The Rural Blog

A digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, by the Institute for Rural Journalism, based at the University of Kentucky. Links may expire, require subscription or go behind pay walls. Please send news and knowledge you think would be useful to benjy.hamm@uky.edu.

The Rural Blog

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Some states refuse bipartisan aid for school summer lunches; program gives eligible students $40 per month

Don't separate food benefits from agricultural spending in next Farm Bill, American Farm Bureau Federation says

Provision in Democrats' big spending bill has up to $1 billion over five years to subsidize local journalists' salaries

Biden to unveil $2.25 trillion infrastructure plan today with plenty of rural resonance

Federal Reserve: Electric co-ops, wireless systems and partnerships most promising ways to better rural broadband

Food and farm workers need food, despite federal farm aid

New nonprofit argues that Trump has hurt rural America

Senators urge FCC to make more rural areas eligible for broadband subsidy program, use better data for decisions

Giant telecoms fighting requirements to provide higher broadband speeds under new rural subsidy program

WTO deal to scrap agricultural export subsidies; critics say it benefits India, China

Oil and gas industry getting hidden subsidies, study says; industry official says data misinterpreted

Farm Bill programs leading to bigger subsidies than previously predicted

Health-insurance costs on exchanges still vary by region, despite subsidies designed to equalize

Obama's budget would cut crop insurance, boost research and rural broadband, help bees

Poorer counties have fewer options for health insurers, making their premiums higher

Billionaires continue to receive farm subsidies, but few since 2008; legislation would tighten rules

Farm subsidies not necessary, should be eliminated to cut federal deficit, economic columnist says

Wind energy installations could stop if federal tax break isn't renewed

Delaware, Maryland entice and train young farmers with grants and no-interest loans

Oregon county lets 39 jail inmates go free when timber revenue and subsequent subsidies run out