Hundreds of rural hospitals are 'vulnerable to closure' and 46% operate in the red, new report finds
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
9h ago
Many rural hospitals have dropped some type of inpatient care to save money. (Adobe Stock photo) Despite some limited improvements, the newest statistics on rural hospitals from healthcare advisory firm Chartis are startling. "The group’s latest report on the state of rural healthcare providers found that 46% of rural hospitals are operating at a loss while 432 hospitals are deemed 'vulnerable to closure,'" reports Dave Muoio for Fierce Healthcare. The 2024 report from Chartis "outlined 50% of rural hospitals operating in the red and 418 hospitals at risk of closure." A rural hospita ..read more
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A whirlwind of policy changes and funding cuts have left rural America on shaky ground: 'Billions are at stake.'
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
9h ago
As USDA funds are frozen, U.S. farmers face uncertainty and possible big financial losses. (Adobe Stock photo) A whirlwind of policy changes from the Trump Administration has left many people in rural America unprepared to navigate agricultural spending cuts that target farming income and investments. "Billions of dollars in funding are at stake," report Linda Qiu and Julie Creswell of The New York Times. "One executive order targets. . . money for farmers to conserve soil and water and to complete energy projects. Other directives touch on grants to states and producers. Another tem ..read more
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Thousands of federal agriculture probationary employees terminated. USDA warns, 'This is just the beginning.'
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
9h ago
(Photo by Chris Clayton, DTN) In an effort described as "optimization," thousands of Department of Agriculture employees were fired last week, reports Chris Clayton of Progressive Farmer. "The job cuts were part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reduce the federal workforce. The administration moved to terminate most of the estimated 200,000 probationary employees." Federal firefighters escaped termination, but "3,400 Forest Service employees were let go," Clayton writes. In response to questions, the USDA released a statement that "explained the cuts as part of a p ..read more
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Educators work to calm students' and parents' fears about immigration raids by sharing policies and ICE limitations
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
9h ago
Children from Africa, Latin America and Asia are part of the U.S. unauthorized population. (Adobe photo) U.S. educators, students and parents live with anxiety and fear that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will raid their schools or homes since the "Trump administration reversed a longstanding policy that directed immigration agents to avoid sensitive locations such as schools, churches and hospitals," reports Ray Sanchez of CNN News. The change has left teachers "scrambling for guidance on what to do if agents appear and how to reassure worried students and parents." Acti ..read more
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Fire departments can't get trucks or truck repair parts because the industry has consolidated to make big profits
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
9h ago
Fire departments can wait years for a new fire truck. (Adobe Stock photo) Firefighters and fire trucks are the backbone of fire protection in most communities, but over time, keeping fire trucks repaired or buying replacements has become increasingly difficult. "Fire engine manufacturing is now largely controlled by three companies," report Mike Baker, Maureen Farrell and Serge F. Kovaleski of The Wall Street Journal. "Some departments have waited years for replacement vehicles while hunting the internet for parts to keep their older rigs going." Wall Street executives sought to elim ..read more
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Republicans in Congress work to save $1.8 billion in U.S.-grown food aid from the USAID graveyard
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
4d ago
Closure of some U.S. food-aid programs could hurt farmers. (Adobe Stock photo) Republicans are working to rescue the Food for Peace program from the USAID-closing abyss by moving its oversight to the Department of Agriculture. "Congressional Republicans from farm states are trying to save a $1.8 billion U.S. food-aid program that purchases U.S.-grown food and is administered by USAID, which has been largely closed by the Trump administration," reports Kristina Peterson of The Wall Street Journal. The GOP group introduced legislation to save the 70-year-old program that works to comb ..read more
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New bird flu mutation found in dairy cows worries experts. The variant causes more severe human infections.
The Rural Blog
by Liberty Gilbert
4d ago
Dairy cows have contracted a new variant of bird flu. (Unsplash photo) Two people contracted severe bird flu infections from a new H5N1 variant known as D1.1. In one case, the man died; the other person is still in recovery. Experts are concerned about this variant emerging in cattle and what its severity might mean for livestock and humans, reports McKenzie Prillaman at ScienceNews. “Cattle in Nevada tested positive for the H5N1 viral variant D1.1, which has been circulating in poultry and wild birds.” the Department of Agriculture announced Feb. 5. This recent discovery is the firs ..read more
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Whole milk consumption shakes up U.S. dairy expectations -- only the second increase since the 1970s
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
4d ago
Whole milk sales increased 3.2% in 2024. (Adobe Stock photo) After two decades of soy, almond and oat milk sipping away at cow milk dominance, U.S. consumers have turned back to an old staple. "In 2024, U.S. consumption of whole milk rose by 3.2 % — only the second increase since the 1970s," reports Julia Moskin of The New York Times. "Consumption of plant milk fell 5.9%." U.S. consumers' views about where cow milk fits in -- or doesn't -- in the American diet have vacillated from a nutritional staple to one of many "milk" options. Last year's sales increase marks another shift. Mark ..read more
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Q & A: Carnegie Foundation president shares how changes in education could benefit rural students and places
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
4d ago
Tim Knowles wants to shift American education in ways that could help rural communities. (Courtesy photo via the Yonder) Every president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching is asked to cast themselves into the future and make decisions about what will happen in five or even 10 years. For Tim Knowles, the foundation's 10th president, that means rethinking our educational systems and creating ways to develop rural talent and smaller-community success. An edited version of Knowles Q & A with Nick Fourienzos of The Daily Yonder is shared below. Fouriezos: How d ..read more
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New research shows rural Americans -- especially men -- have shorter lifespans than their urban counterparts
The Rural Blog
by Heather Close
4d ago
Rural living can be hardest on men. They can expect to live two fewer years than urban men. (Adobe Stock photo) Life in rural America is often idealized as a healthier, more authentic way to live, but the truth for many rural residents is that rural living can be hard enough to shorten life spans. "Rural Americans – particularly men – are expected to live significantly shorter, less healthy lives than their urban counterparts," write Elizabeth Currid-Halkett, Bryan Tysinger and Jack Chapel for The Conversation. "According to our research, published in the Journal of Rural Health, a 6 ..read more
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