The Boar's Head deli-meat listeria outbreak that left nine people dead and many others sick may have been surprising to some; however, as Zeynep Tufekci points out in her opinion for The New York Times, perhaps "Americans should also pause to ask, 'How does this not happen all the time?
In a dramatic shift, many Americans have decided that relocating isn't as doable or desirable. "The share of Americans moving has reached its lowest point in history — and doesn't look like it's climbing back up anytime soon.
As many newsroom staffs shrink across the nation, some independent rural newspaper owners are working almost every job in the shop to maintain local news coverage with integrity and avoid the possible pitfalls of outside ownership. Reporter Chase McCleary from Rocky Mountain PBS met with Betsy Barnett, the owner, publisher, editor, ad-sales rep, designer and only full-time reporter of the Kiowa County Independent newspaper in Eads, Colorado.
The folks at Ambrook Research wanted to know who farmers are voting for this November. The publication boasts some 80,000+ subscribers who are either farmers or individuals working in the U.S. food industry. To find out "how food producers are feeling on the eve of a historically monumental election," writes Ambrook's editor, Jesse Hirsch, "Ambrook put out a call" for its readers to complete a "wholly unscientific survey."
These "going green" supporters aren't touting climate change as their reason for supporting renewable energy. Instead, they are making a case for solar, wind and nuclear power because they believe those energy sources will help make and save Americans money.
Heading into a holiday weekend, many people will check the weather forecast to see if outdoor plans are possible. And while most of us know weather reports are predictably unpredictable, we look at them anyway. But what if AI did some of the predicting? Labor Day weekend forecasts in the future might be more accurate.
American songs are replete with tunes about trains. There's "Love Train," "Peace Train," "Girl on a Train, "Crazy Train" and "Stop This Train," to name only a few. But what about "Rural Train"? There doesn't seem to be a song about what happens to a reporter who takes an Amtrak across the United States and has some great times getting off and exploring rural stops. Luckily, there is a newspaper story on just such a journey.
Just because Tim Walz sports a camo hat and comes from a small town doesn't mean rural people will vote for him. . . . A closer examination reveals that such expectations may be overly simplistic and optimistic.
Minnesota has two flags and both are flying in different parts of the state. The older banner represents the state's connection to farming, which is historically accurate. . . The second banner was unfurled earlier this year and features two opposing hues of blue and a bold eight-pointed white star. But even with its simplicity, the new flag has stoked controversy.