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 4 Economy College Towns Feel Financial Impact Of Pandemic The first day of classes at Ohio University is subdued this year. A few students walk across the Athens, Ohio, campus wearing masks. A group sits, socially distanced, on blankets on the green. The university opted to bring back roughly 2,000 students to campus for the first weeks of the semester due to coronavirus concerns. […] By Aaron Payne Sep 4 Economy College Towns Feel Financial Impact Of Pandemic Aaron Payne
Jul 31 Economy Kentucky Homeless Services Systems Can’t Handle The Coming “Tsunami of Evictions,” Advocates Warn Nearly 1 million renter households across the Ohio Valley are unable to pay rent and at risk of eviction, according to research firm Stout. That amounts to 42 percent of renter households in Kentucky, 46 percent in Ohio and 47 percent in West Virginia. “The homeless services system is not designed to handle a tsunami […] By Sydney Boles Jul 31 Economy Kentucky Homeless Services Systems Can’t Handle The Coming “Tsunami of Evictions,” Advocates Warn Sydney Boles
May 23 Economy Economists Grapple With Pandemic’s Effects As Ohio Valley Officials Brace For A Fiscal Blow Kentucky’s state budget officials told lawmakers Friday that general fund receipts may decline by 495 million dollars next fiscal year. It’s just the latest example of the unprecedented financial hardships ahead for the Ohio Valley’s state and local governments due to the coronavirus pandemic. More than 38 million Americans have applied for unemployment insurance in […] By Sydney Boles May 23 Economy Economists Grapple With Pandemic’s Effects As Ohio Valley Officials Brace For A Fiscal Blow Sydney Boles
May 20 Health Rural Ohio Valley Counties Lack Sufficient Coronavirus Tests, Report Says Just 15 percent of Kentucky counties meet minimum recommended coronavirus testing levels, according to a new report from health care company Castlight. Sixty-seven percent of West Virginia counties and 31 percent of Ohio counties met the threshold. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that states have the capacity to test 1 percent of […] By Sydney Boles May 20 Health Rural Ohio Valley Counties Lack Sufficient Coronavirus Tests, Report Says Sydney Boles
May 14 Economy Ohio Valley Making Progress On Unemployment Backlog Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia are making progress on unemployment claims filed in March as states begin a phased-in reopening. New unemployment insurance claims are still reaching unprecedented levels across the Ohio Valley region. At least 125,459 people in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia joined those seeking help during the economic downturn caused by the […] By Becca Schimmel May 14 Economy Ohio Valley Making Progress On Unemployment Backlog Becca Schimmel
May 7 Economy How Ohio Valley States Are Reopening Their Economies The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread across the Ohio Valley Region. But stay at home orders and social distancing restrictions reduced the number of cases modelers projected without them. Now there is pressure to ease the restrictions and open states’ economies back up as the businesses that were closed struggle to find relief and record […] By Aaron Payne May 7 Economy How Ohio Valley States Are Reopening Their Economies Aaron Payne
May 7 Economy Ohio Valley Hitting Plateau Of Unemployment Claims New unemployment insurance claims are starting to reach a plateau but are still hitting unprecedented levels across the Ohio Valley region. At least 154,102 people in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia joined those seeking help during the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic. That surge in claims is in addition to the more than […] By Becca Schimmel May 7 Economy Ohio Valley Hitting Plateau Of Unemployment Claims Becca Schimmel
May 5 Economy West Virginia Small Businesses Face Tough Decisions As State Reopens West Virginia is among the states beginning to loosen restrictions meant to reduce the spread of coronavirus, allowing for some non-essential businesses to reopen beginning this week. On Monday, May 4, West Virginia entered the second week of Gov. Jim Justice’s six-week reopening plan, which he calls “the comeback.” During week two, businesses with fewer […] By Brittany Patterson May 5 Economy West Virginia Small Businesses Face Tough Decisions As State Reopens Brittany Patterson
Apr 30 Economy Ohio Valley Addressing Backlog Of Unemployment Claims But Some Are Still Waiting For Benefits New unemployment insurance claims in the Ohio Valley began to taper off this week as states make their way through the backlog of applications amid business closures forced by the coronavirus pandemic. But local economies still face a staggering number of unemployed, and many of those who are out of work are still awaiting help. […] By Becca Schimmel Apr 30 Economy Ohio Valley Addressing Backlog Of Unemployment Claims But Some Are Still Waiting For Benefits Becca Schimmel