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More than 4,800 students are considered homeless in Nebraska, and school districts can do only so much to help. Many rely on partnerships with local organizations to support student needs outside of school.
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Many unhoused students in Missouri and Kansas aren't getting the school support they need — in large part because the districts aren't counting them. Plus: Farmers expect less income this year, which is likely to send ripples through the larger economy.
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Fighting fires has evolved, but federal safety regulations haven’t changed for nearly half a century. Now the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed new safety standards. It's great news for career and paid firefighters, but volunteer departments say the new rules could bog them down with expensive and irrelevant regulations.
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When Tyson closed a chicken processing facility in southeast Missouri, it also ended contracts with nearby chicken farmers. Now, some of those farmers are suing. Plus: Kansas farms are consolidating, pushing people to leave the region and making rural life even lonelier.
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Kansas farms have expanded their operations and are now bigger than ever, which has led to an economic boom. But that also means fewer farmers, and that has contributed to depopulation in rural parts of the state that were socially isolated to begin with.
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Rare diseases are hard to diagnose and often require costly genetic testing and visits to specialists. The testing can be hard to access, especially for people who live in rural areas. Researchers at the Genomic Medicine Center at Children’s Mercy Kansas City are trying to close the gap.
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Spanning several genres including cultural criticism, political commentary and memoir, "Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class" compiles Smarsh's strongest work from the last decade, and solidifies her as one of the country's leading voices on socio-economic class.
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Missouri has some of the highest rates of tobacco usage in the country, the lowest cigarette tax and some of the most lax smoking policies. Some rural health departments and activists are pushing their own policies to change those statistics.
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Musician Freedy Johnston sang he "sold the dirt to feed the band" after leaving his hometown of Kinsley, Kansas, to pursue a career in New York City. Johnston returned home in August to paint a mural celebrating the tiny town. He hopes it sheds a light on how art can impact rural communities.
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The Crossroads bar Society has become Kansas City's hub for Latin dancing. For beginners, it's a place to practice your moves. For experienced salseros, it's an "injection of life." Plus: Frog gigging is a dying art that still draws thousands to Missouri marshes.
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Frog gigging — hunting with a three-pronged spear — is a dying art that nevertheless draws thousands to Missouri marshes in search of a tasty treat with deep cultural roots.
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One naturalized Kearney resident, originally from Mexico, is ready to make her voice heard in the 2024 election. Nearly 900,000 immigrants and refugees became U.S. citizens in 2023, and the rapidly growing population could impact elections.