Iowa:
Increases in shipping demands have prompted Iowa railroads to upgrade. Iowa Interstate
Railroad, after spending $22 million to upgrade its track system, will be
adding 12 new locomotives for a price of $2.2 million apiece. Iowa Northern
Railway is also upgrading as it is a partner in the opening of a 100-acre rail
terminal at Manly.
Louisiana:
Many education bills have been filed that could offer significant financial
boosts for rural districts. One such bill proposes $5,000 supplemental pay to
teachers in small parishes with large numbers of impoverished students. Another
proposal would create a Statewide Education Facility Authority and authorize an
initial $60 million from corporate income, state sales, and riverboat gaming
revenues taxes. Louisiana
is one of only a few states providing no state funding for educational
facilities.
Missouri:
Rock Port
(population 1,403) has become the first 100 percent wind-powered city in the U.S.
with the establishment of the Loess Hill Wind Farm that has four 1.25 megawatt
wind turbines. The turbines are estimated to generate 16 gigawatt hours of
electricity annually, which is beyond the 13 gigawatts the town consumes each
year. Excess power will be purchased by a local utility when available. John
Deere’s Wind Energy financing aided with the project.
Nationwide: As gas prices hit
record high after record high, the pinch is especially painful for rural
Americans. Lower incomes, heavy dependence on pickup trucks, and longer
commutes contribute to the increased impact of gasoline prices in rural areas,
which affects private citizens, businesses, and local governments.
Virginia:
Communities of the Appalachian coalfields have long suffered or prospered in
conjunction with the coal industry, creating many economic and social problems
when the industry is bad. The establishment of new schools like the Appalachian
School of Law in Grundy, Virginia, however, provides an opportunity
for communities to grow as many jobs are created (professional and otherwise)
and graduates are more likely to remain in the community.
Contact: Casey Francis,
caseyf@cfra.org, 420.687.2100, for more information or to comment.
Dakota Rural Action has been a close ally of the Center for Rural Affairs since the South Dakota grassroots organization was established. In particular, Dakota Rural Action is a key ally in South Dakota on livestock market reforms, beginning farmer and rancher initiatives and on anti-corporate farming laws. Visit them online today. 
