Amazon aims to reach more customers with a $4 billion investment in rural services

Amazon expansion is expected to create over 100,000 jobs.
(Photo by Adobe Stock)

Amazon is investing $4 billion to expand their rural delivery services, according to the company's senior vice president of worldwide operations, Udit Madan.

The investment is meant to focus on small towns across the U.S. and bring faster delivery to “many millions of customers in less densely populated areas.” Madan wrote, “At a time where many logistics providers are backing away from serving rural customers because of cost to serve, we are stepping up our investment . . . .”

The online e-commerce website PYMNT reported that in 2024 Amazon had “leased, bought or announced plans for over 16 million square feet of new warehouse space in the U.S … adding to its existing footprint of about 413 million square feet of industrial real estate across the country.”

Madan said the expansion would mean more than 200 added delivery stations in rural areas.

Amazon said they want to support local businesses
while reaching customers in more rural areas.
(Photo by ANIRUDH, Unsplash)

“Local businesses like coffee shops and florists can deliver Amazon packages through the Hub Delivery program. Partners can make up to $27,000 in incremental income a year, and help deliver to our customers in smaller towns,” Madan wrote.

The rural investment will help the company reach new customers in 13,000 ZIP codes over a 1.2 million square mile area. The expansion will also create an estimated 100,000 or more new jobs in the company.

The declining availability of maternity healthcare puts moms and babies at risk, but there are solutions

A lack of maternity care can cause issues for mothers and babies.
(Photo by Christian Bowen, Unsplash)

A lack of access to maternity care can cause deaths, preterm births and health risks for mothers.

According to Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman in an article for Medpage Today, 2.3 million reproductive-age individuals and more than 150,000 babies are being affected annually by a lack of labor and delivery units in hospitals.

A March of Dimes report found that, “35% of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts, defined as areas with zero ob/gyns, midwives, or family medicine obstetric providers per 10,000 births,” and that about “70% of birth centers are located in just 10 states,” according to Gyamfi-Bannerman.

The article reported that there were about 50,000 ob/gyns in 2018, “with more than 94% practicing in metropolitan areas.” That number is expected to continue dropping due to “high rates of burnout, high liability burdens, and a possible decrease in interest.”

With the vast majority of ob/gyns in highly populated areas, it leaves an even bigger shortage of maternity care providers in rural areas.

Cross-training healthcare providers may be an answer.
(Photo by Bagoes Ilhamy, Unsplash)

Hospitals are also closing many of their birthing and maternity units. Gymafi-Bannerman wrote that beyond declining birth rates, there aren’t high incentives for hospitals to provide maternity services. “Maternity care has often been considered a money-losing necessity, but even moneymaking, for-profit hospitals are discontinuing obstetric services.”

There are solutions to help with this issue, but it’s a matter of implementing them.

Emily Hedegard and Kate Cough at The Maine Monitor wrote that cross-training, offering stipends, training future healthcare providers in rural areas, and paying maternity healthcare providers more may be a start. As maternity care has been considered money-losing for hospitals, some of these solutions may not be as feasible.

However, “One of the most approachable solutions to the rural health care crisis, said several experts, and one that can be implemented immediately, is making better use of providers who are already part of the community,” according to Hedegard and Cough.

U.S. food bank system is in distress: 'The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated'

The Food Bank of Northern Nevada delivers fresh food to seniors,
including those in rural communities. (KFF Health photo)

Slapped with funding cuts and spiking demand, food banks are limping forward without a clear idea of how to fill the gaping hole federal resources used to fill. The financial cuts are especially hard on rural food banks that may lack access to food donations from multiple businesses and grocery stores.

"Food bank managers across the country say their supplies have been strained by rising demand since the Covid pandemic-era emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits ended two years ago and steepening food prices," reports Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez of KFF Health News. "Now, they say, demand is compounded by recent cuts in federal funding to food distribution programs that supply staple food items to pantries nationwide."

The deep cuts began in March when the Department of Agriculture lopped off $500 million from the Emergency Food Assistance Program, which purchases food from U.S. farmers and distributes it to food banks across the country. Rodriguez writes, "The program has supplied more than 20% of the distributions by Feeding America, a nonprofit that serves a network of over 200 food banks and 60,000 meal programs."

Additional demand paired with waning resources "is especially problematic for rural communities, where the federal program might cover 50% or more of food supplied to those in need, said Vince Hall, chief government relations officer of Feeding America," Rodriguez explains. The EFAP was a lifeline for rural residents facing food insecurity, but that safety net is gone. Hall told Rodriguez, “The urgency of this crisis cannot be overstated."

Local food banks are also grappling with a second $500 million cut from the USDA Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which aimed to help governments and schools purchase fresh food and produce from local growers.

Reductions to SNAP benefits, such as those currently being considered by lawmakers, could mean some Americans will go hungry. "A proposed budget resolution passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in April would require $1.7 trillion in net funding cuts, and anti-hunger advocates fear SNAP could be a target," Rodriguez reports. "More people living in rural parts of the country rely on SNAP than people in urban areas because of higher poverty rates, so they would be disproportionately affected."

Opinion: Rural Americans already face food insecurity. Will Republican lawmakers leave them even hungrier?

Most Americans don't consider hunger a political
issue. (Adobe Stock photo)

Many rural residents already face the daily struggle of not having enough food. Republican lawmakers eager to cut SNAP benefits may be about to make their battle with hunger worse. "These are anything but good times in rural America, which has been hit by everything from tariffs to extreme weather to bird flu and immigration crackdowns," writes José Andrés in his opinion for The Washington Post. "On top of those crises, Congress is now adding another — threatening to cut federal food benefits as the Republican leadership plays politics with the budget."

Despite rural America being where the country's agricultural powerhouses are, rural residents are more likely to suffer from food insecurity and poverty. "The government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — once known as food stamps — is a lifeline for entire rural economies," Andrés explains. "Poverty rates are actually higher outside cities than in them. So it should be no surprise to learn that families in rural counties use SNAP more."

The desire to cut SNAP by Republican lawmakers representing rural regions seems like a particularly harmful mismatch. "In some of the reddest states in the country, where Donald Trump won by 20 points or more in 2024, SNAP benefits are about as widely used as they are in states such as California and New York," Andrés writes. "In Louisiana, where House Speaker Mike Johnson is from, it’s even higher: 1 in 5 count on SNAP to meet their basic food needs."

Congress has planned cuts anyway. "Under the House budget plan, SNAP is facing $230 billion in cuts over 10 years: a massive 20 percent reduction," Andrés explains. "More than two-thirds of SNAP recipients are either children, elderly or disabled. Three-fourths live below the poverty line. For a family of three, that means earning less than $26,650 a year."

Addressing hunger isn't a political issue for most Americans. "Support for hunger and nutrition programs is broad and deep, stretching from evangelical groups to progressive nonprofits," Andrés adds. "Doing good can be good politics. One of the reasons the government exists is to take care of our forgotten neighbors who need a helping hand. If 'America First' means anything, it surely means taking care of the forgotten Americans in so-called flyover country."

Zaytinya photo

José Andrés is a chef, restaurateur and
founder of the nonprofit organization
World Central Kitchen.
Read his full opinion here.

Ohio could end tainted public subsides for failed coal plants, but lawmakers add a catch to their new energy plans

The bailed-out coal plants were built in the 1950s.
(Adobe Stock photo)

The Ohio legislature finally overhauled subsidies for two failing coal mines that have cost state taxpayers $400,000 per day since 2019. The hefty charges originated in the state's infamous House Bill 6 energy bill that grew into the "largest corruption scandal in state history," reports Julie Carr Smyth of The Associated Press.

House Bill 15 would rid Ohio consumers of the "legacy generation rider” contained in House Bill 6 for the Ohio Valley Electric Corp. "The Ohio Senate passed its version of the legislation in a rare unanimous vote Wednesday, before sending it back to the Ohio House," Smyth explains. "The bill goes next to Gov. Mike DeWine, whose office said he is reviewing the amended measure."

Beyond ending expensive subsidies, the bill "requires utilities to routinely come in for rate cases and justify how they spend ratepayer-collected money," Smyth reports. It contains a loan program to lower energy costs for public schools and ensures consumers are refunded for incorrect charges.

The subsides' corruption history is one that current Ohio lawmakers have sought to decry and erase. State Rep. Casey Weinstein's commented on the scandal saying: "It was an outrageous misuse of public funds — sending hundreds of thousands of dollars a day to an aging coal plant in Indiana. Putting an end to that is a victory for ratepayers across the state."

Even as lawmakers cheer their success, the state's new energy bills are being met with mixed responses. Cathy Cowan Becker writes in her opinion for the Ohio Capital Journal, "Ohio could finally see the end to some of the worst aspects of 2019’s House Bill 6 — which David Roberts of Vox called 'the worst energy bill of the 21st century.'"

As Becker writes, "That is great news — but it [could] come at a high cost. Instead of bailing out coal and nuclear plants, Ohioans could find themselves living next to large gas plants, pushed through a fast-track approval process without local approval, supplied with gas from fracking our parks."

In rural Maine, farmers worry migrant workers will be too afraid to show up for work and crops will rot in the fields

Blueberries burst forth during Maine's early summer,
but they need to be harvested quickly. (Adobe Stock photo)

As the Trump administration steps up its immigration and deportation efforts, Maine farmers who rely on immigrant labor to harvest seasonal crops such as wild blueberries are concerned about labor shortages. Some farmers worry that no matter how legal their past immigrant employees may be, fears about deportation will keep them from "showing up to rake [blueberry] fields — out in plain sight," reports Joyce Kryszak of The Maine Monitor. Without immigrant workers, Maine farmers say they can't bring in all their fields within the short window to harvest before crops begin to rot.

Harry Ricker and his wife, Nancy, own Ricker Hill Orchards in the small town of Turner, Maine. Each year the couple pays to participate in the H-2A visa program to employ "dozens of hard-working apple pickers each harvest season, mostly from Jamaica," Kryszak writes. They don't think they can hire enough non-immigrants to complete their apple harvest. Harry Ricker told Kryszak, "There are a lot less local people that want to do it, so we have to have [the H-2A] program. Without it, we’ll just be out of the industry. We go away.”

Meanwhile, state officials are working to help Maine businesses stay on top of visa program requirements and changes. "Patrick Woodcock, the executive director of the Maine Chamber of Commerce, told Kryszak, "Regardless of the merits of the polic[ies], we really do want to ensure that employers understand how to be in compliance. There may be employees that were authorized to work that may be affected by changes and may not be authorized to work now or in the coming months.”

Local apple and blueberry farmers aren't the only ones worried. "Agricultural farmers of all types . . . and fisheries. . . have come to rely on the largely Latino migrant and year-round immigrant communities," Kryszak reports. "A 2015 Maine Department of Labor . . . survey, the most recent report available from the Department, found that 56% of migrant farm workers were from Mexico, with others from Haiti, Canada, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Philippines."

Quick hits: Hop on a historic train; new farming trilogy; free immigration resources for journalists; Big Foot sightings

Cumbres & Toltec Railroad riders enjoy being 'lifted'
137 feet high on the High Cascade Creek Trestle.

As summertime vacation beckons, consider boarding a historical train and chugging through parts of North America you've never explored. "Railroads revolutionized transportation in North America, permanently accelerating the pace of travel across the continent," reports Michael Harmon of The New York Times. "Today, many of those railroad tracks host an assortment of historic excursion trains, inviting riders to slow down and enjoy a grand day out." The Skunk Train, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, and The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad are all spectacular picks.

When young people leave home, they often see life through the lens of their upbringing. For author Jane Brox, that lens is generations of family farming in Dracut, Mass. Brox added a third book to complete her trilogy, In the Merrimack Valley, which celebrates early immigrant dreams, farm routines that enrich daily life, and all that is gained and lost when young adults set out into the world. Danny Heitman for The Wall Street Journal writes, “Brox created a multipart work that is more broadly about the nature of origins — what we might owe to the places where we started. Even and, perhaps, especially when we leave them."

Reversing a previous decision, the Trump administration "temporarily reinstated dozens of fired federal workers who help screen coal miners for black lung, a deadly and incurable disease caused by inhaling toxic coal dust," reports Maxine Joselow of The Washington Post. "The screening program offers contracts to radiologists across the country who are certified to evaluate X-rays for black lung. It also employs epidemiologists who recently concluded that 1 in 5 longtime coal miners in Central Appalachia has black lung — the highest level recorded in 25 years."

The Immigration Reporting Legal Guide is a free resource developed by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press to help journalists navigate coverage of the complex web of federal and state entities that make up the American immigration system. The guide divides the topic into three parts: Immigration-related public records, how to access immigration proceedings and and details about journalists' rights to observe and record immigration enforcement officers on the ground. The guide is available in English and Spanish. There's also an extensive collection of free legal resources.

Spring and summer can be glorious times for hiking, fishing and taking nature walks. But sometimes, uninvited buzzing guests such as wasps and yellow jackets come along on warmer-weather adventures and sting humans -- often for unexplained reasons. And while no anti-sting plan is foolproof, Ashley Leath of Country Living has a few suggestions.

• Don't swat at wasps. Swatting tells a wasp to release pheromones that will trigger other nearby wasps to see you as a threat, exactly what you don’t want to happen.
• To prevent wasp nest building, try putting up a fake wasp nest. Wasps are territorial and don't like waspy neighbors.
• Don't remove a large yellow jacket nest on your own. They can sting more than once. Call a professional.
• To remove a smaller yellow jacket nest, read here.

Mysterious, massive and yet strangely elusive, Big Foot remains a North American legend with hundreds of sightings by locals, tourists and scouts paired with an equal number of people who are outspokenly skeptical Sasquatch exists. Beyond the argument, a separate exploration has formed which asks why some people want to believe that strange and unlikely creatures lurk just out of plain site. Sarah Melotte of The Daily Yonder writes, "I’m more interested in exploring why mysterious wildlife inspires obsession and fanaticism, and what it says about the American environmental psyche."

     
         Map by Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder, from Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization data

Interested in rural reporting? Attend the live, virtual launch of the Rural Reporter's Notebook podcast and learn more.

For people curious about rural reporting or want to know more about how other news sources approach it, the Rural Journalism Collective is launching the Rural Reporter's Notebook podcast on Wednesday, May 14 at 2 p.m. (Eastern Time) with a live recording that includes a Q&A session with podcast hosts Claire Carlson and Julia Tilton from The Daily Yonder.

Anyone interested can attend this live, virtual event. Register here.

The podcast on May 14 will highlight how Carlson and Tilton interview their featured guest. The two will explain their processes during and after the interview. Then Caroline Carlson, senior digital editor of the Daily Yonder, will join the show and share details about launching and stewarding this bi-weekly podcast. The Q&A will follow.

The bi-weekly podcast will feature Claire Carlson and Tipton discussing news stories big and small and what they mean for rural communities. 

With little notice and no public debate, lawmakers closed a rural school district with a property tax reform bill

Rep. J.D. Prescott defends his reasons for closing USC
 at a public meeting. (Photo by Eric Weddle, NPR)

School officials and parents were shocked to learn Indiana lawmakers quietly closed their rural school district without public debate. "Tucked into a sweeping property tax reform bill with little public notice, the closing of Union School Corporation came as a surprise to nearly everyone except the lawmaker who wrote it — Rep. J.D. Prescott, a Republican from Union City, Ind.," reports Rachel Fradette of NPR, Indianapolis.

Located in tiny Modoc, Indiana, Union School Corporation educates roughly 7,500 students through its virtual programs, with around 290 students attending class in person. Fradette writes, "Under Indiana’s new property tax reform law, it will be dissolved in 2027 and the area (redistricted) among other school corporations."

At a town meeting just days after the bill passed, residents questioned Prescott about the lack of notice. Prescott told them, "The legal process was followed." Fradette reports, "Prescott told the crowd a combination of factors led him to write the legislation: prior years of discussion about district consolidation; more than half of families who live in the Union boundaries choosing to enroll their children in other districts; and poor academic performance at the virtual schools."

The closure, which was wrapped into Senate Enrolled Act 1, has been signed by Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. And while this isn't the first time Indiana lawmakers have stepped in to help struggling schools, those instances included public notice and debate. Chris Lagoni, executive director of the Indiana Small and Rural Schools Association, "said this is the first time in 50 years a school district has been closed by state mandate," Fradette writes. "District leaders now wonder if the state is applying new academic expectations to justify future closures."

Some school officials believe the district's wealth and number of virtual learners may have pegged it for closure. Superintendent of Union Schools Galen Mast "believes Union was targeted in legislation because their virtual schools attract students from other districts and charter schools," Fradette explains. "In Indiana, state funding follows the student. So if a student leaves. . . there is less funding for the home district to cover academic programs and teacher pay."

Union school officials and supporters plan to legally challenge the closure. Mast told Fradette, “We've been here for 70 years. Our intent is to be here for another 70 years.”

Rural living gets trendy: It's cheaper, roomier, has great views, and residents can grow their own food

View of Twin Falls in rural Idaho.
(Photo by J. Adkins via Livability)

More and more people are leaving city life to embrace a cheaper and more sustainable option -- rural living.

Being in the heart of the city and in close proximity to anything you could want doesn’t often measure up to a through-the-roof cost-of-living and lack of space.

Brittany Anas wrote for Livability that, “Inflation has prompted many others to rethink their living situations and consider joining the big city exodus. A survey by Ipsos found that 42% of people have either moved or thought about moving since March 2020, and rural areas, small and mid-size cities were their top choices.”

One person who made the move is Wyneta Chambers. In an interview with Roslyn Anderson at WLBT, Chambers said she moved away from the city to grow her own food and live more sustainably, even convincing friends to “embrace country living.”

“The benefits of you growing your own stuff is you know what you put in it,” Chambers told Anderson. “The tariffs will not affect you if you are already growing your own stuff. You don’t have to worry about what’s coming [from] overseas.”

According to Anderson, rural life offers a lot of benefits: it’s more affordable; there's more space; neighbors are more friendly and involved with each other; there are fewer traffic jams (unless you count driving behind a tractor down a one-lane road); and better job markets. It also can be beneficial when going back to school.

In her interview Chambers said, “This was the best move a lot of us have made, and we wouldn't change anything.”

Without federal funding, humanities programs have an uncertain future. Rural places will feel the loss first.

A revitalized high school library funded by Humanities
Montana. (Humanities Montana photo via the Yonder)

Many rural states that depend on money from the National Endowment for the Arts to fund humanities programs have had those dollars cut by the Department of Government Efficiency, reports Nhatt Nichols for The Daily Yonder. The immediate loss of federal money has left communities in some of the most sparely populated parts of the country seeking private donor support, which adds another layer to their challenges.

Humanities Montana is one example of a statewide arts initiative facing the complete loss of NEH support. The program "is one of 56 regional humanities organizations that bring humanities programs to underresourced communities including in rural areas," Nichols writes. "In 2024, over 17,000 people attended a Humanities Montana program, with more than half residing in a rural county."

Montana isn't the only one. "In Alaska, a note on their program’s website states, 'Late on the night of April 2, the Alaska Humanities Forum received a letter from DOGE officials informing them that their NEH operating grant approved by Congress had been illegally terminated effective immediately,'" Nichols reports. "Wisconsin Humanities also has an announcement on its website, noting that 'the loss of NEH funding will likely result in Wisconsin Humanities closing its doors soon.'"

Finding donors within smaller communities will be an ongoing challenge for Humanities Montana. Nichols adds, "The NEH funding provided most of their operating budget; in 2023, the NEH made up 80.9% of their $1,011,229 budget."

Money isn't the only concern. The director of Humanities Montana, Jill Baker, told Nichols, "Our mission is to bring untold stories that can help bring people together and find the humanity in one another. At this moment, that’s a real challenge in and of itself. My worry is that without the public humanities, our divides will grow, we’ll have less opportunities to gather together and have simple civic conversations, to learn from one another.”

A lack of attorneys leaves rural Nebraskans without representation; 12 counties have no attorneys

Twelve Nebraskan counties don't have an active
attorney. (Photo by Irene North, Flatwater Free Press)

 

As many older lawyers retire from rural-serving practices and fewer graduating law students opt to replace them, many rural Americans have found securing legal representation almost impossible. In rural Nebraska, the lack of attorneys has some residents navigating legal paperwork and proceedings alone while their lack of representation causes a domino effect of stressors for courts.

"About a third of Nebraska’s 93 counties have three or fewer active attorneys residing and practicing in them. Twelve counties don’t have a single one, according to the Nebraska State Bar Association," reports Shelby Rickert for the Flatwater Free Press. "For attorneys, this means heavier caseloads and longer travel times. Judges must take on extra duties to streamline an already complicated process."

Even as advocates work to solve the problem, law training takes time. "Nonprofits and other programs are trying to fill the gaps," Rickert writes. "The state bar has several incentive programs, and a newly approved program at the University of Nebraska College of Law is working to train future attorneys in juvenile law, an area with a dire shortage of attorneys in rural Nebraska."

Criminal or child/minor proceedings often require legal representation, so the lawyer shortage leaves practicing attorneys shouldering heavy caseloads with extensive travel. Rickert explains, "Heavy workloads for the few attorneys in an area can affect the quality of representation in court, especially when defendants are entitled to legal representation."

Madeline Smith, an attorney in Broken Bow, Nebraska, is a court-appointed child advocate who struggles to stay on top of cases that are hours from her home base. Rickert writes, "Cherry County, where Smith has cases, is more than 100 miles from Broken Bow. In one of those cases, children were placed in Douglas County, nearly 200 miles from Broken Bow. The extended days add to her struggles balancing work and life balance. . . . Attorneys in smaller communities also struggle to access the same services their clients may seek, such as mental health care."

Building housing on federal lands could help some Americans, but the idea faces limits and obstacles

Most federal lands are located in the West. Map includes Native American lands held in trust.
(Bureau of Land Management map via Wikipedia)

Many Americans continue to struggle with the country's longstanding shortage of affordable housing. Opening some federal lands to real estate development is one solution the Trump administration has put in motion; however, the prospect faces numerous challenges and is limited by the geography of federal lands.

"Last month, federal officials created a task force that would identify and release federal land that could be used for housing development," reports Madeleine Ngo of The New York Times. The initiative has bipartisan support and could be particularly helpful for western states. The idea is not a solution for states that don't have swaths of federal lands, which tend to be east of the Mississippi.

The obstacles developers face include a lack of existing infrastructure, such as water and sewer, and resistance from environmental groups that want federal lands protected against human intrusion. Also, some western residents dislike the idea of more neighbors and work against development.

The concept could provide thousands of homes in California, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Oregon, Idaho and Colorado. Ngo explains, "Some analyses have found that releasing more federal land could result in the construction of millions of new homes. Selling about 544,000 acres of developable land — or about 0.2 percent of the land that the Bureau of Land Management oversees — could result in the construction of 1.5 million new homes on land near existing cities over the next decade."

Even with bipartisan support, the process of moving the idea from a concept to active development could be slow and doesn't address the problem in the eastern half of the country. "Releasing federal land could take years because of stringent procedures, and the federal effort alone would not be enough to make up the nation’s entire shortfall of homes," Ngo reports. "Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giant, has estimated that the nation is short about 3.7 million housing units."

Even with its limitations, some builders are enthusiastic about the possibilities. Ngo adds, "Dan Dunmoyer, the president of the California Building Industry Association, said the biggest challenge facing homebuilders in the state was a shortage of land that was both affordable and suitable for housing development." He told her, “Land is hard to find. If there is land that’s adjacent to urban cores that’s available, that would be of interest to us.”

U.S. postal workers and letter carriers push against Trump and Musk's privatizing pitch

USPS has the largest physical and logistical infrastructure
of any non-military government institution. (Photo via IPR)

The U.S. Postal Service continues its uphill battle to modernize its processes and manage its financial woes. Meanwhile, it faces a new challenge -- the possibility of privatization by the Trump administration. Mail carriers and advocates believe privatizing the USPS would leave rural residents facing slower and fewer mail deliveries.

"In recent weeks, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have floated the idea of privatizing U.S. mail services," reports Michael Livingston of Interlochen Public Radio, which serves northern Michigan. "Trump said he’s considering putting USPS under the control of the Commerce Department, which he says will help fix declining profits at USPS. The agency has been independent and mostly self-funded since 1970."

Letter carriers oppose the change, with Trump and Musk's discussion leading to "mass protests by postal workers and letter carriers across the country last month. A national 'day of action' took place in more than 150 cities on March 20," Livingstone adds. "Letter carriers say that would be detrimental to rural areas . . ."

Doug Bartlett, president of the Michigan Rural Letter Carriers Association, told Livingston, "If a private company comes in and takes over the post office, they're going to cherry-pick where they can make money, and that's going to be our urban areas, short distances to get out and deliver stuff. And it's going to be our rural areas that'll be poor."

The USPS delivers to every address in the nation, which means its carriers are the ones getting checks, medicines and election ballots to the most remote-living Americans. Any changes to its services mean rural areas will likely be impacted. Bartlett told Livingston, "Rural delivery out in the real rural areas could be cut back to maybe as much as one or two days a week. That would be devastating for people that need those items."

Opinion: Americans should be alarmed at the 'dangerous idea' Congress is floating, which could 'kill' rural America

A couple cares for fencing in Dark Sky, Oregon, an area
that is mostly comprised of public lands. (Instagram)

 

Inside a recent congressional budget reconciliation discussion, an alarming suggestion was made: Allow Congress to sell public lands to private investors, writes Tim David in his opinion for The Daily Yonder. Although lawmakers indicate sale proceeds would increase federal revenue, the loss of public lands would devastate some rural economies "where public lands aren’t just a backdrop, they’re the backbone of the economy and the way of life."

Even as lawmakers say they care about rural livelihoods, selling public assets would harm many rural communities, particularly those in the West. "From grazing and outfitting to hunting, fishing, and tourism, these lands sustain small businesses, support working families, and keep rural economies afloat," David explains. "If Congress truly wants to support rural America, it can start by investing in the agencies that manage these lands, not liquidating the lands themselves."

Congress has spent years asking the Bureau of Land Management "to do more with less," David writes. "Some of the loudest voices criticizing the BLM are the same ones voting to strip its funding. It’s a political double standard: criticize the agency for being slow or ineffective, then gut the very budget that allows it to function, and turn around and blame it again when things don’t get done."

Considering its ever-shrinking budget, it's unsurprising that "public lands and the rural communities that depend on them are feeling the strain," David adds. "Across the West, deteriorating roads, neglected infrastructure, and staff shortages are leaving public access routes impassable and economic opportunities squandered. Local businesses are losing revenue right when tourism and recreation seasons should be ramping up."

What those in Washington may see as a budget line that needs reduction, are real Americans working and serving in the communities where they live. "These are folks who know every rancher by name, who raise their families in the same towns, and who show up for volunteer projects and community events," David explains. "When Congress cuts funding, it’s not just abstract numbers. It’s fewer people to maintain campgrounds, issue grazing permits, support outfitters, and help prevent wildfires. It’s not the agency that suffers, it’s rural America."

Congress needs to seek out different solutions. "If Congress truly wants to help rural America, it starts with two things: fund the BLM like it matters, and keep our public lands public," David writes. "If Congress continues to underfund the BLM and entertains a wholesale sell-off of public lands, it won’t just hurt rural America. It will kill it."

Neurodivergent workers fear facing discrimination as they return to the office

Neurodivergent workers fear for
their jobs if required to RTO.
(Photo by Christian Tarzi, Unsplash)

Neurodivergence encompasses people who may learn, think or behave differently than what is typical. Being neurodivergent can include diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectual disabilities, mental health conditions and more.

Neurodivergent challenges can be more common among rural residents who often live where access to medical and mental care for chronic conditions can be more limited. In fact, research published by Florida State University said that “The prevalence of adults living with disabilities is significantly higher in rural areas compared to metropolitan areas.”

“About a fifth of U.S. adults self-identify as neurodivergent,” according to an article by Danielle Abril at The Washington Post. For these workers, being in the office can be challenging.

During Covid, the number of people who worked from home went from 9 million to 28 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Now, workers are being called back into the office.

“Some neurodivergent workers discovered success working remotely during the pandemic and don’t feel comfortable disclosing their diagnoses due to fear of and prior instances of discrimination,” wrote Abril.

Through interviews with neurodivergent workers, Abril found that in some cases, after disclosing their diagnosis, workers have been fired days later or told to get it under control. However, “Even before the pandemic, companies were required under the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) to offer accommodations, which might include adjustable work schedules, to people who disclosed their neurodivergence.”

In an interview with Abril, Amazon spokesperson Margaret Callahan said, “the company continues to believe that the advantages of being together … are significant.”

While working from home can create a more comfortable and productive environment for some workers, there is still a push by companies for employees to return to the office.

Kristyn Roth, chief marketing officer of the Autism Society of America, told Abril, “The job market right now is really competitive… If accommodations [like flexibility] are being cut and DEI services continue to be deprioritized, job opportunities become even more narrow for autistic or neurodiverse workers.”

To prevent bird flu, farmers invest in lasers to discourage wild birds from flying over farm animal operations

Birds see the beams as a threat and avoid the area.
(Graphic by A. Dixon, Ambrook Research)

An increasing number of farmers looking to stop the spread of bird flu are using lasers to discourage wild birds from flying over poultry and dairy operations. Farmers have "sought to reduce the risk of their animals contracting the disease," reports Daniel Walton of Ambrook Research. "They know that wild birds such as geese, ducks, and seagulls spread bird flu along their migration routes, and lasers are becoming a go-to tactic for keeping them — and by extension, the virus — away from buildings or pastures."

Lasers work because birds rely on their vision to sense any surrounding threats. Walton explains, "Green lasers in particular are close to the wavelengths that birds best perceive in motion, and the beams likely interact with the green chlorophyll in plants to produce disorienting effects only birds can see."

Jake Vlaminck, a turkey producer in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, decided to start investing in lasers as a wild bird deterrent after "a bird flu outbreak forced him to cull tens of thousands of turkeys," Walton writes. A neighboring farmer introduced him to a "robotically controlled system. . . . Its laser swivels on a base to target dozens of different points in constantly shifting patterns, keeping birds from growing accustomed to the beams."

While Vlaminck wasn't sure the system would help, "he was willing to take a chance on anything that might avoid a repeat outbreak," Walton explains. "He set up two units in early 2023, before the spring migration season, and over the following year his flocks remained untouched by flu. . . . Minnesota poultry farmers have put in over 100 laser systems since 2023, some with support from a state program meant to prevent bird flu transmission."

Lasers may not be a "silver bullet" solution to stop bird flu transmission, but "for farmers who’ve lost entire flocks to bird flu. . .Gutshall says the investment can be very worthwhile," Walton reports. "He estimates that laser clients usually see their wild bird activity drop by 80%, with even further reductions when they add on other deterrents."

Earth-friendly tips help build awareness about sustainable consumerism

Recycling may not be as
sustainable as it's advertised.
(Photo by No Revisions, Unsplash)

People might think sustainability means recycling, growing your own food, composting, not using plastic, and buying more sustainable products.

However, Joel Hartter, a professor in the environmental studies department at the University of Colorado, told CNN that a “common misconception is that reducing plastic is just about swapping disposables for reusables,” but that most waste comes from “packaging and how products are designed and distributed.”

Carolina Gazal wrote in the article for CNN that Hartter also said many materials that are considered recyclable often end up in landfills anyway and when they are recycled it still requires “energy, water and infrastructure.”

After interviewing multiple experts on the issue, Gazal wrote that the message is clear, “Sustainability is about thoughtful, systemic change that values durability, reduction and a smarter use of what we already have.”

To start living more sustainably, Hartter told Gazal, “Look for packaging made from paper, glass, aluminum or other materials that are widely recyclable and don’t degrade in quality after one use. Skip the vague marketing language. Words like ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘green’ aren’t regulated. Instead, read the materials list and look for specific attributes: ‘100% postconsumer recycled paper,’ for example. Bulk refills, concentrates and solid-form products (like bar soaps or detergent tablets) are typically lower waste.”

Gazal said that buying in bulk can be applied to food (as in buying one container of yogurt and putting single servings in to-go containers instead of buying single servings), hygiene items and cleaning supplies. In her article, she listed these and other items she uses with links to where to find them.

Reporting on addiction resources helps journalists approach alcohol use disorder with more accuracy and empathy

Reporting on Addiction offers an audio "Tip Sheet" for journalists who want to understand what alcohol use disorder is, address alcohol use stigma or enhance your community's understanding of the diagnoses.

Throughout April, which is designated Alcohol Awareness Month, journalists can access Reporting on Addiction's resources and learn the different parts of alcohol use, including prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. 

The tip sheet helps reporters approach alcohol issues with more accuracy and empathy. According to Reporting on Addiction, when journalists engage in informed reporting, they benefit their communities by helping to:

• Reduce the stigma associated with alcohol use disorder.
• Make the public more aware of available help and support services.
• Foster more productive community discussions and effective policies regarding alcohol.
• Ultimately improve overall community health and well-being.

Reporting on Addiction is on a mission to improve how the media discusses and depicts addiction in the news. The collaborative service offers education for professional and student newsrooms that uses addiction science experts, research-based reporting resources, an expert database, and a network of media professionals passionate about decreasing stigma and improving the media’s portrayal of addiction and recovery. Access their materials here.

Many 'recycled' items go to a landfill instead; here's how to improve your recycling efforts, particularly involving plastics

Consumers who pay attention to recycling details can help their local program succeed.
(Photo by A.V. Loarca, Newsday RM, Getty Images via The Conversation)

Sometimes items Americans toss into recycling cans get a second life, but all too often, they end up in the landfill. In his column for The Conversation, Alex Jordan, an associate professor of Plastics Engineering at the University of Wisconsin, explains how single-stream recycling works, gives examples of which items work best for recycling, and details what U.S. consumers can do to improve their recycling habits. He includes a handy video that illustrates the single-stream recycling process from start to finish.

Single-stream recycling means that consumers can put all their recyclable items in one bin for pick up, which are taken to a facility that sorts and divides the items. "While single-stream recycling is convenient, it has downsides," Jordan explains. "Contamination, such as food residue, plastic bags and items that can’t be recycled, can degrade the quality of the remaining material, making it more difficult to reuse. That lowers its value."

While every recycling program has its own rules, there are some fairly universal guides regarding what can be recycled, which means many items tossed into recycling bins will never be repurposed. "A large percentage of material never gets a second life," Jordan notes. "Reports in recent years have found 15% to 25% of all the materials picked up from recycling bins end up in landfills instead. Plastics are among the biggest challenges."

Which plastics are recyclable? The recycling code stamp on the plastic next to the recycling icon will let you know. In general, products stamped with symbols 3, 4 or six are not recyclable. Jordan adds, "That leaves three plastics that can be recycled in many facilities." Those include:

• Symbol 1 – Soda bottles are often made of Polyethylene terephthalate or PET.
• Symbol 2 – This plastic, known as high-density polyethylene, or HDPE, is found in most milk jugs and laundry detergent bottles,
• Symbol 5 – Polypropylene, PP, is used in products such as pill bottles, yogurt cups and plastic utensils.

Researchers are working on ways to make "recycled materials more versatile and valuable and move products closer to a goal of a circular economy without waste," Jordan explains. "However, improving recycling also requires better recycling habits. Consumers can help the recycling process by: 

• Taking a few minutes to wash off food waste.
• Avoiding putting plastic bags in your recycling bin.
• Paying attention to what can and cannot be recycled in your area.

A single-stream recycling system. (Van Dyk Recycling Solutions video via The Conversation)