Tag

Rural Communities

All articles tagged with #rural communities

politics-and-policy29 days ago•0 min saved

GAO Report: USPS Cost-Cuts Have Slowed Mail Delivery Beyond Lowered Targets

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report finds that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is failing to meet its own lowered delivery standards due to cost-cutting measures. Since 2021, USPS has added one to two days to some first-class mail deliveries by shifting from air to ground transportation and eliminating afternoon collections at rural post offices. While the agency has created a Chief Performance Office and linked pay to service metrics, it has missed most delivery targets since 2022. The GAO has recommended that USPS provide clearer information on service improvements in its 2027 strategic plan update, a step the agency has agreed to undertake.

via Axios|

#gao #government-oversight #mail-delivery

policy6 months ago•7 min saved

Rural towns wait on stalled FEMA grants as flood protections hang in the balance

Duryea, PA, and other rural towns face growing flood risk as climate-driven rainfall increases and levee upgrades wait for federal BRIC funds that were halted by the Trump administration; despite a court order to reinstate BRIC, funding remains uncertain, jeopardizing costly infrastructure projects and residents’ safety.

via NPR|

#bric #duryea #fema

healthcare9 months ago•5 min saved

Federal and State Initiatives Boost Rural Health Funding and Reform

CMS announced a $50 billion initiative to improve rural healthcare across all 50 states, focusing on expanding access, modernizing facilities, strengthening the workforce, and supporting innovative care models, with funding distributed over five years to implement comprehensive rural health transformation plans.

via Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | CMS (.gov)|

#cms #funding #healthcare

world11 months ago•11 min saved

Greece Faces School Closures and Island Decline Amid Low Birth Rates

Greece faces a declining population, especially in rural and island communities, due to low birth rates, limited opportunities, and migration, leading to school closures and concerns about the country's future demographic stability.

via NPR|

#greece #island-depopulation #low-birth-rates

healthcare1 year ago•3 min saved

CMS Unveils $50 Billion Initiative to Transform Rural Healthcare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to improve healthcare infrastructure, access, and quality in rural America, with applications due by November 5, 2025, and funding distributed over five years to support innovative, sustainable, and tech-enabled healthcare solutions.

via Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | CMS (.gov)|

#cms #dollar50-billion #healthcare

world1 year ago•2 min saved

Public Broadcasting to Shut Down Following Federal Funding Cuts

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting will shut down after losing federal funding due to a Republican-led budget cut, impacting over 1,500 local stations and rural communities that rely on its support for educational and cultural programming, with most staff to be terminated by September.

via The Guardian|

#cpb-closure #federal-funding #media-support

world1 year ago•8 min saved

Congressional Funding Cuts Endanger Local Public Media and Community Stations

President Trump's successful effort to rescind $1.1 billion in federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has left 52 Colorado stations facing significant budget shortfalls, threatening local and Indigenous programming, especially in rural and tribal communities that rely heavily on public radio and TV for emergency alerts and local news.

via The Colorado Sun|

#colorado-stations #federal-funding #public-broadcasting

media1 year ago•6 min saved

Federal Cuts to Public Radio Threaten Local and Rural Stations

The article discusses the impact of recent federal funding cuts on small public radio stations like Allegheny Mountain Radio, which serve rural communities and rely heavily on government support. These stations provide vital local news, community information, and NPR programming, and face potential closures or staff cuts due to the funding reduction, highlighting concerns about the broader implications for local information and community connectivity amid polarized politics.

via NPR|

#federal-funding #local-radio-stations #media

world1 year ago•4 min saved

US Public Broadcasters Face Major Funding Cuts Under Trump

US Senate's approval of a bill cutting $9bn in public broadcasting funding has been condemned by station leaders, citing severe impacts on local stations, especially in rural and Native communities, including potential closures and reduced services. The decision has sparked widespread concern over the loss of critical emergency, educational, and community programming.

via The Guardian|

#funding-cuts #npr #pbs

business1 year ago•2 min saved

Amazon expands same-day and faster delivery to rural and small-town customers

Amazon plans to extend same-day and next-day delivery to over 4,000 small towns and rural communities by 2026, targeting 'everyday essentials' for Prime members, supported by a $4 billion investment in new facilities and advanced logistics, aiming to serve tens of millions of rural customers and enhance their shopping experience.

via The Verge|

#amazon #business #e-commerce

politics1 year ago

Ensuring Every Vote Counts: The Unsung Heroes of Rural Election Administration

In rural Wisconsin, a dedicated woman is ensuring her neighbors' votes are counted by actively engaging in voter outreach and education. Her efforts highlight the importance of civic participation in rural communities, where access to voting information and resources can be limited.

via The New York Times|

#civic-engagement #elections #politics

real-estate2 years ago•9 min saved

"Affordable Housing Crisis in Colorado's Exclusive Cowboy Ski Town"

Steamboat Springs, a remote Colorado community known for training Olympic athletes, is facing a housing crisis as high earners struggle to afford homes due to a pandemic-fueled real estate boom. The city is divided over a proposed housing development aimed at providing more affordable housing, with residents concerned about its impact on traffic and local infrastructure. The skyrocketing home prices have left even high-income professionals unable to find housing, leading to unfilled job positions and a struggle to retain staff in the small, rural community.

via Yahoo! Voices|

#affordable-housing #housing-crisis #real-estate

energy-policy2 years ago•6 min saved

"Biden Administration Allocates $366 Million for Rural and Tribal Renewable Energy Projects"

The Biden-Harris Administration has allocated over $366 million to fund 17 clean energy projects in 20 states and 30 Tribal Nations and communities, aiming to enhance energy security and lower costs in rural and remote areas. These projects, supported by the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, include initiatives such as building microgrids for community health centers and constructing hydroelectric facilities on Tribal lands. The administration's focus on energy justice and environmental equity is evident in the selection of projects located in or near disadvantaged communities, addressing unique energy challenges faced by rural and remote areas. The projects cover a range of clean energy technologies and are part of the DOE’s Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program, reflecting the administration's commitment to a clean and equitable energy future for all Americans.

via Energy.gov|

#biden-harris-administration #clean-energy #energy-policy

social-issues2 years ago•8 min saved

"Fentanyl Crisis Grips Northwest Rural Areas, Overwhelms Emergency Services"

The drug and homelessness crises in Oregon have impacted rural areas, with Yamhill County being particularly affected. Fentanyl use has surged, leading to overdoses and a lack of addiction treatment services in rural communities. While Portland's economic success is seen as beneficial for the entire state, rural areas feel neglected and left out of the conversation. Lawmakers are considering re-criminalizing drug possession and addressing public drug use, with hopes that policies will benefit the entire state, not just urban areas.

via Fox News|

#drug-crisis #fentanyl #homelessness

business2 years ago•2 min saved

Small Towns Struggle with Disrupted Mail Services Due to Amazon Packages

Small towns, including Bemidji, Minnesota, have experienced disruptions in mail services due to an influx of Amazon packages. Postal workers claim they have been instructed to prioritize Amazon deliveries, causing delays in delivering essential mail such as checks, credit card statements, and health insurance documents. The situation is not limited to Bemidji, as rural communities across the country have also been affected. The Postal Service, which has a contract with Amazon, has faced financial challenges and sees increasing package volume as crucial to its future. Amazon states that it collaborates with the USPS to balance delivery needs and available capacity.

via Slashdot|

#amazon #business #mail-delivery