Rural California county faces loss of hospital

The California Report ran this terrific feature last week about the looming closure of the the county hospital in Modoc County, population 9,449, in the northeastern corner of the state. Like many local governments, the county is broke and can no longer subsidize the hospital in Alturas, population 2,892. But in spite of their conservative, pioneer roots, many residents are favoring a parcel tax to raise funds in support of the hospital. If it closes, residents of this sparsely populated county (2.4 persons per square mile) on the Oregon state line will have to travel even farther to get medical care.