Savannah Maher

Reporter

SHORT BIO

Savannah is a reporter based out of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her reporting centers on Indigenous communities and rural economies.

Latest Stories (271)

Government contracting helps tribal economies diversify

Mar 26, 2024
The pandemic shut down some Native gaming and tourism enterprises. But federal contracting has been growing.
Government contracting became attractive to tribes that were struggling as their traditional revenue streams dried up during the pandemic, says Lillian Sparks Robinson, CEO of Wopila Consulting. 
Courtesy NCAIED

What unburied federal data tells us about Indigenous households' finances

Mar 26, 2024
Nine years of unpublished data show that American Indian and Alaska Native households report greater financial stress and less security.
“American Indian and Alaska Native identifying households are reporting greater financial stress and lower security than other households,” said Vanessa Palmer of the Center for Indian Country Development.
RichVintage/Getty Images

The success of women's college basketball is more than just Caitlin Clark

Mar 19, 2024
There are now a lot more ways to watch and engage with sports. People are seeking out women’s leagues on streaming platforms. Social media hype is attracting new fans. And brands are taking notice, providing the women's league with more resources.
University of Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is getting a lot of credit for the growing fan base of NCAA women's basketball. "But this is not the one and only talent," says sports management professor Ceyda Mumcu of the University of New Haven..
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

As young consumers drink less, brands and bars offer more and better alternatives

Mar 5, 2024
Gen Z and millenial consumers are less interested in alcohol. And it's not a bad time to be sober or sober curious.
The market for non-alcoholic alternatives has seen consistent double-digit growth over the last five years and exceeded half a billion dollars in 2023, NielsenIQ found.
Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images

The streaming industry is in an awkward, crowded spot. Consolidation might help.

Feb 28, 2024
An abundance of options and services means some streamers struggle to turn a profit.
“The equilibrium can’t be 10 different streaming services where I can’t remember which one has 'Big Bang Theory,'" said Michael Smith at Carnegie Mellon.
Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images

Tribal gaming compact rules are getting a refresh

Feb 23, 2024
Gaming agreements between states and tribes will get more scrutiny under the new rules, which aim to protect tribes' interests in the negotiating process.
State governments have used tribal gaming compacts to negotiate for profit-sharing agreements that send gaming revenue to state coffers. Above, people play slots at the Seminole Casino in Coconut Creek, Florida.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The USDA just approved the first online-only grocer to accept SNAP benefits

Feb 22, 2024
Online grocery delivery can be a lifeline for SNAP recipients who have disabilities or lack reliable access to transportation.
Thrive Market is the the first online-only grocer to begin accepting SNAP benefits.
Courtesy Thrive Market

How the budget fight in Congress threatens federal wildland firefighters' pay

Feb 21, 2024
Federal firefighters make as little as $15 an hour. A permanent boost has bipartisan support, but it’s tied up in Congress' budget fight.
Federal firefighters starting out in their careers may earn as little as $15 an hour.
Ringo Chiu/AFP via Getty Images

America's farmers are getting older

Feb 20, 2024
The average age of farmers is increasing as young aspiring farmers face financial barrier to starting up.
Things like a shortage of child care, rural housing and the burden of student loans could be keeping younger people back from farming.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

The trend of small farmers selling to big ag companies continues

Feb 14, 2024
And, diversity is still a challenge in the agricultural industry. According to the census, 95 percent of American farmers are white and on average, are just over 58 years old.
Federal crop insurance, subsidies and lending practices favor large operations, says Phil Howard, a professor of food and agriculture at Michigan State University.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images