Skip to content Skip to navigation

School Meals Expansion story

In a story May 16 about school meals programs in Oregon, The Associated Press reported erroneously the number of public school students in Oregon. There are about 580,000 students, not 400,000. A corrected version of the story is below:Oregon OKs largest expansion of federal free lunch program. Oregon is spending $40 million to dramatically expand the federal free breakfast and lunch program, ensuring that more than 60 percent of its 58,000 public school students will be included, the only statewide effort in the country [node:read-more:link]

Opportunity Zones Skip Over Hard-Hit Rural Places

Shelterforce is right on the money in their article, “Pushing Opportunity Zones to Fulfill Their Promise.” The piece urges urban leaders across the country to set guiding principles to make sure this new tax incentive, called the “most significant community development program to pass in a generation,” leads to equitable development and not displacement of low-income residents and people of color. [node:read-more:link]

Colorado to reward companies for hiring remote workers in state’s far-flung areas

Companies have relocated thousand of jobs to Colorado since the Great Recession, many drawn by the state’s job growth incentive tax credit program (JGITC), which provides a state tax credit based on payroll taxes paid. But most of those positions have landed in metro Denver or now and then in nearby cities like Fort Collins or Colorado Springs. That Front Range concentration has frustrated economic development officials to no end. The Hickenlooper administration rolled out even more targeted and generous incentive programs to convince employers to go rural. [node:read-more:link]

Oregon Legislature approves environmental 'rollback' bill

Critics and proponents agree that recently passed legislation intended to shield Oregon from federal “rollbacks” of environmental regulations is meant to send a message. While supporters claim House Bill 2250 signifies the state government’s stand against weakening protections for air, soil and water at the federal level, opponents argue it amounts to an expensive but empty political stunt.The bill was approved by the Senate 16-12 on May 14 after passing the House two months earlier. It’s all but assured of being signed into law by Gov. [node:read-more:link]

Rural Strength and Possibility

Smart and effective community development financial institutions are investing in the success of rural America. The results contradict arguments that America should write off everyone who lives outside large cities. Rural America isn’t going to hell in a handbasket. There’s more strength and possibility in rural areas than today’s popular narrative would have us think. [node:read-more:link]

Hemet residents say nearby farm is to blame for flies, health problems

While city officials investigate, a consultant for Joyful Farm denies the operation is harming anyone's health. Residents of southwestern Hemet are looking for answers and relief and they struggle with health issues and pest problems they allege are due to the farming practices of Joyful Farm, a vegetable grower near the city’s Cottonwood community. Aidy Young, a consultant for the farm who sells organic soil enhancer to the business, denied the farm is using harmful substances or damaging residents’ health.“It’s a normal farming operation,” he said in an interview. [node:read-more:link]

These Missouri Poultry Producers Include Dispatches From The Farm In Every Egg Carton

One of Campo Lindo’s most defining qualities is a personal note included in every carton of eggs that leaves the farm. Carol writes those notes every two week; she began doing it when the farm started selling its eggs through grocery stores. “I just missed the communication that I had with our customers,” Carol says. “So I was like, ‘Well, I'll just start putting a little note, at least it's one-way communication,' but what's turned out really cool is a lot of times people take the time, they'll send a little email or phone call. [node:read-more:link]

Pages

Subscribe to State Ag and Rural Leaders RSS