Alex Milan Tracy for Underscore
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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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Judge recommends sale of troubled rural water company to one of Pa.’s largest private utilities
February 19, 2026
Pennsylvania American Water is the suggested buyer for the long-troubled Rock Spring Water Company. Pennsylvania American has been managing the small rural utility in an interim capacity since March 2025.
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Why a $193M injection for rural health care in Pa. isn’t easing closure worries
February 11, 2026
The five-year Rural Health Transformation Program is meant to expand and strengthen access to care, but state officials and experts warn the money isn’t enough to fix every problem.
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ICE concerns prompt Lycoming County residents to form aid networks for immigrant neighbors
January 13, 2026
Two groups coordinate rides, errands, and a 24-hour phone line to help immigrants navigate daily life and document encounters with federal immigration authorities.
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A rural Pennsylvania township has spent thousands of dollars to hide a proposed law from local residents
January 12, 2026
Tulpehocken Township is challenging a state Office of Open Records decision requiring the release of a draft agriculture ordinance.
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Expanding broadband in rural Pa. was complicated by rule changes and uncertainty in 2025
December 22, 2025
A $42 billion federal grant program was supposed to expand broadband to every home and business. But cuts and changed rules created new challenges.
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From big cities to rural Pennsylvania: The ‘Shop Ladies of Brookville’ have brought flair to a small town
December 16, 2025
Drawn by historic homes and a slower pace, these women moved to rural Pennsylvania and opened their own storefronts all while building a network of support and friendship.
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Pharmacies are disappearing across Pennsylvania as operators blame a broken payment system
July 24, 2025
Several pharmacists told Spotlight PA that depending on reimbursement rates, pharmacies can bring on more customers and fill more prescriptions — and still end up losing money.
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How a bipartisan push — and backing from farmers — helped end Pennsylvania’s Sunday hunting ban
July 18, 2025
Supporters of the repeal credit its success to years of advocacy, along with new backing among farmers seeking relief from crop damage.
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Medicaid cuts in Trump’s tax bill will ‘devastate’ access to care in rural Pennsylvania, critics say
July 10, 2025
More than 737,000 Medicaid recipients live in rural counties, where residents are typically older and more reliant on government-funded insurance programs.
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Federal budget bill could strip 300K Pennsylvanians of Medicaid coverage, push rural hospitals to the brink
June 10, 2025
President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill could have a disastrous effect on the health of rural Pennsylvanians and the operations of the hospitals and other medical centers that care for them.
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After years of neglect, rural Pa. water system sees upgrades under interim management
April 16, 2025
Rock Spring’s customers have dealt with unreliable service for more than a decade.
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Proposed $25M cut to bird flu aid for farmers could leave Pa. unprepared for surge, GOP lawmakers fear
April 02, 2025
The agriculture department wants to reroute most of those dollars to other needs, such as using $15 million for agriculture innovation grants and $8 million for food assistance programs.
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Millions earmarked to keep rural hospitals open, recruit health care providers in Shapiro’s $51.4B budget proposal
February 13, 2025
Local elected leaders hope investments to address rural service gaps, promote economic development, and attract tourism through outdoor recreation make it into the final deal.
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$1M from the state prevented this rural hospital from closing, but its troubles aren’t over
January 22, 2025
For years, health care administrators and experts have said workforce shortages and increased operating costs have exacerbated financial problems, especially for hospitals in rural areas where residents are typically older and more reliant on Medicare and Medicaid, which reimburse at lower rates than private insurance companies.
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Rural Pa. counties are still recovering from Tropical Storm Debby as officials eye ways to mitigate future damage
December 23, 2024
Federal dollars have helped some people get back on their feet in the four months since the storm, but some local officials are looking for long-term solutions to help prevent — or mitigate — such damage the next time there’s heavy rain.
RURAL NEWS SPOTLIGHT
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