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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.
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LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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Study: Rural Homelessness Is Underestimated and Exacerbated by Opioid Epidemic
February 12, 2025
According to new research, the “Point in Time Count” method used by the federal government to track the unhoused population numbers can be far from accurate when applied in rural areas.
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A case against drug distributors over the flood of pills that ravaged West Virginia is back in court. Here’s what to know.
February 05, 2025
Cabell County and Huntington could get another chance in their fight against opioid distributors. But first, the West Virginia Supreme Court must decide if public nuisance law applies to legal products.
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Cities are dumping this chemical in NC rivers — and getting paid to do it
January 28, 2025
Is 1,4-dioxane dangerous? Opinions vary. But that hasn’t stopped cities, like Reidsville, from releasing the chemical into the drinking water of communities.
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Rural Wildfire Risk Doesn’t Stop New Residents
January 24, 2025
People are moving to rural areas that experience wildfires at a faster rate than other rural areas.
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Nonprofit pushes for tougher DUI laws amid spike in fatalities
January 17, 2025
Mom and sister of Columbia Falls man hit by drunk driver rewarding people who find a sober ride.
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As bitter cold sweeps through Texas, ERCOT says the power grid is stable
January 06, 2025
The state’s electric grid operator issued a weather watch until Friday but says it doesn’t expect power disruptions as demand rises.
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A Mat-Su borough plan to borrow city health powers could unlock millions in opioid help
January 06, 2025
Under the proposal, the borough would use the cities’ health powers to significantly expand the types of organizations eligible to access funding for opioid-related treatment, prevention, recovery and harm-reduction services.
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As Virginia schools prepare to implement cellphone restrictions, safety is major concern
December 30, 2024
Many school divisions will roll out new policies in January to comply with a state Education Department “bell-to-bell” student cellphone ban.
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A newly proposed state trooper post would bolster patrols near Willow and Talkeetna
December 23, 2024
The post was proposed in response to local concerns about an inadequate trooper presence in the area, highlighted by community feedback following a 2023 kidnapping and double homicide linked to drug trafficking.
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Exclusive: Murphy on drones, clemency, the state’s finances – and a Chappell Roan fave
December 13, 2024
“There’s no need to panic, on the one hand, based on everything I’ve been told. On the other side of it, you have to take it very, very seriously, and we are doing just that,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in an exclusive interview with New Jersey State House News Service about reports of mysterious drones hovering above parts of the state.
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Agricultural runoff damages our water and kills wildlife. Could a simple drainage stopper be the solution?
December 11, 2024
Some farmers hope these devices can keep thousands of gallons of precious water — and expensive fertilizer — back in their fields, helping them achieve better yields while protecting the environment.
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Conditions after Helene could make NC mountain wildfires difficult to contain
November 20, 2024
Loss of infrastructure, accumulation of storm debris could fuel wildfires, make it difficult for firefighters to reach blazes in Western NC.
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Six-Hour Meeting on Opioid Settlement Funds Results in No Definitive Board Action
November 14, 2024
Some supervisors are pushing to develop a strategic plan before allocating any funds, while others want to start deploying money quickly, in hopes of having a more immediate effect. Chair Kevin Crye says the most urgent priority is funding substance use prevention efforts with youth.
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Vermont implements statewide ban on debris burning due to wildfire risk
October 28, 2024
“We are also concerned with fire department personnel becoming strained and fatigued as they share responsibility for wildland fire response,” said the commissioner of the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation.
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Amid fires and red-flag warnings, the future of San Benito County’s rural fire protection is precarious
October 24, 2024
The county has until March 2025 to find a new contractor to provide fire services in the county’s unincorporated areas.
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