Roundup: February 27, 2026
A regular feature of The Rural Review, these roundup posts collect notable recent research, analysis, and related rural news and commentary. Feel free to send suggestions for future collections to us here. And, more details on other opportunities to contribute to the Rural Review can be found here.
Recent Publications
Australia-based researchers Caitlin B. Davey (Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University), Kyle J.D. Mulrooney (Rural Criminology, University of New England), and Susan E. Watt (Psychology, University of New England) published Punitive Attitudes in Australia: Investigating the Rural-Urban Divide in the Journal of Rural Studies, exploring underlying reasons rural Australians express more punitive attitudes than their urban counterparts.
The American Journal of Epidemiology published Development of a Rural-Urban Classification System for Public Health Research that Accommodates Structural Differences between States by Steven Erly, Claire M. Mocha, Rachel M. Amiya (all Washington State Department of Health), and Sara N. Glick (University of Washington School of Medicine). The study developed a census-tract classification system for rurality in the state of Washington.
Al Wood (Teacher Education, Michigan State University) published What Exactly is Good Rural Research? Using a Content Analysis-informed Literature Review to Illuminate a Path Toward Stronger Rural Social Studies Scholarship in the Journal of Research in Rural Education. The study evaluates 70 research articles and provides suggestions for better practices, further investigation, and improvements to the overall quality of rural education scholarship.
News & Commentary
An article in Kappan explored demographic characteristics, qualifications, and mobility patterns of first-year teachers in Kansas and Missouri using data on school district rurality to better understand teacher recruitment and retention. The article notes that significant differences exist even between two contiguous Midwest states.
A report from the Center for American Progress highlighted that rural American communities are facing a growing and often overlooked crisis involving gun homicides and suicides. Although narratives around gun violence are often centered on urban communities, firearm homicide rates remain above pre-pandemic levels in rural counties.
The Daily Yonder reported on community responses to ICE operations in Willmar, Minnesota, a small town of about 21,000 that is home to a diverse population including Somali and Latino residents. Raids and arrests have disrupted daily life in ways similar to those seen in larger cities like Minneapolis and Saint Paul, prompting neighbors to organize to support one another.
An article in Farm Journal discussed the EPA’s new right-to-repair guidance, potentially saving farmers up to $48 billion, according to the Small Business Administration. Farmers now have the ability to temporarily override emissions systems to make repairs. The EPA also clarified that the Clean Air Act applies to non-road diesel equipment.
Events
Registration for the Center for Great Plains Studies annual interdisciplinary conference on March 31-April 2, 2026, is now open. In honor of the Center’s 50th anniversary, the conference’s theme is “Great Plains Futures,” devoted to celebrating the past and re-imagining rural futures through explorations of environmental realities, Indigenous lives, and demographic change and migration. To learn more and to register, see here.
The Center for Rural Affairs is offering a free, 11-part training series called Serving the Land: A Veteran’s Guide to Farm Stays and Outdoor Experiences, to active US military and veterans interested in farming and agritourism. The sessions, beginning March 2026, are available on site in Nebraska, hybrid, or online, and alternate between business-focused online classes and on-farm visits. More information and registration is available here.
Rural Assembly is hosting an online interactive session called “What Rural Communities Need to Know about AI Data Centers” on March 4, 2026. The webinar will address the physical realities of these facilities, examine who pays for the energy they consume, and identify limits of community agreements. For more information and to register, see here.
