May 18 Economy Kentucky Coal Production, Employment Decline Slows in 1st Quarter Kentucky coal production and employment fell by the smallest amount in nearly two years, according to new data. The state’s coal mines produced 6.5 million tons in the first three months of 2021, according to the Energy and Environment Cabinet, a decline of 9.6% from 2020. Total employment fell by 14.6% to 3,983 workers. Western […] By Curtis Tate May 18 Economy Kentucky Coal Production, Employment Decline Slows in 1st Quarter Curtis Tate
Apr 14 Economy New Research: Reclamation of Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells, Mine Sites Could Create Thousands of Jobs In Central Appalachia an estimated 538,000 unplugged oil and gas wells and 853,393 acres of abandoned mine lands sit unreclaimed, often polluting the air and water, and presenting public safety threats. But according to two new reports from the regional think tank Ohio River Valley Institute, these sites that now pose serious health risks to […] By Katie Myers Apr 14 Economy New Research: Reclamation of Abandoned Oil and Gas Wells, Mine Sites Could Create Thousands of Jobs Katie Myers
Apr 2 Economy Ohio Valley Communities Wait For Guidance On COVID Funds The American Rescue Plan Act signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11 provided the nation with a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus, including funds to state and local governments, but local officials around the Ohio Valley say they aren’t yet sure just how the money can be applied. The aid package includes $350 […] By Alana Watson Apr 2 Economy Ohio Valley Communities Wait For Guidance On COVID Funds Alana Watson
Mar 9 Economy Biden’s COVID-19 Bill Championed As A Boon For Failing Ohio Valley Pensions Major unions and one of their leading allies in the U.S. Senate are hailing tens of billions of dollars allocated for shoring up struggling union pension funds. The funding added to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, dubbed the Butch-Lewis Act, would provide $86 billion to dozens of failing union pension plans across […] By Liam Niemeyer Mar 9 Economy Biden’s COVID-19 Bill Championed As A Boon For Failing Ohio Valley Pensions Liam Niemeyer
Mar 5 Economy The Long Wait: As Lawmakers Prioritize Broadband, Rural Communities Wonder When It Will Reach Them As Barkley Hughes and I rumbled around in his red utility vehicle last month, memories slowly unwound about his western Kentucky hometown. Tolu, a historic Ohio River-bound community of less than a hundred, only makes up a few blocks before opening up into rolling farmland. Hughes openly admits it’s not near anywhere, but that’s part […] By Liam Niemeyer Mar 5 Economy The Long Wait: As Lawmakers Prioritize Broadband, Rural Communities Wonder When It Will Reach Them Liam Niemeyer
Feb 12 Economy Ohio Valley Economists Weigh In On Biden’s Recovery Plan The COVID-19 pandemic is continuing to cripple the economy in the Ohio Valley and President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats are pursuing his plan for economic recovery. Biden’s economic priorities include raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, forgiving student loan debt, and undoing some Trump-era tax cuts. But Biden’s immediate focus is on […] By Alana Watson Feb 12 Economy Ohio Valley Economists Weigh In On Biden’s Recovery Plan Alana Watson
Feb 10 Economy Ohio Valley Natural Gas Counties Get Small Piece Of National Economic Pie An analysis of natural gas production in the Ohio Valley finds that the biggest gas producing counties in the region suffered economically over the past decade compared to the rest of the country, although natural gas production was high. The report released Wednesday by the Ohio River Valley Institute, a nonprofit think tank, shows that […] By Alana Watson Feb 10 Economy Ohio Valley Natural Gas Counties Get Small Piece Of National Economic Pie Alana Watson
Jan 22 Economy Biden Has An Ambitious Agenda. What Will It Mean For The Ohio Valley? After an extraordinary inauguration ceremony marked by heightened security and coronavirus safety measures, President Joe Biden started his first day in office signing executive actions on climate change, immigration, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before taking the oath of office, Biden was already addressing the nation about his ambitious plans to fight the twin crises […] By Jeff Young , Liam Niemeyer and Alana Watson Jan 22 Economy Biden Has An Ambitious Agenda. What Will It Mean For The Ohio Valley? Jeff Young, Liam Niemeyer and Alana Watson
Dec 30 Economy COVID Relief Is Coming To The Ohio Valley. But As Hunger Persists, Did It Arrive Too Late? He asked her if she was cold. A wind whips around the park in western Kentucky a couple days before Christmas. He puts his arm around her as they move closer together on the bench. Blake Livesay, 27, met Laura Brooke, 31, online earlier in 2020, and they’ve been inseparable since. She liked his way […] By Liam Niemeyer Dec 30 Economy COVID Relief Is Coming To The Ohio Valley. But As Hunger Persists, Did It Arrive Too Late? Liam Niemeyer