Garlan Gudger: Alabama Legislature aims to support our rural heritage through achievements in the 2025 session
During the regular sessions of the Alabama Legislature in 2025, lawmakers have dedicated themselves to addressing the varying needs of the state, from the Gulf Coast to the Tennessee Valley, and from the wiregrass to the Black Belt, covering everything from bustling cities to quiet towns. Of course, rural Alabama faces its own unique set […]
Rural hospitals, SNAP reductions, Medicaid: Democrats put pressure on Republicans with challenging votes on major legislation
WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans were quiet on Monday after President Donald Trump introduced a version of the “Big Beautiful” tax incentives and spending reduction bill, aiming to push it into law by a voluntary July 4 deadline. However, the Democrats in the Chamber of Commerce are forcing GOP members to take a stand on contentious […]
Katie Britt persists in her efforts to combat rural pharmacy closures during a judicial hearing.
Senator Katie Britt Advocates for Rural Pharmacy Solutions U.S. Senator Katie Britt is actively seeking solutions for the challenges facing rural communities nationwide. During a recent hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee, she discussed the ongoing closure of rural pharmacies, with a particular focus on Alabama. Britt started her comments by highlighting the significant number […]
Dalton Pharmacy in Alabama is a family-owned business that has been operating for four generations in a rural area.
When driving on South Dalton Street in Slocomb, many people do a double-take. They come across a drugstore bearing the same name, adorned with a mural that proclaims it as “Dalton Pharmacy, the first pharmacy since 1903.” This pharmacy has been run by four generations of the Dalton family over its impressive 122-year history. A […]
Twinkle Cavanaugh named by the Trump administration as the head of USDA rural development in Alabama.
Twinkle Andress Cavanaugh has been officially appointed as the Director of Rural Development for Alabama by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a position announced by Secretary Brook Rollins on Tuesday. Cavanaugh has chaired the Alabama Public Service Commission since 2012, having first been elected state-wide in 2010. She achieved a record number of votes in […]
Tuberville cautions that a freeze on Medicaid funding may harm rural health care in Alabama.
Concerns Over Medicaid Provider Tax Freeze U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville has raised alarms about the possible repercussions of a proposed freeze on the provider tax, which is essential for Medicaid funding. He cautions that this measure could lead to significant financial strain, especially in rural regions such as Alabama. The proposed negotiations seem to breach […]
Kuntal Desai, M.D.: Take action now to support new medical residents and prevent the collapse of rural healthcare in Alabama
This July, hundreds of health residents are set to begin their graduate training in hospitals and clinics across Alabama. It’s a crucial transition for the state, ensuring that healthcare continues in both busy areas and rural communities. However, this year, a crisis looms that could disrupt this process, which would be particularly harmful for communities […]
Rural Tennessee is bleeding independent physicians, new report finds
Ballard Health’s flagship hospital, Johnson City Medical Center, has received a one-of-five star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Brett Kelman/KFF Health News) Rural Tennessee lost hundreds of independent doctors in four years as the total number of doctors serving patients swallowed corporate consolidation and shrunk at the same time as engulfing […]
Trump drive to defund NPR, PBS resisted by Republicans from rural states
National Public Radio Head Office, Washington, DC, Tuesday, May 27th, 2025 (Photo: Jennifer Shutt/Province Newsroom) WASHINGTON – The Trump administration’s demand to curb $9.4 billion in previously approved foreign aid and public media spending fell into major opposition on Wednesday, potentially moving on its Senate path. Many GOP lawmakers on the Approximate Budget Committee, including […]
Maricopa County approves rezoning rural land east of Fountain Hills
County supervisors reviewed changes in zoning on rural land east of Fountain Hills that sparked concerns from nearby residents. Maricopa County, Arizona – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors has approved a request for rezoning rural land east of Fountain Hills, which cited concerns from nearby residents and tribal communities. At a board meeting Wednesday, […]