skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Trump stands behind Hegseth after attack plans shared in second Signal chat; Pollution exemptions granted to AR coal plants; Coping with OR's climate change-fueled pollen season; Federal funding cuts could hit MT harder than other states.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Defense Secretary Hegseth faces calls to resign for discussing battle plans in a second Signal chat. Indiana denies students the use of college IDs to register to vote, and the White House signals the U.S. might stop trying to end the Russia-Ukraine War.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Money meant for schools in timber country is uncertain as Congress fails to reauthorize a rural program, farmers and others will see federal dollars for energy projects unlocked, and DOGE cuts threaten plant species needed for U.S. food security.

Report Offers Roadmap for Growth in Rural Georgia

play audio
Play

Wednesday, September 13, 2023   

Rural areas in Georgia are looking for ways to strengthen their communities with policies that address the climate crisis, infrastructure, and opportunities for workers.

The 2023 Rural Action Policy Report by the Rural Democracy Initiative contains input from about 50 organizations, making recommendations to help small towns thrive.

Brandon Byrd, lead organizer of the New Georgia Project, participated in the report and said one challenge that remains prominent for rural Georgia is the lack of healthcare infrastructure.

"There were multiple towns when I was growing up, where our hospital was on the verge of closing. And then, learning more about economic development and seeing how losing your hospital could affect different businesses and industries wanting to come into your town," he explained. "Because it's just a testament to, 'The health care in your area isn't -- that means your infrastructure isn't -- where it's supposed to be.'"

The report proposes federal laws supporting access to rural health care, including virtual visits. It also emphasizes the need to reduce the distance people have to travel to get care in rural areas. And it stresses the importance of democracy and voting access in fostering rural growth.

The report also cites the need to restore voting rights for people after their release from jail or prison, who often reside in rural areas. Byrd said by ensuring people's freedom and protection against discrimination, rural areas can actively participate in conversations that benefit them.

"We know democracy is a basic building block of society," he continued. "So, if you're taking away these certain rights and not allowing people to express themselves and actively participate in democracy as they have the right to, then change is really hard to create."

The report also calls for policies to create more jobs, safeguard small businesses, and take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to build better futures for families. The full report is online at ruraldemocracyiniative.org.

Disclosure: Rural Democracy Initiative contributes to our fund for reporting on Environment, Health Issues, Rural/Farming, Social Justice. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
more stories
More than 44,000 501(c)3 tax-exempt organizations operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Lawmakers and climate change activists are speaking out against a rumored executive action by President Donald Trump to revoke tax-exempt statuses fro…


Social Issues

play sound

Exports are important to Wisconsin's economy but a new report found they are facing turbulence between a decade-long decline and the uncertainty of ne…

Health and Wellness

play sound

By Lauren Cohen / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. When Derek Calkins …


Of the nearly 30,000 fire departments in the United States, almost 19,000 are all volunteer. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

In many small Minnesota communities, city hall windows display "firefighters wanted" posters. Lack of interest is a reality local fire chiefs have to …

play sound

Two coal plants in Arkansas have received an exemption from the Trump administration and will have two additional years to comply with updated clean a…

Advocates are asking lawmakers to honor Earth Day by supporting a bill to require oil and gas companies to contribute to a fund to fight climate change. (Rangizz/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

As of today, Earth Day, more than 50 elected officials have signed a letter urging lawmakers to make oil and gas companies bear the cost of climate …

Environment

play sound

West Virginia communities will see increased air pollution with little oversight under a new Trump administration proposal offering presidential exemp…

Social Issues

play sound

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to cut a cut a majority of jobs at the federal agency responsible for worker …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021