Mar 26 Democracy & Civic Life Biden Picks Gayle Manchin, Wife of WV Senator, For Appalachian Regional Commission President Joe Biden has nominated Gayle Manchin, the wife of West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, to co-chair the Appalachian Regional Commission, the White House announced Friday. The commission was created in 1965 as part of an antipoverty effort under President Lyndon Johnson. It serves 420 Appalachian counties across 13 states from southern New York to […] By Curtis Tate Mar 26 Democracy & Civic Life Biden Picks Gayle Manchin, Wife of WV Senator, For Appalachian Regional Commission Curtis Tate
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
Oct 8 Economy Letting the Sunlight in: When Appalachian Solar Dreams Become Realities The promise of solar energy for small, rural communities, and particularly those recovering from the decline of the coal industry, is twofold: job creation, and revenue. Money is flowing into solar energy— the Appalachian Regional Commission just funded a major regional solar financing program, and a massive solar farm may be coming to Martin County, […] By Katie Myers Oct 8 Economy Letting the Sunlight in: When Appalachian Solar Dreams Become Realities Katie Myers
Oct 2 Democracy & Civic Life New Appalachian Journalism Outlets Tackle Stereotypes, Media Economy It wasn’t too long ago that Michael Farmer, a pastor in Charleston, West Virginia, received an email asking him a question that was already on his mind: “As a Black Southern Baptist pastor in West Virginia, what is my role in telling our stories?” The email was from Ashton Marra, the managing digital editor of […] By Sydney Boles Oct 2 Democracy & Civic Life New Appalachian Journalism Outlets Tackle Stereotypes, Media Economy Sydney Boles
Sep 18 Agriculture Back To The Land: The Future Challenge And Opportunity Of Appalachian Agriculture A line of blue and yellow pop-up tents stand along the North Fork of the Kentucky River during a sunny September weekend in downtown Whitesburg, Kentucky, and Valerie Horn is doing her part to keep the Letcher County Farmers Market rolling. Pumpkins and watermelons fill tarps laid out on the ground next to a farmer, […] By Liam Niemeyer Sep 18 Agriculture Back To The Land: The Future Challenge And Opportunity Of Appalachian Agriculture Liam Niemeyer
Mar 20 Economy Anxiety In Appalachian Coal Country: First The Mines Closed, Then Came Coronavirus As the economic fallout from the coronavirus continues to reshape our lives, small-town business owners are worried about the future. Whitesburg, Kentucky — a town already struggling from the decline in the coal industry — is grappling with a new and serious challenge as the effort to contain the disease brings deep economic pain. The […] By Sydney Boles Mar 20 Economy Anxiety In Appalachian Coal Country: First The Mines Closed, Then Came Coronavirus Sydney Boles
May 22 Economy Survey Report Reveals Disparities In Appalachian Subregions A new report from the Appalachian Regional Commission shows that Central Appalachia lags behind other parts of the region in employment, household income, and other key measures. The data come from the American Community Survey, which is similar to the census and tracks county-level data over five-year periods. Researchers often use the survey to understand […] By Sydney Boles May 22 Economy Survey Report Reveals Disparities In Appalachian Subregions Sydney Boles
May 30 Infrastructure Wastewater Woes: For These Appalachian Towns, It’s Always Infrastructure Week UPDATE Shortly after this story aired West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice announced that the state had secured federal funding needed to help Pine Grove finish a nearly $50,000 repair project for its failing sewer system. According to a Thursday, May 31, news release from the governor’s office, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, confirmed final […] By Glynis Board May 30 Infrastructure Wastewater Woes: For These Appalachian Towns, It’s Always Infrastructure Week Glynis Board
Aug 24 Health Appalachian Health Falling Further Behind A new report shows just how far Appalachia has fallen behind the rest of the country on key health measures such as rates of cancer, heart disease and infant mortality. Researchers say the region’s health gap is growing and they hope the data they’ve compiled will spur new approaches to health care. The 400-page […] By Mary Meehan Aug 24 Health Appalachian Health Falling Further Behind Mary Meehan
May 9 Economy Abandoned mine lands restoration brings excitement, but long-term challenges remain for mountain communities Ohio Valley ReSource · Abandoned mine lands restoration brings excitement, but long-term challenges remain Behind a Valero gas station just outside Norton, Virginia, an access road winds up a mountain to an old strip mine site. The road ascends to a flat area, devoid of the region’s usual thicket of trees and understory, open […] By Katie Myers May 9 Economy Abandoned mine lands restoration brings excitement, but long-term challenges remain Katie Myers