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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture Kentucky Called A “Warning Signal” On SNAP Work Requirements Mary Meehan
Mar 27 Energy & Environment House Subcommittee To Consider Coal Mine Reclamation Bill A congressional subcommittee will hear testimony Thursday in support of a bill that would help clean up and redevelop surface mine land. The bill enjoys bipartisan support, but still faces hurdles. A 2015 report found that as many as 6.2 million acres of land and water were harmed by mining operations that ended prior to […] By Sydney Boles Mar 27 Energy & Environment House Subcommittee To Consider Coal Mine Reclamation Bill Sydney Boles
Mar 22 Agriculture 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 Agriculture Sweet Equity: Ohio Valley Farmers Tapping Into Tradition Sydney Boles
Mar 22 Health HHS Provides Additional Funding to Expand Addiction Treatment The Ohio Valley has received nearly $60 million in additional federal funds to help combat the opioid epidemic. Kentucky received $16,431,436, Ohio $29,122,692 and West Virginia $14,630,361. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the funds as a supplement to the first-year State Opioid Response, or SOR, grant awards. “This funding will […] By Aaron Payne Mar 22 Health HHS Provides Additional Funding to Expand Addiction Treatment Aaron Payne
Mar 20 Health Report Links Housing To Health A new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation confirms the significant health challenges in the Ohio Valley, including premature deaths. It also lays out the often overlooked connection between health and housing. The report presents a county-by-county breakdown of health outcomes and reveals significant gaps between the healthiest counties and the least healthy counties. […] By Mary Meehan Mar 20 Health Report Links Housing To Health Mary Meehan
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 Agriculture 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 Agriculture Ohio Valley Farmers, Electric Cooperatives Push Back On Trump’s Budget Cut Proposals Liam Niemeyer
Mar 15 Agriculture 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 Agriculture Distress Grows For Ohio Valley Farmers As Trade Deals Stall Liam Niemeyer