Written by AV's Intern Team
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.
Cleanup Plans for Region’s Coal Ash Cause Concerns
In both North Carolina and Virginia coal ash impoundments are being drained into lakes and rivers, a stage in the clean-up efforts that is causing citizen and environmental groups concerns.
New Program Makes Learning Cherokee Easier
Cherokee is “the original language of the Appalachians,” and a new online program is making this difficult language easier to learn.
Expanded Conservation Tax Incentive Made Permanent
In December, Congress made permanent an increased tax break for landowners wanting to protect their property for future generations by placing it under a conservation easement.
Invasive Plant Density Map Shows Appalachia’s Native Resilience
A map of invasive plant species shows that biodiverse Appalachia has a lower density of invasive plants than much of the Southeast.
Radioactive Sludge Being Removed from Sewage Facility
The Department of Energy is still removing radioactive sludge from the sewage treatment facility in Oak Ridge, Tenn., two years after the contamination was first discovered.
Childhood Blood Lead Levels Falling in Appalachia
Across Appalachia, the number of children reported to have lead poisoning has decreased since 1997, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Two-year Anniversary of Charleston Water Crisis
Two years after 10,000 gallons of a toxic chemical, MCHM, spilled into the Elk River near Charleston, W.Va., the company providing water to 40 percent of West Virginians “continues to be unprepared for a major spill today,” a new report says.
Tennessee Leading the Way in Animal Abuse Accountability
Tennessee has become the first state to implement an animal abuse registry, which will make the names of anyone convicted of committing an animal abuse offense publicly available.
Plugging-in Off the Grid
The Oak Ridge National Laboratory has designed a 3D-printed single-room building and a 3D-printed vehicle that can wirelessly share energy with each other.
Cougar: Ghost of Appalachia
The Eastern cougar was declared extinct in 2011 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. But that doesn’t keep other species of mountain lions from passing through the region, leaving behind blurry pictures and occasional eerie screams in the forest.