Rural News Initiative

An experiential news commons linking Kent State University School of Media and Journalism student work with professional media partners in Ohio.

After East Palestine derailment, efforts to improve railroad safety regulations creep along

By Sophie Young, Kent State NewsLab/Ideastream The train derailment in East Palestine in February was high-profile because of its environmental

By Sophia Lucente, Kent State NewsLab/Ideastream When a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine on Feb. 3, the village’s

By Sophie Young, Kent State NewsLab/Ideastream In February 2023, Hilary Flint was living with her grandmother in Enon Valley, Penn.,

By Grace Springer, Kent State NewsLab/Ideastream Jeff Drummond’s house was less than a football field away from the site where

By Mariah Alanskas, Kent State NewsLab/Ideastream About 20 minutes from East Palestine in Leetonia, Ohio, Norfolk Southern trains speed through

By Grace Springer/Kent State NewsLab Candy Kiehl has lived in the same home in East Palestine her entire life. The

Story by Chris Abreu Betsy Bunnell is on the verge of giving up her internet connection after months of difficulties

Story by Zachary Shepherd and Kelsey Paulus In summer 2022, Garrett, Jenny and their young daughter Katie Betts had no

Goal is to reduce pollution overall by storing atmospheric carbon dioxide in farm vegetation, soils Story by Baylee Sweitzer Jeff

More rain, higher temperatures affect crops; longer growing season may help compensate Kris Swartz had a better growing season this