Friday, March 31, 2023

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Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury; Georgia campaign fights to reopen local hospitals; New Mexico creates first-ever $100M conservation fund.

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Former President Donald Trump is indicted by Manhattan's district attorney, House Republicans take aim at renewables in new energy bill and House Dems introduce the Women's Protection Health Act.

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Small towns respond to a hidden housing and homelessness crisis, a new national weather prediction system will help close the gap between urban and rural forecasting, and more rural communities are eligible for a design project to boost economic development.

Rural/Farming

The 2022 Georgia Broadband Map documents 454,950 unserved addresses, about 90% of which are in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Better Broadband Would Minimize Healthcare Gaps in Georgia

A half-million Georgians face the reality of inadequate internet access, according to the state's broadband annual report. The glaring digital …

Last year, nearly half of new stores that opened in the U.S. were chain dollar stores, according to a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Dollar Stores: A Heavy Decision for Rural South Dakota

Dollar-store chains are rapidly growing across the country, and a new report claims their expansion comes at a cost for underserved areas. Research …


The current rate of species going extinct is estimated to be 100 to 1,000 times higher than natural background extinction rates, and is accelerating because of human activity including unsustainable use of land, water and energy use, and climate change. (Lucaar/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

Congress Could Sidestep Endangered Species Act to Delist Grizzlies, Wolves

Congress is considering three bills that would sidestep the Endangered Species Act to de-list the Northern Continental Divide and Yellowstone grizzly …

Rural hospitals are facilities not located within a metropolitan area as defined by the U.S. Office and Management and Budget and the U.S. Census Bureau, according to the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock)
IA Lawmakers Work to Save Rural Hospitals

The Iowa Senate has approved a measure allowing some medical facilities to be licensed as "emergency hospitals." This would be especially important in…


The most recent Farm Bill covered areas such as agricultural conservation, trade and foreign food assistance, farm credit and research. (Adobe Stock)
Ag Research Community Urges Congress to Avoid Farm Bill Delays

The U.S. Farm Bill is up for reauthorization, and Congress faces calls to avoid any delays so certain programs can keep helping farmers and consumers …

Most of the 2,900 internet service providers in the U.S. cover small geographic areas, according to BroadbandNow.com. Fewer than 240 of them serve parts of Georgia. (Alena Mozhjer)
Essential Roles for Broadband in Rural GA: A Catalyst for Farmers

In rural Georgia, hardworking farmers grapple with staying competitive in the global market, and some said they are hindered by limited broadband …


Beyond improving soil and farm animal health, agriculture researchers say managed grazing also provides good habitat for pollinators and wildlife. (Adobe Stock)
WI Farmers Hope Grazing Funds Aren't Put Out to Pasture

Congress has been holding hearings on the next Farm Bill, which has major implications for the nation's food system. It also shapes conservation …

Stedman farmer Demi Tucker has been growing mushrooms on her family's land for the past few years. (Demi Tucker)
NC's Black Farmers Can't Find Affordable Land

With the cost of farmland up by more than 8% percent in North Carolina, the state's Black farmers are struggling to purchase additional acreage or …


The U.S. Interior Department manages 400 national parks, 560 national wildlife refuges and nearly 250 million acres of other public lands in America. (Adobe Stock)
Bill Could End IA Public Land Acquisition

A bill passed by the Iowa Senate would repeal programs currently in place for maintaining open space and trails, and require state agencies to submit …

Leaders of the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Nations tell state lawmakers tribal sovereignty would bring federal funding, and jobs. Research shows per-capita income for non-Maine tribes grew by 61% between 1989 and 2020, yet only 9% for Wabanaki Nations. (Wabanaki Alliance)
Wabanaki Nations Seek Tribal Sovereignty from Maine

Leaders of the Wabanaki Nations are asking Maine lawmakers to recognize tribal sovereignty and help ensure a better economic future for their youth…


The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other national agencies will host a webinar focusing on past and current drought conditions and the impact on rainfall, temperature and precipitation in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. (Adobe Stock)
Iowa Drought Plan Uses History to Predict Future

Iowa has developed its first-ever plan to predict drought before it happens. Officials said it is designed to mitigate the effects of the drought by …

Black farmers ran 14% of all U.S. farms in 1920 and 1.6% in 2017. The Inflation Reduction Act includes more than $2 billion for farmers and ranchers who can show they have been discriminated against in USDA lending programs. (Adobe Stock)
Report: Conservation Funding for Smaller Farms Needed in Farm Bill

The U.S. Department of Agriculture touts its conservation programs for farmers, but a new study from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy …


 

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