Ashley Smedley

About Ashley Smedley

Posts by Ashley Smedley:

August 15 2025

Farm Crime Across Borders: RSS Member Donnermeyer’s Latest Book Provides a Global Lens on Agricultural Justice

Farm Crime Across Borders RSS Member Donnermeyer’s Latest Book Provides a Global Lens on Agricultural Justice

In Farm Crime: An International Perspective, Joe Donnermeyer curates a compelling collection of research that sheds light on the unique challenges of crime in rural and agricultural settings. From equipment theft to environmental violations, the book examines how farm-related crime manifests across different countries and legal systems.

Donnermeyer, a long-standing contributor to the field of rural criminology, emphasizes the need for a more nuanced understanding of justice in non-urban contexts. This volume is a vital resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working at the intersection of agriculture, law, and community safety. 

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August 15 2025

Rethinking Rural Inequality: A New Perspective from Linda Lobao and Gregory Hooks

Rethinking Rural Inequality A New Perspective from Linda Lobao and Gregory Hooks

In Rethinking Spatial Inequality, Linda Lobao and Gregory Hooks examine how spatial disparities—particularly in rural areas—are shaped by policy, power, and historical context. Their analysis bridges sociology, geography, and public policy, making a strong case for reimagining how inequality is addressed across regions. 

This book is a vital contribution to the Rural Policy and Rural Poverty conversation, offering insights for scholars, policymakers, and advocates working to create more equitable futures.

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August 15 2025

From Planning to Practice: Tackling the Digital Divide in Rural America

From Planning to Practice Tackling the Digital Divide in Rural America

In Bridging the Digital Divide in the US: Planning Innovative State and Local Approaches, Mildred Warner joins Alexis Bravo and Zhilin Shen to examine how local and state governments are responding to the urgent need for digital equity. The book highlights policy innovations that address broadband access, digital literacy, and infrastructure gaps—particularly in underserved rural areas.

Warner, a long-time advocate for inclusive planning, emphasizes the importance of community-driven solutions.

This book is a valuable resource for policymakers, planners, and advocates working to ensure that no community is left behind in the digital age.

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August 15 2025

NPR Quotes RSS Member Arbuckle About How Planting Cover Crops Can Reduce the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico

National Public Radio’s Eric Schmid spoke to RSS Member J Arbuckle about how to convince farmers to plant more cover crops. Those crops are important because they permit farmers to use less fertilizer, runoff from which is a major cause of the Gulf of Mexico’s “dead zone,” an area so low in oxygen that fish and other aquatic life can’t live there.

“Cover crops do make more nitrogen available in the soil over time. That means farmers could spend less money on additional fertilizer, boosting their profits and keeping pollutants from getting into waterways. But it could take years before an operation like that becomes profitable, years that many farmers simply can’t afford.” J Arbuckle, Iowa State University

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August 15 2025

Wisconsin’s Housing Crisis Is a Health Crisis, UW Researchers Warn

Wisconsin’s Housing Crisis Is a Health Crisis UW Researchers Warn

In a recent study conducted by the University of Wisconsin, researchers found that housing instability is more than just an economic issue—it’s a growing public health concern. The report highlights how rural poverty and housing stress are contributing to worsening health conditions across Wisconsin.

If people are prioritizing their shelter over everything else, the potential for negative health outcomes is, I don’t want to say inevitable, but likely. So I think that that was kind of a surprising finding.” Erin Gaede, PhD Student in Sociology, University of Wisconsin 

The findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that address both affordable housing and rural health disparities.

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Wisconsin Public Radio filed this story on the UW housing report.

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August 15 2025

Rural Justice Under the Microscope: WSU Sociologists Investigate Surging Rural Incarceration Rates

Rural Justice Under the Microscope WSU Sociologists Investigate Surging Rural Incarceration Rates

A study led by Washington State University sociologists is shedding light on rising jail incarceration rates in rural Washington counties. The research explores how limited resources, policy shifts, and social dynamics contribute to the growing number of rural residents behind bars. 

“There is an interaction between the absence of resources in an area and an individual person’s inability to navigate the different avenues of the criminal legal system. There are urban areas that have similar issues, but it’s just endemic to these rural areas with the lack of mental health support, or actual heath support, or anything needed to help individuals navigate the system and get back on their feet post-arrest.”—Jennifer Sherman, Washington State University

The study is part of a larger effort to understand how rural justice systems operate under strain and what reforms might help address the disparities. The research team hopes their work will inform policymakers and advocates working to improve rural legal systems. 

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August 15 2025

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Could Aggravate the Rural Lawyer Shortage

Trump’s - "One Big Beautiful Bill" Could Aggravate the Rural Lawyer Shortage

Recent commentary published by The Daily Yonder expresses concern over how the “One Big Beautiful Bill” could significantly impact the availability of legal services in rural America.

“New student loan limits imposed by the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) may make it even harder to recruit lawyers to rural areas.”

The commentary, which quotes RSS Member Hannah Haksgaard underscores the importance of preserving and expanding legal infrastructure in rural areas, where legal assistance is often out of reach for those who need it.

The availability of legal services in rural places is a theme of some of the work being done by several members of the RSS Rural Law and Justice RIG.

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August 15 2025

Rethinking Birth Rate Fears: U.S. Demographic Trends in Context

Rethinking Birth Rate Fears U.S. Demographic Trends in Context

In this thought-provoking piece, RSS Member Shelley Clark of McGill University, along with co-authors Leslie Root and Karen Benjamin Guzzo, challenge the alarmist narrative surrounding declining birth rates in the United States. The essay explains that while fertility rates have dropped, the implications are far more nuanced than popular discourse suggests. 

“It doesn’t seem to be the case that birth rates are low because people are uninterested in having children; rather, it’s because they don’t feel it’s feasible for them to become parents or to have as many children as they would like.”

Clark and her co-authors emphasize the importance of shifting the conversation toward sustainable population policies and understanding the broader context of demographic change. 

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August 10 2025

RSS Member Alex Theophilus’ Study of Rural Gentrification Dilemmas Featured in Salt Lake Tribune

The work of RSS Member Alex Theophilus has been featured in several recent stories in the Salt Lake Tribune. Theophilus is studying community responses to short-term rentals and other aspects of rural gentrification at Bear Lake, which straddles the Utah-Idaho state line.

“Some residents surveyed worry that neighborhoods with many of [short-term rental] properties lose the stability and relationships that come from long-term neighbors . . .There were lots of folks we talked to who were concerned that the community is developing in a way that caters to wealthier tourists or wealthier newcomers and that the values and considerations of longtime community members aren’t necessarily being taken into account as frequently as some folks wish they would.” — Alex Theophilus, Utah State University

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Theophilus also discussed his work on KSL Radio here.

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July 29 2025

Ann Eisenberg Speculates on the Diminished Interest in Rural Voting Patterns in the 2024 Election

Ann Eisenberg Explores Rural Voter Sentiment Post-Election

Ann Eisenberg’s recent essay, Why Aren’t We Talking About Rural Voters Anymore?, offers a timely reflection on the political and legal implications of rural voter behavior in the 2024 election. Drawing from both legal scholarship and community narratives, Eisenberg highlights the nuanced ways rural voters are engaging with democratic processes.

“The realization that something other than the supposed quirks of rural voters or the inherent flaws in rural populations must be at play in determining our national elections might lead us to new, more fruitful avenues of analysis. Something structural, and not cultural, now seems like a clearer explanation for Trump’s 2024 win. And we should be doing some work to understand those structural factors.” — Ann Eisenberg, West Virginia University College of Law

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