dakota to Texas, the beef raised on farms goes through a production process controlled by four major companies and independent ranchers …

Since they began resettling in the Midwest after the Vietnam War, Hmong farmers have been credited for revitalizing farmers markets in states like Wisconsin and Minnesota. (Adobe Stock)

Preparing the next generation of Hmong farmers

Visit a Wisconsin farmers market, and chances are there are products grown by Hmong producers. But like other agricultural groups, the population is …

Save the Children works in more than 300 of rural America's most impoverished communities, helping kids prepare for kindergarten and reach grade-level goals. (peopleimages.com./Adobe Stock)

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

During the summer months, children can lose up to 40% of the information they learned in school, in a phenomenon called the "summer slide." The …

Proposed water permit changes in Minnesota to limit harmful runoff from industrial farms would only cover about 1,000 of the state's 17,000 livestock feedlots. However, environmental groups said the affected farms generate about one-third of the manure spread on agricultural fields. (Adobe Stock)

MN regulators unveil tougher water permit requirements for CAFO's

Minnesota will soon hold public hearings on proposed water permit changes as it seeks to get control of nitrate pollution from industrial farms…

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits brought more than $700 million to local Colorado economies in 2017, creating more than $1.25 billion in economic activity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill proposal would cut SNAP food assistance by $30 billion

One proposed version of the next Farm Bill, introduced by the Republican chair of the House Agriculture Committee, would cut the Supplemental …

Montana currently has no law against the use of gestation crates to raise livestock. (Adobe Stock)

Montana feels effects of California 'price gouging'

California joined a dozen other states across the U.S. either banning or regulating the use of gestation crates to raise livestock and a ballot …

New Mexico's Save the Children organization has previously engaged kids on summer break from school to help create a 9-foot paint-by-numbers mural. (Photo courtesy of Save the Children)

Helping prevent the summer slide among NM's school-aged kids

Some New Mexico kids hope summer never ends, while others cannot wait to get back in the classroom and both groups are at risk of falling behind in …

Oso Outdoors offers winter and summer programs, including mountain biking, which aim to help bring more diversity to outdoor recreation in Summit County. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists want free national park access for newest U.S. citizens

Conservation groups are asking federal agencies to give newly naturalized U.S. citizens a free America the Beautiful National Parks pass. Javier …

The wild and scenic Eel River is part of the Bureau of Land Management's planned 382,000-acre management area in northwest California. (Wikimedia Commons)

BLM releases final conservation plan for NW California public lands

Conservation advocates say a new Bureau of Land Management final Environmental Impact Statement takes positive steps toward developing a management pl…

Reading during the summer can help children combat learning loss. (Samuel B./Adobe Stock)

Combating summer learning loss in WA

School is out for the summer but a lack of learning opportunities can leave kids behind when they head back to school next year. The organization …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - July 26, 2024

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Rural

Rural MN communities gain expanded public transportation options

New Missouri law ensures medication access

OR university helps region avert rural 'brain drain'

AL nonprofit urges Medicaid expansion to 'save rural hospitals'

BLM moves to sync oil and gas management with state big-game protections

A high-tech approach to studying Iowa's future soil health

East TN health centers' community gardens: More than fresh produce

Report: WY ranks low on women’s access to health and reproductive care

Report: CA giant sequoia groves in peril after megafires

Report: SD ethanol plants release hazardous air pollutants

USDA invests millions for 'climate-smart' ag programs in Midwest

East TX nonprofit works to register young voters of color

Supports available for migrant workers' families during peak harvest in OR

Addressing mental health needs of Colorado farming communities

Tenth Circuit Court expected to decide on public lands access

Clock ticking on Medicare telehealth provisions

NH duckweed study aims to counter impacts of manure, farm runoff

Projected costs loom over benefits of proposed Bighorn Basin dam

Report: Keep some COVID-era telehealth 'flexibilities'; research quality, costs

Report: Congress needs to act quickly, wisely on Medicare teleheath provisions

Medicare telehealth policies need updating, reapproval, report says

Oregon seeks public comment on large-scale farming regulations

'Big city' farmers cash in on government aid, drawing fairness questions

SD medical supply library prepares to go mobile

University of Georgia farm program helps veterans transition to agriculture

Selma announces infrastructure milestone, river walk plans progress

Federal grant will upgrade SD rural transit system

WYDOT gets grant for Wind River Canyon corridor study

The Transfarmation Project: Empowering farmers to escape a destructive cycle

Retired TX geoscientist uses talent to connect rural community to the web

'Drive-thru' blood network addresses critical shortage in rural MT

Clean-water advocates head back to court over Colorado factory farms

Biden administration's proposed heat rules would protect ID farmworkers

NM wildfires prompt precautions, new food assistance

Report: NE crisis response system needs bolstering

Utah feels impact of California's ban on gestation crates

Summer meals for kids available to-go and by delivery in remote rural areas

Changing climate contributes to record Iowa tornado season

The little guy could get a bigger voice in proposed USDA fairness rule

Preparing the next generation of Hmong farmers

Save the Children works to end 'summer slide' for Arkansas students

MN regulators unveil tougher water permit requirements for CAFO's

Farm Bill proposal would cut SNAP food assistance by $30 billion

Montana feels effects of California 'price gouging'

Helping prevent the summer slide among NM's school-aged kids

Conservationists want free national park access for newest U.S. citizens

BLM releases final conservation plan for NW California public lands

Combating summer learning loss in WA