Front page features
Pound receives grant for monument to region’s labor history
The town of Pound has recently received a $217,000 grant from Virginia Tech’s Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia program to construct a monument paying tribute to the region’s labor history.
Read MorePaddling for her Life
Farmer Ann Rose is paddling nearly 2,000 miles solo to bring attention to water woes in Appalachia.
Read MoreNew law protects Virginians against utility shut-offs during extreme heat
As heat waves roll through Virginia, a new law to protect residents from unsafe utility shut-offs during periods of extreme weather goes into effect on July 1.
Read MoreProvision to block silica standard included in new appropriations bill
The House Appropriations Committee has included a provision in the annual appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education that would block funding for the recently finalized rule to protect miners from silica dust — a significant driver of the resurgence of black lung disease in Central Appalachia.
Read MoreMiners and advocates travel to Washington to ask legislators to strengthen black lung benefits
Recognizing the difficulty countless households have with these decisions, members of the West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky Black Lung Associations traveled in early May to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators about the need to increase miners’ benefits, which have failed to keep pace with inflation.
Read MoreLayers of injustice: Community concerns ignored as federal regulators allow Mountain Valley Pipeline to begin operation
Community members have fought this pipeline for 10 years — pointing out its many flaws and dangers and winning court battles by proving developers and regulators were ignoring laws meant to protect communities and the environment. Now, those regulators allow the pipeline to go into service.
Read MoreA week of action to stop zombie coal mines
This week, Appalachian Voices and 12 partner organizations are on Capitol Hill to tell Congress to protect our communities by making coal companies clean up their functionally abandoned coal mines, known as zombie mines.
Read MoreNorth Carolina Utilities Commission public hearing to review Duke Energy’s plans for new gas plant in northern Person County
This Thursday, the North Carolina Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing to gather feedback on Duke Energy’s plans to build the first of two new methane gas power plants near its existing coal plant on Hyco Lake in Person County.
Read MoreFederal government allows failing Mountain Valley Pipeline to go in-service
Today, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has allowed the Mountain Valley Pipeline to go in-service. This announcement arrives after a decade of community-led resistance to the pipeline project. MVP has doubled in cost and delayed completion for six years due to failures to comply with environmental protections and resulting legal challenges.
Read MoreSeven Geological Wonders of Appalachia
The Appalachian Mountains are abundant with magnificent natural wonders. Here’s a sampling of stunning geological features within the region.
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