Jun 21 Health “They Are Invisible.” Rural Homelessness, Made Worse By Opioid Crisis, Presents Special Challenges Charles “Country” Bowers takes long, quick strides down a worn dirt path and is soon in front of a thicket of bushes made deep and tall by spring rains. He’s leading me on a tour of camps made by homeless people in wooded corners of Fayette County, Kentucky. He stops and lifts a hand to […] By Mary Meehan Jun 21 Health “They Are Invisible.” Rural Homelessness, Made Worse By Opioid Crisis, Presents Special Challenges Mary Meehan
Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Coal companies controlled by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have agreed to a settlement covering millions of dollars in overdue property taxes in four eastern Kentucky counties: Harlan, Knott, Magoffin, and Pike. Checks totaling $1.2 million from Justice entities began rolling in last week, county officials said. According to state officials, the […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 11 Energy & Environment Coal Companies Belonging To WV Gov. Justice’s Family Agree To Pay Overdue Taxes In KY Brittany Patterson
Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Harold Sturgill was disabled by black lung disease when he was 58 years old. Now he advocates for disabled miners. “When it comes to the mining companies, and it comes to the worker, it’s still all about production,” Sturgill said. “They could care less about me, how much dust I suck in, or how long […] By Sydney Boles Jun 7 Energy & Environment As Calls For Action On Black Lung Disease Grow, Regulators Show Little Indication Of Change Sydney Boles
Jun 5 Energy & Environment Federal Prosecutors Say WV Gov. Justice Responsible For Fines Against Family Company Federal prosecutors on Tuesday said they will seek a court ruling to hold West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and his son, Jay Justice, personally accountable for a $1.23 million civil fine imposed on one of the family’s coal businesses, Justice Energy Company, Inc. In a court filing, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West […] By Brittany Patterson Jun 5 Energy & Environment Federal Prosecutors Say WV Gov. Justice Responsible For Fines Against Family Company Brittany Patterson
Jun 4 Health Hit Hard By Opioids, West Virginia Hoping Athletics Can Be A Game Changer In Addiction West Virginia officials say the state’s passion for sports can be used to influence young people to learn about opioid use disorder and help prevent the next generation from entering the epidemic. That’s according to the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission, which on Tuesday announced the upcoming WVSSAC-MVB Bank Opioid Awareness Summit. The […] By Aaron Payne Jun 4 Health Hit Hard By Opioids, West Virginia Hoping Athletics Can Be A Game Changer In Addiction Aaron Payne
May 31 Economy Powering Down: Ohio Community Reckons With Coal Plant Closure Brick buildings line the wide sidewalks of Main Street in downtown Coshocton, Ohio. On a recent spring day the dogwood trees are blooming. Bright red and white tulips dot the grassy public square, home to the local courthouse and a gazebo. There are barber shops, an optometrist, a florist, a railroad-themed steakhouse is open for […] By Brittany Patterson May 31 Economy Powering Down: Ohio Community Reckons With Coal Plant Closure Brittany Patterson
May 23 Agriculture Ohio Valley Farmers Unsure About New Trump Trade Aid Payments The U. S. Department of Agriculture announced Thursday details of a second round of aid totaling $16 billion for farmers affected by the trade war with China. But some Ohio Valley farmers worry about the ongoing consequences of these payments and tariffs. As with the first round of tariff relief offered last year, farmers will […] By Liam Niemeyer May 23 Agriculture Ohio Valley Farmers Unsure About New Trump Trade Aid Payments Liam Niemeyer
May 23 Health Investigation Finds Ohio Valley Hit Hard By Fentanyl As Locals Asked For More Federal Help A Washington Post investigation finds the Ohio Valley is suffering the most from the surge in overdose deaths due to synthetic opioids, even as deaths from other substances are falling. The Post analyzed data from the Centers for Disease Control and found the region has the nation’s highest rates of death due to fentanyl. Kentucky, […] By Aaron Payne May 23 Health Investigation Finds Ohio Valley Hit Hard By Fentanyl As Locals Asked For More Federal Help Aaron Payne
May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own In apparent anticipation of a federal lawsuit seeking recovery of overdue penalties, coal companies owned by the family of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice have filed a lawsuit of their own against federal surface mining regulators. The suit, first reported by WV MetroNews, is an apparent preemptive strike against the federal government, which is preparing […] By Brittany Patterson May 22 Energy & Environment Facing Second Lawsuit From Federal Mine Regulators, Justice Coal Companies File Suit Of Their Own Brittany Patterson
May 17 Agriculture A Growing Recovery: Food Service And Farming Jobs Provide A Path Out Of Addiction This is the first story in an occasional series exploring the links between addiction recovery and a recovering economy. It’s lunch hour, and Cafe Appalachia is bustling. Located in South Charleston, West Virginia, the former church turned restaurant has a funky, yet calming vibe. Twinkle lights and mismatched dining room sets dot the space. For […] By Brittany Patterson and Liam Niemeyer May 17 Agriculture A Growing Recovery: Food Service And Farming Jobs Provide A Path Out Of Addiction Brittany Patterson and Liam Niemeyer