Apr 19 Economy Cannabis Economy: With Medical Marijuana, Ohio’s Meigs County Hopes To Cash In On “Golden” Opportunity Meigs County, Ohio, has a complicated history with marijuana. “Meigs County Gold” has been grown illegally for years. Local legend has it that was the strain of choice for musicians like the Grateful Dead and Willie Nelson when they toured Ohio. But for Meigs County Commissioner Randy Smith, that isn’t a source of pride. Instead […] By Aaron Payne Apr 19 Economy Cannabis Economy: With Medical Marijuana, Ohio’s Meigs County Hopes To Cash In On “Golden” Opportunity Aaron Payne
Apr 15 Economy Kentucky Aluminum Plant Investor Is Russian Company Formerly Under U.S. Sanctions Russian aluminum company Rusal announced Monday it plans to invest in a new Kentucky aluminum mill to be built near Ashland in eastern Kentucky. The $200 million investment in Braidy Industries is Rusal’s first U.S. project since the Trump administration lifted U.S. sanctions placed against the company. Rusal had been sanctioned by the U.S. government […] By Sydney Boles Apr 15 Economy Kentucky Aluminum Plant Investor Is Russian Company Formerly Under U.S. Sanctions Sydney Boles
Mar 29 Economy Rare Conservation Win In Congress Helps Ohio Valley Parks And Monuments The Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge’s namesake is apparent upon stepping outside its visitors center in Williamstown, West Virginia. Gazing past bird feeders and the forested bank of the Ohio River, a skinny island looms large. “So Buckley Island is right across the water from us,” says Michael Schramm, visitor services manager at the […] By Brittany Patterson Mar 29 Economy Rare Conservation Win In Congress Helps Ohio Valley Parks And Monuments Brittany Patterson
Mar 28 Economy Kentucky Called A “Warning Signal” On SNAP Work Requirements The federal government is considering a work requirement for some people who get food assistance through SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A new study uses Kentucky as an example of what that change could mean for the country. The SNAP rules require 80 hours of work a month and cap assistance at three […] By Mary Meehan Mar 28 Economy Kentucky Called A “Warning Signal” On SNAP Work Requirements Mary Meehan
Mar 22 Economy Sweet Equity: Ohio Valley Farmers Tapping Into Tradition When Seth Long first began experimenting with maple syrup production, he tapped hollow pegs called spiles into individual trees, collected drips of sap in milk jugs, and carried each gallon down the the steep mountainside on foot. Now, Long rides an open-air buggy up muddy switchbacks to a 500-gallon collection tank from which translucent blue […] By Sydney Boles Mar 22 Economy Sweet Equity: Ohio Valley Farmers Tapping Into Tradition Sydney Boles
Mar 18 Economy Trump Budget Proposal Cuts Funds for Hal Rogers’ Prison Project The Trump Administration released on Monday details of a 2020 federal budget proposal that includes cutting funds allotted for a new federal prison in eastern Kentucky. The funds would be redirected to other law-enforcement or natural security priorities, potentially including a wall at the southern U.S. border. The proposed cut rebukes arguments made by Congressman […] By Sydney Boles Mar 18 Economy Trump Budget Proposal Cuts Funds for Hal Rogers’ Prison Project Sydney Boles
Mar 15 Economy Ohio Valley Farmers, Electric Cooperatives Push Back On Trump’s Budget Cut Proposals West Kentucky Soybean Farmer Jed Clark, like many Ohio Valley farmers, is in a tighter financial situation because tariffs from the trade war and market forces have depressed crop prices. “We’ve had a collapse in our grain markets,” Clark said. “We’re seeing some of the lowest commodity prices for wheat we’ve seen in a long […] By Liam Niemeyer Mar 15 Economy Ohio Valley Farmers, Electric Cooperatives Push Back On Trump’s Budget Cut Proposals Liam Niemeyer
Mar 15 Economy Distress Grows For Ohio Valley Farmers As Trade Deals Stall West Kentucky Farmer Barry Alexander doesn’t have an answer on when the Trump administration will reach a trade deal with China, now a year into tariffs that have hamstrung some Ohio Valley industries. Alexander is optimistic these continued negotiations will be worth it, but his plan in the meantime lies in massive, silver storage bins […] By Liam Niemeyer Mar 15 Economy Distress Grows For Ohio Valley Farmers As Trade Deals Stall Liam Niemeyer
Mar 14 Economy Toyota Revs Up Hybrid Vehicle Production In Ohio Valley As Trump Tries To Claim Credit The automaker Toyota announced Thursday major new investments in facilities in Kentucky and West Virginia to increase production of hybrid vehicles. Toyota plans to invest about $750 million in facilities in five states with almost half of that going to its plants in Kentucky and West Virginia. Toyota’s plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, already the largest […] By Jeff Young Mar 14 Economy Toyota Revs Up Hybrid Vehicle Production In Ohio Valley As Trump Tries To Claim Credit Jeff Young