rural | WITF

July 10, 2025 | 12:06 PM

Medicaid cuts in Trump’s tax bill will ‘devastate’ access to care in rural Pennsylvania, critics say

State officials estimate 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose Medicaid coverage and anticipate strain at health facilities caused by federal budget cuts.

By Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

April 1, 2025 | 4:58 PM

Pa. health care experts worry about future of rural hospitals if Medicare or Medicaid see cuts

By Sydney Roach/WPSU

February 20, 2024 | 10:36 AM

What Josh Shapiro’s budget pitch could do for Pennsylvania’s rural communities

The governor’s budget proposal would give rural areas a boost to invest in housing, address gaps in health care, and market the outdoor landscape.

By Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

January 22, 2024 | 9:28 AM

Pa.’s broadband authority reverses position on key state law before new federal funding arrives

The Broadband Development Authority initially said it would waive a key section of the 2004 law that restricts publicly owned broadband networks. The agency reversed course after public comments.

By Charlotte Keith/Spotlight PA

November 10, 2023 | 10:02 AM

Inequitable school funding leaves behind children living in poverty and in rural areas, study says

By Sydney Roach/WPSU

October 26, 2023 | 12:00 PM

Rural towns hope to entice remote workers to move to the Pa. Wilds with a ‘free’ summer. Here’s how it’s going.

Thousands of public dollars have gone toward the Wilds Are Working program. While only one participant has decided to move to the area, organizers say the program has other markers for success.

By Marley Parish of Spotlight PA State College

December 8, 2022 | 5:00 AM

Almost 90% of rural Pennsylvania municipalities lack property upkeep rules

The lack of local maintenance codes can contribute to poor housing quality and less investment in areas, according to a study from the Center for Rural Pennsylvania.

By Jeremy Long/WITF

June 24, 2020 | 6:43 AM

Disbanding local police is common in Pa. But it’s caused larger problems for State Police

Pennsylvania State Police provide coverage for municipalities across the state that don’t have their own departments. That makes any talk of defunding police more complicated.

By Joseph Darius Jaafari/PA Post

March 16, 2020 | 10:03 AM

Rural towns insulated from coronavirus now may take a harder hit later

"It gives us a little bit more time to prepare and to, to educate people on, especially social distancing."

By NPR

February 25, 2020 | 1:16 PM

Who gets 5G — and who gets left behind — has some worried about digital inequality

Unlike in banking, digital redlining — or not investing in low-income and minority communities — is not illegal.

By NPR

tag | rural