Report: U.S. plants release a toxic herbicide into the air that more than 70 countries have banned

Waynesboro, Mississippi, in Wayne County is home to a 
 paraquat processing facility. (Photo by D. Nolan, The Lens)

Despite being banned in more than 70 countries, the toxic herbicide paraquat, which has been linked to Parkinson's disease, is regularly released into the air from facilities in the southern U.S., reports Delaney Nolan of The Lens. Currently, Parkinson's is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in the world.

The number of Parkinson's disease deaths in rural Wayne County, Mississippi, serves as an example. The county is home to the largest paraquat-emitting facility in the U.S., and was ranked in the top 7% for national Parkinson's deaths between 2018 and 2024, Nolan writes.

Although a significant body of research has linked the herbicide to Parkinson's disease deaths among residents living near paraquat plants, farms or golf courses that use it, the herbicide's popularity is growing. Nolan explains, "About 35% of large commercial farms in the U.S. now use paraquat to kill weeds and dry up crops for harvest, often soybean, corn and cotton."

American factories don't directly produce paraquat; they import paraquat concentrate. Oftentimes, the imported concentrate is "trucked up along the Mississippi River, reformulated and packaged at a [U.S.] facility," Nolan explains. And while paraquat is considered a toxic chemical in the U.S., it is not "a federally regulated air pollutant – states have the authority to regulate it but generally do not set maximum emissions standards."

A "mass of research, including a rigorous 2024 study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, has repeatedly affirmed the dangers of paraquat," Nolan adds. "When a person inhales paraquat, it travels into the brain, killing the neurons which produce dopamine, which in some people can lead to Parkinson’s. . . . Even people who live near fields where paraquat is sprayed have increased risks of Parkinson’s and thyroid cancer."

Millions of children in U.S. live in a home with an unlocked and loaded firearm

Rural residents are more likely to own firearms than
their urban counterparts. (Photo by S. Bauman, Unsplash)

Among the roughly 32 million children in the U.S. who live in households with firearms, almost 7 million are in a home that has "at least one gun that's unlocked and loaded, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open," reports Rhitu Chatterjee of NPR. The study's tally may be more concerning for rural Americans, who are 24% more likely to own a gun than their urban counterparts.

Study results highlighted how many children have easy access to a loaded gun. Dr. Chethan Sathya, a pediatric surgeon who works to prevent gun violence, told NPR, "Many of these families don't know the risk of having that gun not being locked up."

To uncover how households with firearms were storing their weapons, the study "surveyed 900 parents of kids under 18 who own guns," Chatterjee writes. "Nearly 35% said they stored them in the safest way possible — unloaded and locked up. But 21% had at least one firearm in the house unlocked and loaded — the least safe way possible to store a gun."

Children's ages seemed to be a factor among some survey respondents. Chatterjee explains, "Parents of children under 13 were more likely to keep their firearms unloaded and locked away compared to parents of teenagers."

Matthew Miller, who led the study, pointed out that "teenagers are more likely to commit suicide, and school shooters are also more likely to be in their teens than younger kids," Chatterjee adds. "So parents of teenagers should take just as much care to unload and lock away their firearms."

Sadly, many American families have lost children to gun deaths that may have been prevented if the firearm had been locked up or at least not loaded. Chatterjee reports, "Since 2020, firearms have been the leading cause of death among children and teens." While nearly 3 in 5 child firearm deaths were due to gun assaults, almost a third were suicides.

Opinion: Congress needs to act before the U.S. Postal Service goes 'bust' because of 'outdated constraints'

The USPS does 'what no other business would do.'
(Photo by Victória Kubiaki, Unsplash)

The U.S. Postal Service does what no private company can: It delivers mail 6 days a week to every address in the country at an affordable price. But the business model the USPS has been mandated to use is outdated and has plunged the delivery titan into insurmountable debt. Should the USPS be allowed to go bust? No. Congress needs to address USPS structural problems now, writes The Wall Street Journal editorial board.

Last week, the USPS "reported a $2 billion quarterly loss. 'We are in a cash crisis,' Postmaster General David Steiner said. 'We require urgent Congressional action to expand our borrowing authority and to address outdated constraints on the organization," the board writes. "The important part for lawmakers to hear is that last part."

The USPS business model was implemented when letter delivery and profits were reliable sources of revenue. Since the advent of email, Evites and online communications for almost every business need, the demand for "snail mail" sank, and with it, USPS profits. They write, "Last year the USPS handled 108.7 billion pieces, down 49% from a peak of 213.1 billion in 2006. A majority of what’s left is euphemistically categorized as 'marketing mail.'"

When Steiner testified to the House about the state of USPS finances and its inability to address losses without sizable shifts in its business model, he candidly pointed out the massive demands and their corresponding expenses that the USPS undertakes every day, saying, "We deliver from the tip of Puerto Rico to the tip of Alaska for 78 cents. That’s a distance of 5,000 miles.”

When addressing the House, the "Postmaster laid out two paths: 'First would be to remove the mandates that ensure the Postal Service loses money,'" the board writes, "Second, 'public service reimbursement,' meaning 'payment by Congress in return for the Postal Service doing what no other business would do.'" The editorial board writes, "Start with option one, and let Steiner run the business like a business."

Rye is the little grain that could, and it's helping to protect land and increase cash for farmers

While San Luis Valley makes up only a tiny percentage of Colorado's population, the region
contributes roughly 39% of the state's total agricultural economy. (Rye Resurgence Project image)

For farmers grappling with water scarcity in southwestern Colorado, growing rye offers multiple benefits, reports Ilana Newman of The Daily Yonder. "Rye is having something of a renaissance in the San Luis Valley, thanks to its remarkable drought-tolerance, and two women behind the Rye Resurgence Project."

Growing and promoting rye as an aquifer-saving initiative for the San Luis Valley began with Sarah Jones, Heather Dutton and a major dust storm that hit the Valley in 2023, Newman explains. Both women had already started using rye as a cover crop to protect the soil over the winter months, but traditionally, many farms left their soil bare.

After the 2023 duststorm ripped precious topsoil from farmland across the Valley, farmers began looking for ways to save their topsoil. Jones and Dutton offered growing rye as a viable solution, and the Rye Resurgence Project began to take shape.

While rye is a hearty cereal grain similar to wheat and barley, it requires "significantly less water than other common rotational winter crops," Newman explains. For instance, barley requires 18-20 inches of water per acre, while rye requires a mere 10-12 inches. "That’s a huge water savings when multiplied across a standard 120-acre field."

But to get more farmers to plant rye as a cash and cover crop, Dutton and Jones needed businesses to purchase it, which meant overcoming rye's reputation as a strong-flavored grain. "To that end, Jones said they had to do some 'rye reputation rehabilitation,'" Newman reports. 

In fact, rye's flavor is fairly mild, and it "works well in most baked goods, from brownies to pizza to bread," Newman reports. "It also has lower gluten and higher fiber content than wheat."

To date, the project has realized tangible successes. "Heather Dutton said that farmers are now growing 3,000-5,000 acres of rye a year," Newman writes. "And the project has helped them sell 771,409 pounds of rye at an average rate of $0.62 per pound, more than they were aiming for initially." 

Dutton and Jones are working to develop partnerships with bakeries, distilleries, and millers who will purchase rye or use rye flour, Newman reports. They are also sharing the story of how planting or purchasing rye can help the entire state support water conservation and its farming communities. To see a snip of their in-production documentary, click here. 

Survey: Seniors, rural residents and renters face the 'devasting impact' of inflation

Rising gas and grocery costs hit lower-income Americans 
harder. (Photo by rc.xyz NFT gallery, Unsplash)

Even before the Iran war, seniors and rural families were struggling to afford basics such as groceries, gas and rent. With the Strait of Hormuz closure, more Americans are under financial strain, but the higher costs hit lower-income people and families harder.

Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey shows "certain groups of Americans are falling behind financially, with seniors, renters and people living outside metropolitan areas facing particular hardships," reports Stephanie Liebergen of Scripps News. The survey gathers demographic, social and economic data on Americans over five-year time spans.

Between 2020 and 2024, the "poverty rate for seniors rose in more than 800 counties when compared to the five years before, according to the survey," Liebergen writes. "Inflation wiped out almost all income gains for older Americans during this period."

Rural Americans' finances also lost ground because of lower or stagnant wages. Liebergen explains, "The median household income in large metro areas is 30% higher compared to households in rural communities, according to the new data." Renters, who tend to fall into lower income brackets, also got pinched. 

Eric Pachman, a data expert who analyzed the survey's results, told Scripps, "What the story really is, and what's really hitting me very hard right now, is the devastating impact of inflation on people at lower income brackets."

The survey does not include details on the 2025 tariff wars and the 2026 Iran war. Those two impacts have driven inflation higher, leaving more Americans spending a higher percentage of their incomes on gas and groceries.

Consumer prices across the U.S. rose at the "fastest rate since May 2023 last month, as sharp increases in energy costs caused by the war in the Middle East," reports Lydia DePillis of The Wall Street Journal. "Average gasoline prices are above $4.50 per gallon, while diesel prices have nearly doubled. . . .Grocery costs rose 2.9% since last April."

Nominations sought for the Al Smith Award for public service through community journalism

Al Smith

The Bluegrass Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky seek nominations for the Al Smith Award by Monday, June 1. This honor is given annually for public service through community journalism over a lifetime by a native or resident of Kentucky, or someone who has spent a significant portion of his or her career in the state.

The award is named for its first recipient: Albert P. Smith Jr., who owned weekly newspapers in Kentucky and Tennessee and was the founding host of KET’s “Comment on Kentucky” and the main co-founder of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues. He was chairman emeritus of its national advisory board when he died in 2021.

The award is based on news coverage and editorial leadership that serve community needs. Preference is given to journalists in smaller markets, to recognize restrictions that market size can place on the ability to provide outstanding public service through journalism. If a publisher or station owner is nominated, the judges may consider his or her civic service and the successful management of conflicts that can arise between journalistic, managerial, ownership, and civic roles.

Past winners of the Al Smith Award have been Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader; Bobbie Foust, a longtime fixture in West Kentucky journalism; Ben Gish and Sam Adams of The Mountain Eagle; Chris and Allison Evans of The Crittenden Press; WKMS News at Murray State University; Becky Barnes of the Cynthiana Democrat; David Thompson of the Kentucky Press Association; Stevie Lowery of The Lebanon Enterprise; Ryan Craig of the Todd County Standard and his late uncle Larry Craig of the Green River Republican; Sharon Burton of the Adair County Community Voice and The Farmer’s Pride; the late Carl West of The State Journal; Bill Bishop and Julie Ardery of the Daily Yonder; John Nelson and the late Max Heath of Landmark Community Newspapers, Jennifer P. Brown of Hoptown Chronicle; and Smith. More details can be found here. 

The award will be presented at the annual Al Smith Awards Dinner Oct. 22 at The Campbell House in Lexington. Nominations, supporting letters and sufficient documentation should be sent by Monday, June 1 to:

Al Smith Award SPJ Bluegrass Chapter 
123 West Todd Street 
Frankfort KY 40601-2825

Nominations may also be sent electronically to al.cross@uky.edu. For more information about Al Smith and the award see www.ruraljournalism.org or call Bluegrass SPJ Secretary Al Cross at 502-682-2848.

Report: 'Deaths of despair' decrease across the country, but Appalachia still sees the highest mortality rates

Opioids are one of the biggest drivers of deaths of despair
in Appalachia. (Photo by S. Pollio, Unsplash) 

The U.S. mortality rate from "deaths of despair" has declined by 5%, according to a report by researchers at the University of Chicago and East Tennessee State University. The decrease means such deaths, which are commonly linked to drug overdoses, alcohol and suicide, are hovering near pre-pandemic levels, reports Liz Carey of The Daily Yonder. 

Despite the encouraging news, deaths of despair remain disproportionately high in Appalachia, where drug overdoses are considered the "primary factor driving the difference."

Michael Meit, the director of the Center for Rural Health and Research at ETSU and a co-author of the report, believes the reasons for the higher rate of deaths of despair in Appalachia aren't fully known. He told Carey, "I think there are a lot of complexities to it, and I don’t know if we know all of the answers."

The new report is the "latest update to research started in 2017," Carey explains. "At that time, Appalachian mortality from overdose, alcohol, and suicide was 44% higher than it was in the rest of the country." Despite a decreasing mortality rate since 2017, the number of Appalachian deaths of despair remains stubbornly higher than the rest of the U.S.

The decrease in the number of deaths by despair isn't happening evenly across all age groups. Millennials are a generation that has lost thousands of lives to deaths of despair. Carey reports, "According to a report by Trust for America’s Health, the largest number of deaths from overdoses, alcohol, and suicide in the 25- to 44-year-old demographic has steadily increased since 2017." 

The report singled out opioid addictions and overdoses as the biggest driver of Millennial deaths of despair. As a result of those findings, the Appalachian Regional Commission awarded "nearly $11.5 million in 2023 to nearly 40 projects across the region to address the impact of substance use disorder," Carey writes.

But regional progress is slow. Meit told the Yonder, "You don’t necessarily see a region-wide impact, but you see really strong community-based efforts that impact those communities. And as you reduce numbers in any given community, that has a broader impact across the region.”

Small towns use simple fix that starts with private funds to keep high schoolers out of dead-end jobs

rootED advisors help rural students navigate educational
and employment complexities. (rootED photo)

A new program launched by billionaire investment banker Byron Trott is helping students at small-town high schools develop and execute after-high-school plans that tap into their interests and keep them out of "dead-end jobs," reports Lauren Weber of The Wall Street Journal. 

Called rootEd Alliance, Trott's program "has placed advisers in schools across seven states to fill a gaping void: 17- and 18-year-olds are expected to navigate an astoundingly complex labor market, often with little or no explicit guidance," Weber explains. 

The majority of the 280 schools that rootEd partners with "already have guidance counselors," Weber writes. But many are "overstretched with basics like sorting students’ schedules and managing the life emergencies that hit students all too often."

The program partners with more than 1,500 national
and local businesses. (rootED photo) 

By planting an advisor dedicated to providing career guidance and opportunities, students and their post-high school plans get more attention. According to Weber, that kind of focused planning is particularly important for rural students who are traditionally exposed to fewer career options and role models. Root advisers also help employers connect with potential employees to fill skilled-labor shortages. 

Through its advisors, rootED also aims to help students avoid poverty by training for careers with solid pay and promotion possibilities. Weber reports, "Once a school is staffed with a rootEd adviser, students are 54% less likely to wind up in low-skill, low-paying jobs than before." 

At schools where a rootEd advisor is working, students are more likely to pursue higher education. Weber adds, But advisors are "agnostic on whether students choose college, military service, employment or trade school," Weber reports. "The goal is for each senior to have a Plan A and ideally a Plan B." To help students develop those plans, advisors take students to different trade schools and colleges and promote scholarships.

When reporters explore National Parks, stories and trails abound

A hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from California through Oregon to Washington state. (Photo by Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management, Flickr Creative Commons via SEJ)

For journalists looking for a break from the grind, taking a National Park excursion might be an assignment worth requesting. "Tell your editor you have to do it for work," writes Joseph A. Davis for the Society of Environmental Journalists. "It doesn’t have to be a long hike, necessarily. But it’s a good way to meet other hikers to interview."

Before setting out, it's worth considering which kind of park your audience would find most interesting. Davis explains, "There are four kinds of national trails: scenic, historic, recreational and side trails. To be officially named historic or scenic, a specific stretch of trail must be designated by Congress."

Besides intriguing people stories that can be gleaned while hiking over hill and dale, regaling readers with the history of America's National Park system, which includes 1,300 trails, also provides good storytelling fodder. "It goes back to Daniel Boone, Henry David Thoreau and John Muir, really. Read Thoreau’s essay, 'Walking.'" Davis adds. "President Lyndon B. Johnson gets big credit for the enactment in 1968 of the National Trails System Act."

For community journalists ready to don their hiking gear, sunscreen and EPA-approved insect repellent, an adventure and several stories await. Story ideas by Davis are shared below:

• The system includes some long-distance trails, like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. Spend some time on the trails (or at a good shelter). Talk to day hikers and through hikers. Explore their culture. You may need to get a trail name.
• The system doesn’t just include hiking trails. Some are also meant for biking, paddling or historical tourism. Talk to biking and paddling groups about their experiences. The Harriet Tubman trail network on Maryland’s Eastern Shore includes a fine museum on the Underground Railroad.
• Trails are often maintained by local or regional volunteer groups, like the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. Attend one of their maintenance events and talk to volunteers and organizers. Bring a shovel.
• Where the trail crosses a major road, there may be a handy grocery or ice cream store. Hang out there during the heat of the day and talk to hikers coming in. 
• Not all the great trails are in the system. Find the ones near you. For example, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa pulls in riders from all over the United States. It’s hot in July, but there’s great support. 
• The Anacostia Water Trail is an officially designated part of the trail system. It’s short. But if you look … beyond, you will find it’s just one of many other (often nonfederal) water trails, which are a great way of exploring stories in your ecoregion.

Davis suggests these resources:

• Rails to Trails Conservancy: A nonprofit membership group that advocates conversion of abandoned rail rights of way into hiker and biker trails.
• American Hiking Society: A nonprofit membership and advocacy group whose members like to hike.
• National Park Service: The main agency coordinating the National Trails System. It has maps.
• State parks and recreation agencies: These usually manage state trails. Find yours in this directory.

Flora & Fauna: Wildlife and people agree on best mating sounds; eat your oats; 5.6 million bees found underground

Male zebra finch calls attract mates. Female zebra finches and human study participants
agreed on which males had the best calls. (Photo by Raina Fan via The Conversation)

When researchers compared which animal sounds, such as bird calls, frog croaks or cricket chirps, wildlife seemed to like best alongside which ones people preferred, the "results were striking," writes animal behavior expert Logan S. James for The Conversation. "Across our dataset, including animals separated from human beings by hundreds of millions of years of evolution, people tended to agree with the animals about which sound was more pleasant. . . . People particularly agreed with animals when it came to what researchers call 'adornments': the extra trills, chucks, clicks and flourishes that animals can add to their calls. These sounds were more appealing to both animal and human listeners alike." 

When a snow avalanche pummels an outdoor recreationist's spot, there's little people can do to find those buried under heavy piles of snow. That's when avalanche dogs are called to the scene. "Dogs play an essential role when an avalanche strikes," reports Christine Chung of The New York Times. "Their powerful noses help guide rescuers to people buried in the snow, saving critical moments that can mean life or death." Potential avalanche dogs are chosen for a very specific set of interests, skills and breed stamina, and their training starts when they're just a few months old. For avalanche dog handlers, training takes years. Click here to read about "Baggs," a golden retriever puppy from Wyoming who was once the runt of her litter. She's now a rockstar avalanche-dog-in-training.

Beta-glucan is what makes oats especially 
healthy. (Photo by Roman Matveev, Unsplash)

Among all the whole grains commonly eaten, oats may offer the most benefits. "Many studies have found that oats lower LDL cholesterol, or the 'bad' cholesterol that increases your risk of heart attack and stroke," reports Simar Bajaj of The New York Times. "Much of this effect comes from beta-glucan, a type of fiber that thickens the contents inside the gut, trapping cholesterol-rich bile acids and carrying them out of the body." Oat fiber also helps people maintain normal blood sugar levels, which "can be particularly beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes."

What's not to like about bitter greens? For many people, pretty much everything, because bitter and astringent foods taste gross. But humans didn't always avoid bitter fruits and vegetables; in fact, they were once a regular part of our ancestors' diet. "Much of the produce on grocery store shelves has grown mild or sweet in flavor, designed to appeal to a mass consumer palate," reports Joti Heir of Offrange. "That sits in high contrast to the complex tastes of wild, ancestral crops." Emerging food science reveals how bitter foods contain "compounds that provide a small challenge to the brain, and with that, activate neural pathways that result in enhanced cognition." There's even research "showing the potential of using bitter compounds to treat Alzheimer’s Disease."

Rebounding salmon populations along the Golden Coast are good news for commercial fishing operations and seafood lovers. "Federal fishery managers voted to open waters off the coast of California to commercial salmon fishing for the first time since 2022," reports Sophie Austine of The Associated Press. More recent drought-ending wet winters have helped salmon populations recover. "The federal council has said forecasts for Chinook and coho salmon off the West Coast look promising this year, though the season will open with some restrictions."

 

Miner bees are important pollinators that live in 
underground nests. (Photo by C. Lewallen via USFS)

Bees are commonly known for their constant busyness and for living in outdoor hives. But in fact, 70% of native bees don't live in outdoor hives; they live in underground nests. Researchers recently discovered 5.6 million burrowing bees "revealing just how abundant some understudied pollinators are," reports Margherita Bassi for Smithsonian magazine. "The team estimated that in 2023, between 3.1 million and 8 million of the bees emerged from the ground in the Ithaca cemetery, with the average estimate being 5.56 million. For comparison, Manhattan’s population is about 1.7 million people." 

A small town in Wisconsin pushes out a planned data center project

Organizers participated in a day of action in Menomonie
 in December. (Photo by K. Gregerson via Next City)

Three thousand years ago, it was David the shepherd boy vs. Goliath the Philistine giant. A 21st-century version of the proverbial battle goes something like this: Menomonie, Wisconsin. pop. 16,843 vs. Balloonist, LLC and its undisclosed tech-giant backer. Spoiler: Menomonie wins.

When Menomonie residents discovered their city council had already entered into closed-door talks with Balloonist last July, they had to hustle to get organized. Marianne Dhenin of Next City reports, "It was only weeks before the city council voted to annex and rezone the land to move the project forward. Organizers were fighting an uphill battle."

In the course of their fight to keep the $1.6 billion data center from spreading across 320 acres of farmland near the edge of town, Menomonie residents tapped into "grassroots community organizing and support from a growing statewide coalition," Dhenin writes. As they learned how to push Balloonist out of their town, residents created a toolkit for other small towns facing unwanted hyperscale data center proposals.

Menomonie residents who opposed the project "took to social media and the streets to raise the alarm about the data center proposal and organize community members," Dhenin explains. "They met to share information, staged demonstrations, and began attending city council meetings in growing numbers. . . . By September 2025, there were over 10,000 Menomonie residents and allies in a Stop the Menomonie Data Center Facebook group."

The town's resistance was so intense that Mayor Randy Knaack "announced at a Sept. 22 city council meeting that he had notified Balloonist that the city would not be moving forward with a development agreement," Dhenin reports. In January, the Menomonie City Council "voted unanimously to place additional regulations on data center projects."

Medicare offers pilot program that covers GLP-1 weight loss drugs

A recent Medicare change offers older Americans with obesity concerns a chance at affordable and possibly life-changing weight-loss drugs. The shift is particularly good news for rural Americans, who tend to be older and have higher obesity rates than their urban counterparts.

Beginning in July, Medicare beneficiaries "may be able to get a GLP-1 prescription for weight loss for $50 a month," reports Jackie Fortiér of KFF Health News. "It’s a notable shift for Medicare, which has long been barred from covering weight loss treatments."

Although weight-loss drugs, such as Zepbound and Wegovy, offer chronically overweight patients a way to lose weight that may cause other health issues, their prices have often put them out of reach for many Medicare patients. Fortiér explains, "They’re available in injection or pill form. Even with discounts, current cash prices typically range from $149 to $699 per month."

In an effort to address Medicare enrollees' obesity-driven health problems and budgetary restraints, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a "short-term pilot program known as the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. It will run from July 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027," Fortiér writes. "It’s meant to 'bridge' the gap before a longer-term program that might — or might not — begin in 2028."

The pilot program will cover most GLP-1 weight loss medicines, including the pill and injectable formulations of Wegovy, the KwikPen formulation of Zepbound, and the Foundayo pill, Fortiér reports.

Medicare enrollees should know that Medicare's GLP-1 Bridge is "not your typical Medicare benefit. Even though Part D enrollment is required, the Bridge program itself works differently," Fortiér explains. "Instead of going through your regular Part D plan, you will need prior authorization" which your doctor can send to CMS for processing. Physicians prescribing GLP-1 to Medicare patients don't have to be, or become, registered Medicare providers.

Read all the requirements and rules for Medicare GLP-1 Bridge coverage here.

Severe weather and wildfires have home insurance rates climbing in states where rates had been cheaper

Hailstorms in Iowa have caused home insurance
rates to spike. (Photo by Champers Fu, Unsplash)

After a decade of severe weather and wildfires across multiple regions of the U.S., many home insurance companies have responded by increasing their rates to reflect emerging risks. 

Home insurance rate increases can be particularly onerous for rural residents who already pay more because of their distance from emergency and fire services.

In the past, traditional home insurance policies were more expensive in coastal states, where hurricanes could devastate hundreds of homes in a single season. Lower rates were reserved for inland states considered less likely to be hit by Mother Nature's seasonal wrath.

But that old playbook has been swept aside, report Carl Churchill, Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, Jean Eaglesham and Jason French of The Wall Street Journal. "Now, hailstorms, wildfires and wind damage are hammering places once thought to be shielded from the worst rate hikes."

In Iowa, where hailstorms have become more common, home-insurance rates have "increased 91% since 2021: In Florida, despite the hurricane risk, the increase is 35%," the Journal reports.

Before buying a new home, it can be worthwhile to see how much it will cost to insure. "Home-insurance premiums can vary dramatically, depending on where you live: Crossing a county line can more than double the cost," the Journal reports.

In high-risk areas of the country, finding an insurance company willing to issue coverage is difficult, and policy prices have skyrocketed. A resident in Braue of Orinda, Calif., said his "annual premium had shot up to $16,496, more than nine times his premium of less than two years ago," the Journal reports. "The reason? Wildfires, which are scorching homeowners’ chances of cheaper insurance in many states."

How states regulate home insurance rates also impacts home policy pricing. According to the article, "North Carolina is one of 11 states that allow regulators to veto requested home-insurance rate increases. . . .Cross over from Cherokee County, North Carolina, to Monroe County, Tennessee, and the typical rate jumps more than 50%." Despite similar risk assessments, the state with regulatory controls has lower rates.

How the war in Iran is altering planting plans for American farmers

Urea is a one of the most popular nitrogen fertilizers for 
corn crops in the U.S. (DTN graph)

For farmers, the war in Iran has meant changing crop rotations, using less fertilizer, investing in what is profitable, and praying costs go back down by 2027, reports Patrick Thomas of The Wall Street Journal. For his report, Thomas profiled three farmers who are responding to the challenges. 

In Iowa, farmer Dave Walton has opted to plant more soybeans than corn to avoid soaring fertilizer costs resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Thomas explains, "Soybeans require less fertilizer to grow than corn. . . . Walton typically splits his land for half to grow corn and half for soybeans. This year, he is shifting to a 60/40 split." Walton still plans to plant all of his 1,000 acres, but he figures his costs so far in 2026 are up 20%.

Timothy Jones also raises cattle.
(T. Jones photo via WSJ)

Timothy Jones typically grows corn and beans, alongside raising beef cattle on his Kentucky farm. "This year, he is planning to put about 20% of his corn crop into producing hay to help feed his growing cattle herd, which is making money, and an extra 15% into more soybeans to cut fertilizer costs," Thomas adds. Since corn needs far more urea fertilizer to provide nitrogen than soybeans, that switch will save Jones money. "Urea was about $520 a ton in January, he said; now it is more than $850 a ton."

Greg Amundson, a row-crop farmer with 3,000 acres in North Dakota, isn't changing his crop choices, but he does plan to use far less fertilizer. Thomas writes, "Because of rising crop-seed costs, he is cutting back on the number of seeds he plants per acre. He is hoping that improvements in how the seeds perform when planted will compensate for using less of them."

Quick hits: No.1 favorite ice cream; ousting rogue drones; big find by NASA's Curiosity Rover; some good news

Farm Journal graphic, from IDFA National Ice Cream & Frozen Novelty Trends Survey

It's dark and rich and back in the top spot. "Chocolate is back at No. 1 among U.S. ice cream flavors, with butter pecan gaining ground and richer options continuing to rise in popularity, according to a new survey," reports Taylor Leach of Farm Journal. "After briefly ceding the No. 1 spot to vanilla in 2024, chocolate has reclaimed the lead in 2026." Michael Dykes, the International Dairy Foods Association president, told Leach, "Americans’ love for ice cream is as strong as ever." 

The Conversation graph, from Energy Information Administration data

After weeks of surging gasoline prices with no end in sight, some Americans might be wondering what all goes into the cost of a gallon of gas. Robert I. Harris, an energy economist, breaks down gas prices for The Conversation. "The price of a retail gallon of gas is the sum of four things: the cost of crude oil, refining, distribution and marketing, and taxes. . . . In nationwide figures from January 2026, crude oil accounted for about 51% of the pump price, refining roughly 20%, distribution and marketing about 11% and taxes about 18%." Harris adds that since crude oil is the biggest component of gasoline, when its price spikes on the global market, gas prices go up. 

Indiana farmers didn't appreciate drones hovering over
their livestock. (Photo by B. Dittrich, Unsplash)

In rural Indiana, some farming families are "leaning on the law" to keep unwanted drones off their lands, reports Greg Weaver of Indiana Capital Chronicle. "Hoosiers in rural Indiana say drones are unlawfully tracking deer for poachers, inexplicably flying around chicken coops, and increasingly making people uneasy." Although many Indiana farmers considered shooting down the snooping drones, they learned that wasn't legal. "So they’ve found other ways to combat the rascals. . . . Farmers fearful that drones might be spreading disease among livestock recently persuaded the Indiana General Assembly to pass a law that prohibits the devices from being used to harm or harass farm animals."

When it comes to serving up energy for hungry grids in rural Virginia, sometimes smaller is better. "The Blue Ridge Power Agency, which serves a string of nonprofit utilities in central and western Virginia, is set to go live this summer with a collection of five batteries of about 5 megawatts each," reports Elizabeth Ouzts of Canary Media. By comparison, larger batteries are typically at least 10 megawatts; however, both sizes aim to store energy when it's less expensive and plentiful. Blue Ridge Power's new batteries will "help two rural electric co-ops and the city of Salem’s utility save money" by releasing battery-stored energy "when high demand on the grid spikes prices." Unlike their larger cousins, smaller batteries are cheaper and faster to build.

NASA's Curiousity Rover spends its time exploring Mars and 
sending information back to Earthlings. (NASA image)

It's hard to be more remote than exploring for signs of life on Mars, which is what the Curiosity Rover spends its time doing. "New research published in Nature Communications details Curiosity’s latest find — never-before-seen organic compounds, including one with a structure similar to DNA precursors," reports Jake Currie for Nautilus. NASA geologist Amy Williams told Nautilus, "The same stuff that rained down on Mars from meteorites is what rained down on Earth, and it probably provided the building blocks for life as we know it on our planet." To send all those compounds back to Earth, Curiosity had to conduct a full orchestra of experiments. The Curiosity also goes by "the little robotic chemist that could."

Suicide deaths among younger Americans dipped by 11% from earlier projections. 
(Graph by Vishal R. Patel, MD,  Michael Liu, MD,  and Anupam B. Jena, MD)

And now, some really good news: "The rate of suicides among young people in the United States dropped 11% below projections, decreasing most sharply in states with a higher volume of answered 988 calls, a new study has found, reports Ellen Barry of The New York Times. The study's results, published in a research letter in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), found that 4,372 more adolescents and young adults, ages 15 to 34, are alive today than previously projected. The study's data suggests that the federal government’s 988 suicide prevention hotline rollout, which launched in 2022, is having a positive impact among younger Americans.

Should the world's most widely used weedkiller have a warning label for possibly causing cancer?

Thousands of customers are suing Bayer for its
weedkiller, Roundup, allegedly causing cancer.

Bayer is battling thousands of lawsuits from customers alleging the world’s most widely used weedkiller, Roundup, is causing cancer, report Patrick Thomas and Lydia Wheeler for The Wall Street Journal.

The U.S. Supreme Court must decide whether Bayer’s failure to provide a warning label on their product is illegal.

The federal government and Environmental Protection Agency determined Roundup is safe for use, and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) “prohibits states from imposing different or additional warnings from those required under the federal law,” the reporters explain.

The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup, as “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015, though the EPA and federal government claim it isn’t.

The plaintiffs argue that Bayer should take extra steps to warn consumers of the risks the herbicide might pose, the reporters add.

While states can pull products from the market, Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned why they can’t hold companies liable for failure to warn customers, the Journal reports.

Bayer continues to argue that federal law is created to provide uniformity in the labeling of herbicides. The reporters add that Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked, “If the label is illegal in one state and legal in another state, that’s uniformity?”

After four years and many obstacles, 'Internet for All' is unlikely to reach every American

BEAD may not be able to live up to its 'Internet for All' promise.
 (Photo by Jay Heike, Unsplash)

After years of planning and delays, most states have accessed at least a portion of their federal grant funding from the $42.45 billion rural broadband expansion program. Some states are likely to break ground later this year, while others continue work to lock in approvals and installation contracts.

"States have six months to finalize contracts with participating internet service providers and complete required environmental and historic reviews, before construction can begin," reports Jericho Casper of The Daily Yonder.

It has been more than four years since the Biden administration announced the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Since then, it has gone through multiple phases and two presidential administrations. The Trump administration mandated that states trim their requests, meaning only half of the program's funding has been sent or awarded to states.

With roughly half the money spent, many state planners are wondering: What happens to the $22 billion in unspent funds? Casper explains, "The U.S. Commerce Department put the funding aside for "so-called 'non-deployment' uses,'" but what those are has remained unclear.

Lawmakers asked Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to explain what states can expect the funds to cover, but "he offered few specifics, saying only that guidance would come within two months," Casper reports. Lutnick did say that "states would be able to pursue 'new and exciting things' with the money."

Meanwhile, delays and uncertainty are likely to hurt programs already underway. Casper writes, "State broadband offices in Colorado and New Mexico report that some providers who initially expressed interest may ultimately default on preliminary awards."

Providers have seen their costs multiply over time and may be rethinking their bids. Casper adds, "Fiber suppliers say prices have jumped as much as 40% in recent weeks. . . . For some providers, particularly those serving remote areas, the administrative burden may outweigh the benefits."

The program's complexity and legislative heavy lifting continue to slow its progress. "Industry experts have described BEAD as the 'most complicated broadband grant program ever,'" Casper reports.

And while lawmakers have tried to speed the process, legal battles with local governments and industry providers over broadband permits continue. Casper adds, "The program once billed as 'Internet for All' is expected to reach fewer households and businesses under the revamped plan, and experts say closing the remaining gaps will require sustained investment."

Hantavirus is a less common, but often deadly illness. Awareness and prevention are the best defenses.

Deer mice are the most common carriers of hantavirus.
(Photo by Melvin Zettl, Unsplash)

Not every cautionary tale about diseases spread by critters is limited to vector-carriers like ticks and mosquitoes. Rodents also spread some less-discussed but equally deadly illnesses, like hantavirus, which is most often transmitted to humans by deer mice.

The recent illnesses and deaths aboard an Atlantic cruise ship serve as a sobering reminder that while deer mice are little and perceived as "cute," they can spread hantavirus. "Six people on board a cruise ship were affected by suspected cases of hantavirus, and three died," reports Evan Bush of NBC News. The disease is "relatively rare but devastating threat without a vaccine, treatment or cure. . . . More than 890 cases of hantavirus were reported nationwide from 1993 to 2023."

Hantavirus can be transmitted to humans through contact with saliva, droppings or urine of infected rodents. Bush explains, "People tend to get hantavirus when they disturb droppings or urine from mice in the dusty corners of barns, cabins or outbuildings near forested land, including during cleaning."

The disease is most common in the southwestern U.S., where deer mice are found. But that doesn't mean it can't be found elsewhere in the country, Bush reports. Human to human transmission is also possible.

Initially, hantavirus presents as a flu-like illness, which can be difficult to differentiate from Covid or other forms of influenza that cause coughing, fatigue and body aches. But it can develop into an aggressive respiratory disease. 

Dr. Jeff Duchin, an expert on hantavirus, told Bush, "The fatal, rapidly progressive pulmonary illness can come on very quickly, in hours. That, itself, can become fatal on a very short timeline." The disease weakens blood vessels, allowing fluid to fill the lungs, which eventually causes death.

Since there is no vaccine or medicine to treat hantavirus, prevention is the best protection. When disinfecting a rodent infestation, Erin Phipps, a public health veterinarian in New Mexico, recommended "wearing gloves, using N95 respirator, opening windows and relying on disinfectants," Bush reports. 

Phipps told Bush, "Never sweep up or vacuum mouse droppings, since this can spread particles up into the air."

Virginia's coalfields are losing residents at an alarming rate

The population in Virginia’s coalfield's region is dropping at an alarming rate, with Buchanan County down 51% from its peak in 1980, writes Jim Branscome at Cardinal News, which covers Southwest Virginia.

Virginia’s seven Central Appalachian coalfield counties collectively lost 7,208 residents between 2020 and 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Buchanan County had the biggest five-year loss of them all at 9.1%, among the worst in the entire 60-county Central Appalachian area, Branscome adds.

Buchanan County had the largest five-year change in population of the seven Virginia coalfield counties. (Chart via Cardinal News, data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Click to enlarge)

The two main factors working together to create the alarming trajectory for Virginia’s coalfields are people leaving the region and the number of deaths exceeding the birth rates, Branscome writes. 

The median age in Buchanan County has almost doubled since 1980, from 26 to 47, Branscome reports. While the county is projected to lose 48% of its current population by 2050, its current annual rate of decline shows this loss occurring closer to the late 2030s, adds Branscome.

A USDA miscount of 4.5 million acres of corn is adding to a loss of trust among farmers in federal data

For profit-parched farmers, USDA data report errors can be costly. Farmers already face losses, and many fear they can no longer rely on USDA predictions. (Graph by Lori Hayes, Farm Journal)

After one of its worst corn-harvest predictions "in recent memory," the U.S. Department of Agriculture blamed a lack of farmer survey responses for its miscount. But the steep decline in the number of farmers who returned surveys points to farming communities that may no longer trust the USDA, reports Kevin Draper of The New York Times. "Corn estimates were off by 4.5 million acres last year. A lack of survey responses, not job cuts, led to the miss, the Agriculture Department said."

While a 5% undercount may not seem like much, it may have affected commodity purchases and farm incomes. Draper explains, "Estimates of crop size are some of the most closely read [USDA] reports." Traders use those reports to decide on commodity purchases, which influences the prices farmers receive for their crops. Farmers use the information to decide when to sell their crops for the best price.

But amid deep staffing cuts at the USDA, many farmers worry that its reports are no longer reliable. "The corn miss prompted Farm Journal, an agricultural publication, to ask respondents to its monthly survey whether they remained confident in department data," Draper writes. "Most of the farmers, ranchers and economists polled responded 'no.'"

Because farmers compete in commodity trading markets, the accuracy of USDA data helped them gain a leg up over traders who use sophisticated algorithms to manage their purchases. Shay Foulk, who farms 1,500 acres and runs a seed business near Peoria, Ill., told Draper, "People trade the reports whether the reports are true or not. . . .The farmer just feels they are at a disadvantage if those numbers are inaccurate."

Among the USDA sections where Department of Government Efficiency cut thousands of jobs, the "National Agricultural Statistics Service, which produces crop reports, was one of the hardest-hit divisions; it lost 34% of its staff," Draper reports. NASS used to employ roughly 800 employees. It now has about 500.

A 10-year solar project in California aims to 'harvest the sun'

The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan delivers economic value to growers, 
local governments and residents. (Map by Binh Nguyen, Canary Media )

Directors of the largest agricultural water agency in the U.S. are creating a plan to save California farmland from a decades-long water crisis, reports Jeff St. John for Canary Media.

The Valley Clean Infrastructure Plan will transform 136,000 acres of farmland that's no longer irrigable into 21 gigawatts of battery-back solar power, enough to power nine million houses, St. John explains.

The planned build will be the largest project not just in California or the U.S., but in the world, said Jeff Fortune, a third-generation farmer and the board president of the Westlands Water District.

The plans were approved in December, and the project may take 10 years or more, St. John reports. 

"The way we look at it is a new crop," a fifth-generation farmer and another director of the district, Jeremy Hughes, told St. John. "We're harvesting the sun and producing electricity."

In the next 20 years, the state will require four to five times as much new clean energy as the project will provide, according to another director, Ross Franson. 

An early spring means more ticks to avoid

As spring arrived across much of the U.S., more people ventured outside to enjoy nature, but unfortunately, the warmer temperatures also awakened ticks. "Tick season seems to be off to a fast start, with an unusually high number of bites already reported across the country," reports Mike Stobbe of The Associated Press.

All tick bites warrant attention because they can spread "serious diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy," Stobbe explains. "Lyme disease is the most common, with an estimated 476,000 people treated for it each year, according to the CDC."

A 'questing' tick perches itself on the edge of a branch and 
waits for a host to walk past. (Entomology Today photo) 

Although most people know that ticks are tremendously adept at attaching themselves to people and animals, many may not know why. Understanding how ticks "find" their victims can be a first line of defense, simply by knowing where to look.

Ticks seeking a host are most often found in ankle-high vegetation where they exhibit a behavior known as "questing." To quest, all ticks do is anchor themselves to the tips of grasses, leaves, or shrubs and extend their front legs and wait for an animal or human to walk by, according to Entomology Today. Ticks also like to "link" together, so they can fall on a host in a chain, bite and feed.

To prevent tick bites, experts suggest walking "in the middle of paths and wearing light-colored clothing treated with the insecticide permethrin," Stobbe adds. "And use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents."

The risk of disease can be reduced if ticks are found early and removed immediately. "It’s not necessary to go to a doctor unless you think the tick has been on you for days or if you develop a rash or other symptoms," Stobbe reports.