Rural voters believe the economy is worse now than before Trump’s second term

More than half of rural American voters believe the economy is worse off now than when President Donald Trump began his second term, according to a new poll by The Associated Press and KFF.

The sample of 2,000 bipartisan rural voters reported holding negative views of national and local economies, citing concerns about the cost of groceries, gasoline and healthcare. A larger share than the average voter worried about affording such necessities, reports Ali Swenson, Sarah Jane Tribble and Linley Sanders for the AP and KFF.

Though rural voters have supported Trump in recent elections, these "findings suggest that many rural voters have not turned on Trump but that they also largely do not think he has delivered the economic renaissance he promised in his campaign,” Swenson, Tribble and Sanders report.

Only 4 in 10 rural voters approve of Trump’s economic performance, attributing economic downturns to his handling of the Iran War. Many say their local economies have worsened with the national economy. Rural Republicans have a more optimistic economic view, but “rural voters overall don’t perceive much positive impact from the administration’s healthcare policies even as they have been a top priority for Republican leaders."

Despite Trump’s approval of the Rural Health Transformation Program last year, which recouped from Medicaid cuts, the survey revealed that 60% of ruralites heard nothing about the program at all. Many voters still believe Trump aims to deliver on his promises, but polling shows his standing is slipping. Some 48% of rural voters approve of him — more than the average voter — but that number has fallen from 56% rural approval in earlier surveys.

Democrats who want rural voters to switch sides need to 'show up' and fight for rural communities

Democrats need to fight harder than Republicans on
issues that impact rural Americans. (Rural Strategies photo)

Building trust with rural Americans by fighting hard for the issues rural voters care about is what Democrats need to do now, reports Mara Liasson of NPR.

While Democrats losing rural voters is not news, what Democrats should do about it is. Liasson explains, "Pollster Celinda Lake, originally from rural Montana, says she's watched as the Republican advantage with rural voters grew from a relatively narrow five-point advantage in 2000 to a whopping 25-point edge for Trump with rural voters in 2024."

Lake recently "conducted a poll of 600 likely general election voters from rural areas in battleground states," Liasson reports. "And what these voters had to say about Democrats is damning."

One polled voter said Democrats were "out of touch with middle America," according to Liasson. Another said Democrats were "lost in space. All they want to do is spend money and give stuff away."

Lake told Liasson, "The Democratic brand is in terrible shape in rural America." Lake pointed out that while most rural voters skew Republican, they are currently very dissatisfied with the economy, and that offers Democrats a window of opportunity.

"Her takeaway from the poll is that Democrats should be running to keep rural hospitals open and insulin prices down," Liasson reports. "In other words, Democrats don't have to change their positions to win rural voters. They just have to fight harder for what they already believe in."

Dee Davis, the president of the Center for Rural Strategies, the group that commissioned the poll, said that Democrats that go all in on rural issues can fight for the same concerns that more urban populations worry about. Liasson adds, "After all, college-educated urban voters also care about healthcare, gas prices and jobs. The strategy Davis thinks Democrats should adopt is not rocket science."

Davis told Liasson, "You got to show up. You got to talk to people. You might not win the first time out, but you got to be there and compete."

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."

Inflation surged in March due to Iran war and tariffs

War-related price pressures worsened inflation in March, which the Federal Reserve was already struggling to regulate, reports Colby Smith for The New York Times.

The Consumer Price Index, or CPI, rose to 3.3% in March, making the Federal Reserve cautious of cutting interest rates. This is the highest monthly gain, 0.9%, since the post-pandemic inflation surge in June 2022.

The Consumer Price Index rose to 3.3% in March 2026. (Click to enlarge)

“Core” inflation, which doesn’t include volatile food and energy prices, rose to 2.6%, an increase from 2.4% last month, which isn’t as alarming to the Federal Reserve.

Policymakers worry that rising energy prices will “spill over into other sectors, affecting inflation more persistently,” Smith reports.

The Federal Reserve is also worried about businesses and manufacturing companies scaling back on hiring to offset rising input costs, potentially threatening the labor market, reports Smith.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics data listed below illustrates how commodity prices reacted to the war before last week's temporary cease-fire.

• International oil benchmark rose 50%, now down to 30% higher than prewar
• Gas prices rose 40% since February
• Energy index rose 11%
• Fuel oil rose 30.7% over the last month
• Other motor fuels including diesel rose 30.8%
• Airfares rose 2.7%, up 14.9% from a year prior

Excess inflation in the core goods category can be explained by recent tariffs, according to researchers at the Federal Reserve.

“Without evidence that inflation is in retreat, the Fed will likely find it hard to justify cutting rates below the current 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent level,” Smith reports. “What could prompt them to act sooner, however, is if the labor market deteriorates rapidly.” 

Report: Food and agriculture sector will contribute $10.4 trillion to U.S. economy in 2026

The U.S. food and agriculture industries will produce $10.4 trillion for the economy in 2026, backing 48.7 million jobs, reports Feed & Grain staff.

Despite rising inflation and global trade pressures, the sector makes up almost 20% of the national economy, increasing profits by $894 billion each year, according to data from the Feeding the Economy report.

Food manufacturing is the largest manufacturing sector in the country, from two million farms and ranches to 200,000 food manufacturing, processing and storage facilities. It also includes more than one million restaurants and foodservice establishments, and 200,000 retail food stores.

The economic impact of the food and agriculture sector in each state. (Interactive map via Feeding the Economy, Click here to choose your state.)

Some of the highlights from the report show the food and agriculture sector generating:

• More than $177.3 billion worth of exports
• More than $3 trillion in workers' wages
• 6.5% growth in direct employment over the last decade
• 4% yearly rise in wages and 13% rise over the last decade, surpassing inflation
• $1.35 trillion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments, increasing 7% each year

Many rural communities rely on food and agriculture revenue as the backbone of their local economy, with wages reinvested to support local housing, healthcare, education, small businesses and infrastructure, reports Feeding the Economy. “From farm to factory and truck to table, food and agriculture's impact sustains jobs, powers commerce, and strengthens communities across America."

Democrats announce plan to 'win over voters in rural areas.'

It could take years for Democrats to see rural voter
 gains. (Adobe Stock photo)

In a bid to change its relationship with rural voters, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced a first-of-its-kind investment to "win over voters in rural areas — where the party has suffered deep losses in recent elections — in their effort to win a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives next year," reports Ashley Lopez of NPR.

Committee members see the U.S. economy as a topic they can use to engage Trump-supporting and leaning rural voters by showing that Democrats have something better to offer.

Suzan DelBene, who chairs the DCCC, told Lopez, "I think Republicans are turning their back. They've been actively hurting rural communities with the policies they've put in place."

Anthony Flaccavento, co-founder and executive director of the Rural Urban Bridge Initiative, said "economic frustration among most voters could provide an opening for Democrats, and that rural voters tend to align with economically populist policies," Lopez explains.

While Democrats plan their eight-figure investment to make inroads with rural American voters through targeted campaigns and staff focused on rural issues, it's impossible to predict whether they will be able to generate a meaningful shift in rural opinion in the near future.

Lopez reports, "Flaccavento said winning back at least a slice of those rural voters is likely to be 'hard as hell' for Democrats. But, he said, it's a problem the party needs to confront head-on." Flaccavento is pushing for Democrats to make long-term investments in rural races over the next decade, not just the next couple of election cycles. 

Scientists and technical staff who inspect imported items for invasive pests have been fired from USDA

The firing of plant protection workers can lead to economic
 consequences. (Photo by Ante Hamersmit, Unsplash)

Nearly 6,000 workers were recently cut from the USDA, including highly trained scientists and technical staff who screen imported items.

According to Suzy Khimm’s article for NBC News, “the firings have dealt a serious blow to the federal inspection process required for imported food, plants and other organic matter — a program that the agency calls “essential” to preventing infestations and disease outbreaks from crippling America’s trillion-dollar agricultural economy.”

Jonah Ulmer, who was the “government's foremost authority on tiny invasive pests,” was among the 145 people fired from plant protection.

Ulmer told NBC News about the importance of the job. “The one that you identify as a nonquarantine pest, and it comes in the country and wreaks havoc? The impacts of that could be millions or billions of dollars in economic damage.”

Khimm wrote that this effort could lead to economic consequences for farmers and consumers.
To read more about the potential impacts visit NBC News.

Less for more: Grocery prices have increased 25% since 2019, according to an NPR analysis

Grocery prices have increased 23% since 2019. (Unsplash photo)

Two hundred dollars on groceries used to mean you could eat very well. Now, going to the grocery store seems to come with a punch to your bank account at the checkout counter.

Over the past six years, NPR’s Alina Selyukh has been tracking Walmart’s prices to analyze just how much the cost os groceries has increased.

“Compared to 2019, prices on my list, on average, rose 25%... And that's not far from federal inflation data: Cumulatively, U.S. prices are up 23% since 2019,” according to Selyukh, who attributed the majority of price increases to issues related to COVID. “The pandemic shifts were seismic.”

While a Walmart representative wrote in a statement to NPR that the company is “committed to providing an Every Day Low Price experience both in stores and online," it has had to keep up with increases in shipping and manufacturing costs leading to a higher total at the checkout counter, wrote Selyukh and NPR's Juweek Adolphe.

Shipping cost increases led to more expensive fertilizer and paper for packaging, for example. Also, “U.S. companies are paying higher import fees — and passing some of that cost on to shoppers,” Selyukh and Apolphe wrote.

Not only are the items in the shopping cart growing more expensive, but Selyukh and Apolphe have noticed reductions in the quantity of some items. “Tide liquid laundry detergent now comes in a smaller container — 84 ounces instead of 100 ounces — but costs $1 more,” they wrote.

Some inflated costs may be going down, but weary Americans can't control the prices of many necessities

When U.S. families sit down to do the budget, some costs
aren't negotiable. (Adobe Stock photo)

As U.S. inflation slowly tracks downward, some painful increases remain difficult for Americans to afford. "Prices for many of the things that are hard to do without are still posting eye-watering increases. Rent and electricity bills are up 10% or more over the past two years, and car-insurance costs are up nearly 40%, according to the Labor Department’s index," report Hariett Torry and Terell Wright of The Wall Street Journal. "Shoppers might be able to trade down from prime steak to cheaper cuts of meat at the supermarket, but they can’t really do the same thing with the water bill."

While some citizens have made grocery store swaps, some have cut "luxuries" such as eating out or trimming kids' extracurricular activities. Still, Americans have costs such as housing, insurance and child care that are at historical highs but are also necessities. "In the Consumer Price Index, shelter costs — a measure of rent and the equivalent cost to homeowners, as well as lodging away from home and household insurance — have risen more than 13% in two years," Torry and Wright explain. "Child care costs have risen 6.4% over the past two years. . . . Because daycare bills can be as big as rent or a mortgage, even a relatively small increase can feel like a lot."

Getting to work to make money often means car ownership and the overhead that goes with it. "The cost of transportation services, which includes vehicle insurance and repair, has jumped more than 18% in the past two years, according to the CPI," the Journal reports. "An increasing number of cash-strapped Americans are choosing to drive without car insurance."

Single mom Jasmine Moore's experiences mirror that of many American workers. "Moore missed a payment on her auto insurance about six months ago. Now her monthly bill has doubled," Torry and Wright add. "She canceled her son’s math tutoring sessions and instead tutors him herself. Instead of Publix, she opts for discount grocery stores and food pantries." Moore told the Journal, "I have middle-class pay, but I feel like I’m lower income.”

Quick hits: Wayne County murals showcase 'Walldogs'; a Midwestern state of mind; the eclipse capital is in Illinois

Willie Nelson singing at the first Farm Aid concert in 1985.
(Wayne Walldogs photo via Successful Farming)

Murals in Wayne County, Iowa, stand as a testament to the region's dynamic and resilient history. "Wayne County, a part of the Mormon Trail, where Brigham Young led his followers from Illinois to Utah in 1846, is also known for its excellent hunting opportunities, large Amish community, and well-appointed historical museum," reports Lisa Prater Froust of Successful Farming. "Last year, these historical events and figures were vividly brought to life in 16 murals painted during the five-day Wayne County Walldogs Festival." Not sure what 'walldog' is? Click here.

The Midwestern United States 
(Wikipedia map, from Census Bureau data)

Think you're a Midwesterner? For most residents, the answer depends on geography, but some people have other ideas. "Everyone knows places such as Ohio and Minnesota are solidly in the Midwest. But a recent poll finds that the Midwest is more a state of mind than just a place you can point to on a map," report Ben Kesling and Jennifer Levitz of The Wall Street Journal. "People from Colorado (42%), Oklahoma (66%) and even Wyoming (54%) think they live in the Midwest. . . . Some locals are baffled: 'Who ARE you people?'"

Pluto was demoted to one of dozens of dwarf
planets. (NASA photo via Nat Geo)

In 1930, a farm boy turned astronomer from Streator, Illinois, Clyde William Tombaug, discovered Pluto, which was designated our solar system's ninth planet, but then in 2006, Pluto got demoted. "Mike Brown, CalTech professor of astronomy and author of How I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming, crashed the party and took away Pluto's planetary classification," reports Eric Alt of National Geographic. "Ever since the worlds of science and pop culture have debated Pluto's fate. . . . the matter seems far from settled."

Some news sources say the U.S. economy is recovering from the dark days of the pandemic, with most measures reporting a healthy rebound despite inflation's hold on grocery and housing costs. That's one picture. Talk to a local pawnbroker, and you'll hear a different report. "Accumulating pawnshop inventory means fewer buyers than sellers – a sign that for the lowest-income Americans, times remain tough," reports Lauren Villagran of USA Today. "Some Americans – people with retirement plans, savings and stock holdings – may gripe about inflation and the economy, but they're doing all right. Others are surviving pawn to pawn."

Location of Mikanda in Jackson
County, Illinois. (Wikipedia map)

 

The U.S. eclipse capital is the unassuming southern Illinois town of Mikanda, Illinois, pop. 500. It has been "blessed by the cosmos for the second time in under 10 years," reports Hunter Bassler of KSDK in St. Louis, Missouri. "Mikanda is the exact intersection for both the 2017 and 2024 eclipses, an astronomical wonder that rarely ever happens in such a short time span, according to NASA. . . . Village officials are preparing for bigger crowds this year."

Rainbow over Cheesebox Butte. Cheesebox Canyon is a popular Bear Ears hiking trail.
(Photo by Stephen Trimble, Writers on the Range)

Without knowing the region's history, Bear Ears National Monument evokes thoughts of strength, softness, and beauty. Dive deeper into the story of this 1.36 million-acre site in southeast Utah, and a timeline of battles, historical power dynamics and unresolved conflict emerges. "The political tussle over this stunning expanse of red rock canyons exemplifies all the cultural dissonance in the rural West," writes Stephen Trimble in his opinion for Writers on the Range. "White residents never envisioned challenges to their political power. But in 2009, the feds came down hard on generations of casual pothunting by local white families. Then, after a century of oppressing their Indigenous neighbors, lawsuits strengthened Native voting rights."

Larger retailers used their dominance to push suppliers and squeeze competitors during pandemic, FTC report shows

Larger retailers used the pandemic to 'come
out ahead.' (Photo by S. Lee, Unsplash)

American grocery prices remain usually high, and many smaller-scale grocers still struggle to recover from pandemic setbacks. A new Federal Trade Commission report sheds some light on how larger retailers used their power to push suppliers to deliver to them first, which caused more struggles for smaller competitors and may be partially to blame for why grocery costs have remained high even as overall inflation has cooled.

"Federal regulators said large grocery chains used their size and scale to keep shelves stocked during the pandemic, edging out smaller rivals when most stores struggled with product shortages and distribution bottlenecks," reports Liz Young of The Wall Street Journal. Many larger retailers put "stricter delivery requirements into place and fined vendors that didn't comply. . . The demands led many suppliers to route more goods toward those retailers to avoid the fines."

FTC Chair Lina Khan told the Journal, "Dominant firms used this moment to come out ahead at the expense of their competitors and the communities they serve." Young reports, "The agency said revenue growth at grocers outpaced the cost increases many of them faced from suppliers, suggesting that higher profits 'warrant further inquiry by the commission and policymakers.'"

While supply bottlenecks thwarted smaller grocers during the pandemic, "Some of the largest U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, Costco and Target, chartered their own cargo ships in 2021 to import goods and get around the chokepoints," Young writes. "Small grocers say the pandemic exacerbated their longtime struggles to compete with bigger retailers." Robert Buche, chief executive of South Dakota grocery chain G.F. Buche, told Young, "Covid just made it more obvious what's been happening for years with us independents."

Americans haven't spent this much of their money on food in decades, and relief is not coming anytime soon

Wall Street Journal graph, from Department of Agriculture data

If you feel like your grocery bill is gobbling up more of your paycheck, it's not your imagination. "The last time Americans spent this much of their money on food, George H.W. Bush was in office and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" was in theaters," report Jesse Newman and Heather Haddon of The Wall Street Journal. "Eating continues to cost more, even as overall inflation has eased from the blistering pace consumers endured throughout much of 2022 and 2023. Prices at restaurants and other eateries were up 5.1% last month compared with January 2023, while grocery costs increased 1.2% during the same period, Labor Department data show."

Why is this happening, and when will it end? Food costs increased as inflation spiked up prices across the board, but even as other costs ease, food costs will likely keep their post-inflation era price tags. Steve Cahillane, chief executive of snack giant Kellanova, told the Journal, "If you look historically after periods of inflation, there's really no period you could point to where [food] prices go back down. They tend to be sticky."

To lessen pocketbook drain, "Many diners have said they are going out less frequently or skipping appetizers, while buying cheaper store brands more frequently at supermarkets and seeking out promotions or deals offered via apps," Newman and Haddon write.

Still, many food companies are seeing profits dip based on higher commodity prices for sugar, tomatoes and cocoa and increased labor costs. The Journal reports, "Companies are set to pay more for staffing after 22 states lifted the minimum wage for hourly workers in January." 

One kernel of good news is that some peak prices may come down. Newman and Haddon explain, "Although it is rare for food prices to retreat, it is also unusual for prices to skyrocket as much as they have in recent years, said TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow. He said he expects grocery prices to decline for a period this year as food makers come under pressure from consumers and retailers."

The U.S. needs 7 million more houses, but who will build them? The construction industry needs trained laborers.

Photo by Arron Coi, Unsplash

As the construction industry struggles to meet the demand for new housing, it faces big obstacles, including a shortage of trained labor. Robbie Sequeira of Stateline reports, "The U.S. construction industry lost nearly 30% of its workforce during the Great Recession of 2008 and had barely recovered before the Covid-19 pandemic hit it again, as outlined by a study shared last spring by economists at the University of Utah and the University of Wisconsin. . . . However, the authors attributed much of the shortage to the federal Secure Communities immigration crackdown of the Obama administration."

An estimated 7 million more homes are needed, so the industry must find more trained workers to meet demand. "Employment isn't growing fast enough, said Erika Walter, director of media relations for Associated Builders and Contractors, a national industry group," Sequiera writes. "An analysis released earlier this month by the group found that at the end of November, there were about 459,000 job openings in the industry. The 5.4% job opening rate was the highest since 2000."

To attract new labor, the industry needs to address its hiring practices. Sequeira reports, "According to a 2022 Department of Labor report, many apprentice programs for construction and trade-based skills often have sponsors who do not recruit or hire individuals from underrepresented groups — and may not even be aware of how to recruit members of those groups."

If recruitment and training shortages aren't managed, the shortage will intensify as aging workers retire. Sequiera notes, "More than 1 in 5 construction workers are 55 and older, and much of the workforce will be retiring in the coming decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics." Karl Eckhart, vice president of intergovernmental affairs for the National Association of Home Builders, told Sequiera, "We need to expedite the [recruitment and training] process so we can at least get shovels under the ground."

Several states are intervening to assist in training a new construction workforce, including Montana, New York, Ohio and Maryland. "Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced that 35 Ohio high school programs would receive almost $200 million in grant money to expand training facilities in areas including the electrical trades, welding and carpentry," Sequiera reports. 

Rural and urban residents share many views on politics and the economy, a new survey shows

American Communities Project chart, from americancommunities.org data

Even though rural and urban residents remain divided on some issues, a new study found they have a lot more political and economic concerns in common, reports Liz Carey of The Daily Yonder. "The American Communities Project survey questioned more than 5,000 people across 15 different community types to show a more complex picture of how rural and urban residents view issues."

The survey yielded several surprising results. "What was interesting," researcher Dante Chinni told Carey "is how much rural residents' opinions were similar to those of urban residents. . . . The study found that residents in rural communities felt that the biggest issue in their lives locally was inflation." Carey reports: "Only in communities in the African American South, a rural subcommunity within ACP's 15 community categories, did anything else come close to inflation as an issue." Guns and crime topped their list.

Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed "agreed with the statement 'Americans have much more in common with each other than is generally believed,'" Carey writes. Commenting on the shared responses, Chinni told Carey: "I think people really want this to be true. They want there to be more in common, whether or not there actually is."

When asked about abortion, most survey respondents in rural and urban communities "agreed with the statement 'Obtaining an abortion should be a decision made by a woman in consultation with her doctor, without government's involvement,'" Carey reports. Ari Pinkus, one of the project researchers, told Carey: "What's interesting is how abortion was widely accepted by at least 50% of the population, across the community types, even in (more rural conservative areas) where you would think that they would be less okay with abortion. . . . It could be the way we asked the question because people don't like to get in the way of a woman and her doctor, but it's still notable that abortion is a topic of unity in the population."

Survey respondents did voice differing ideas about gun ownership. Carey reports, "When asked if 'the right to own a firearm is central to what it means to be an American,' residents in more rural communities were more likely to agree, whereas those in urban counties were more likely to disagree."

Philanthropy organizations can help rural companies fill skilled labor positions through internships, other programs

A student intern at KEITH in Madras, Oregon.
(KEITH courtesy photo via The Daily Yonder)

Over the past two decades, finding and retaining skilled manufacturing talent has become increasingly difficult. The challenges seen at KEITH Manufacturing Company in Madas, Oregon, are similar to other areas of the country where the sector can't find enough workers, reports Nick Flouriezos of The Daily Yonder. Mike Feigner, KEITH's plant manager, told him, "I've been doing this job since 2006, and it seems like you always have a labor problem. . . . We suck up a lot of that skilled labor that is a great fit for us quickly, and then we're trying to fit it with other people who maybe aren't looking for that long-term commitment to learning those skills."

If companies can't find long-term workers, retention and training soak up more company resources. "The company has no choice but to train and support homegrown talent if it wants to continue producing the self-unloading conveyor belt system that has become a staple in waste and recycling trucks worldwide," Flouriezos explains. "One thing that’s helped? A partnership with Oregon STEM and its Spark Oregon earn-and-learn initiative that helped pay for KEITH to employ four local high school interns for the summer."

Madras, pop. 7,500, is located in
Jefferson County, Ore. (Wikipedia map)

Earn-and-learn money "helped the students justify doing the internship when they could have been making more working full-time at the local McDonald's for the summer, Feigner says. Working three days a week for two months, the students were exposed to everything from welding and forklifts to assembly and engineering work with the R&D team," Flouriezos reports. At the end of the first internship, the company was able to hire one of the interns. Feigner told him, "I think this is exactly what the country needs. . . .Even if we get one student every two or three years that ends up being a direct-hire, I would call that a win."

What worked in Oregon exemplifies the ingenuity many philanthropy organizations use to address shortages. "Philanthropies with a technology focus or background have been particularly creative in funding education and workforce programs," Fouriezos adds. "That’s fitting, says Matt Dunne, executive director of the Center on Rural Innovation based in his hometown of Hartland, Vt." Dune told Fouriezos: “If you dig into it, a lot of it has to do with the economy and the impacts that a completely unequal recovery from the 2008 recession led to. And if you look at the driver of that divide, it really comes down to the winners and losers of the knowledge economy driven by technology."

At times, philanthropy can do what government or private funding cannot. Josh Elder, vice president and head of grant-making at The Siegel Family Endowment, told Fouriezos: "We embrace the idea that philanthropy should operate as society’s risk capital. . . . We want to be able to support early-stage things that others might not look at."

Selling solar in coal country begins with local trust and an understanding of the history of those communities

Overcoming solar opposition begins with understanding
coal's history. (Photo by Gabriel Fibz, Unsplash)

Selling solar in coal country might sound like a tall order; however, solar advocates in southwestern Virginia have built a cooperative system of local support for solar. "In 2016, a coalition of businesses, nonprofits, colleges, local governments, and citizens launched the Solar Workgroup of Southwest Virginia, which collaborates with Secure Solar Futures," reports Hannah Wilson-Black for Grist. "It includes experts in every aspect of the green transition, from community organizers who tell neighbors about the benefits of solar to legal experts who propose legislation."

The group's plan began with an understanding of the history and outlook of coal communities and why they might not welcome solar. Emma Kelly, who grew up in eastern Kentucky and now leads the Solar Workgroup's community outreach, told Wilson-Black: "I’m from the coalfields. And you have to understand. Coal mining is not just a job. The coal industry is not just an employer. It’s not like Walmart. [Coal companies] built towns, they built schools, they built churches, they made their own money. You cannot really overestimate the amount of domination they had over these social and economic systems.”

"Because residents of southwest Virginia may see solar as helping accelerate the loss of coal jobs, she and Matt McFadden from Secure Solar Futures consider their being locals an important component of building confidence in, and support for, the technology," Wilson-Black reports. "More important, though, is the fact that local solar advocates and companies like Secure Solar Futures make it clear that their mission goes beyond profit. 'I don’t get anything out of this except a sense of fulfillment,' said Kelly, who became involved in solar advocacy in 2022 after learning, to her surprise, of solar’s potential in the coalfields."

Considering the region’s history, and overall distrust of energy companies, Kelly and other solar advocates in southwestern Virginia "said being local, proving solar’s benefits, and building a coalition have been key to ensuring the technology’s success in the face of cultural and political opposition," Wilson-Black writes. The group has made progess, which is on display in the coalfield community of Whitesburg, Kentucky, where "a solar pavilion and rooftop at the arts education center Appalshop has attracted curious neighbors, said Kathleen Byrne, the center’s development director."

Local focus and trust building continue to help solar succeed in the region. "McFadden said demonstrating the technology’s feasibility through community-focused projects like the 12 school installations his company is handling has changed perceptions in the area," Wilson-Black writes. "Hiring locals to install and maintain the photovoltaic panels is key, too. In 2022, Secure Solar Futures started an annual apprenticeship program that trains local high schoolers to do everything from wiring arrays to the physical heavywork of carrying and arranging panels, and pays them $17 an hour. This tangible example of a solar operation employing community members has been part of 'the proof in the pudding,' McFadden said."

Multigenerational households are on the rise; finances and medical care are the top reasons why

Map by Alice Feng, Axios, from U.S. Census data

More people are choosing to live in multigenerational households to cope with financial stress and medical care, reports Brianna Crane of Axios. Multigenerational housing -- defined as three or more generations under one roof -- is concentrated in certain areas but is gaining in popularity. South Dakota is home to "half of the top 10 counties with the highest share of multigenerational households. . . .North Dakota and Nebraska have some of the lowest shares."

In 2020, there were "6 million multigenerational households in the United States in 2020, up from 5.1 million in 2010, according to census data," Crane adds. While the two biggest reasons people cited for cohabitating families were financial concerns and caregiving needs, there are also mental and physical benefits to living closer to family or friends.

Chart by Baidi Wang, Axios, from Pew Research Center data

No matter the reason, multigenerational homes are predicted to keep increasing. The number of such households has "quadrupled from 1971 to 2021," reports Nathan Bomey of Axios. "Population growth among people of color is a big reason for the increase as they are more likely than white Americans to live with extended family," according to a Pew Research Center study. D’Vera Cohn, one of the report's authors, told Bomey, "This is not a phenomenon that has peaked."

Opinion: We could end poverty. 'Why don't we do it?'

Census Bureau graph

In 2021, U.S. poverty hit the resounding record low of 7.8% -- a good thing, but only a reprieve. Once pandemic benefits ended and inflation shot upward, the number of Americans living in poverty soared, with the Supplemental Poverty Measure posting a near 60% increase, with 11.4% of U.S. citizens living in poverty in 2022. "And it's all because politicians allowed proven income support programs to expire," writes Lakeisha McVey in her opinion for OtherWords.com.

"I'm an expert on poverty. I've lived it most of my life in Iowa. I studied it as a Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellow in rural West Virginia and in Washington, D.C., and now I help people experiencing poverty across the country tell their own stories to change policy.

"People can pull themselves up by their bootstraps, get an education, and work multiple jobs. But in the face of rising prices, low wages, high rents, and a broken healthcare system, it's often not enough. Without a safety net and a level playing field for families, financial security is often out of reach.

"When I was growing up in Des Moines, my mom had a stable job with the state, but her pay wasn't enough for a real home for my two siblings and me. Iowa, like every state, has a low-income housing crisis. And families of color like mine experience greater challenges obtaining affordable housing. We bounced around shelters, churches and motel rooms.

"Despite a stigma about accepting public assistance, we benefited from SNAP (aka 'food stamps') and the Women, Infants and Children program. But like other low-income families, we had to navigate the 'benefits cliff.' When my mother made just $10 more, we'd lose the benefits we needed for sufficient, regular meals.

"My father suffered from opioid addiction. When he was eventually able to get stable employment and rejoin our family, we finally got an apartment where the schools were decent. But a brain aneurysm suddenly took his life, and we ended up back on the opposite side of the city where the underfunded schools offered less opportunity.

"I wanted to stay in my school, so I spent four hours a day commuting on public buses and on foot. I knew I needed to get into college to be able to help my family financially. Now I have a steady job, and so does my husband.

"But everyday struggles don't end. The brokenness of our healthcare system burst into my life again when our baby was born with a fatal condition. The medical costs ran nearly $1 million in just the first few months of his tragically short life. . . . What could prepare someone for that?

"Thankfully, my employer pays 100% of my health insurance. That's a rarity. If I'd been out of work or worked elsewhere, we would've gone bankrupt as we suffered the most tragic thing that could ever happen to us as parents.

"These are just a few of the structural obstacles low-income people face every day. But there are solutions. The advocates I work with reported enormous relief after politicians finally agreed to invest in helping children and families during the Covid-19 crisis.

"The expanded Child Tax Credit cut child poverty nearly in half. Expanded food programs through SNAP lifted more than 3 million people out of poverty and staved off an expected spike in hunger. Housing subsidies kept nearly 2.5 million people out of poverty and in their homes. And Medicaid enrollment protections reduced the number of uninsured people by 1.5 million.

"The year those programs were implemented, the Supplemental Poverty Measure fell to 7.8% — its lowest ever level. But when politicians rejected continuing this vital help for families, it increased by a record amount. This is a failure for families across the country. We need to renew and expand those programs as soon as possible. . . . Poverty is solvable. We know what works. Why don't we do it?"

Lakeisha McVey is a bereaved mother, social justice advocate and leader of the Experts on Poverty Program at RESULTS.

Is the U.S. inching toward recession? Ag economists weigh in on warning signs

Graphic by Lindsey Pound, Farm Journal

Over the past two years, many economists and business leaders have warned that an economic downturn is on the horizon. "While ag economists continue to be at odds when it comes to the likelihood of a recession in the United States, there are also concerns about economic woes around the globe," reports Tyne Morgan of Farm Journal. "Some economists doubt the United States' biggest importers will be able to avoid a recession over the next 18 months."

Ag Economists' Monthly Monitor has kept tabs on U.S. trade partners' ongoing efforts to prevent  a recession. "A survey of nearly 60 ag economists from across the country were asked if the United States' major importers will avoid a recession over the next 18 months," Morgan writes. "Of those who answered the question, nine said 'yes,' but eight responded 'no.' Four remained unsure. . . .when asked to explain their reasoning, the answers revealed a host of concerns, including labor shortages, risks in China and Europe, and the strength of the U.S. dollar."

The U.S. economy has proved robust, but many economists "point to red flags that continue to flash caution signs moving forward," Morgan explains. "One is the fact credit card debt is climbing at a time when inflation continues to eat away at consumers' spending power." 

September's Monitor conducted an anonymous survey asking economists to name the top three indicators they use when considering possible recession. Their replies included:

"I follow Fed monetary actions, interest rates and unemployment levels."

"I follow unemployment rate, hourly wage rate and consumer prices."

"I don't think the Fed can get inflation down to the 2% mandate without a recession if it holds to that mandate."

"Employment growth remains fairly strong, and the U.S. unemployment rate remains historically low. As long as there is not a sizable decline in demand for labor (which is what I believe), the U.S. should, at worst, have a shallow and relatively short recession."

"Ag economists' view on the overall ag economy is also starting to erode," Morgan reports. "The September Monitor shows lower commodity prices, concerns about demand, and a negative outlook for China's economy, all contributing to the changing views, even as the cattle herd and U.S. corn and soybean crops continue to shrink." 

Much of America's prosperity depends on aquifers, which are failing from overuse, according to NYT report

Climate change contributes to aquifer failure.
(The New York Times illustration)

Part of America's beauty and bounty builds on the riches of its aquifers, which are now damaged and depleted, "revealing a crisis that threatens American prosperity," report Mira Rojanasakul, Christopher Flavelle, Blacki Migliozzi and Eli Murray of The New York Times. Their report is the first of a series on the country's disappearing water. "The Times analyzed water levels reported at tens of thousands of sites and found nearly half the sites have declined significantly over the past 40 years as more water has been pumped out than nature can replenish. . . . In the past decade, four of every 10 sites hit all-time lows. And last year was the worst yet."

Groundwater depletion is so extreme some sources may never return to their previous levels. "Many of the aquifers that supply 90% of the nation's water systems, and which have transformed vast stretches of America into some of the world's most bountiful farmland, are being severely depleted," the Times reports. The investigative team "conducted a months-long examination of groundwater depletion, interviewing more than 100 experts, traveling the country and creating a comprehensive database using millions of readings from monitoring sites. . . . . Huge industrial farms and sprawling cities are draining aquifers that could take centuries or millenniums to replenish themselves if they recover at all."

The crisis is broad and deep -- crisscrossing the nation in varying levels of water loss with no solution in sight. "Groundwater loss is hurting breadbasket states like Kansas, where the major aquifer beneath 2.6 million acres of land can no longer support industrial-scale agriculture. Corn yields have plummeted. If that decline were to spread, it could threaten America's status as a food superpower," the Times reports. "Fifteen hundred miles to the east, in New York State, overpumping is threatening drinking-water wells on Long Island, the birthplace of the modern American suburb and home to working-class towns as well as the Hamptons and their beachfront mansions."

"One of the biggest obstacles is that the depletion of this unseen yet essential natural resource is barely regulated," according to the report. To get at real groundwater data, investigators included "Readings from sophisticated satellites that can estimate groundwater changes from space by measuring subtle shifts in gravity. . . Recent data from those satellites, which are operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and funded by NASA, also show aquifers in decline. . . . Two major California and Arizona aquifers recently matched or exceeded their lowest levels since NASA began collecting data two decades ago."

Sandwiched between hotter temperatures caused by climate change and the crops needing more water to contend with the heat, "farmers and towns have an incentive to pump more groundwater to make up the difference," the Times reports. Warigia Bowman, a law professor and water expert at the University of Tulsa, told the Times: "From an objective standpoint, this is a crisis. . . .There will be parts of the U.S. that run out of drinking water."