Rural America weighs the economic realities of proposed federal budget cuts

May 23, 2017
President Trump calls for the USDA to be cut by 21 percent. Rural areas have a lot of federal employment and funding at stake.
Goldendale, Washington, population 3,400, could be impacted by cuts to agriculture, environmental and other federal programs in President Trump's proposed 2018 budget.
Mitchell Hartman/Marketplace
At Presque Isle Angler Bait and Tackle in Erie, you can get fishing supplies along with a read on the economy.
Caitlin Esch

Rebuilding Corry, Pennsylvania, one store at a time

Apr 5, 2017
A group of women business owners has a plan to revive the former oil boomtown.
Sisters Wendy Neckers and Valerie Beckerink grew up near Corry, Pennsylvania and returned as adults. They manage two businesses in the downtown area, which they’re trying to help revitalize.
Caitlin Esch/Marketplace

New York plans to boost broadband infrastructure

Mar 24, 2017
New York is looking to bridge the digital divide by bringing broadband access to every household in the Empire State by the end of next year. It would be the first state in the country to pull that off. Many poor and rural areas lack broadband.  Click the audio player above to hear the full […]

Rural hospital in Georgia faces financial difficulties

Mar 17, 2017
Irwin County Hospital is one of many in the country that are struggling to keep their doors open.
Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla, Georgia, has been struggling to keep its doors open for patients. It recently had to lay off about 20 staff members.
Elly Yu

In West, Feds control land — and lots of jobs

Sep 26, 2016
In the rural West, strong anti-government sentiment coexists with high dependence on government paychecks.
Teen participants in Rodeo Bible Camp practice roping a mechanical calf at the Goldendale, Washington fairgrounds.
Jeremiah Silverheart

In some rural areas, Pokemon not such a go

Sep 5, 2016
In rural Washington, there are no Pokemon to catch. Just a blank map. A yawning blue and green screen.
Brogan Heising, 10, and Rourke Heising, 8, really want to play the new popular game Pokemon Go. But living outside of Finley, Wash., in the country, that’s not an option for their summer break
Anna King

For public good, not for profit.

Farm workers face shortage of decent, affordable homes

Feb 4, 2016
About three-quarters of hired crop workers work within 75 miles from home.
Former migrant farmworker Angel Castro stands in front of a trailer where he used to live, in a neighborhood that still houses many immigrant farmworkers.
Kristofor Husted

Cell phone dead zones bring a call for more towers

Nov 11, 2014
There are large areas of the country where you still can't get a cell phone signal.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on rural America

Jul 25, 2014
On the Farm Bill, infrastructure and chemicals.