Written by Contributing Writers

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Contributing Writers

Data from MBA, Consumer Price Index, graphic by PowerLines. Learn more at powerlines.org/utility-bills-are-rising

Overdrive: Fossil Fuels in Appalachia

Electricity demand is on the rise. Here, we share snapshots of energy trends in the region and how methane gas, coal and data centers are affecting our communities — and how people are pushing back.

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Many ‘Permitting Reform’ Proposals Would Further Strip Environmental Protections, Weaken Public Input

Legislators and the Trump administration are pushing changes to environmental laws under the banner of “permitting reform.”

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The stallion known as Cracker Jack (left) and two of his mares watch over a foal near one of the park’s many rock outcroppings.

The Feral Ponies of Grayson Highlands

Grayson Highlands State Park is always enchanting, but the real magic of the park is the ponies. Learn more about their life in the park and the people who help them thrive.

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A male and female pair of Northern bobwhite quails. Photo by Steve Maslowski courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

On the Trail of Songbirds in Appalachia

From dense forests to fields to high elevations, Appalachia offers many opportunities to see many beautiful birds on hikes throughout the region.

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Arthur Grimes shares the stage with Old Crow Medicine Show at Merlefest in 2024. Photo by Light Shifter Studios / Bryce Lafoon

Clogging Extraordinaire: Arthur Grimes Keeps on Dancing

Clogger Arthur Grimes has danced his own singular path all the way from his family home in the town’s traditionally African-American Junaluska neighborhood to the most hallowed stages alongside roots music royalty.

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Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions; Virginia Creeper Trail; Seed Swaps

Compilation of Across Appalachia articles about reducing wildlife vehicle collisions in West Virginia, restoring the Virginia Creeper Trail and the history of seed swaps.

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A man kayaks on a rainy, cloudy day in choppy waters by ongoing interstate construction

Rebuilding Roads and Rethinking Rivers

After Helene, communities must grapple with how to balance repairing infrastructure, preserving and repairing the structure of the Pigeon and Rocky Broad rivers, and protecting aquatic life.

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A crew of volunteers works with Broad Riverkeeper David Caldwell to clean up trash along the Rocky Broad River

River Cleanup of Helene Debris Continues

As the region continues to recover after Hurricane Helene, a look at cleanup efforts in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina reveals lessons about how to improve the cleanup of public waterways after future floods. 

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Ruffed grouse. Photo by Greg Johnson via Unsplash

Saving the Ruffed Grouse, Appalachia’s Woodland Drummer  

The ruffed grouse is a woodland bird that lives in young, regenerative forests in Appalachia and is considered one of the most commonly hunted birds for sport. The ruffed grouse has black or dark brown feathers on their neck, which they can raise into a distinctive collar — the ruff that gives them their name. 

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Overhead view of the Noquisiyi Mound in North Carolina

Noquisiyi Mound Returns to Cherokee Ownership

The Noquisiyi Mound is a sacred and historically significant Cherokee site in what is now Franklin, North Carolina, that was recently returned to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In January, the Franklin City Council voted unanimously to return the mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. One month later, the deed was officially signed.

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