Apr 24 Resource Shift McConnell Aide Takes Appalachian Regional Commission Role Not long after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky squared off with President Trump over funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission, the ARC has a new federal co-chair with strong ties to McConnell. Long-time McConnell aide Tim Thomas said he can see a day when the Appalachian Regional Commission is no longer needed. But […] By Becca Schimmel Apr 24 Resource Shift McConnell Aide Takes Appalachian Regional Commission Role Becca Schimmel
Apr 20 Resource Shift Firing Offense: Where Ohio Valley Senators Stand On Special Counsel Mueller “Why don’t you just fire the guy?” The question came in a press availability with President Trump soon after he learned that federal agents, acting on information from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, had raided the offices of his personal lawyer, Robert Cohen. The president visibly warmed to the question. Arms crossed, he answered, “Many people […] By Jeff Young Apr 20 Resource Shift Firing Offense: Where Ohio Valley Senators Stand On Special Counsel Mueller Jeff Young
Mar 9 Resource Shift Changing Course: Coal Country Students Working For A Power Switch Arlie Boggs Elementary sits between Kentucky’s two tallest mountains in a remote area that once had a booming coal economy. Ten years ago there were over a thousand coal miners employed here in Letcher county. Today, there are just 28. “We were left with many unemployed miners,” eighth-grader Nicholas Sturgill said as he and two […] By Benny Becker Mar 9 Resource Shift Changing Course: Coal Country Students Working For A Power Switch Benny Becker
Jan 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: Federal Grant Fills Gaps In Rural School Funding A group of students from South Floyd Middle School had seen the nearby elementary school suffer damage from floods year after year. When they joined the school’s newly formed engineering team, they came up with a low-cost solution. “We’ve designed portable flood levees,” team member Preston Crase explained. The plastic bins are filled with a […] By Benny Becker Jan 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: Federal Grant Fills Gaps In Rural School Funding Benny Becker
Dec 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: “Tiny House” Project Tackles Big Problems In Coal Country The sound of power tools blends with teenage chatter as students clamber around, under, and over a trailer bed that they’re busy turning into a home. They’re part of a project called “Building It Forward,” which has vocational classes building tiny houses as a way of gaining practical skills and new confidence. Just a few […] By Benny Becker Dec 8 Resource Shift Changing Course: “Tiny House” Project Tackles Big Problems In Coal Country Benny Becker
Nov 22 Resource Shift Changing Course: A School Cooperative Aims To Remake Coal Communities Betsy Layne High School serves rural Floyd County in the eastern Kentucky town of Stanville, population 206. Students there produce a video program called “Bobcat Banter” where they usually talk about sports and student life. But early last year “Bobcat Banter” introduced some special guests. “We’re here with Mr. and Mrs. Gates from the Gates […] By Jeff Young , Mary Meehan and Benny Becker Nov 22 Resource Shift Changing Course: A School Cooperative Aims To Remake Coal Communities Jeff Young, Mary Meehan and Benny Becker
Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Thirty years ago the premiere of a small-budget, independent film had an out-sized effect on how many people in Appalachian coal country thought about their region and their past. “Matewan,” directed by John Sayles, depicted a bloody chapter in the fight to organize coal miners in the 1920s, exploring themes of class struggle and pacifism […] By Jeff Young Oct 6 Resource Shift “Matewan” Revisited: Film Unearthed Region’s Buried Labor History Jeff Young
Sep 25 Resource Shift A “Like” From Zuck: Facebook Founder Visits Rural Kentucky Schools Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg was in West Virginia and Kentucky over the weekend to see some innovative ways that schools are using new technology. Zuckerberg has been traveling the country working on his New Year’s resolution to speak with people in every state. On Sunday, he met with educators and students from across […] By Benny Becker Sep 25 Resource Shift A “Like” From Zuck: Facebook Founder Visits Rural Kentucky Schools Benny Becker
Jun 16 Resource Shift Struggle To Stay: The Personal Stories Behind Population Loss “I’d love to be able to stay here,” said 32-year-old West Virginian Mark Combs. “The people are great. But it’s just dying. If you want to succeed you’ve gotta leave.” Mark is an actor and an Iraqi war veteran. He thinks there has to be a better life, or at least better economic opportunities, elsewhere. […] By Glynis Board Jun 16 Resource Shift Struggle To Stay: The Personal Stories Behind Population Loss Glynis Board