By Liz Carey for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Big Sky Connection reporting for The Daily Yonder-Public News Service Collaboration For some rural residents, not filing a tax return this year could cost them more than $6,000. Changes to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as part of the Covid-19 pandemic relief efforts mean that more people are eligible for the tax credit, and more money is due back to tax filers as part of the credit. But to get the money, people have to file a tax return, even if they weren t eligible in previous years. .
As Minnesotans keep paying more for groceries, including meats, inflation gets most of the blame. But that doesn t tell the whole story, according to advocates for small farms. They want to keep the spotlight on the lack of competition in agricultural markets. .
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed by Congress is directing a historic amount of funds to climate resilience. But some rural communities risk being left behind on these investments. Headwaters Economics, which is based in Montana, has created a map of areas that could struggle to compete for climate resilience funds. .
Nebraska lawmakers are set to hear a measure Friday which would tap unspent federal COVID relief dollars to help address what some are calling a health-professional staffing crisis. Legislative Bill 1091 would invest $5 million in scholarships for residents who agree to work in the state as licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or certified nursing assistants (CNAs) for at least two years. Melissa Florell, a registered nurse and educator, believes the bill should be amended to include scholarships for people seeking nursing degrees. .