Project 2025 Weekly Rural News Clips, Feb. 16, 2026
Rural voters could be hurt worse by earlier mail ballot deadlines; Inside China’s push to feed 1.4 billion people without U.S. crops; New ICE facilities could bankrupt rural Pa. towns
POLITICS AND ELECTIONS
Stateline
Trump’s calls to ‘nationalize’ elections have state, local election officials bracing for tumult
February 9, 2026
State and local election officials across the country are preparing for potential federal involvement in elections after President Trump called for nationalizing election administration.
Rural counties could face added administrative pressure and voter confusion if federal oversight expands, especially where election offices already operate with fewer staff and resources, though no specific changes are confirmed.
Ongoing lawsuits over voter data access, disputes about constitutional authority, and mixed reactions from officials in both parties suggest continued legal and political conflict that could shape future election administration.
Though Project 2025 doesn’t explicitly call for nationalizing elections in this way, it advocates for stronger federal involvement in and control over state and local elections.
Votebeat
How many voters could be affected by earlier mail ballot deadlines? We ran the numbers.
February 11, 2026
Changes to mail ballot deadlines, postal postmark timing, and a pending Supreme Court case could lead to more rejected ballots, with rural voters potentially affected because they often rely more on mail voting and face longer delivery times.
Since the 2024 election, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, and Utah stopped counting ballots that arrive after Election Day, while several other states still allow late-arriving ballots if postmarked on time.
Data from 2024 shows more than 750,000 ballots arrived after Election Day in states with grace periods, and a Supreme Court ruling expected later this year could determine whether that practice continues nationwide.
Though Project 2025 doesn’t explicitly call for earlier mail ballot deadlines, it calls for stricter overall rules for mail-in or absentee ballots.
The Daily Yonder
Commentary: 45 Degrees North: Voting While Female
February 13, 2026
Proposed voter ID and citizenship proof laws could make voting harder for rural women whose legal names don’t match birth records, especially where distance, paperwork access, and costs already complicate participation, writes Donna Kallner, a rural Wisconsin columnist.
The commentary argues bills like the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act and the newer Make Elections Great Again Act could add documentation hurdles, expand centralized voter data systems, and potentially discourage participation.
Kallner says rural voters often try to prepare early because of travel and bureaucratic barriers, but she worries added requirements could still suppress turnout and deepen distrust in elections.
Project 2025 calls for stricter voting ID laws.
AGRICULTURE
Reuters
USDA’s reputation suffers after massive revisions in US corn acres
February 10, 2026
Critics say deep staff losses at the U.S. Department of Agriculture may have weakened its ability to gather accurate data, and an unexpected revision to 2025 U.S. corn acreage estimates has helped push already low grain prices down further for struggling growers.
The revision raises new doubts about federal crop data reliability, which farmers rely on for pricing, planning and risk decisions.
Analysts warn continued uncertainty about federal agricultural data could complicate marketing decisions, insurance planning and financial stability for farm-dependent rural communities.
Project 2025 advocates for the deep federal funding cuts that have made it more difficult to collect data. It’s likely that some data gathering was weakened or cut to avoid accountability.
Tennessee Lookout
Tennessee row crop farmers face changing global market after two years in the red
February 10, 2026
Tennessee row crop farmers have absorbed roughly two years of heavy financial losses totaling hundreds of millions of dollars while facing shifting global markets, high costs, weather disruptions, and trade uncertainty that threaten the stability of rural farm economies.
Agriculture leaders say farmers may need diversification, stronger export strategies, and improved transportation infrastructure such as flood-resistant roads, river access, and rail links to remain competitive in changing international markets.
Officials also see potential growth in biofuels, soybean processing, and export expansion, arguing that stronger markets and infrastructure could help stabilize farm income and support rural economic resilience.
Project 2025 supports policy positions that have alienated many trading partners and caused them to try to buy less from Americans. It also supports policies that can make farming more expensive and riskier.
CNBC
Inside China’s push to feed 1.4 billion people without U.S. crops
Feb. 11, 2026
China’s drive to replace imported farm inputs with higher-yield domestic production is reshaping global agricultural trade and could leave U.S. farmers with fewer Chinese buyers over time.
The newsletter describes how e-commerce logistics and rural infrastructure now let Chinese consumers order produce directly from farms, while companies use sensors, drones, and AI tools to standardize production and reach national markets.
It argues that China’s food-security strategy includes shifting animal feed away from imported soybeans through higher-protein corn, improved soybean quality, and expanding agricultural research, meaning U.S. agriculture may need to find new export customers.
Successful Farming
U.S. Farm Bankruptcies Increased 46% in 2025
February 10, 2026
U.S. farm bankruptcies jumped 46% in 2025 to 315 filings, showing continued financial strain across agriculture and increasing pressure on rural economies.
Losses in major crop and livestock sectors, rising costs, and falling income hit Midwest and Southeast farmers hardest, with states like Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, and Wisconsin seeing especially large increases.
Larger farm loans, growing debt, and another expected year of weak farm income suggest more bankruptcies, farm closures, and ripple effects for rural communities and the food supply.
Project 2025 supports policies that have worsened farmers’ financial situation.
Investigate Midwest
Novice farmers face big challenges making it in today’s ag sector
February 10, 2026
New and young farmers in rural America face growing barriers including high land prices, industry consolidation, rising costs, and unstable markets that make it harder to start or sustain small farm operations.
Access to farmland remains the biggest hurdle as prices have surged in many states and landowners often hesitate to lease to inexperienced farmers, while inflation, tariffs, and higher input costs have further squeezed rural farm profitability.
Additional pressures such as climate-related weather challenges, cuts to some federal farm programs, and the need for supplemental off-farm income are shaping how beginning farmers try to stay viable in rural agricultural communities.
Civil Eats
EPA Reapproves Weedkiller Dicamba Despite Concerns About Drift and Crop Damage
February 9, 2026
The Environmental Protection Agency reapproved the herbicide dicamba for soybeans and cotton despite long-running concerns that chemical drift can damage nearby crops, a problem that has created conflict and economic risk for farmers in rural agricultural regions.
Federal regulators say new restrictions such as limits on total use, temperature-based spraying rules, and monitoring requirements will reduce environmental and health risks, while some farm groups welcomed the decision for giving growers planning certainty.
Environmental advocates and some rural farm organizations warn the updated rules may weaken prior safeguards and say drift damage has already harmed crops, strained neighbor relations, and raised ongoing concerns about rural environmental health.
Project 2025 supports reducing or eliminating pollution oversight and mitigation.
CHILD CARE
The Daily Yonder
Cuts to Childcare Grants Leave Rural Students in Limbo
February 11, 2026
A federal childcare grant pause is hitting rural student parents especially hard because childcare options are already scarce, putting some college enrollment and completion at risk.
Colleges say uncertainty around the Child Care Access Means Parents in School program funding is raising costs, shrinking campus childcare services, and leaving families scrambling mid-school year.
Advocates warn losing childcare support could force rural parents to drop out, worsen workforce shortages, and deepen economic challenges in communities that already struggle with childcare access.
Project 2025 supports the Trump administration’s steep child care funding cuts.
Capital & Main
Lawsuits Push Back on Trump’s Attack on Child Care
February 5, 2026
Lawsuits from states, unions, and small businesses are challenging a Trump administration move to withhold billions in child care and related social service funding, which critics say could further limit already scarce child care options in many rural communities.
Plaintiffs argue the funding freeze is unlawful and politically driven, while the administration has cited fraud concerns and documentation issues as reasons for restricting access to the money.
Advocates warn disruptions to child care assistance could affect workforce participation, local economies, and family stability, with rural areas potentially feeling stronger impacts because they often have fewer providers and longer travel distances for care.
CLIMATE CHANGE
The Conversation
Trump says climate change doesn’t endanger public health. Evidence shows it does, from extreme heat to mosquito-borne illnesses
February 9, 2026
Climate change already poses significant public health risks, and rural communities often face greater exposure because of outdoor work, fewer medical resources, and limited emergency infrastructure.
Rising temperatures increase heat illness and expand mosquito-borne diseases, which can disproportionately affect rural regions where prevention and health care access may be limited.
Public health researchers say downplaying climate risks can slow preparedness efforts even as extreme weather, air pollution, and disease shifts increasingly affect rural populations.
Project 2025 supports Trump policies that ignore or speed the impact of climate change.
High Country News
As the planet heats, insurance premiums rise
February 9, 2026
Rising climate-driven disasters are pushing insurance premiums higher nationwide, a trend that can hit rural residents especially hard because disasters like wildfires, floods, and heat waves often strike rural regions and incomes there tend to be lower, making coverage harder to afford.
Insurance costs have climbed faster than inflation as extreme weather damage grows, with some insurers raising rates sharply or dropping coverage entirely in high-risk areas, contributing to housing affordability challenges.
Lawsuits and policy debates increasingly focus on whether fossil fuel companies should bear responsibility for climate-linked economic impacts as insurance scarcity and rising premiums become a broader financial risk.
COURTS
Kansas Reflector
Kansas Supreme Court justice champions solutions to rural attorney shortage
February 9, 2026
Kansas faces a significant rural attorney shortage, with nearly half the population in rural areas but about 80% of lawyers concentrated in just five urban counties.
State leaders are pushing solutions such as student loan repayment, tuition incentives, internships, and professional networks to encourage young lawyers to practice in rural communities.
Officials warn the shortage affects access to justice and rural economic stability, especially as many older attorneys near retirement and fewer graduates choose rural careers.
Project 2025-approved federal funding cuts, especially the borrowing caps to PLUS loans, have reduced access for lower income law students. That won’t help with the rural shortage of new attorneys.
DATA CENTERS, CRYPTOCURRENCY, AND AI
Michigan Live
Rural Kent County community blocks data center proposals for 6 months
February 10, 2026
A rural Michigan township has temporarily blocked new data center proposals, reflecting growing local caution about how large tech infrastructure projects could affect land use, utilities, and community character.
Solon Township officials approved a six-month moratorium after strong resident feedback, pausing development while leaders consider potential impacts.
The move mirrors broader rural debates nationwide about balancing economic development promises with environmental concerns, infrastructure strain, and long-term community priorities.
Project 2025 calls for unfettered growth of AI and data centers.
WALB News 10
Rural communities raise concerns as data centers expand across Georgia and beyond
February 10, 2026
Proposed data centers in rural Georgia are raising worries about water supply, farmland, wildlife, and infrastructure as communities weigh economic promises against environmental and resource pressures.
Residents near Valdosta and other rural areas say data centers use large amounts of water and electricity, often bring limited long-term jobs, and may leave local governments handling infrastructure costs.
Growing opposition nationwide suggests rural communities could see more debates over land use, tax incentives, and resource protection as data center development continues expanding.
Nevada Current
Data center water/power needs, regulatory challenges strain rural communities
February 9, 2026
Rapid data center expansion in Nevada is pushing projects into rural areas where massive electricity and water needs are raising concerns about groundwater depletion, infrastructure strain, and land use conflicts.
Local governments often lack clear regulations or planning capacity, leaving rural communities scrambling to manage zoning, environmental impacts, and long-term resource demands.
Some rural leaders see data centers as economic diversification amid agricultural decline, but others worry scarce water and energy should prioritize farms and residents over tech infrastructure.
DISASTERS
The Associated Press
FEMA staff cuts paused during winter storm will resume
February 10, 2026
Federal Emergency Management Agency staffing cuts were temporarily paused during a major winter storm but are expected to resume, raising concerns about disaster response capacity that rural communities often rely on heavily.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the pause was intended to maintain emergency response capability during severe weather affecting multiple regions.
Emergency management experts warn reduced federal staffing could complicate disaster recovery, particularly in rural areas where local resources are often limited and federal help plays a larger role.
Project 2025 calls for deep federal funding cuts for FEMA while shifting disaster recovery onto states and communities.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The Associated Press
EV charging build-out has stayed hot, but the Trump administration is throwing up new roadblocks
February 11, 2026
Slower federal support for electric vehicle charging could leave rural drivers with fewer charging options and limit small-town economic gains tied to highway travel and tourism.
Electric vehicle charging expansion has continued nationwide, but the Trump administration has withheld some funds, tightened project requirements, and Congress has redirected some infrastructure money away from chargers.
Continued policy uncertainty may delay new charging projects and make the transition to electric vehicles uneven across regions, especially in rural areas already lacking infrastructure.
Project 2025 calls for eliminating federal funding for electric vehicle manufacturing and infrastructure development.
Politico
Trump shifts gears to slash EV charging
February 10, 2026
The Trump administration is freezing some federal funding for electric vehicle charging stations and tightening project rules, which could slow nationwide charger expansion.
Some planned charging sites in Democratic-led states could be canceled, while congressional cuts also reduced funding for charger buildout in rural Republican states.
The changes create uncertainty for a national charging network that rural communities often see as a way to attract travelers, support local businesses, and expand electric vehicle access.
ENERGY AND UTILITIES
The Associated Press
Tennessee Valley Authority says it now prefers to keep two coal-fired plants running
February 10, 2026
The Tennessee Valley Authority now prefers to keep two coal-fired plants running instead of retiring them, reflecting policy shifts and energy demand concerns that directly affect rural communities where the plants provide jobs, tax revenue, and electricity.
Officials said regulatory changes, including policies more favorable to coal adopted during the Trump administration, were among the factors influencing the reconsideration, though they didn’t attribute the decision solely to those policies.
Environmental advocates warn the decision could increase pollution and slow climate progress, while supporters argue the plants help stabilize power supply and local economies that still depend on coal-related employment.
Project 2025 advocates for policies that support fossil fuels.
E&E News
Trump enlists military to rescue coal
February 11, 2026
The Trump administration is pursuing a plan to have the military purchase electricity from coal plants to support the struggling coal sector, which remains economically important in many rural regions tied to mining and power generation.
The proposal would steer Defense Department energy demand toward certain coal facilities, potentially helping some plants stay open longer amid market pressures and plant retirements.
Supporters say the move could bolster grid reliability and local economies, while critics argue it could prolong pollution and slow the shift toward cleaner energy sources.
CT Mirror
In CT, opposition to Iroquois natural gas project crosses party lines
February 8, 2026
A proposed natural gas pipeline expansion in Brookfield, Connecticut is facing bipartisan local opposition even as national leaders push fossil fuel infrastructure to lower energy costs.
Residents and officials worry about air pollution, safety risks near homes and a middle school, and limited local benefits since much of the added gas would serve markets outside Connecticut.
The fight reflects a broader pattern where energy projects backed by national policy often run into strong local resistance over environmental, health, and community impacts.
FIRST RESPONDERS
EMS World
Rural EMS Under Pressure: Longer Calls, Higher Acuity
February 6, 2026
Emergency medical services in rural areas are experiencing longer call times and more severe patient cases than the national average, reflecting persistent challenges in emergency care access for rural residents.
Longer transport distances, limited staffing, and fewer nearby specialty hospitals often mean rural patients receive care later or must travel farther for advanced treatment.
EMS leaders say increasing medical complexity, aging populations, and resource shortages are putting sustained pressure on rural emergency response systems and could affect patient outcomes if capacity gaps continue.
Project 2025 called for the deep cuts to the federal funding that rural first responders rely on and that states have been unable to compensate for.
HEALTH CARE, PHARMACIES AND RURAL HEALTH
WFYI Indianapolis
Can a $50 billion rural health program make up for massive federal cuts to health care?
February 10, 2026
Rural communities could still face hospital closures, longer travel for care, and insurance losses even with new federal funding because recent health care cuts (which Project 2025 called for) are much larger than the new support program.
The $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program aims to strengthen rural health systems through workforce recruitment, telehealth expansion, better care coordination, and infrastructure improvements.
Experts say the funding is meant to soften the impact of major federal health care cuts rather than replace them, leaving uncertainty about long-term access to care in rural areas.
Project 2025 supported deep health care and safety net funding cuts that the new fund doesn’t make up for.
TCTMD
Rural US Hit Hardest by Recent Rise in Stroke Mortality
February 10, 2026
Rising stroke death rates are hitting rural Americans hardest, reinforcing ongoing health disparities tied to limited care access, higher chronic disease rates, and social factors that shape long-term health outcomes.
Research shows stroke mortality began increasing again after 2013 despite medical advances, with rural counties experiencing larger increases than urban areas and a widening mortality gap over decades.
Experts say improving prevention, expanding telehealth stroke care, and addressing broader social factors such as diet, exercise access, insurance coverage, and environmental conditions could help reduce rural risks.
Funding cuts called for by Project 2025 are worsening care access.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
One in five Pennie enrollees drops health coverage following expired subsidies
February 9, 2026
Expired federal insurance subsidies doubled premiums for many Pennsylvanians, and the resulting coverage losses hit rural residents especially hard because they already face higher health care access barriers.
Nearly 20% of marketplace enrollees dropped coverage after the cost spike, with average premiums rising about 102% and some people reporting much steeper increases.
More uninsured people could mean delayed care, higher medical debt, and added strain on rural hospitals and local economies that depend heavily on stable health coverage.
Project 2025 supports eliminating the ACA subsidies that made insurance affordable for millions nationwide.
The Daily Yonder, Kaiser Health News
End of enhanced Obamacare subsidies puts tribal health lifeline at risk
February 10, 2026
The potential expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies could reduce affordable insurance access for many Native Americans, raising concerns about health care stability in rural tribal communities that often rely on marketplace coverage alongside underfunded federal health services.
Tribal health providers depend heavily on insurance reimbursements tied to subsidized coverage, so losing those subsidies could strain clinic finances, limit services, and increase barriers to care in already underserved rural areas.
Advocates warn higher premiums or coverage losses could worsen health disparities, reduce preventive care use, and put additional pressure on rural tribal health systems that already face staffing shortages and funding constraints.
IMMIGRATION
Investigate Midwest
Trump’s DHS is pushing the boundaries of probable cause and due process to fuel a farm labor crisis
February 11, 2026
Immigration raids targeting agricultural workers with little or no criminal history are worsening labor shortages in rural farming regions that already depend heavily on immigrant workers.
Reporting and court records indicate some detentions have raised due process concerns, including disputed probable cause, restricted legal access, and policy shifts affecting bond eligibility.
Farmers, food producers, and rural communities face growing uncertainty about workforce stability, with limited visa alternatives and no clear long-term labor policy solution identified.
Project 2025 advocates for Trump’s draconian immigration policies.
The Keystone
New ICE facilities could bankrupt rural Pa. towns
February 10, 2026
New federal immigration detention facilities could strain rural Pennsylvania budgets by removing large commercial properties from local tax rolls while adding infrastructure demands.
Federal agencies purchased warehouse sites in Berks and Schuylkill Counties for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention use, potentially costing local governments and schools about $1.6 million annually in lost tax revenue.
Local officials worry reduced revenue and added infrastructure pressures could slow economic development and force rural communities to cut services or raise taxes.
The New York Times
A Raid in a Small Town Brings Trump’s Deportations to Deep-Red Idaho
February 9, 2026
Immigration raids in a small rural Idaho farm town have created fear, labor uncertainty, and community tension in an area that depends heavily on immigrant agricultural workers.
Federal agents raided a horse track near Wilder tied to an alleged gambling operation, detained hundreds of people, and deported 75, leaving residents divided over the impact and scope of enforcement.
The incident suggests rural agricultural communities could face economic disruption, school absences, and lingering mistrust if immigration enforcement expands into similar farming regions.
Source NM
New Mexico Senate committee weighs economic toll of new law as counties fear ICE detention closures
February 10, 2026
A new New Mexico law restricting ICE detention contracts could lead to facility closures that rural counties say would cost jobs, tax revenue and economic stability where detention centers are often major employers.
State lawmakers are now working on economic transition plans for affected counties, with debate over whether communities became too dependent on incarceration jobs and how to diversify local economies.
Officials warn potential closures could mean hundreds of lost jobs, millions in local revenue declines and ongoing uncertainty for rural communities already dealing with limited economic opportunities.
The New York Times
Commentary: What Replaces Deported Immigrant Workers? Not Americans.
February 9, 2026
Deporting immigrant workers won’t lead to large numbers of Americans taking farm jobs and will instead accelerate automation or shift production overseas, writes Binyamin Appelbaum, lead writer on economics and business for The New York Times editorial board.
Farm automation is expanding but remains expensive and incomplete, meaning sudden labor crackdowns could strain agriculture, disrupt food production, and create instability in rural farm economies.
The commentary argues agriculture will likely continue relying on immigrant labor for years because many jobs remain unattractive to domestic workers despite higher wages and growing technological investment.
Food & Environment Reporting Network and Mother Jones
These Haitian meatpacking workers may be deported. They voted to strike anyway.
February 10, 2026
Haitian immigrant workers at a Colorado meatpacking plant overwhelmingly voted to strike over pay and working conditions even while facing possible deportation and legal uncertainty about their immigration status.
Workers say they were recruited under misleading conditions, assigned difficult jobs at fast production speeds, and housed in poor conditions, while the company disputes wrongdoing.
The potential strike highlights how immigration policy, labor shortages, and tough working conditions (which Project 2025 supports) intersect in the rural meatpacking industry where local workers often aren’t lining up to fill these jobs.
The Marshall Project
A Diverse Boomtown in Trump Country Says ‘Thanks, But No Thanks’ to ICE
January 28, 2026
Immigration enforcement activity in Springdale, Arkansas has had significant effects on this rural community, shaping local workplaces, schools, and public trust in institutions.
Residents described economic and social ripple effects as enforcement actions affected workers and families tied to the area’s poultry industry and related rural jobs.
Community leaders say the situation highlights how federal immigration policies can have outsized impacts in rural towns where employers, services, and families are closely interconnected.
Maine Morning Star
Maine considers shoring up right to judicial remedy for detained immigrants
February 10, 2026
Maine lawmakers are considering legislation to strengthen detained immigrants’ access to courts, an issue drawing rural attention as the state’s community ICE watch hotline reports increased calls from rural areas about enforcement activity.
The proposal aims to reinforce the right to challenge detention in court and clarify legal protections for people facing immigration enforcement.
Supporters say clearer judicial remedies could help rural communities navigate immigration enforcement concerns where legal resources and transportation options are often limited.
Mississippi Free Press
Byhalia ICE facility plans ditched amid Mississippi opposition, Wicker says
February 6, 2026
Plans for a large ICE detention facility in rural Byhalia, Mississippi, were dropped after opposition from local officials and residents who raised concerns about infrastructure limits, economic development, and community impact.
The proposed site involved converting a warehouse into a detention center that could have held thousands of immigrants, a scale that critics said would strain local services in a small rural town.
Supporters of stopping the project argued the industrial site could instead support job creation and private investment that may better benefit the rural local economy.
LIVESTOCK AND MEATPACKING
Iowa Capital Dispatch
How will Trump’s beef deal with Argentina affect Iowa ranchers?
February 10, 2026
A new Trump trade deal allowing more Argentine beef imports aims to lower consumer prices but has Iowa ranchers worried about competition and falling cattle prices.
Farmers and industry groups say cheaper imports could hurt rural cattle producers already dealing with smaller herds, high costs, drought, and market volatility.
Political leaders from both parties are raising concerns about food security and farm profitability while debating whether imports or stronger domestic production are the better solution.
Project 2025 approves of Trump’s trade policies.
Investigate Midwest
A Michigan dairy CAFO clash over manure digesters and clean water
February 10, 2026
A proposed large dairy confined animal feeding operation in rural Michigan has triggered debate over water quality, manure management, and how industrial-scale livestock operations affect nearby rural communities.
Supporters say methane digesters could turn manure into renewable energy and reduce pollution while bringing jobs and economic activity to the area, but critics worry about potential contamination of groundwater, rivers, and farmland.
The dispute reflects broader tensions in rural agricultural regions over consolidation in dairy farming, environmental safeguards, and whether large livestock facilities can coexist with smaller farms and rural residents’ quality of life.
Project 2025 supports reducing or eliminating pollution oversight and mitigation.
MENTAL HEALTH
The New Republic
Commentary: Rural America’s Mental Health Crisis Can’t Be Solved by Robots
February 10, 2026
Rural Americans face severe mental health care shortages and higher suicide risks, and relying on artificial intelligence chatbots instead of human providers risks worsening isolation and inadequate care, writes David R. Tillman, a public health professor.
The commentary criticizes federal officials’ suggestion that AI avatars could address rural mental health needs, arguing these tools lack evidence, may reinforce bias, and can’t replace human connection or clinical expertise.
Tillman argues real progress would require investing in rural clinicians, community-based support, transportation access, and stronger local health systems rather than substituting technology for in-person care.
Federal funding cuts called for by Project 2025 have worsened the shortage of qualified mental health providers.
POLLUTION
Inside Climate News
Citing National Security, Trump Has Abandoned Fenceline Monitoring at Coke Ovens
February 11, 2026
Relaxed federal monitoring rules could raise pollution exposure risks for rural and working-class communities near coke oven steelmaking plants that already face higher environmental health burdens.
The Trump administration granted a two-year exemption from fenceline air monitoring requirements for coke oven operators, citing national security, despite evidence the technology exists and earlier monitoring found elevated benzene levels.
Environmental and grassroots groups have sued to restore the monitoring rules, arguing the exemption could weaken public health protections and accountability for industrial pollution affecting nearby communities.
Project 2025 supports reducing or eliminating pollution oversight and mitigation.
Floodlight
Louisiana bets big on ‘blue ammonia.’ Communities along Cancer Alley brace for the cost.
February 10, 2026
Louisiana is courting a wave of proposed “blue ammonia” projects that promise cleaner fertilizer and fuel using fossil fuels plus carbon capture, but residents along Cancer Alley say it risks piling more pollution and danger onto communities already burdened by petrochemical plants.
The reporting finds big gaps between company promises and real-world results, with experts arguing carbon capture rarely achieves the cuts being advertised and permits allowing thousands of tons of additional air pollutants including ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde.
Supporters point to jobs, tax revenue, and federal and state subsidies, while critics say the public is underwriting a risky fossil fuel expansion when “green ammonia” made with renewable power could avoid many of the emissions and local health impacts.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Canary Media
Loss of green smelter highlights Kentucky’s need for clean electricity
February 10, 2026
Losing a proposed aluminum smelter highlights how rural Kentucky’s coal-heavy power mix can limit job growth and industrial investment that many Appalachian communities hoped would boost local economies.
Century Aluminum chose Oklahoma for a new low-emissions smelter partly because of access to cheaper clean electricity, while Kentucky’s idled Hawesville smelter site will instead become a data center after high energy costs shut aluminum production.
Energy policy choices about renewables, fossil fuels, and grid development could shape whether future manufacturing jobs return to rural Kentucky or shift to states with lower-cost clean power.
Project 2025 advocates for policies that support fossil fuels.
Wyoming News Now
The Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board rescind wind leases.
February 5, 2026
Wyoming officials voted to cancel state wind energy leases, a move tied partly to reduced federal renewable support that could slow clean energy development in rural parts of the state.
Developers say the reversal threatens jobs, tax revenue, and school funding tied to large wind projects, while ranchers and some residents worry about land use, water impacts, and livestock effects.
The dispute is likely headed to court, highlighting ongoing tensions in rural energy regions between renewable development, local economic hopes, and political shifts on energy policy.
Project 2025 calls for eliminating renewable energy funding.
VT Digger
Orleans County town fights industrial solar project
February 9, 2026
A proposed industrial solar project in Lowell, Vermont is dividing the rural town, with officials and some residents opposing plans to place thousands of panels on longtime agricultural land near a school.
Supporters see renewable energy benefits and property rights, while opponents worry about losing farmland, community character, tax impacts, and limited local control over large energy projects.
The project now heads through state regulatory review, highlighting ongoing rural tensions between clean energy development, land use priorities, and local economic concerns.
Project 2025 amplifies misinformation about climate change.
Ohio Capital Journal
Are faked public comments about to tank an Ohio solar farm?
February 10, 2026
A proposed rural Ohio solar farm faces potential rejection after officials identified apparently fabricated public comments opposing it, raising concerns about how misinformation could affect rural renewable energy projects.
The Crossroads Solar project still needs approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board, with supporters pointing to possible local tax revenue and economic benefits for a rural community.
The dispute highlights ongoing rural tensions around large solar developments, where land use concerns, economic hopes, and political pressures can shape whether projects move forward.
AL.com
Alabama town explodes over proposed solar farm: ‘One-two punch’
February 10, 2026
A proposed solar farm sparked intense opposition in a rural Alabama community, reflecting broader tensions as renewable energy projects are often located in rural areas where land use decisions can reshape local economies and landscapes.
Residents said they felt caught off guard by the proposal and raised concerns about environmental impacts, property values, and whether the project would bring enough local benefits.
The project is tied to growing regional energy demand, including power needs linked to large data center development, underscoring how major infrastructure decisions frequently land in rural communities.
Canary Media
Most of Virginia restricts solar farms. Lawmakers want to change that.
February 6, 2026
Nearly two-thirds of Virginia counties effectively prohibit utility-scale solar, and lawmakers are advancing bills that would block blanket local bans while still letting local governments reject projects one by one.
The legislation would set statewide siting standards for large solar projects, including setbacks, height limits, pollution controls during construction, and requirements for decommissioning and land restoration, and it would require documented explanations for denials that are tied to the new standards.
The push reflects growing rural backlash to utility-scale solar, including concerns about bad development practices such as sediment runoff, even as Virginia faces rising electricity demand from data centers and pressure to meet clean energy goals.
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
Georgia Recorder
Georgia pharmacists would be allowed to prescribe contraception under bill seeking to expand access
February 9, 2026
A Georgia bill would allow pharmacists to prescribe certain contraceptives directly, aiming to expand access while potentially helping rural residents who often face longer travel distances to clinics.
Supporters argue the change could make contraception more convenient and timely by reducing barriers tied to physician appointments and clinic shortages.
Critics raise concerns about safety oversight, continuity of care, and whether shifting prescribing authority away from doctors could create new health care coordination challenges.
Federal Medicaid cuts, which Project 2025 supports, have worsened access to affordable contraception.
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Senate panel approves bill that could restrict mail-order abortion medication
February 9, 2026
An Iowa Senate panel advanced a bill requiring abortion pills to be prescribed or administered in person, which could sharply limit telehealth and mail-order access that many rural patients rely on.
Supporters say tighter rules would improve safety and oversight, while medical groups and abortion-rights advocates argue the measure could delay care and force doctors to give disputed or medically unsupported information.
Critics warn the restrictions could hit rural areas hardest because of provider shortages, long travel distances, and already limited maternal health services.
Project 2025 approves of eliminating abortion access.
SAFETY NET PROGRAMS
The Colorado Sun
Hours of tearful testimony result in pause to some Medicaid cuts for Coloradans with disabilities
February 9, 2026
Colorado officials paused proposed Medicaid disability caregiving cuts after public testimony, an issue with clear rural implications because Medicaid often supports essential home care where health services are limited.
The proposal involved limits on paid caregiving hours and lower reimbursement for some parents caring for relatives with significant disabilities.
Federal funding cuts, which Project 2025 called for, put significant pressure on the state to make up for those funds, resulting in cuts of its own.