Good afternoon,

As I'm sure you've heard, former President Donald Trump wreaked havoc in Arlington National Cemetery last week when he disrespectfully gave a thumbs up during a photo-op at a wreath-laying ceremony. To make matters worse, reports have surfaced about an altercation between Trump campaign staff and a cemetery employee who was attempting to enforce the cemetery's policies against using America's most hallowed ground as a political advertisement. This is just the latest example of the former president's inability to be respectful and representative of Americans ahead of the presidential election.

On Labor Day, Vice President Harris and Governor Tim Walz paid tribute to labor unions and greeted labor leaders while Trump and Vance did nothing. Perhaps Trump was too distracted over the growing questions around a reported $10 million illegal campaign contribution he accepted from the Egyptian government.

Here are a few important updates in rural America ...

SAVING LIVES IN RURAL AMERICA

• According to Pew Research, people in rural areas have longer travel times to the nearest hospital, making it more difficult to access quality care. "Rural Americans live an average of 10.5 miles from the nearest hospital, compared to 5.6 miles for people in suburban areas and 4.4 for those in urban areas." On top of this, an increase in rural hospital closures has elevated concerns about access to health care.

• In the small town of Adams in upstate New York, Bob VanCoughnett has saved lives in rural America for years. Given his decades of experience in an ambulance, VanCoughnett has become familiar with the medical history of the people in the small community his rescue squad covers. However, he cannot do this forever.

• VanCoughnett is an emergency medical technician and like most emergency responders across New York, he is not paid. 80% of the emergency medical providers in the state rely on volunteers. As this older generation of volunteers retires, rescue squads are having difficulty finding young replacements. Today, there is a real staffing crisis, putting ambulance corps and rural Americans in danger. Communities like Adams need more volunteers like Bob VanCoughnett because he will not be around forever to help those in need.

REINFORCING RURAL SCHOOLS

• Research shows there is the need for increased support in rural schools. An academic journal – The Rural Educator – from the National Rural Education Association recently published research aimed at addressing the unique challenges facing rural schools.

• At the University of Tennessee's Center for Education Leadership, the Tennessee Rural Principals Network (TRPN) was formed to address professional development shortcomings among rural principals. The program was initially very successful but suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and in 2021, TRPN's state funding ran out. While the program has been discontinued, it has had a lasting impact on its participants and perhaps can serve as an example for future programs.

• Addressing mental health in rural schools was another critical issue highlighted in The Rural Educator. There are very clear disparities in mental health resources between rural and urban areas. During the 2021-2022 school year, there was one psychologist for every 1,127 students in kindergarten through 12th grade on average across the U.S. This shortage is particularly extreme in rural areas, especially southern states. Social psychologist and co-author of "Increasing Rural School Mental Health Workforce" Elaine S. Belanksy alongside her colleagues developed different strategies to address these staffing issues, including a rural immersion program. The program, set up for graduate students enrolled in counseling or psychology programs, provides students with hands on experience working in rural settings.

• Read more from The Rural Educator to learn about the issues facing rural schools and the education system.

• On Wednesday, Vice President Harris is planning to deliver a speech about her economic plan in New Hampshire.

• The first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris is set to take place in Philadelphia next Tuesday, September 10.

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