Locally sourced, collaborative reporting from and for rural America.
Featured Story
Madeline Ostrander for FERN
Food and Environment Reporting Network
A Fledgling Fishery Hopes to Turn the Tide on Whale-Safe Gear
Distrust among fishermen has kept new technologies, designed to prevent whales from becoming entangled in fishing gear, on the fringes. But the brown box crab is changing minds in California.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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Despite Rising Living Costs, Water Affordability Legislation Stalls
Bills in Michigan and Congress to help low-income households have not passed.
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ND Ag commissioner candidates offer different views on data center development
Varied thoughts on who is responsible for setting rules.
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Coalition in deep East Texas aims to build tech workforce, connect region
Led by community members from 11 counties, the group plans to address major concerns about broadband expansion and provide training on how to use technology.
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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Wisconsin governor candidates talk about supporting local control, but their records are mixed depending on the issue
October 26, 2026
Tom Tiffany supported local control for public land purchases after pushing for state preemption over mining regulations; David Crowley backed blocking municipalities from privatizing water and sewage services.
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Homeownership is out of reach for many community members. Two local organizations are working to change that
October 26, 2026
Land trust model expands homeownership to more potential buyers by lowering prices.
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County planners again continue review of battery energy storage rules
October 26, 2026
Commissioners want more time to fine-tune ordinance.
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To keep rural healthcare workers, Missouri is helping cover their childcare costs
October 26, 2026
Missouri is expanding a program that shares childcare costs among employers, families and the state. But finding care in the first place is still a challenge.
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What are Wyoming’s key legislative races? Here are five to watch.
October 26, 2026
Voters’ choices next month will largely decide to what extent Republican lawmakers retain their statehouse power.
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Records reveal alleged misconduct in western Mass sheriffs’ offices
October 26, 2026
Despite recent transparency reforms, sheriffs in Massachusetts are still able to keep officer misconduct hidden from scrutiny. But newly uncovered documents reveal allegations against five sheriffs’ employees in Franklin and Hampshire counties.
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Possible data center at regional industrial park in Carroll County sparks discussion of tax revenue, local control
October 26, 2026
Officials are traveling to Alabama for a fact-finding mission.
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Eastport police investigate accusations of harassment following heated meeting of Port Authority board
October 23, 2026
Dispute ends session, drawing law enforcement into an inquiry over alleged intimidation.
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Murkowski on war-driven energy prices: ‘It is wrong.’
October 23, 2026
Sen. Lisa Murkowski told the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention that high energy prices are this year’s crisis, just as the Halong storm disaster was last year’s, and Murkowski was blunt about the cause.