Rural News Clips, Aug. 21, 2024
Walz is key to winning rural voters for Dems — but first he has to win over his hometowns; Dems trying to reverse election losses in rural US urge focus on economy
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CAMPAIGN FOR RURAL PROGRESS
The Hechinger Report
‘Not waiting for people to save us’: 9 school districts combine forces to help students
Aug. 21, 2024
“Across the United States, rural schools often struggle to provide the kinds of academic opportunities that students in more populous areas might take for granted.”
“Although often the hub of their communities, rural schools tend to struggle with a shrinking teaching force, budgets spread too thin and limited access to employers who can help.”
“Rural students have fewer options for advanced courses or career and technical education, or CTE, before entering the workforce.”
“But clustered near the Four Corners in Colorado, the coalition of nine rural districts has partnered with higher education and business leaders to successfully expand career and college pathways for their students.”
“A nonprofit formed by the districts conducts job market analysis and surveys teenagers about their interests.”
“Armed with that data, academic counselors can advise students on the array of new CTE and college-level classes in high-wage positions in the building trades, hospitality and tourism, health sciences, education and the environment.”
POLITICS AND ELECTIONS
The Wall Street Journal
Tim Walz Is Key to Winning Rural Voters for Democrats. First, He’ll Need to Win Over His Hometowns.
Aug. 20, 2024
“Democrats are hoping Walz’s roots in the cattle-and-farming country of northern Nebraska will help them cut into the GOP’s overwhelming advantage in rural America.”
“On Saturday, he campaigned elsewhere in the state, near Omaha. But while many in the towns where Walz grew up are impressed by his political ascent from a map dot near the state’s rolling Sandhills, they aren’t ready to vote for him.”
“While most rural voters lean red, Democrats hope Walz, 60 years old, might sway some who are more centrist, or who find appeal in his small-town background as a high-school teacher and football coach.”
“Nebraska’s electoral college votes are partially awarded by congressional district, and Democrats are hoping to snag one from an Omaha-based seat, as they did in 2020.”
“But outside of that area, Nebraska is a largely conservative state. Its full slate of electoral votes hasn’t gone to a Democratic presidential nominee since former President Lyndon Johnson in 1964.”
Kentucky Lantern
Democrats Trying to Reverse Election Losses in Rural America Urge Focus on Economy
Aug. 21, 2024
“Democrats should focus on pocketbook issues to win back rural voters, speakers including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a Rural Council meeting at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday.”
“Beshear urged the group of rural Democrats to reject social issues and a left-right ideological framing. Most voters, he said, were not worried about political labels, but about jobs, health care, transportation, school quality and safety.”
“The Republicans dominating rural districts and states, Beshear and other speakers said, were not delivering on those issues.”
“The event, one of the dozens of official events for party delegates and candidates a few miles from the national program broadcast from the United Center, was infused with the idea that rural campaigns are not Democrats’ strongest, with hints that rural issues may be outside the mainstream of an increasingly urban Democratic Party.”
“But speakers also projected hope that the party could reverse a decades-long trend of losses in rural areas, including in November’s presidential election, largely through the selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’ running mate.”
“The speakers urged Democrats not to abandon rural areas as unwinnable, but to contest every election.”
Alaska Beacon
America’s farthest-north state House race is now tied, as more votes are counted in Alaska primary
Aug. 21, 2024
“One day after Alaska’s primary election day, results from rural precincts continued to trickle into the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Election.”
“With 16 of 20 precincts reporting results in House District 40, which covers the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Borough, Democratic candidates Saima ‘Ikrik’ Chase and Robyn ‘Niayuq’ Burke are now tied in a three-way race that also includes former Republican-turned-undeclared incumbent Thomas ‘Ikaaq” Baker.’”
“The tie may be momentary; elections officials have yet to count questioned and absentee ballots.”
BALLOT INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATION
The Associated Press
Voters in Arizona and Montana can decide on constitutional right to abortion
Aug. 21, 2024
“Voters in Arizona and Montana will be able to decide in November whether they want to protect the right to an abortion in their state constitutions.”
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a 200-word summary that abortion advocates used to collect signatures for a ballot measure is valid, clearing the way for the issue to remain on the ballot.”
Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen on Tuesday certified Montana’s constitutional initiative for the November ballot.”
“Under both measures, abortions would be allowed until fetal viability — the point at which a fetus could survive outside the womb, typically around 24 weeks.”
“In Arizona, there are some exceptions for post-viability abortions to save the mother’s life or to protect her physical or mental health. Montana’s measure allows later abortions if needed to protect the mother’s life or health.”
Colorado Newsline
Income tax bill increases economic disparities in Colorado, analysis shows
Aug. 21, 2024
“A bill passed by the Colorado Legislature this year that adjusts taxpayer refunds will benefit high earners but decrease refunds for most Colorado taxpayers, according to a recent analysis from legislative staff.”
“Senate Bill 24-228 is a tax package passed in the final days of this year’s lawmaking term that was part of a deal to get a separate progressive tax policy for families across the finish line.”
“According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Indigenous people, Black people, Hispanic people, people with a disability and people living in a rural area are most likely to live in a Colorado household that will see a smaller refund.”
EDUCATION
Politico
Schools stare down fiscal cliff as federal pandemic aid runs out
Aug. 21, 2024
“School districts across the country received the largest infusion of federal cash ever to pull themselves out of the throes of the pandemic.”
“But now that money is set to expire and districts are slashing jobs, increasing class sizes and cutting programs to keep their schools afloat.”
“Congress designed the aid — roughly $190 billion altogether — as a one-time distribution of cash primarily to tackle pandemic crises like learning loss, chronic absenteeism and worsening mental health.”
“That’s more than one fifth of total U.S. K-12 education spending in 2022. Now, the last $122 billion runs out at the end of September.”
“The funding boost has helped schools make progress in addressing the Covid fallout by adding high-intensity tutoring and after school activities, key programs districts are struggling to fund just as students return to school.”
HEALTH CARE
Chief Healthcare Executive
Why rural hospitals are facing such a bleak future
Aug. 19, 2024
“Rural hospitals have long faced financial hardships, and their difficulties began well before the COVID-19 pandemic, analysts say.”
“Small, rural hospitals typically have more difficulty attracting top talent, and that goes beyond physicians and nurses.”
“Many rural patients are covered by Medicare, so rural hospitals get less revenue than facilities with a higher share of patients with commercial insurance.”
“Even in better times, rural hospitals typically generated enough money to cover expenses, and not much more.”
“analysts are saying the outlook for many rural hospitals is grim. Many of these invaluable institutions could disappear in the near future, endangering the health of rural communities nationwide.”
“Many [critical access hospitals] based in small communities with stagnant or declining populations, and they don’t have a large enough pool of people to fill jobs. With the population of rural communities aging, the payer mix gets even less favorable for rural hospitals, with even more patients on Medicare.”
“Many are going to need to find a partner, such as a hospital or health system willing to acquire them, to keep the doors open.”
HOUSING
The Daily Yonder
South Carolina Has an Eviction Problem
Aug. 21, 2024
“South Carolina has one of the nation’s highest eviction rates and it has created a special court to try to solve the problem.”
“Although the program has seen some success, it still fails to serve the state’s most rural, and arguably most vulnerable, residents.”
“South Carolina’s eviction filing rate is 20%, more than double the national rate of 7.8%. In March of 2024 alone, the state’s local courts processed 8,800 eviction filings.”
“Metropolitan counties have higher eviction rates in South Carolina compared to rural ones.”
“Based on data collected over the past year, the eviction filing rate in South Carolina’s metropolitan counties was 22%, compared to 18% in nonmetropolitan, or rural, counties.”
“Housing experts blame high eviction rates on South Carolina’s low filing fee. It only costs a landlord $40 to submit a complaint to a court.”
Kentucky Lantern
KY housing shortage will worsen without action, low-income renters most vulnerable, says study
Aug. 21, 2024
“A leader of a national real estate research firm says if no action is taken over the next five years on Kentucky’s housing shortage, more Kentuckians could be forced to live in substandard housing, live with family or friends in crowded spaces, deal with severe housing costs or become homeless.”
“Kentucky currently needs about 206,000 housing units, including rentals and homes for sale.”
“Without a push to build or repair more housing, that number is projected to increase by more than 80,000 by 2029 to 287,000-plus housing units, driven significantly by the need for lower-income rentals and higher-income homes for sale.”
JOBS
The Washington Post
Federal judge strikes down FTC rule banning noncompete agreements
Aug. 20, 2024
“A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday struck down the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete agreements, finding that the agency exceeded its authority with a rule that would have voided contracts that bar workers from moving to rival employers.”
This is especially important in rural areas where, for example, a nurse who quit a job might be effectively unable to get a job anywhere else in their community and might have to leave. That’s unhelpful when skilled workers are already in shortage in small towns and rural areas.”
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
Politico
Florida Supreme Court allows for ballot language abortion-rights activists fought
Aug. 21, 2024
“The Florida Supreme Court rejected a request to strike a financial statement tied to a ballot initiative seeking to expand abortion access on Wednesday, after that statement was revised last month with the help of anti-abortion advocates.”
“The state Supreme Court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by lawyers for the Floridians Protecting Freedom Committee, a group supporting the ballot measure that would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.”
“The state Supreme Court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by lawyers for the Floridians Protecting Freedom Committee, a group supporting the ballot measure that would overturn the state’s six-week abortion ban.”
“The committee argued the revised statement, which will be printed on the ballot next to the initiative known as Amendment 4, was the result of meetings that should have never taken place.”
Arkansas Advocate
Panelists say telemedicine, doulas could improve Arkansas’ poor maternal health outcomes
Aug. 21, 2024
“Participants in a maternal health roundtable discussion in Bentonville Wednesday morning said education, collaboration, meeting patients where they are and telemedicine are all strategies for addressing Arkansas’ poor maternal health outcomes.”
“Arkansas has one of the nation’s highest maternal mortality rates and the third-highest infant mortality rate, according to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement.”
U.S. Sen. John Boozman, “a former optometrist, said Medicaid reimbursement rates pose ‘a huge problem in medicine’ and as a result, some physicians may limit accepting Medicaid patients.”
“This can further limit access to physicians in a rural state that already struggles with health care access. Some of Arkansas’ 75 counties do not have hospitals, while only 35 hospitals in the state have labor and delivery units.”
VETERANS
Roll Call
Can toxic exposure law break GOP’s electoral edge with veterans?
Aug. 20, 2024
“Democrats are hoping to wrestle veteran voters away from Republicans this year, and plan to highlight efforts to expand health care access in campaigns for some key seats.”
Veterans are more likely to be rural.
“Central to the party’s argument is the 2022 law expanding access to health care for veterans exposed to toxins while serving overseas.”
“That legislation has led to a sharp increase in demand at the Department of Veterans Affairs, with over 412,000 new veterans enrolled over the past year.”
“That high level of interest has even led to a VA budget shortfall that lawmakers will be scrambling to fill in September.”
“Veterans voted for President Donald Trump over Biden in 2020 by a 54% to 44% margin in 2020, according to exit polls conducted by television networks.”