Jul 1 Energy & Environment Competing Reports Offer Different Outlook On Ohio Valley’s Petrochemical Future A new report by the Trump administration suggests the Ohio Valley’s growing petrochemical industry could be an unprecedented source of economic opportunity and growth when the county, and region, eventually emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. But the assessment is drawing criticism from environmental groups and some financial analysts that warn the risk is growing for […] By Brittany Patterson Jul 1 Energy & Environment Competing Reports Offer Different Outlook On Ohio Valley’s Petrochemical Future Brittany Patterson
Jun 29 Economy Advocacy Groups Unveil Plan for a 21st Century Coal-County Economy Environmental and economic advocacy groups from coal-producing parts of the country unveiled a policy agenda on Monday to help coal-reliant communities make a transition to a more sustainable future. The plan includes items that have long been on the wish list for groups like Appalachian Voices and the Just Transition Fund, both of which were […] By Sydney Boles Jun 29 Economy Advocacy Groups Unveil Plan for a 21st Century Coal-County Economy Sydney Boles
Jun 26 Economy Coal Towns Were Counting On Tourism For New Jobs. Then Coronavirus Hit. On a recent sunny weekday, Bill Currey proudly walks among 30 neatly stacked, brightly colored plastic kayaks. Birds chirp merrily, and the soothing sounds of the meandering Coal River permeate the background — nature’s version of a white noise machine. For the tanned Currey, who also owns an industrial real estate company, being here, on […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 26 Economy Coal Towns Were Counting On Tourism For New Jobs. Then Coronavirus Hit. Brittany Patterson
Jun 23 Democracy & Civic Life Meet the Teen Leading This Kentucky Town’s Discussion of Racism in Appalachia The courtroom was silent as 19-year-old Dayjha Hogg approached the lectern at a Letcher County fiscal court meeting, stared down a panel of county magistrates, and spoke. “I know COVID’s going around right now, so just imagine, there’s no COVID, normal society, and imagine you walk around and it’s like you have the plague.” Hogg […] By Sydney Boles Jun 23 Democracy & Civic Life Meet the Teen Leading This Kentucky Town’s Discussion of Racism in Appalachia Sydney Boles
Jun 22 Democracy & Civic Life Formerly Disenfranchised Kentucky Voters Cast Their Ballots For many in the Ohio Valley, voting is a choice, a right they are free to exercise if they want to. But for Jackie McGranahan and the more than 175,000 other formerly disenfranchised Kentuckians, this primary election is special. It’s her first chance to vote since 2008. She won’t be going to a voting booth. […] By Becca Schimmel Jun 22 Democracy & Civic Life Formerly Disenfranchised Kentucky Voters Cast Their Ballots Becca Schimmel
Jun 19 Democracy & Civic Life Sherman vs. Lee: How One Man Sparked A Fight To Take Down A Confederate Statue In His Kentucky Town Toddlers yelling, running around the hardwood floors and leaving cracker crumbs on the ground. A laptop screen dented by a soup can dropped by a kid. At one point, a room covered from ceiling to floor with hand prints after kids were left alone with a paint can. But for the moment, Sherman Neal’s kids […] By Liam Niemeyer Jun 19 Democracy & Civic Life Sherman vs. Lee: How One Man Sparked A Fight To Take Down A Confederate Statue In His Kentucky Town Liam Niemeyer
Jun 17 Agriculture Ohio Valley Farmers Receive More Than $100 Million So Far In COVID-19 Relief Ohio Valley farmers have received more than $100 million so far in federal relief payments to offset the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with potentially more payments on the way. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Coronavirus Food Assistance program plans to distribute up to $16 billion in direct payments to farmers, with farmers […] By Liam Niemeyer Jun 17 Agriculture Ohio Valley Farmers Receive More Than $100 Million So Far In COVID-19 Relief Liam Niemeyer
Jun 12 Health These Three Factors Are Driving Many COVID-19 Outbreaks In Rural Communities As the economies of the Ohio Valley gradually reopen from the pandemic closures, state officials are still reporting hundreds of coronavirus cases each day in the region. In Kentucky, coronavirus cases are again on the rise, with a week-long average of daily cases approaching the highest level yet. Public health officials are concerned about a […] By Liam Niemeyer Jun 12 Health These Three Factors Are Driving Many COVID-19 Outbreaks In Rural Communities Liam Niemeyer
Jun 9 Economy Appalachian Program Feeds Families As The Pandemic Economy Places More In Need It’s a sweltering hot Monday in Whitesburg, Kentucky, and the kitchen at Community Agricultural Nutritional Enterprises, or CANE, is buzzing with activity. In an industrial kitchen that was once a high school cafeteria, Brandon Fleming is chopping onions and sliding them into a massive aluminum tray of beans. Once the beans are in the oven, […] By Sydney Boles Jun 9 Economy Appalachian Program Feeds Families As The Pandemic Economy Places More In Need Sydney Boles