Environmental and cultural news from around the Central and Southern Appalachian region
“Kids look at it, and they see a castle,” says Scott Miller, executive director of Just For Kids Advocacy Center, of the nonprofit organization’s new Beckley, West Virginia, headquarters. That castle is now solar-powered by a 14-panel ground array, which was unveiled in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 25.
A governor-appointed commission could begin approving fracking leases on Ohio's state lands as early as next month. A rally to oppose the leases will be held Friday, Oct. 27 at noon at the Ohio Statehouse.
According to new research, making hydrogen from natural gas, so-called "blue hydrogen," is not much better than burning fossil fuels, and would waste billions in federal government spending while worsening climate change.
While Appalachia has seen improvements in some key areas, disparities and concerns remain and are highlighted in the latest American Community Survey report published by the Appalachian Regional Commission.
Nuclear Fuel Services Inc. received $428 million to move forward with phase two of a 5-year contract to refine highly enriched uranium metal at its Erwin, Tennessee plant. A local group is fighting to stop it.
From a win for rural West Virginia residents fighting a corporate polluter to expanding outdoor recreation, here are a few happenings from across Appalachia.
Conservation groups raise concerns for the future of Western North Carolina national forests following the announcement of an updated forest management plan.
As remediation of the troubled Bristol landfill begins, community advocates are petitioning for an alert system, increased air quality monitoring and relief measures for residents who experience strong airborne pollution at home.
The Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization has a guide to help coal-impacted communities access federal funding opportunities.
Residents are hopeful after the Bristol Virginia City Council responds to the state Department of Environmental Quality's order to address landfill concerns.
Invasive ants in the Smoky Mountains pose a threat to native species in the area.
A variety of programs, clubs and organizations aim to support inclusive outdoor recreation that centers people of color.
The Blue Grass Chemical-Agent Destruction Pilot Plant began destroying the last type of chemical weapons stored at an Army depot in Kentucky in July with a completion date scheduled for September 2023.
The U.S. Interior Department recently announced $1 million in funding toward removing the defunct Albright Dam as part of an effort to improve water quality and restore free-flowing waterways nationwide.
Researchers discussed how climate change will impact health in rural mountain communities during a recent workshop. Spoiler alert: hotter nights, more mosquito- and tick-borne disease, and effects on mental and maternal health.