Rural / Public News Service

In the last two years, more than 100,000 jobs in EV manufacturing have been created. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Congressional vote could slow WA's electric vehicle transition

Congress is voting this week whether to roll back states' authority to set their own, stricter clean car and truck emissions standards, which could …

Lawmakers are considering several bills that would impact small farmers, including bills that would require country-of-origin labels and allow the sale of raw milk at farmers markets. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

Members of a Texas House committee this week will consider a bill that would limit the number of permits farmers must have to participate at farmers m…

The United States has announced investments of more than $150 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing and charging infrastructure since 2021, contributing to a 40% increase in EV sales in 2022, according to the Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 28, 2025

Ohio's EV progress at risk as Congress considers emissions rollback

Congress is preparing to vote Wednesday on whether to roll back Ohio's authority to set tougher vehicle emissions standards. New research from …

The Inflation Reduction Act allocated $3.1 billion for

Friday, April 25, 2025

South Florida farming program in limbo after federal grant freeze

Frozen federal grants have thrown a South Florida farm training program into chaos, leaving a nonprofit scrambling to salvage it after sudden funding …

Ohio's tomato growers harvest more than 300,000 tons annually. It is a crop heavily dependent on preserved genetic traits for disease resistance and shelf life. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 25, 2025

Ohio crops at risk as federal cuts disrupt seed preservation

A little-known federal program has quietly safeguarded the crops feeding the nation, including key Ohio staples like soybeans, tomatoes, corn and …

Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act funding pays for job training programs like welding and carpentry, a post-high-school counselor and a therapist, among other things in Skamania County. (EFStock/Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 25, 2025

Rural WA counties face challenges without key federal funding

By Claire Carlson and Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service for the Public News Ser…

American Heart Association Alaska executive director Kristin George delivers one of hundreds of CPR and first aid kits to a remote village in rural Alaska. (AHA-Alaska)

Friday, April 25, 2025

Heart Association spreads CPR, AED lifesaving skills across rural Alaska

The Alaska branch of the American Heart Association is helping save lives by teaching the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external …

Western Watersheds Project Executive Director Erik Molvar says a permitting change announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior this week will mean

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Friday, April 25, 2025

Feds unveil 'emergency permitting' for energy projects in MT, U.S.

This week, the Trump administration announced what it terms "emergency permitting" for energy projects, streamlining a sometimes yearslong process …

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 25, 2025

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

The Pesticide Action Network said after acquiring Monsanto in 2018, the company Bayer has faced nearly 100,000 lawsuits and was eventually ordered to pay up to $10.9 billion to settle claims alleging its product Roundup, widely used in farm fields, caused cancer. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 25, 2025

New ND law raises bar for pesticide liability lawsuits

North Dakota lawmakers have opted to side with farm chemical manufacturers facing legal challenges about the safety of their products. The state has …

Rural development experts said because of food deserts, some rural residents in North Dakota travel 100-200 miles to one of the state's 10 largest cities to buy groceries at a 'big box' store. (Adobe Stock)

ND follows up with new aid to keep rural grocery stores open

North Dakota's governor this week signed a bill maintaining state funding for rural communities in dire need of thriving grocery stores. The state …

Soybeans provide more protein per acre than any other major crop, producing about seven times more protein than beef cattle grazing on the same land area, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Pixabay)

MS soybean trials test varieties despite trade uncertainty

Mississippi State University Extension launched its annual soybean variety trials last week. It is a way to evaluate crop performance as farmers …

A total of 16,000 NOAA workers, including those who forecast severe storms, have been fired by DOGE. (Derrick Neill/Adobe Stock)

Second wave of weather employees fired ahead of NM wildfire season

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for New Mexico News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

From 2021 to 2022, the Department of Energy tripled its funding for agrivoltaics, including $8 million for a new program studying how solar panels can benefit farmers and rural areas. (pkproject/Adobe Stock)

Michigan State University study: Crops and solar panels can coexist

Results of a new study from Michigan State University suggest farmers no longer have to choose between growing crops and harnessing solar power…

With funding from Congress, the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System is new a wholesale provider of <br />cleaner water to 20 member cities and rural water systems in three states, including South Dakota. Local leaders said it is a good example of effective federal investments. (Photo courtesy of MN DOH)

SD communities say federal aid isn't 'waste' to them

CORRECTION: This web-version of the story initially listed Rep. Dusty Johnson as "Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-N.D." It has since been corrected to reflect …

Last year, Wisconsin exported nearly $30 billion worth of goods, down about $4.2 billion from its peak. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Tariffs could worsen WI’s ‘turbulent’ export economy

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…

Conservation voices said when European settlers first arrived in South Dakota, 96% of the state was grassland but today only around 50% of the original native grasslands remain. (Adobe Stock)

SD grassland enthusiasts hope for a native plant rebirth

April is National Native Plant Month, an observance at the core of South Dakota's identity. People wanting to protect the state's beloved grasslands …

Despite some state space improvements, about 60% of U.S. egg-laying hens are still kept in cramped battery cages, each with less space than a sheet of paper. (Alex/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania egg brand agrees to drop ‘free-roaming’ label

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public Ne…

The Empire Builder currently provides rail passenger service through Montana's Hi-Line, paralleling U.S. Highway 2 through the northern part of the state. The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority hopes to expand service through eastern and southern Montana. (Adobe Stock)

Passenger rail funding bill narrowly fails Montana Senate vote

Communities in southern and eastern Montana were connected to passenger rail lines running from Chicago to Seattle until 1979. An effort to fund the …

When cows eat plant cover faster than it can regrow, it erodes and degrades the soil beneath, making it more susceptible to runoff and other undesirable consequences. (Saed/Adobe Stock)

WA cattle grazing can harm 'food webs'

By Seth Millstein for Sentient Climate.Broadcast version by Isobel Charle for Washington News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service C…

Iowa produced 2.5 billion bushels of corn in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa farmers question need for treated seeds

By Lisa Held for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service C…

As of October 2024, approximately 37 million children in the United States were enrolled in Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This represents about 49% of all U.S. children.<br />(Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Michigan policy expert unpacks impact of proposed Medicaid cuts

According to state data, as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, face cuts, Michigan's most vulnerable stand to lose …

The United States is the third-largest pork producer in the world and already exports around one-third of the pork it produces domestically. (Chayakorn/Adobe Stock)

Chinese-owned farms press for repeal of CA animal welfare law

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabor…

In 2022, Arizona ranked among the top five states with the most severe health care staffing shortages, with the demand for specialized nurses projected to increase by 23% by 2025, according to the Arizona Board of Nursing. (Deanna Dent/Arizona State University)

Initiative expected to help AZ reverse nursing shortage

Arizona already faces a critical shortage of nurses and it is projected to get worse. Now, a new initiative at Arizona State University could make …

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MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for Ohio News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabo…

Potatoes are one of 200 crops pivotal to the U.S. food system. DOGE has made cuts to the U.S. agency that maintains the crops' genetics and seed supply. (Adobe Stock)

DOGE cuts funding to seed banks, threatens WY. food security

Federal scientists at 22 U.S. sites maintain the nation's agricultural seed stores collected since 1898 but the Trump administration's DOGE agency …

The Honor Farmer Contracts Act would require the USDA to give a 60-day notice of any agency closures. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is among those who introduced the bill last month. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed bill aims to pay farmers back for disrupted grants

A Wisconsin-based nonprofit hopes a new law can help some of its struggling farmers quickly recoup federal grant funds they are owed. The Honor …

The wind industry alone brings almost 17.8-billion-dollars in investments to Illinois, currently powering almost 13 percent of the state's electricity needs. (Adobe Stock)

IL hopes to continue clean energy boom with new bill

As Illinois forges ahead in the clean energy space, legislators and advocates are pushing for what would be the third major climate bill passed in …

When a tariff is imposed, the importing business pays the tax to the U.S. Treasury Department. Importers then pass much of the added cost to consumers. (freshidea/Adobe Stock)

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

Texas is the number one exporting state in the nation - and although tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been delayed, Texans are still uneasy about …

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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 …

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)

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)

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)

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)

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

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…

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

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)

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)

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 …

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

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)

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)

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 …

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Rural

Congressional vote could slow WA's electric vehicle transition

TX lawmakers consider bills to help small farmers, home food businesses

Ohio's EV progress at risk as Congress considers emissions rollback

South Florida farming program in limbo after federal grant freeze

Ohio crops at risk as federal cuts disrupt seed preservation

Rural WA counties face challenges without key federal funding

Heart Association spreads CPR, AED lifesaving skills across rural Alaska

Feds unveil 'emergency permitting' for energy projects in MT, U.S.

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

New ND law raises bar for pesticide liability lawsuits

ND follows up with new aid to keep rural grocery stores open

MS soybean trials test varieties despite trade uncertainty

Second wave of weather employees fired ahead of NM wildfire season

Michigan State University study: Crops and solar panels can coexist

SD communities say federal aid isn't 'waste' to them

Report: Tariffs could worsen WI’s ‘turbulent’ export economy

SD grassland enthusiasts hope for a native plant rebirth

Pennsylvania egg brand agrees to drop ‘free-roaming’ label

Passenger rail funding bill narrowly fails Montana Senate vote

WA cattle grazing can harm 'food webs'

Iowa farmers question need for treated seeds

Michigan policy expert unpacks impact of proposed Medicaid cuts

Chinese-owned farms press for repeal of CA animal welfare law

Initiative expected to help AZ reverse nursing shortage

MAHA movement aims to reverse American farming policy

DOGE cuts funding to seed banks, threatens WY. food security

Proposed bill aims to pay farmers back for disrupted grants

IL hopes to continue clean energy boom with new bill

Texans brace for financial impact of trade wars

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

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

Pesticide 'Cancer Gag Act' dead in Iowa

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

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