Locally sourced, collaborative reporting from and for rural America.
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Kara Counard for Barn Raiser
Gutting Two-Year Colleges Leaves Rural Students Behind
As Wisconsin hollows out access to liberal arts and higher ed, experts warn of education “desertification.”
LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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If Measure D fails, ambulances on Mendocino County’s south coast could drop to one during some hours
A single hospital run can take up to seven hours start to finish.
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Mat-Su residents turn out to ‘Flip the Script’ at back-to-back Sentinel candidate forums
Rather than asking candidates to debate one another or respond to a series of questions, the events invited candidates to introduce themselves and then listen.
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Isaias Strengthens Into a Dangerous Category 3 Hurricane on Track Toward the US Gulf Coast
The hurricane is forecast to make landfall late Friday somewhere along the Alabama-Florida line and create dangerous conditions in the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi, the National Hurricane Center said.
RNN Highlights
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Rachel Livinal for The Merced FOCUS
Young Brains, Huge Stakes: How transitional kindergarten is shaping San Joaquin Valley’s youth
As California expands transitional kindergarten statewide, this four-part series examines whether San Joaquin Valley schools can meet the needs of young learners.
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Lily Smith for Flatwater Free Press
Priced out of the Good Life
Nebraska paychecks are stagnant. Home prices continue to spiral. It’s pricing out a generation of buyers.
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Courtesy of U.S. Senate
Cardinal News 250: Virginia’s stories. A nation’s birth.
The project spotlights Virginia’s overlooked contributions to America’s march to independence ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, or semiquincentennial.
MORE NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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Vermont general election ballots mailed later than expected
October 09, 2026
Following “technical problems,” all ballots were mailed by Oct. 7, according to the Secretary of State.
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New interactive tsunami map helps Alaska communities prepare for the worst
October 09, 2026
Alaska’s large earthquakes and coastal geography make the state especially vulnerable to tsunamis.
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Trump to rally for Sullivan in Wasilla next week
October 08, 2026
Recent polling shows Democrat Mary Peltola narrowly leading U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in one of seven Senate races considered toss-ups.
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When a rural Texas school district struggled with growth, charter schools filled the void
October 08, 2026
The state has limited how much money it gives to fast-growing school districts, creating million-dollar gaps between what is owed and what’s given.
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Complaint accuses Cass County sheriff of inappropriately sharing nude photos, video
October 08, 2026
Deputy Aaron Ammerman, who is running for Cass County sheriff, filed the complaint against Sheriff Bryan Welk in January. An investigation was closed with no apparent action.
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How candidates for Maine governor want to turn around education
October 08, 2026
Each lamented the decline of standardized test scores and shared differing ideas for how the state government should respond.
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City manager’s proposal to privatize water services draws criticism, council seeks study
October 08, 2026
Ana Cortez says concept is a potential way to avoid bankruptcy.
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A new owner took over central Missouri hospital. Nine days later, it cut labor and delivery
October 08, 2026
The closure comes as maternity care continues to disappear across rural Missouri. More than half of Missouri’s counties have no local labor and delivery services.
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How Maine candidates for governor would address the housing shortage
October 07, 2026
Permitting and tax reform, supporting local labor and state investment are all common threads in the Blaine House race.