Mastodawn

State legislatures are often strongholds of public input, and should be, given their more immediate impact on local laws and policies. Yet this is not always true, and over time, you can see the same state legislatures valuing, then limiting, then valuing again, constituent testimony. Here's where Kansas is right now. #Legislatures #Kansas #PublicPolicy #HPPR https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-04-17/brazen-offenses-kansas-lawmakers-undermine-public-input-in-legislative-process?mc_cid=f5ef053517&mc_eid=f1010f8799

‘Brazen offenses’: Kansas lawmakers undermine public input in legislative process

Two Kansas medical professionals sat for an hour at an early morning committee hearing in mid-March, waiting their turn to speak out against a bill. One drove two hours to attend. Neither got a chance to talk.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Apr 10

Love these efforts! #Prairie #NIU #HPPR

https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-04-09/most-american-prairies-are-gone-these-people-are-working-to-bring-them-back?mc_cid=7854d821e0&mc_eid=f1010f8799

Most American prairies are gone. These people are working to bring them back

From a field on an Illinois university campus, to rare, untouched land in Texas, here are some efforts to replant once-abundant prairie in the Midwest and Great Plains.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Mar 28

It (non-profit grocers, not the closing!) is a good idea. Hopeful that more rural county, state, and federal funds can help to avoid this result.. #RuralCommunities #Groceries #FoodDeserts #HPPR

A rural nonprofit grocery store is closing in Kansas, showing how hard it is to fight food deserts | HPPR
https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-03-24/a-rural-nonprofit-grocery-store-is-closing-in-kansas-showing-how-hard-it-is-to-fight-food-deserts?mc_cid=32c2c79f5b&mc_eid=f1010f8799

A rural nonprofit grocery store is closing in Kansas, showing how hard it is to fight food deserts

Rural communities have been turning to nonprofits and other strategies to keep grocery stores open. But one of those new stores is closing in Kansas, which shows how challenging it can be to provide food in small towns.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Mar 21

Strong support for solar! #SolarEnergy #HPPR

https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-03-16/oklahoma-doubled-its-solar-energy-capacity-last-year-report-shows?mc_cid=9a37824116&mc_eid=f1010f8799

Oklahoma doubled its solar energy capacity last year, report shows

A majority of new energy added to the grid in the U.S. came from solar installations, according to a new report.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Feb 28

Not what our farmers or our country need right now #Farming #USDA #HPPR

https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-02-26/usda-lost-24-000-workers-under-trump-hurting-critical-resources-for-farmers?mc_cid=615ebf770e&mc_eid=f1010f8799

USDA lost 24,000 workers under Trump, hurting critical resources for farmers

The Trump administration's federal workforce cuts shrunk U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies that inspect produce, provide conservation resources and collect data on crops and livestock. It's creating longer wait times for farmers seeking federal services and programs, people working in agriculture say.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Feb 28

"From a climate perspective, you should always use something fully, in my opinion, before you recycle it,” Leach said. “Both reuse and recycling is going to reduce the impact of mining primary material … because every type of mining and extraction of natural resources has its downsides.'" Amen to that! #EVBatteries #Reuse #Recycle #HPPR

https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2026-02-27/used-electric-vehicle-batteries-find-new-life-bolstering-the-texas-grid?mc_cid=615ebf770e&mc_eid=f1010f8799

Used electric vehicle batteries find new life bolstering the Texas grid

A company is repurposing the batteries to store electricity and sell it to the grid when power from wind and solar dwindles.

HPPR High Plains Public Radio

Jerry Meyer Dec 14, 2024

“The academy needs courageous faculty who are not afraid to research, write about, or teach topics that some may shy away from because they are labeled as controversial — to ask and investigate unasked and unanswered questions...." Agreed. #AcademicFreedom is critical. I'm afraid this isn't the only state where these fears exist. Glad to see #HPPR address these multistate issues. #PublicRadio (posted edited to fix link to the story)

https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-12-12/texas-professors-self-censor-for-fear-of-retaliation-survey-found?mc_cid=f31820690d&mc_eid=f1010f8799

Texas professors self-censor for fear of retaliation, survey found

At least a third of respondents at UT-Austin, UT-Dallas and Texas A&M said they’re not sure administrators at their universities protect free speech on campus.

HPPR