Issues Facing Rural America
Issues Facing Florida
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Associated Press
Associated Press
13 attorneys general sue over health care overhaul
Conservative Attorneys General try to stop healthcare reform
Conservative Attorneys General try to stop healthcare reform
Thursday, March 12, 2010
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Short-Term Effects of Health-Care Coverage Legislation – Massachusetts, 2008
Health care reform legislation has had a positive effect on insurance coverage in Massachusetts
Health care reform legislation has had a positive effect on insurance coverage in Massachusetts
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Grit
Grit
Fuel Prices Hurt Rural America
I was reminded today (as I pulled into the local BP to top off my old truck’s tank) that I had read a thought-provoking article on the expected downside of high fuel prices for small towns across the country. The gist of the report was that people will be less able to commute long distances to jobs in larger towns and cities, and that will, in turn, cause them to move closer to their jobs. The net result could be to further erode the already tenuous smalltown economy, and, ultimately, the rural lifestyle in general.
My optimistic side says the pull of rural living is so strong that people will figure out some way to keep at it. For those of us who do commute, we can carpool, keep our vehicles in top mechanical condition and modify our driving habits to save fuel today. And we can choose from among many fuel-miserly vehicles when it’s time to upgrade. I am holding out for a diesel-electric hybrid pickup myself, although I once owned a compact diesel pickup that routinely delivered over 50 mpg. It was a VW, of course.
I was reminded today (as I pulled into the local BP to top off my old truck’s tank) that I had read a thought-provoking article on the expected downside of high fuel prices for small towns across the country. The gist of the report was that people will be less able to commute long distances to jobs in larger towns and cities, and that will, in turn, cause them to move closer to their jobs. The net result could be to further erode the already tenuous smalltown economy, and, ultimately, the rural lifestyle in general.
My optimistic side says the pull of rural living is so strong that people will figure out some way to keep at it. For those of us who do commute, we can carpool, keep our vehicles in top mechanical condition and modify our driving habits to save fuel today. And we can choose from among many fuel-miserly vehicles when it’s time to upgrade. I am holding out for a diesel-electric hybrid pickup myself, although I once owned a compact diesel pickup that routinely delivered over 50 mpg. It was a VW, of course.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
The Kansas City Star
The Kansas City Star
High gas prices threaten to drain small towns’ populations
LEETON, Mo. | In this small town south of Warrensburg, directions usually begin with, “From Casey’s, you go …”
That would be Casey’s General Store, the only gas station in town. It’s where folks fill up while talking about goings-on, politics, weather and who’s got the best-looking tomatoes.
These days, they’re also cussing and shaking their heads about the price of that gasoline. People are doing that everywhere, but in small towns such as Leeton, population 619, it’s even more of a gut punch because nearly every working adult commutes to jobs elsewhere.
LEETON, Mo. | In this small town south of Warrensburg, directions usually begin with, “From Casey’s, you go …”
That would be Casey’s General Store, the only gas station in town. It’s where folks fill up while talking about goings-on, politics, weather and who’s got the best-looking tomatoes.
These days, they’re also cussing and shaking their heads about the price of that gasoline. People are doing that everywhere, but in small towns such as Leeton, population 619, it’s even more of a gut punch because nearly every working adult commutes to jobs elsewhere.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Perri Applegate
Perri Applegate
Attitude determines student success in rural schools
While most of the country focuses on ACT scores, student-teacher ratio and rigorous curriculum to increase student success, it may be the commitment to excellence that determines student achievement in rural schools. This is an overlooked, yet critical, factor when considering nearly half of American school districts are in rural areas, educating nearly 21 percent of all students.
Perri Applegate, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma K20 Center, recently investigated the qualities that differentiate a high-achieving school and low-achieving rural high school, focusing on high-poverty high schools with at least 51 percent of the population eligible for free or reduced lunch.
While most of the country focuses on ACT scores, student-teacher ratio and rigorous curriculum to increase student success, it may be the commitment to excellence that determines student achievement in rural schools. This is an overlooked, yet critical, factor when considering nearly half of American school districts are in rural areas, educating nearly 21 percent of all students.
Perri Applegate, a researcher at the University of Oklahoma K20 Center, recently investigated the qualities that differentiate a high-achieving school and low-achieving rural high school, focusing on high-poverty high schools with at least 51 percent of the population eligible for free or reduced lunch.
