Written by AV's Intern Team
![](https://appvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/avs-intern-team_avatar-123x123-circle-7633121da4ad2119caaa99f032479599-8pb601xusyda.jpg)
AV's Intern Team
Every year, Appalachian Voices is fortunate to assemble a phenomenal team of rockstar interns from numerous Appalachian and East Coast universities. Enjoy these posts from our interns.
Camp Nelson Honored as a National Monument
The president ordered the creation of the Camp Nelson National Monument in October 2018 to honor black troops who fought in the Civil War.
Repercussions of Government Shutdown Visible in Region
The partial U.S. government shutdown affected Appalachian federal employees, national parks and forests, food stamp recipients, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and more.
Tennessee Wants You to Sniff Out Rare Skunks
The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is on the lookout for the rare Eastern spotted skunk after a trail camera caught one by chance last fall.
Thousands of West Virginia Acres to Become Public Land
The Conservation Fund purchased nearly 19,000 acres of West Virginia land in December and plans to transfer it to the state for hunting and habitat protection.
Rockwool Proposal Draws Criticism and West Virginia Constitutional Challenge
Some residents of Jefferson County, W.Va., are resisting the Danish stone wool insulation manufacturing company’s proposal to build a plant that would emit large amounts of volatile organic compounds.
Beckley Protects LGBTQ Residents
Beckley, W.Va., officials added “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to a list of official protected minorities in the city.
EPA Questions Benefits of Mercury Regulations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is changing the way it calculates the benefits of reducing mercury and air pollution emissions from coal-fired power plants, which advocates fear could lead to looser pollution limits in the future.
Coal-friendly Wheeler Nominated to Lead EPA
President Trump nominated former coal lobbyist and current Acting U.S. EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to lead the agency in January.
North Carolina Solar Rebates in High Demand
All of Duke Energy’s North Carolina residential solar rebates, which reduce the cost of panel installation by up to 30 percent, were claimed in less than a day