Alex Milan Tracy for Underscore
Explore the Archive
The dozens of independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan news organizations that make up the Rural News Network are developing the broadest news alliance reporting on rural America. These newsrooms are pursuing coverage that provides a more complete picture of what it means to live and work in these communities.
Filter by Topic
Filter by Outlet
Search by keywords
Filter by State
LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
-
Judge weighs immediacy vs. efficacy in Oklahoma poultry waste settlement proposal
March 02, 2026
Oklahoma could be one step closer to ending its decades-long court battle with poultry companies over pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
-
Scotus upends Trump tariffs that have roiled Minnesota farmers and state’s trade with Canada
February 20, 2026
In Minnesota, farmers have been hurt by retaliation from China and other nations that cut imports of grain, pork, beef and other products and also by the higher cost of imported fertilizer, farm equipment and other inputs.
-
Environmental groups sue Hermantown over data center review process
November 05, 2025
In a lawsuit filed this month, the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy joined the grassroots Stop the Hermantown Data Center group to demand further environmental review on a proposed data center.
-
Youth plaintiffs, experts ask court to halt Trump executive orders to ‘unleash’ American energy
September 16, 2025
The youth ages 11 to 20 described damage to their physical and mental health from climate change-related wildfires, flooding and hurricanes.
-
How are Wisconsin’s local governments spending millions in opioid settlement payouts?
July 29, 2025
Three years into disbursements, strategies vary — and so does transparency. Some governments submitted required reports only after a reporter asked. Others have yet to spend anything.
-
Appeals court orders release of Uvalde school shooting records
July 16, 2025
Eighteen news organizations including The Texas Tribune have been seeking the records since 2022, when 19 children and 2 teachers were killed at Robb Elementary School.
-
Judges warned CPS was failing kids. West Virginia ethics officials want to silence them.
July 08, 2025
Two judges went public about how the state’s child welfare system is endangering kids. A state judicial ethics watchdog warned them to not do it again.
-
North Carolina to get $150M from new opioid settlement as counties expand treatment and recovery services
July 02, 2025
Money from the latest settlement agreement with Purdue Pharma will boost counties’ efforts to curb opioid addiction and overdoses, some of which have already led to innovative programs.
-
SD Supreme Court will consider legality of Igloo bunker leases
June 16, 2025
The 2,200-square-foot bunkers are rented as residences, mostly to survivalists or “preppers,” who want to live off the grid and be positioned to survive a global catastrophe.
-
An Egregious Backlog: Interior Department Searches for Ways to Speed Up Native American Probate Court
June 02, 2025
In early May, tribal leaders discussed the sometimes generations-long wait for probate court with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in a meeting, according to a tribal governor.
-
A cop with a secret
May 05, 2025
The problem-solving court, as the state calls it, was created in 2007. Participants, who have felony driving under the influence and drug convictions, avoid prison by going through community-based, intensive outpatient treatment.
-
Counties and municipalities have spent about $7 million of their opioid settlement funds so far
May 04, 2025
The money has gone to residential treatment program scholarships, mental health liaisons in police departments and a recovery center in Alfred.
-
In rural Nebraska, it’s hard to find an attorney. It’s going to get much harder.
April 25, 2025
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.
-
Election results: Door County supports Crawford for Supreme Court; Sturgeon Bay re-elects Ward as mayor
March 01, 2025
A majority of the county’s voters also voted in favor of a referendum to add the existing voter ID requirement to the state constitution, which also won statewide.
-
Mat-Su school district reaches settlement in lawsuit over student free speech rights
February 28, 2025
The district must allow student political speech but can dictate the time and place of student protests, according to an agreement.
RURAL NEWS SPOTLIGHT
Sign up to receive our occasional newsletter, Rural News Spotlight. Read a recent issue here.