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Carderock Scientists Inspire Future Innovators at Calvert County MESA
HUNTINGTOWN, Md. (April 9, 2026) – To bridge the distance between a national naval research center and students in rural communities, representatives from the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock
Op-ed: Healthy rural communities strengthen all of Indiana
Rural hospitals and clinics report thin operating margins and say worker shortages and rising costs make it difficult to sustain services such as primary and maternity care.
State Action to Improve Maternal & Child Health with the Rural Health Transformation Program: Virtual Convening of Milbank State Leadership Network Recap
Event Date: March 27, 2026 Introduction The Milbank State Leadership Network hosted a virtual session for state legislators and executive
U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar - U.S. Embassy in Madagascar
U.S. Delivers Maternal Health Equipment Across Madagascar U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Stephanie Arnold today provided critical maternal and newborn health equipment that will reach healthcare facilities across Madagascar, demonstrating how U.S. foreign assistance builds a safer, healthier world by helping recipient countries build self-reliant health systems in line with the America First Global Health Strategy. Under President Trump’s America First foreign assistance policy and the America First Global Health Policy, U.S. support serves as a tool of strategic engagement – not global charity. Every U.S. taxpayer dollar is subject to rigorous oversight to ensure measurable results, maximum efficiency, and accountability, with zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse. Through the bilateral Global Health Memorandum of Understanding with Madagascar’s Ministry of Public Health, both governments agreed on shared priorities and responsibilities, including a strong focus on maternal and newborn health and Madagascar’s increasing co-investment in its own health system. Madagascar continues to face major challenges in maternal and newborn health, including high maternal mortality rates and significant gaps in access to quality delivery care. In rural regions, many women still give birth at home or in facilities without adequate infection-prevention supplies. Through the U.S.-funded Momentum Country and Global Leadership Project, the United States is providing essential equipment to healthcare facilities nationwide: calibrated reusable drapes for infection prevention in approximately 1,000 community health centers (CSBs), single-use calibrated drapes for 35 hospitals, and management tools for health workers to improve data collection and care coordination. “U.S. foreign assistance makes America safer by preventing instability and strengthening health systems that can detect and contain infectious diseases before they cross borders,” said Chargé d’Affaires Arnold during the handover ceremony. “Our support is temporary and targeted, designed to help Madagascar build greater self-reliance and reduce long-term dependence on U.S. taxpayer resources.” This U.S. support will help standardize safe delivery practices, strengthen infection prevention, and improve data management systems. Used effectively, these materials will contribute directly to reducing maternal and newborn deaths, especially in rural and hard-to-reach areas where access to quality delivery care remains limited. From major hospitals to remote health centers, U.S.-funded equipment is already delivering results. The nationwide scope of this support ensures that women and newborns across Madagascar benefit from improved infection prevention and safer delivery practices. This targeted assistance helps save lives today while supporting Madagascar’s transition toward a self-sufficient health system, ensuring that today’s U.S. support leads to Madagascar’s future independence from foreign assistance.
Guest article: Physical AI isn't replacing farmers. It's critical for keeping them in business
Dealer networks are at the center of physical AI's reach into farming, and key to restoring American agriculture and rural communities.
Health care fight intensifies as Congress weighs GOP-backed insurance changes
Congressional Republicans say they are taking steps on health care — but Democrats counter that previous efforts are already costing Virginians coverage and putting hospitals under strain. Republicans have pointed to measures like the Rural Health Transformation Fund and an association health plan expansion bill that has cleared the House and is headed to the […]
Pinwheels and the ‘lobster district’: How Virginia Democrats drew up a US House map to all but lock out Republicans
Virginia Democrats hope the new congressional map they’re asking voters to approve Tuesday will flip four Republican House districts, delivering 10 of 11 seats in a state Vice President Kamala Harris won with just 52% of the vote in 2024. To do it, they want to dramatically rework entire sections of the state, slicing up deep blue districts in the Washington, DC, suburbs and around Richmond, and creating a new district running along the Blue Ridge Mountains that connects liberal cities. That’s required something called the “lobster district,” stretching from northern Virginia into two “pincers” grabbing up rural territory.
Problem Solver's Consultants named West Virginia Rural Small Business of the Year
Problem Solver’s Consultants, a Buckhannon-based marketing agency, has been named the 2026 West Virginia Rural Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The honor will be presented May 6 in Fairmont during National Small Business Week.
AI can open up possibilities for strained rural health care providers in Utah
A St. George conference about how technology can help rural health care providers allowed for connections that will help bring AI innovation to busy offices.
Cannabis is neither harmless nor a cure-all
Cannabis, rural flight access, Catholicism and more, in readers' eyes.
OPINION: Tribal and rural healthcare at risk in Gov. Stitt’s attack on Medicaid
Oklahoma leaders often visit Cherokee Nation’s Health System and celebrate our progress and tout our unmistakable impact on the health and economy of rural communities.
Tolkkinen: These rural Minnesota Catholics prefer Trump for politics, Pope Leo for theology
Trump’s tussles with Pope Leo haven’t shaken their support.
Pa. receives $193 million from Rural Health Transformation Program, but rural health leaders remain wary of shortfalls
Pennsylvania received $193 million this year from the Rural Health Transformation Program, which will inject $50 billion over five years to the states. But the state’s rural health leaders worry that the money won’t be enough to fill the financial gaps rural health systems already face and the ones to come with Medicaid changes slated to start in 2027.
Survey Shows Widespread Use of Apps and Chatbots for Mental Health Support
A survey by the Bipartisan Policy Center highlights growing use of digital and AI-powered tools for mental health, with strong adoption among younger adults and key access gaps in rural communities.
Why so Americans are using AI for health guidance
Turning to artificial intelligence tools for health advice has become a habit for many other Americans, according to a West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare in America poll published Wednesday.
Cal Poly Humboldt to Launch Health & Medical Sciences Degree
The United States is facing a shortage of healthcare workers, a problem especially prevalent in rural regions like the North Coast.
Will Mississippi Legislature try to override one of the governor's vetoes?
Legislators haven't set a public agenda for their one-day return, but top of mind for Gov. Tate Reeves is the Rural Health Transformation Fund,
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs bills to expand rural health care, promote healthier SNAP buys
Gov. Kay Ivey has signed a package of bills into law aimed at expanding rural health care access in Alabama.
Worried about the midterms, Republicans mobilize rural Virginia voters against redistricting
Republican groups are mounting an intensifying, 11th-hour campaign to mobilize rural voters ahead of Virginia’s April 21 referendum to redraw its US House maps. At stake are as many as four US House seats Democrats want to redraw in their favor for the midterms. To maximize Democratic advantage, the map would put wealthy Washington, DC, suburbs in the same districts as farm communities 90 miles away, including in one misshapen district nicknamed the “lobster claw.”
They counted on a rural dialysis unit to keep them alive. Then it closed
A hospital in Nebraska shut down the only dialysis unit for miles, upending lives. That's despite a new federal program that gave the state more than $200 million to improve rural health care access.
Why rural hospitals in Pennsylvania and across the country are closing in increasing numbers – 5 myths about rural health care
Rural hospitals have high fixed costs, low patient volume and a large portion of patients insured through Medicaid, which typically pays less than private insurers.
Safeguarding health care in rural Missouri demands a new approach
Missouri lawmakers are right to treat the collapse of rural health care as an urgent crisis. Nearly half of the state’s remaining rural hospitals are at risk of closure, and many communities already know what it means to lose emergency rooms, labor and delivery services and timely stroke care. In this environment, legislation allowing MU […]
Google.org and the Johnson & Johnson Foundation are launching a $10 million initiative to train rural U.S. healthcare workers in AI.
Google is providing AI training and grants to help rural health clinics use tools that improve operations for healthcare workers.
EOU students win awards for their business ideas
LA GRANDE — Local university students and alumni made a big splash in April with their business ideas at the Eastern Oregon Innovation Jam. The Rural Engagement and Vitality Center […]
Sewell pitches Medicare reimbursement bill during rural health roundtable
Bipartisan legislation would raise Medicare reimbursement rates for rural hospitals to help them stay afloat.
Oregon gets $200M to improve rural health care access
Oregon will receive nearly $200 million in federal funding this year to improve rural health care, with specific allocations for hospitals, clinics and public health, with additional project funding to
Minnesota politics: Previewing governor's race, Iran war impact | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Political analyst Blois Olson takes a look ahead to what could be the most expensive legislative race in Minnesota history. He also examines how the war in Iran could impact voting choices in rural areas.
Minnesota politics: Previewing governor's race and Iran war impact | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul
Political analyst Blois Olson takes a look ahead to what could be the most expensive legislative race in Minnesota history. He also examines how the war in Iran could impact voting choices in rural areas.
Opinion: The rural health program isn't so transformational
Rural health care systems have been in crisis for decades, a situation that will become more dire when steep cuts to Medicaid kick in next year.
Tribal and Rural Healthcare at Risk in Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s Attack on Medicaid
Guest Opinion Oklahoma leaders often visit Cherokee Nation’s Health System and celebrate our progress and tout our unmistakable impact on the health and economy of rural communities. Now, Governor Stitt is putting us on a path that will damage that very system. Recently the Oklahoma legislature passed Oklahoma HB 4440 and HJR 1067 to reverse […]
Alaska business plan competition awards Native entrepreneurs tackling rural service gaps
Alaska Growth Capital’s Alaska Marketplace competition awarded Indigenous entrepreneurs up to $20,000 to grow businesses addressing service gaps across rural Alaska.
Rural Mental Health Hub Offers Tools, Training, and Support
A new program from Rural Minds gives farmers tools to recognize mental health struggles, start conversations, and offer support.
Science students find mentorship and pathways to career success
Batool Abdulruhman and Alyssa Rivera both grew up in rural Valley communities where doctors are scarce and medical care is difficult to access. Now they are on a path to become doctors practicing in the Valley because of the support and mentorship they received through the Center for Access to Science for All (CASA) in […]
Towanda farm market named national rural small business of the year
The SBA named the family-owned Shores Sisters Farm Market on Golden Mile Road in Towanda as its national rural small business of the year.
Nebraska DHHS will pay health care providers to live and work in rural areas
Providers are eligible for up to $75,000 a year and must commit to work in a rural community for five years in a facility that accepts Medicaid. Federal grant money from the One Big Beautiful Bill will fund the initiative.
TXST to lead statewide academy strengthening financial stability of rural Texas hospitals
Texas State leads a statewide academy to strengthen the financial stability and leadership of rural Texas hospitals, helping prevent closures and protect healthcare access.
Michigan Health & Hospital Association Establishes MHA Center of Rural Excellence
The MHA Center of Rural Excellence formalizes and strengthens the collective voice of rural hospitals.
California’s crisis in rural health care is also a chance for transparency
Drug discounts aimed at rural hospitals serving uninsured or low-income patients actually profit hospitals that don’t serve those patients.
The state is racing to implement nearly $200 million in rural health transformation projects
Also in Final Reading: A pop star in the People’s House.
Nevada Health Centers’ Mammovan expands rural mammograms, seeks licensed drivers
For women across Nevada, getting an annual mammogram can be quicker and more convenient thanks to a mobile clinic designed to bring breast cancer screenings dir
Coös County health center CEO says new rural health funds not enough to counteract Medicaid cuts
Edward Shanshala, CEO of Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, said when Congress passed its massive tax cuts and spending law last year, he and his colleagues made the difficult decision to shut down the organization’s clinic in Franconia in anticipation of the law’s impacts. Shanshala doesn’t think a new tranche of federal funding will be enough […]
Don’t dismantle the Office of Health Strategy
Connecticut’s citizens – including those in the more rural areas – deserve a system that protects them from the excesses of corporate medicine.
America 250: The evolution of rural health care in America
Rural health care in the United States has evolved, from traveling physicians to technology to reduce health care disparities. But challenges remain.
Can Democrats win back rural America? Sticker shock has North Carolina voters wanting change
Lawmakers visit UT Tyler Health Science Center to highlight rural health investments
Abortion clinics are closing nationwide. Could urgent care help fill the gap?
When the only clinic that offered abortions in Michigan's rural Upper Peninsula closed, an urgent care decided to step in to fill the gap. Now, others are considering similar moves as brick-and-mortar clinics close in blue states.
HRSA Announces More Than $135 Million to Expand Nutrition Services and Strengthen Rural Health Workforce
HHS announced an important investment during a Preventative Care Roundtable with key stakeholders.
Miller-Meeks Leads Rural Health Transformation Program Roundtable in Washington County
WASHINGTON, IA – U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) convened her third Rural Hospital Roundtable with Iowa HHS, and leaders from hospitals across Southeast Iowa to discuss the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, and the impact it will have in Iowa.
NC lawmakers focus on rural health care struggles
State leaders are launching a new $200 million program that will put dollars in local hands.
Rural health care in focus: NC lawmakers raise concerns over shortage of nurses, doctors
There aren’t enough nurses and doctors in North Carolina, state leaders say, a problem that’s particularly acute in rural areas. Meanwhile, cuts to Medicaid and other economic factors threaten rural hospital closures.
After a Rural Hospital Closed, a Health Center Fills Gaps in Patient Care
Providers at Lone Star Family Health Center have seen an influx of young patients following the closure of a rural hospital that also offered primary care in Trinity, Texas. Most of the patients li…
UAMS Working with Schools in Carroll, Madison Counties to Develop Behavioral Health Outreach Programs
FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Institute for Community Health Innovation will work with schools in Carroll and Madison counties to establish programs aimed at reducing behavioral risk factors for youth, while preparing students for career opportunities in community health. Through a $1.2 million Rural Communities…
Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert ouster resumes after court denies appeal
Also, the County Commission has new rules for disruptive members and two Tennessee lawmakers want to fix a Medicare problem for rural hospitals.
ECU Health’s plan to reopen hospital offers hope to Martin County
Martin County has been without a hospital since 2023. A $220M plan aims to make it home to North Carolina's first Rural Emergency Hospital.
Lawmakers spent big to give New Mexico health care system shot in the arm
Legislators directed hundreds of millions to a new medical school facility, expansion of rural residencies and faculty raises.
Forensic nurses provide survivor-centered care across Aspirus Health System - Wausau Pilot & Review
In rural Wisconsin, access to specially trained forensic nurses can be limited. Aspirus Health forensic nurses coordinate a mobile team that supports
The Rural Health Transformation Program Isn’t So Transformational
Rural health care systems have been in crisis for decades, a situation that will become more dire when steep cuts to Medicaid kick in next year.
A Nebraska hospital in peril shows how a Republican-led rural health fund is coming up short
It's a problem that millions of Americans in rural areas are awakening to as they realize there's no windfall coming for the vulnerable hospitals near their homes.
How I built community after moving off the grid; took time
I moved to an off-grid cabin. At first, I had a hard time meeting people as a remote worker in a rural area, but I eventually built a great community.
Carey and Brian Hamilton recognized in new Health Science Education Center at UNK
The couple committed $5 million to support UNK’s rural health initiatives.
Carey and Brian Hamilton recognized in new Health Science Education Center at UNK
The couple committed $5 million to support UNK’s rural health initiatives.
Concerns over a Nebraska hospital show how a $50B rural health fund is coming up short
A rural Nebraska family’s lifeline hospital now sits at the center of a national fight over Medicaid cuts.
Trump's $50B health fund offers ailing rural hospitals few solutions
A rural Nebraska family’s lifeline hospital now sits at the center of a national fight over Medicaid cuts.
Community celebrates rural health care drone project
Representatives from Valkyrie UAS Solutions and Mid-America Transplant, in partnership with Missouri S&T, hosted a ribbon-cutting event on April 1 to commemorate the nation's first health care drone corridor.
Multi-million project improves access to rural health care at Central New York hospital
Community Memorial Hospital in Hamilton has completed a $31.5 million dollar project to renovate its emergency department, add a new radiology suite, and create 10 private patient spaces with ICU d…
New Electronics Manufacturing Business Comes to Alamosa County with Support from Rural Jump-Start Program - by Ark Valley Voice Staff
This week, Governor Jared Polis and the Business Funding and Incentives (BF&I) division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and
UAB launches Moms and Kids Mobile Health Clinic, expanding maternal and child health care access across 17 rural counties
UAB launches Moms and Kids Mobile Health Clinic, expanding maternal and child health care access across 17 rural counties
Iowa hopes to get up to $1 billion to improve rural health infrastructure. Some say it will do little to offset looming Medicaid cuts
State officials hope to bring in up to $1 billion in federal funds over the next five years to improve rural health infrastructure, but some say it will do little to help rural hospitals weather looming Medicaid spending reductions.
States are Beginning to Grapple with Federal Medicaid Cuts Impact on Rural Health Care
Visit the post for more.
Nebraska DHHS seeking rural health experts to join federal program advisory group
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is creating an advisory board for the Rural Health Transformation Program. Though the program’s budget has been set, board members across six regions will assess how prepared hospitals and clinics in their region are to implement program initiatives.
Ohio University, Anthem work to strengthen rural health care
The partnership aims to expand endowment funding, microgrants and increase experiential learning opportunities for students.
A billionaire tax could save rural hospitals and patients
Fewer health care workers in turn drives a care crisis marked by burnout, excessive wait times and poor patient outcomes.
Bill creating standards for community health workers in Georgia has stalled
A plan to strengthen health access in rural and underserved communities in Georgia through community health workers is on life support in the Georgia Legislature. The legislation, House Bill 291, has passed the House and an amended version passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee last week. But in Monday’s gatekeeping Senate Rules Committee, […]
Minnesota risks rankling Trump by prioritizing diversity in federal health grants
Funds aim to cushion rural providers from looming cuts to other health programs.
New scoreboard part of £400,000 sports funding in Mid Suffolk
The investment is part of efforts to make sure rural communities have access to sports facilities.
📚 The Inoculation Project 3/29/2026: Kindergarten Books, Art Meets Science
This week, we’re helping a kindergarten teacher�in San Bernardino add�some books to her classroom, and a rural Michigan science teacher slide a little art into her science lessons. �We hope that ...
Like ‘driving to San Francisco and back, every week’: In rural America, cancer patients face tall hurdles to get care
As cancer care becomes both more advanced and more specialized, options in rural areas have shrunk.
Rural students get hands-on heart science experience
Jefferson County teacher Jasmine Change-Jones launched the 'Heart of Science' lab, giving rural students hands-on learning about cardiovascular health.
'Bridging the gap': WSSU gathering addresses rural health disparities
The university is using outreach and mobile health services to try to reduce cancer death rates in rural North Carolina.
Federal rural health funding could trigger service cuts
As Montana rolls out new federal funding, rural hospitals fear “right-sizing” could mean losing care.
Governor Stein Outlines Priorities to Support Rural North Carolinians at NC Rural Summit
Today Governor Josh Stein joined the NC Rural Center’s 2026 Rural Summit to highlight his commitment to investing in the infrastructure and resources North…
Rural Missourians far more likely to be uninsured than urban residents
Rural Missourians rely more on Medicaid but are still more likely to be uninsured than urban Missourians, as lack of employer coverage and access barriers take hold across the state.
Give and Take: Federal Rural Health Funding Could Trigger Service Cuts
States are rolling out plans for their share of a $50 billion fund meant to improve rural health care. In some states, the money may provoke rural hospitals to cut services.
Healthcare Priorities in Governors’ 2026 State of the State Addresses
Across the country, Governors from coast to coast made healthcare a centerpiece of their 2026 legislative addresses—identifying common challenges around rural access, workforce shortages, rising costs, and behavioral health, and charting a range of ambitious courses to address them. Rural Access Gaps Rural and remote communities have experienced losses in critical healthcare infrastructure, inherently decreasing […]
Executive Council narrowly approves fifth rural health program contract
During a lengthy meeting Wednesday, the New Hampshire Executive Council approved the contract for the fifth “hub” in the state’s marquee rural health program.
In Rural Ukraine, Basic Health Care Is a Casualty of War
Elderly people in isolated villages are going without medicine. One woman said she hadn’t seen a doctor in four years.
A $50 billion fund to help rural hospitals could actually lead to closures and cuts
States are rolling out plans for their share of a $50 billion fund established by Congress to improve rural health care. In some states, the money may provoke rural hospitals to cut services.
Maine mental health agency targeted in Russian ransomware attack
AMHC is the largest behavioral healthcare provider for a large swath of rural Maine, operating in Aroostook, Hancock and Washington counties.
Providing quality, access to health care in rural Indonesia | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Leni Siagian, MPH ’26, wants to ensure care for those who face challenges getting it.
Glyphosate: A story of science, risk, and nuance
In the summer of 2014, a California groundskeeper named Dewayne Johnson started noticing patches of raw, weeping skin spreading across his body. He had spent years applying Roundup, Monsanto’s glyphosate-based herbicide, for a school district, sometimes drenched in it when equipment malfunctioned. By 2014, he had a diagnosis: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In 2018, a jury awarded him $289 million in damages, later reduced on appeal. Tens of thousands of lawsuits followed. The story hasn’t quieted down. It’s all over the internet, swinging between “this will kill you, buy organic” and “relax, you’re fear-mongering.” Some of that recent chatter stems from an Executive Order protecting glyphosate and its production, which set off intense infighting within the MAHA movement. Some of it reflects a deeper truth: Americans genuinely care about harmful chemicals in their environment (see poll below). And the conversation isn’t going anywhere, with a Supreme Court case involving Monsanto set for this April. Glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. But does glyphosate cause cancer? And how much exposure is actually risky? With so much mistrust in institutions and corporations (and some genuine conflicts of interest), making sense of the actual scientific evidence is genuinely hard. Here is a translation of what the scientific evidence actually says. Does glyphosate cause harm? Glyphosate is an herbicide that kills most plants it contacts rather than targeting specific species. It works by blocking an enzyme pathway (EPSPS) that plants and many microorganisms need to produce essential amino acids. Without those amino acids, the plant can’t grow and dies. Glyphosate was first developed by Monsanto in the 1970s and became ubiquitous after the company introduced “Roundup Ready” crops in the 1990s. In 2024, Bayer removed glyphosate from residential Roundup-branded products due to litigation pressure. But today it is still the most widely used herbicide in the world. Farmers also discovered they could spray it directly on crops like oats, lentils, beans, and peas just before harvest to dry them out faster and make harvesting easier. Because of its widespread use, it’s obviously really important to understand if it’s harmful to humans. The key principle: The dose makes the poison The most important concept in toxicology is that “the dose makes the poison.” Sixteenth-century physician Paracelsus articulated what remains the foundational principle of toxicology: sola dosis facit venenum. Water will kill you if you drink enough of it. Aspirin saves lives at 81 milligrams and causes internal bleeding at higher chronic doses. So, at what dose is glyphosate poisonous? The LD50 in rats (the dose that kills half the test animals) is around 5,600 mg/kg body weight. Table salt is roughly 3,000 mg/kg. By that classic measure, glyphosate is less acutely toxic than salt. But some people are exposed to a lot of glyphosate through their work. And among the general public, there are many questions about low-dose, cumulative exposure from multiple sources over long periods. Does glyphosate cause health problems? Cancer Correlation maps are striking, with one analysis finding that 60% of counties that spray the most glyphosate have non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma rates above the national average. But correlation alone doesn’t establish cause, which is why animal and human studies matter. In animals: Rat studies are typically what most fear is rooted in, but most people don’t know the study details on the dosage given to rats. A pooled analysis of the 13 most rigorous rat studies found evidence that very high doses, around 55,000 times greater than typical food residue exposure, can cause certain cancers. In humans: One of the strongest studies followed 55,000 herbicide users over 20 years and found no overall increased cancer risk. There was one signal: among those with the highest use, rates of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) appeared elevated. A broader meta-analysis of 18 human studies also found no overall cancer risk, though a separate meta-analysis focused specifically on non-Hodgkin lymphoma found that people with high cumulative glyphosate exposure faced a 41% higher relative risk compared to those with low or no exposure. These human studies are observational studies (randomized controlled trials would be unethical), and meta-analyses are only as reliable as the studies they pool. But the story seems consistent: at very high exposure levels, there may be some cancer risk. But that’s about as far as the science currently takes us. Emerging research: gut and reproductive health Gut: Because glyphosate targets a pathway that exists in some gut bacteria, scientists have questioned whether it could affect the microbiome. In mice, a 2023 University of Iowa study found that glyphosate altered gut bacterial composition and raised markers of intestinal inflammation. A 2024 systematic review found similar patterns: disrupted gut bacteria and problems with the mucus layer that protects the intestinal wall in mice. Whether this translates to humans is an open question. The human gut is highly variable and resistant, and we don't yet have strong studies confirming the same effects in people. Reproductive health: Animal studies have found that glyphosate-based herbicides can interfere with reproductive hormones, including disrupting egg cell development in mice and reducing the number of eggs available in sheep’s ovaries. However, the doses used in these experiments were high, so it’s not yet clear whether the same effects would occur in humans. On the human side, a 2021 pilot study led by Mount Sinai researchers tested urine samples from pregnant women across the U.S. and found glyphosate in 95% of them. The study also found a possible connection between higher glyphosate exposure during pregnancy and a subtle physical difference measured in female newborns. That said, some connections weren’t statistically reliable and this was a small study. The researchers themselves said more and larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions. What do regulators say about glyphosate safety? In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). The classification is worth taking seriously. But, there’s an important distinction: IARC classifies hazard, meaning the potential to cause harm under some conditions. It does not assess risk, which accounts for actual exposure levels and the real-world probability of harm. The U.S. EPA, the European Food Safety Authority, Health Canada, and regulatory agencies in Australia and Japan have all concluded that glyphosate is “unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans” at realistic exposure levels. They’re asking a different question: given how much of this people actually encounter, what is the probability of harm? Your actual exposure is what determines your actual risk. What does glyphosate mean for your daily life? At the grocery store: Food residues are small. The EPA’s acceptable daily intake is 1.75 mg/kg of body weight per day. To hit that threshold from oatmeal alone, a 150-pound adult would need to eat roughly 50 pounds of oats every day. But this calculation addresses only one pathway (food), and we don’t yet have robust tools to measure people’s actual total exposure. If reducing exposure matters to you, organic certification prohibits synthetic herbicides, and organic oat products generally test at lower or undetectable levels. Either way, a diet rich in whole grains, conventional or organic, is far better for your health than one that omits them out of fear of residues. On the farm: Occupational exposure is orders of magnitude higher than consumer exposure. Farmers and farm workers who mix, load, and apply glyphosate-based herbicides, especially without protective equipment, face meaningfully different risk profiles. Proper PPE isn’t optional. Integrated weed management strategies that rotate chemical modes of action are also worth taking seriously, both for health and for long-term effectiveness. If you live near a farm: Spray drift is real. Concentrations near field edges can spike during and after application, particularly on windy days. This is an area where I think public health could really step up and empower rural communities with buffer zones, rather than placing the onus on individuals. But for now, knowing your local agricultural calendar and keeping windows closed during application are the first steps. Bottom line Dewayne Johnson was exposed to glyphosate at levels most people will never encounter, and a jury decided he deserved compensation. That outcome is not evidence that the oatmeal in your pantry is dangerous. But it is a reminder that the dose, the context, and the person doing the exposing all matter enormously. Glyphosate is a chemical tool with benefits, trade-offs, and genuine open scientific questions. Learning to hold that complexity without collapsing into panic or dismissal is, honestly, one of the most useful and hardest things to do in navigating modern health science. Love, YLE Your Local Epidemiologist (YLE) is founded and operated by Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH PhD—an epidemiologist, wife, and mom of two little girls. Hannah Totte, MPH, is an epidemiologist and YLE Community Manager. YLE reaches more than 425,000 people in over 132 countries with one goal: “Translate” the ever-evolving public health science so that people will be well-equipped to make evidence-based decisions. This newsletter is free to everyone, thanks to the generous support of fellow YLE community members. To support the effort, subscribe or upgrade below: Subscribe
Congress needs to protect 340B for rural Colorado
By Rod Pelton A lot of politicians talk about understanding what life is like for our rural communities, but not many really do. I’m a third-generation Cheyenne County farmer and rancher; I grew up on the eastern plains of Colorado, raised my family here, and as such am deeply committed to our state’s agricultural communities. I […]
Confluence Health physician assistant recognized with statewide award
WENATCHEE — A Confluence Health clinician was named the Rural Physician Assistant of the Year earlier this month by the Washington Academy of Physician Assistants.
Rural health care providers can now apply for $50M to stabilize access - New round of health care funding builds on record $146M investment - Office of the Governor
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s rural health care providers can now apply for a share of $50 million in health care funding as part of the State of New Mexico’s three-year, $146 million investment that has helped recruit more than 800 health care workers to underserved communities. The funding comes from New Mexico’s Rural Health […]
Rural health’s tech push has its limits
Plus: Focus on private equity in daycare as costs rise
RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz have a plan to save rural health care. Here’s the catch.
Top health officials point to AI as the solution for dying hospitals, but experts from rural areas of the country say the solution isn’t that simple.
Ecological and demographic drivers of Oropouche virus transmission
Nature Health - Nationwide analysis of 30,086 confirmed Oropouche virus cases in Brazil between 2014 and 2025 shows that rural municipalities had over 11-fold-higher incidence than urban areas and...
Veterinary Science Certificate Program promotes early steps on career path
Rural communities face a growing shortage of veterinary professionals, creating challenges for pet owners and livestock producers alike.
Executive Council seeks greater role in half-billion-dollar rural health initiative
New Hampshire executive councilors are seeking a greater role in a $640 million rural health initiative after initially delaying approval and securing more oversight.
FYI BR: Here are the upcoming Holi and Easter festivities in Baton Rouge
Plan for pictures with the Easter Bunny, festivities at the LSU Rural Life Museum and more.