Locally sourced, collaborative reporting from and for rural America.
Recalling and name-calling: The political fight fracturing a southeast Nebraska community
Voters in Brownville recalled two members of the village board. Then the board created two new jobs and hired the ousted members.
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North Carolina counties losing elections directors. Concerns point to lousy pay, voter hostility.
Seven counties in the state have lost elections directors since January. More than 50, including many in rural areas, have left in last 5 years. State leaders say they’re worried about loss of knowledge.
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The ranching industry’s toxic grass problem
A quarter of the nation’s cattle eat tall fescue, a non-native grass that slowly poisons them. But ranchers have been hesitant to embrace two very different solutions.
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Hydroelectric plant in Southeast Oklahoma is a no-go for now, feds say
A power company is looking to build a hydroelectric power plant on the Kiamichi River near the small town of Talihina, but federal regulators have nipped the project in the bud.
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Most Wildfires Are Put Out Quickly. But That’s Causing More Severe Fires
March 26, 2024
With conventional fire suppression, the average fire size will increase faster as the planet warms.
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With advancements, EVs could make more sense for rural North Dakota
March 25, 2024
Infrastructure shortcomings, like the lack of fast-charging stations, will partly be addressed through funding from the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
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Maine to open two public defender offices in rural counties
March 22, 2024
The new law is the latest effort to address the state’s ongoing failure to provide lawyers to poor defendants.
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Tribes call for apology from SD governor
March 22, 2024
During two recent town hall meetings, Gov. Kristi Noem accused tribal council members of “standing in her way,” failing youth and benefiting from drug cartel operations.
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How plans for a West Texas drag show turned into a war over the First Amendment
March 22, 2024
In the Panhandle, a largely rural region that remains staunchly conservative, LGBTQ+ Texans say political and legal battles overlook their humanity.
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High need, low accessibility: Oglethorpe County residents face barriers to mental health care, even as teens and schools are willing to have the conversation
March 21, 2024
With 15,469 residents spread over 442 square miles, Oglethorpe County — like other rural communities — struggles to attract health care providers.
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The massive copper mine that could test the limits of religious freedom
March 19, 2024
To fight climate change, the world needs copper. The third largest deposit on the planet is in Arizona, a site the San Carlos Apache say is “like Mount Sinai to us.”
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GRAPHIC: Ports in New Orleans and the Northwest account for most agricultural export traffic
March 19, 2024
Around 20% of U.S. agriculture products are exported to other countries, making the nation’s seaports a critical part of the crop and meat industries.
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Mushroom season comes early to Oklahoma
March 19, 2024
Yellow morels are prized for their rich, nutty taste — they sell for $20 a pound. These honeycomb-looking mushrooms usually spring up in forested areas starting in March or April. But this year, Oklahoma foragers started finding morel mushrooms in late February — about a month ahead of schedule.