Rural / Public News Service

Some 557 Colorado schools serving more than 206,293 students are projected to be affected by a proposed $12 billion in cuts to federal school meal funding. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Blowback on GOP's proposed cuts to school meal programs

Children's advocates are crying foul after House Republicans called for $12 billion in cuts to the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows high-…

The Department of Education has reduced its workforce by nearly 50%, laying off approximately 1,300 employees, with an additional 600 either accepting separation packages or being dismissed during their probationary period. (Photo courtesy of OEA)

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Ohio educators alarmed over proposed elimination of DOE

The potential dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education has sparked concern in Ohio. Threatened moves by the Trump administration's so-called …

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have recently come under scrutiny for not doing more to enforce factory farm manure discharge permits. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

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

Agriculture trade groups want to see a rollback of federal environmental regulations on the meatpacking industry, along with fewer worker protections and food safety measures. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Nebraska News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Aquaculture, particularly aquaponics, can improve food security by providing locally grown, fresh and nutritious food in food deserts. (Adobe Stock/B.Rath Photography)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

New Mexico may never be a leader in aquaculture but some fish farmers are finding success in the arid state. Rossana Sallenave, professor and …

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

Monday, March 17, 2025

Data: Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities

New research finds that less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. According to U.S. Census data…

Around 55% of parents of young rural Gen Zers believe their child can accomplish their long-term goals in their current area, compared with 81% of urban parents who have a young Gen Z child, according to Gallup. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 17, 2025

Many NV rural Gen Zers forced to seek educational, professional paths elsewhere

New research finds that less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Most Nevadans live in the state's …

Federal agencies are ramping up efforts to contain avian flu, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture rolling out a $1 billion plan focused on biosecurity, financial relief for affected producers and research into possible vaccines for poultry. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio leads nation in bird flu cases, consumers face rising costs

A Food and Water Watch report claims Ohio egg producers are profiting from the bird flu outbreak. Ohio, a top egg producer, has lost nearly 15 …

Among the 5,722 companies in Colorado exporting goods to Canada and Mexico in 2022, the number one manufactured export was food. (Adobe Stock)

After USDA funding freeze, Colorado farmers brace for tariffs

Colorado farmers and ranchers are feeling frustrated and concerned since the Trump administration froze U.S. Department of Agriculture funding…

Fewer than 40% of rural youth said they are confident they can find an internship, compared to more than half of their urban peers. (JustLife/Adobe Stock)

Study: Rural OR youth often need to leave hometown to find jobs

New data show fewer than half of rural Gen Z'ers believe they can find a good job in their community, compared to nearly 70% of their urban peers…

Farm groups said agricultural property owners pay more than half the property taxes in 30 North Dakota counties. Their arguments come as state lawmakers try to finalize a property tax relief package to help all parts of the state. (Adobe Stock)

Fairness at heart of ND property tax debate

It is the North Dakota Senate's turn to ramp up debate on property tax reform, a key issue of this session and lawmakers are hearing from a range of …

The USDA reported one of seven households in America struggled with hunger in 2023. (Adobe Stock)<br />

SNAP cuts could wreak havoc on West Virginia’s economy

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is on the chopping block in Congress. A House budget resolution would cut $30 billion in SNAP …

Arizona's 13 mostly rural counties are viewed as conservative and Republican-leaning but in Santa Cruz County with a mostly Latino population and Apache County with a mostly Native American population, registered Democrats outnumber Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

Rural, working-class Arizonans feel forgotten. Democrats need to wake up

A coalition of rural, progressive Democratic organizations is urging the new chair of the national party to invest more in rural and working-class …

Senate Bill 183 would require landowners or renters to maintain a 55-foot

Indiana safety bill stuck in weeds

Indiana lawmakers paused action this week on a bill which aims to prevent crashes caused by dangerously overgrown rural intersections after concerns a…

Could USDA funding freeze, trade wars spell trouble for UT farmers?

Utah farmers and ranchers are feeling frustrated and concerned since the U.S. Department of Agriculture funding freeze has threatened some of their …

In Pennsylvania over the past two years, tax credits have helped launch construction on 2,000 new homes and apartments, and facilitated repairs for an additional 3,200 housing units. (Tupungato/Adobe Stock)

$50 million 'whole home repair' funding may address PA housing crisis

Gov. Josh Shapiro's budget includes a $50 million investment for repairs to older homes. A grassroots group supports the idea but said the dollar …

It is estimated climate change could increase New Mexico's average temperature by up to 7 degrees over the next 50 years. (rd.usda.gov)

NM farm tackles climate change one freeze-dried apple at a time

New Mexico is one of five U.S. states that frequently encounters exceptional drought that can damage crops but one farmer is doing her part to reduce …

Nationally, the average cost of a dozen large eggs was $4.15 in December, up from $3.65 in November, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Nitr/Adobe Stock)

Report: Bird flu not cause of rising egg prices in TX

A new report by the group Food and Water Watch said egg companies are exploiting the bird flu outbreak for profit. On average, the price of a dozen …

From data centers to clean-energy projects to factory farms, rural communities are being asked to shoulder a number of key projects factoring into how society functions, potentially leading to a major dynamic shift in how local residents organize their response. (Adobe Stock)

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

The future of a big carbon capture project in the Midwest was thrown off balance after a new South Dakota law was adopted. Rural property owners made …

Conservation experts would like to see more farms use drip or sprinkler systems, which are more efficient than flooding for irrigation. (Deyan Georgiev/Adobe Stock)

Agriculture, especially cattle feed, uses most of Earth’s freshwater

By Gabriella Sotelo for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collab…

The Montana Food Bank Network distributed food through 330 partner organizations in 2024, including food pantries, schools, senior centers and more, according to the organization's impact report. (West Rose Media/Adobe Stock)

MT food bank, neighbors collaborate to improve food access for tribal nations

Food bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Montana, to launch the 104 Degrees West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

The majority of human H5N1 cases have been found on the West Coast but have been reported in the Midwest and on the East Coast as well. Researchers are monitoring the virus thorough wastewater tracking, direct testing of at-risk people and those with symptoms and randomized sample testing. (Adobe Stock)

Barriers to tracking bird flu mount amid federal changes

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

Farmers unions and agricultural advocacy groups are calling on Congress to push the U.S. Department of Agriculture to immediately release all frozen funds. (Adobe Stock)

Southern farmers grapple with uncertainty of USDA funding freeze, layoffs

Florida farmers face mounting uncertainty as a federal funding freeze and layoffs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have disrupted some of the …

The Food Bank of Wyoming served people across 97,903 square miles and in all 23 counties in 2024, according to the organization's impact report. (Adobe Stock)

Four-state collaborative seeks to improve food access in Native nations

Food-bank organizations teamed up in four states, including Wyoming, to launch the 104° West Collaborative in 2021 to better serve their …

During the Great Depression, the U.S. enacted the

Data, history show mass deportations harm U.S. economy

As nationwide deportation efforts continue, new research examined the labor market of a past president to help forecast what could happen if …

Research: Mass deportations don't create more U.S. jobs

As nationwide deportation efforts continue, new research examined the labor market of a past president to help forecast what could happen if …

Farmers unions and other ag-related advocacy groups are urging Congress to get the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release all frozen funds immediately. (Adobe Stock)

Mid-South farmers grapple with uncertainty of USDA funding freeze, layoffs

Mississippi farmers face mounting uncertainty as a federal funding freeze and layoffs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture have disrupted some of …

The Universal Service Fund, currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, provided more than $4 billion to carriers nationwide in 2023 to connect households in the nation's most rural communities. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS to decide future of fund seen as lifeline for rural broadband

Later this month, on March 26, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that challenges the constitutionality of a federal fund that aids …

The likelihood of exposure to H5N1 is higher among people consuming raw, unpasteurized milk from infected animals, although the chance of people contracting H5N1 from consuming raw milk is not clear at this time, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Experts worry as zoonotic disease research is reviewed by Trump admin

By Grey Moran for Sentient.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

Nearly a third of working-age Washington households have earnings which do not meet the minimum<br />cost of living. (Johannes/Adobe Stock)

Bills aim to revamp WA's regressive tax codes

A package of legislation in Olympia aims to reduce growing wealth inequality by reforming Washington's tax code. With the nation's second-most …

The current avian flu outbreak surfaced in 2022, with a big effect on wild birds and commercial poultry. (Adobe Stock)

New avian flu plan hatched by USDA, but experts are wary

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Minnesota News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration…

FL advocates push back against corporate dominance in agriculture

Advocates for small independent farmers and ranchers in Florida are sounding the alarm about the effects of corporate agriculture on their land and lo…

Around seven in 10 Democrats expect the affordability of health care, food and consumer goods, and housing to worsen over the next year, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Democrats make calls to invest in rural, working-class communities in NV

A coalition of rural, progressive Democratic organizations is urging the new chair of the national party to invest more in rural and working-class …

More than 166 million birds across the country have been affected by avian influenza. (panyawat/Adobe Stock)

Industrial farming in NC, US becomes breeding ground for bird flu

Industrial farming practices could be boosting the spread of bird flu. Avian influenza has been detected in poultry across the country, including in …

The longest commute in the nation is located in Mohave County, Arizona, where the citizens of Colorado City-a town of 2,500 people-would need to drive eight hours round trip to reach their designated election office in Kingman, Arizona, according to the Center for American Progress. (Austin Broadbent /Adobe Stock)

GOP backed citizenship voting bill could present challenges to AZ voters

Congress could soon vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE Act. Lawmakers say it's designed to keep undocumented immigrants from …

Sentient reports the animal death toll from avian flu highlights the sheer number of chickens and eggs humans eat on a regular basis. The American diet is highly dependent on chickens as a protein source. (Adobe Stock)

Bird flu outbreak resulted in even more dead poultry than usual

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration S…

Samples taken in 2017 by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources found increased radioactivity after a commercial deicing liquid (oil and gas brine) was applied to roadways. (Siri Lawson, Farmington Township, Warren County)

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Concerns are growing in Ohio over the use of oil and gas waste for dust control on rural roads, a practice some environmental groups argued is …

Last September, The Pines Inn and Suites in Cottonwood was able to cover 70% of the business' solar-installation cost with a $32,000 reimbursement from REAP and $23,000 from the renewable energy Investment Tax Credit. (Anna May Cory)

Rural AZ hotel's solar installation in limbo after federal funding freeze

Small businesses in Arizona are feeling the impact of the sudden federal pause on clean-energy grants. One of those businesses is the Pines Inn and …

More than 69 million American women do not have a birth certificate with their married name, which would be needed to vote under the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, according to the nonprofit Stand Up America. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

The 'SAVE' Act could mean barriers for UT voters

Congress will vote soon on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act and voting rights advocates said it could keep some Utahns from casting their …

Lake algae blooms can release toxins posing serious risks to humans, pets and wildlife, potentially causing illness or even death. (Pete Niesen Photo/Adobe Stock)

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

Each summer, more lake beaches shut down as toxic algae blooms spread across the water and while climate change is often blamed, new research …

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act would require all Americans to provide proof of citizenship in person when registering to vote or updating their voter information, creating new hurdles for many eligible voters. (Adobe Stock)

Voting rights advocates warn SAVE Act could block voters in GA, U.S.

The U.S. House is preparing to vote on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, a bill voting rights groups said would block millions from …

More than 21 million American citizens don't have the required documents that would be needed to vote under the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, according to the group Stand Up America. (Bill Perry/Adobe Stock)

Upcoming House vote on 'SAVE' Act has NV voting rights advocates concerned

The House of Representatives will vote soon on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act but voting rights advocates said it could keep some Nevada…

Nearly 750 Idahoans have graduated from the WWAMI medical education program. (allexxandarx/Adobe Stock)

Doctors, Idahoans rise up to protect state's medical education program

Idaho legislation that would end the state's participation in a regional medical education program is facing a groundswell of opposition. WWAMI - …

No data has been made available yet to show the effect of the legislation passed in 2024 to regulate industrial sludge in Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates await impacts of industrial sludge law a year later

Environmental advocates are waiting for results from legislation passed last year, regulating the use of industrial sludge from flowing into …

Danny Akenson of the group Grassroots Organizing Western Wisconsin said the corporate consolidation from concentrated animal feeding operations has caused the shuttering of many small farms across the state. Dairy farms in Wisconsin with fewer than 100 cattle have decreased by more than 50% since 2012. (Adobe Stock)

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved a permit to expand Ridge Breeze Dairy in Salem despite hundreds of local objections…

A concentrated animal feeding operation is a facility where animals have been, are or will be stabled or confined and fed, or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period. (Lost_in_the_Midwest/Adobe Stock)

Group warns livestock manure making MI Great Lakes not so great

A new analysis revealed a staggering amount of livestock waste is flowing through Michigan's waterways each year, equivalent to the sewage of 81 …

Iowa farmers raised about 3.5 million head of cattle in 2024, making the state the ninth-largest beef producer in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa farmers push for country of origin beef labeling

Iowa farmers and their advocates want Congress to approve a measure to require beef raised and produced in the United States to be labeled as such…

It is estimated each cow contributes around $34,000 annually to the local economy, but barriers for new dairy farmers are preventing enough new entrants to the industry to replace retiring farmers. (Ann/Adobe Stock)

Apprenticeship trains next generation of PA dairy farmers

In Pennsylvania, a nonprofit striving to secure the future of small dairy farms is hoping its federal funding won't be frozen much longer. …

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Rural

Blowback on GOP's proposed cuts to school meal programs

Ohio educators alarmed over proposed elimination of DOE

Iowa slaughterhouse faces water pollution lawsuit

Nebraska meatpackers call on feds to deregulate industry

Expanding NM's aquaculture-based fish farming could improve food security

Data: Lack of opportunity pushes rural Gen Zers in AZ out of their communities

Many NV rural Gen Zers forced to seek educational, professional paths elsewhere

Ohio leads nation in bird flu cases, consumers face rising costs

After USDA funding freeze, Colorado farmers brace for tariffs

Study: Rural OR youth often need to leave hometown to find jobs

Fairness at heart of ND property tax debate

SNAP cuts could wreak havoc on West Virginia’s economy

Rural, working-class Arizonans feel forgotten. Democrats need to wake up

Indiana safety bill stuck in weeds

Could USDA funding freeze, trade wars spell trouble for UT farmers?

$50 million 'whole home repair' funding may address PA housing crisis

NM farm tackles climate change one freeze-dried apple at a time

Report: Bird flu not cause of rising egg prices in TX

Power of rural organizing reflected in SD carbon pipeline law

Agriculture, especially cattle feed, uses most of Earth’s freshwater

MT food bank, neighbors collaborate to improve food access for tribal nations

Barriers to tracking bird flu mount amid federal changes

Southern farmers grapple with uncertainty of USDA funding freeze, layoffs

Four-state collaborative seeks to improve food access in Native nations

Data, history show mass deportations harm U.S. economy

Research: Mass deportations don't create more U.S. jobs

Mid-South farmers grapple with uncertainty of USDA funding freeze, layoffs

SCOTUS to decide future of fund seen as lifeline for rural broadband

Experts worry as zoonotic disease research is reviewed by Trump admin

Bills aim to revamp WA's regressive tax codes

New avian flu plan hatched by USDA, but experts are wary

FL advocates push back against corporate dominance in agriculture

Democrats make calls to invest in rural, working-class communities in NV

Industrial farming in NC, US becomes breeding ground for bird flu

GOP backed citizenship voting bill could present challenges to AZ voters

Bird flu outbreak resulted in even more dead poultry than usual

OH Statehouse symposium to address oil, gas waste on rural roads

Rural AZ hotel's solar installation in limbo after federal funding freeze

The 'SAVE' Act could mean barriers for UT voters

MI scientist: Humans, not climate change, to blame for toxic lakes

Voting rights advocates warn SAVE Act could block voters in GA, U.S.

Upcoming House vote on 'SAVE' Act has NV voting rights advocates concerned

Doctors, Idahoans rise up to protect state's medical education program

Advocates await impacts of industrial sludge law a year later

WI group pushes back after controversial CAFO expansion OK'd

Group warns livestock manure making MI Great Lakes not so great

Iowa farmers push for country of origin beef labeling

Apprenticeship trains next generation of PA dairy farmers