Coronavirus in rural America (Part XCVIII): The news out of rural places gets worse

NPR featured this story by South Dakota journalist Seth Tupper this morning.  It contrasts the South Dakota response to the virus (nil) with the Vermont response (robust), noting that both states are by some measure rural AND governed by Republican executives.  

Also, I recommend this very powerful podcast from The Daily (New York Times), about the situation in rural Wisconsin, where a Democratic state legislator in a very red/Republican area has been hyper-prepared for the pandemic since March, when she rented a refrigerated van in case it was needed if funeral homes could not accommodate all of the bodies.  

Among other stories I heard or read today that had a rural angle:  hospitals in Kansas City turning down requests for ICU transfers from places "as far away as Arkansas."  (Do reporters realize that Arkansas is contiguous with Missouri?).  Also, the news out of Arkansas, my home state, is frightful:  The governor only yesterday put in place the state's first mandatory precaution:  bars and restaurants that serve alcohol must close by 11 pm.  Seems a day late, a dollar short.  And/or, as my more crass relatives might say, half ass and piss poor.