Locally sourced, collaborative reporting from and for rural America.
What Surprised Us Most in 2025
Reporting on one of the most undercovered news issues of our time, industrial animal agriculture (commonly known as factory farming), means we are constantly uncovering new and surprising details in our work.
LATEST NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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The best and most impactful Mat-Su stories of 2025
Looking back at the 2025 news stories with the biggest impact.
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5 things to know: Our investigation into China’s shift to Latin American agriculture
Chinese companies are investing billions to buy more agricultural products from Brazil and other countries.
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AI Hallucination? Proposed Westfield data center appears abandoned by developers
The Shoestring’s investigation uncovered signs the project’s developers may have abandoned it, even after local officials spent years arranging for significant tax breaks.
RNN Highlights
MORE NEWS FROM THE NETWORK
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Colorado gets $200 million from the feds in rural health care “Hunger Games”
December 30, 2025
The money comes from a fund created as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. It will help Colorado improve rural health care across the state.
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Texas to receive $281 million in federal funds for rural health care
December 29, 2025
Texas will get the biggest portion of the first rollout of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, which was created in tandem with legislation slashing Medicaid funding.
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Here’s What We Know About What’s at Stake for 2SLGBTQ+ Rights Across Indian Country
December 24, 2025
As the first year of Trump’s second turn comes to a close and 2SLGBTQ+ rights remain under attack, Native leaders urge communities to support their trans and Two-Spirit relatives.
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Mental health care clinic for underserved opens in Hollister
December 24, 2025
Maintaining a desire to reach underserved communities, North American Mental Health Services now has clinics near or in several rural regions, where mental health services are scarce.
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The one issue South Dakota towns agree is holding them back
December 24, 2025
One overarching local challenge hovers above all else: a need for more and better housing to accommodate new residents who will create the backbone of any economic development initiative.
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A group of community members are hoping to start a new medical school in Shasta. Here’s what we know
December 23, 2025
The Rural Northern California Medical Education Consortium, made up of eight physicians, educators, health care leaders and community partners, is working to develop ideas for a North State medical school.
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A look back at Almanack stories in 2025
December 23, 2025
The Almanack wraps up the year with the stories that garnered the most attention, plus a few staff favorites.
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These 17 charts tell the story of the US food system in 2025
December 23, 2025
A highlight of our most important data visualizations and what they say about the state of agriculture.
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BLM deletes contested, off-limits ‘Golden Triangle’ parcels from upcoming Wyoming oil and gas auction
December 22, 2025
Comments show significant opposition to leasing Wyoming wildlife habitat, including in migration corridors and near valuable sage grouse habitat.


