Our Scans · Welfare · Weekly Summary

• [New] Welfare in low- and lower-middle-income countries could be 8 to 23% lower in 2050 as a result of a warming of about 2.5 °C, assuming no further increases in adaptation and resilience, with global losses of 8 to 19%. Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment
• [New] By 2030, there will be new air operations in multiple urban and rural areas, including quiet flights with Powered Lift aircraft, 1 and short-takeoff-and-landing flights that will increase travel options and reduce noise impacts. LinkedIn
• [New] The Scottish Government has published its first Rural Support Plan to give more clarity on how farmers will be supported over the next five years. Strutt & Parker - Rural Hub
• [New] The data center in rural Michigan will serve Oracle's AI business. Business Insider
• [New] As internet access and smartphone ownership increase among U.S. adults, digital mental health tools present a significant opportunity to expand high-value digital mental health tools to rural and underserved communities. Bipartisan Policy Center
• [New] There's $50 million for the Drake Brockman Drive Duplication at Gininderry and $30 million in 2026-27 towards the construction of a new animal welfare campus for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the Australian Capital Territory. David Pocock - Independent Senator for the ACT
• [New] Partisan disagreements over funding for nutrition programs, pesticide preemption, and language aimed at counteracting California's Proposition 12 animal welfare policies will make passage of a summer Farm Bill challenging. Organic Farmers Association
• [New] The factors that are expected to lead the worldwide culture of the meat industry are a growing trend toward innovation in cell culture, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Utah will explore using financial incentives and on-the-job training to increase provider rural placement and retention. National Governors Association
• [New] Pennsylvania will treat Emergency Medical Services workers as a professional provider workforce by providing rural service bonuses, training opportunities, tuition reimbursement for career advancement and mental health mentorship. National Governors Association
• [New] Montana plans to incentivize healthcare workers to move to rural communities by offering relocation support as well as wellness and resilience programs to prevent burnout and isolation. National Governors Association
• [New] Tennessee will extend a rural dental workforce pilot, add clinicians and dental suites, and expand preventive oral health services to reduce emergency department visits and improve oral health access in Dental HPSAs. National Governors Association
• [New] Oklahoma will expand rural residency programs for surgery, psychiatry and OBGYN specialties through state medical school and rural health care facility partnerships. National Governors Association
• [New] Arizona plans to invest in the Rural Nursing and Allied Professionals Education Program to hire additional nursing and allied professional teachers at community colleges in more rural areas. National Governors Association
• [New] Maryland will invest in its registered apprenticeship programs to introduce additional healthcare offerings in rural communities. National Governors Association
• [New] HRSA projects a shortage of 141,160 physicians by 2038, with greater gaps in rural areas. National Governors Association
• [New] Advocate Health plans to expand the drone delivery network to other regions, including Chicago and Milwaukee, with further extension into rural areas in Georgia as part of its broader deployment strategy. The STAT Trade Times
• Fiji's National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2022-2030 outlines ambitious goals around expanding access to formal financial services, supporting women-owned businesses, improving rural inclusion and enhancing digital financial literacy. The Fintech Times
• Maryland and New York propose to collect comprehensive rural health workforce data, and Maine plans to build a statewide centralized workforce data platform. Bipartisan Policy Center
• The South Dakota Department of Education raised concerns that the bidding portal rules could be challenging for rural applicants who largely receive no bids or one bid. Federal Register
• AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have announced a new Joint Venture that will see them work together to eliminate wireless dead zones in the US, with a specific focus on boosting coverage in rural areas and underserved communities with satellites. Engadget

Last updated: 19 June 2026