Author Archive

Sarah Melotte

Infrastructure

Commerce Secretary’s proposal to prioritize satellite over fiber internet would ‘strand’ rural communities, experts say

Howard Lutnick’s proposal to change BEAD structure will line the pockets of billionaires and leave rural communities behind.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
March 26, 2025

Infrastructure

Data shows rural disparities in traffic deaths

An analysis of federal highway data shows that rural counties have higher traffic death rates compared to their urban counterparts.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
August 28, 2024

Workforce

Rural employment edges back to pre-pandemic numbers

The number of jobs grew in November 2023, according to a recent report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
January 18, 2024

Your daily read on state and local government

Finance

Rural counties dependent on recreation industry show best recovery from pandemic employment loss

Rural recreation counties added to their pre-pandemic employment numbers, but other rural economies struggled to recover.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
December 21, 2023

Infrastructure

Lack of Access to Infrastructure Hurts Voter Participation in Rural America

Voter turnout is lower in rural places, something researchers say is a symptom of unequal amounts of civic infrastructure.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
April 12, 2023

Management

Federal Grant Requirements Make it Hard for Rural Communities to Prepare for Climate Change

A 2023 study from Headwaters Economics shows that qualifications from federal grant programs disproportionately hurt under-resourced rural areas.

By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder
February 14, 2023

Your daily read on state and local government

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