Dec 21 Health Watchdog Report Finds Over-Prescription Of Opioids For Some Medicaid Patients A report from a federal oversight agency shows that over 4,000 patients in the Ohio Valley received high amounts of opioids in 2018 through Medicaid, potentially putting hundreds at risk of addiction and overdose. The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services focused the report on six Appalachian states in […] By Alana Watson Dec 21 Health Watchdog Report Finds Over-Prescription Of Opioids For Some Medicaid Patients Alana Watson
Dec 18 Economy Report Shows Personal Income Declined Sharply In Ohio Valley Between July And September A new federal report shows that West Virginia and Kentucky saw the country’s sharpest declines in personal income last quarter as some forms of federal support during the pandemic expired. The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis says personal income decreased in every state in the third quarter of 2020, which includes the months of July, […] By Alana Watson Dec 18 Economy Report Shows Personal Income Declined Sharply In Ohio Valley Between July And September Alana Watson
Dec 4 Democracy & Civic Life Despite Voting Restoration Thousands Are Still Disenfranchised In The Ohio Valley After more than a decade, Kentucky resident Guy Hamilton-Smith voted this year for the first time in the state. Even though he didn’t vote in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic, sending his ballot through the mail was still an emotional moment. “Not being able to vote for many years was like a really big […] By Alana Watson Dec 4 Democracy & Civic Life Despite Voting Restoration Thousands Are Still Disenfranchised In The Ohio Valley Alana Watson
Nov 24 Health “Diseases Of Despair” Deaths Drop Slightly But Still Higher In Appalachia Than U.S. New research shows that deaths due to the mix of substance abuse and suicides known as “diseases of despair” declined slightly in 2018. But the mortality rates throughout the Ohio Valley and Appalachian region are still higher than the national average. A report from the Appalachian Regional Commission found that overall mortality rates from diseases […] By Alana Watson Nov 24 Health “Diseases Of Despair” Deaths Drop Slightly But Still Higher In Appalachia Than U.S. Alana Watson
Nov 4 Democracy & Civic Life 2020 Voter Turnout Increased As Ohio Valley States Expanded Voting Options Much of the Ohio Valley saw historic levels of voter turnout in the 2020 election, as election officials expanded voting options to reduce the risk from coronavirus. Compared to the 2016 election, voter turnout for the 2020 general election increased slightly in Kentucky and Ohio, while West Virginia — which had some of the nation’s […] By Alana Watson and Suhail Bhat Nov 4 Democracy & Civic Life 2020 Voter Turnout Increased As Ohio Valley States Expanded Voting Options Alana Watson and Suhail Bhat
Nov 3 Democracy & Civic Life Can You Wear “Black Lives Matter” Clothing To The Polls? Yes. Some voters in Ohio and Kentucky expressed concern that poll workers were advising them that “Black Lives Matter” attire was not allowed in polling locations. But according to both state’s laws on the subject, BLM clothing is perfectly fine to wear while casting your ballot. The voters shared their concerns using the tipline operated by […] By Alana Watson Nov 3 Democracy & Civic Life Can You Wear “Black Lives Matter” Clothing To The Polls? Yes. Alana Watson
Oct 30 Democracy & Civic Life The Missing Voters: The Ohio Valley Has Some Of The Nation’s Lowest Voter Turnout. What Could Change That? This fall, Lexington, Kentucky, activist and artist Devine Carama launched a different kind of road trip across his home state. He visited a dozen cities and towns, from Pikeville, in the state’s Appalachian east, to Paducah, near where the Ohio River joins the Mississippi. He carried a sign that said “I’ll walk 400 miles if […] By Suhail Bhat , Sydney Boles , , Alana Watson and Jeff Young Oct 30 Democracy & Civic Life The Missing Voters: The Ohio Valley Has Some Of The Nation’s Lowest Voter Turnout. What Could Change That? Suhail Bhat, Sydney Boles, , Alana Watson and Jeff Young
Oct 30 Democracy & Civic Life Last-Minute Voting Questions In The Election Home Stretch The conclusion of this most unusual general election is only a few days away. On Tuesday, November 3, people will make their way to polls, if they haven’t done so already, to cast their ballots. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, election officials have expanded voting options for those who are concerned with catching the virus. […] By Alana Watson Oct 30 Democracy & Civic Life Last-Minute Voting Questions In The Election Home Stretch Alana Watson
Oct 21 Economy Report Shows Ohio Jobs Potential In Coronavirus Recovery And Climate Change Action A new report from an economic research group says Ohio could gain hundreds of thousands of jobs through investment in clean energy and other efforts to address climate change. The ReImagine Appalachia Coalition, a progressive policy group, asked economists to assess its blueprint for the region and what it could mean for employment opportunities in […] By Alana Watson Oct 21 Economy Report Shows Ohio Jobs Potential In Coronavirus Recovery And Climate Change Action Alana Watson
Oct 16 Economy ARC Investing Over 15 Million In Ohio Valley Economic Projects The Appalachian Regional Commission is investing another $43.3 million in communities affected by the downturn of the coal industry. The latest POWER grants from the ARC will support 51 projects in coal-dependent communities, including over $15 million for 20 projects in the Ohio Valley. The investments are going towards projects that will support broadband expansion, […] By Alana Watson Oct 16 Economy ARC Investing Over 15 Million In Ohio Valley Economic Projects Alana Watson