Miners with black lung disease face a difficult process to obtain modest benefits, as do their widows. Two bills in Congress aim to help miners with the disease and their bereaved families, including by tying benefit levels to inflation.
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The Appalachian Voice
Bills Aim to Help Miners with Black Lung and Surviving Family Access Benefits
TAGS: Black Lung Black Lung Benefits black lung disease Coal mining legislation miners widows' benefits
Fighting for Black Lung Benefits for Miners and Families
Kathryn South’s husband, Mike South, was diagnosed with black lung disease at age 35. As they grappled with his disease, the couple also navigated the arduous legal process to obtain federal black lung benefits, a fight that Kathryn continued even after Mike’s passing.
The Root that Shaped a Region
By Carolina Norman An author and historian who traveled across Appalachia examining business records of pharmaceutical companies, mountain entrepreneurs and country stores, Luke Manget’s book, “Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia,” unearths the complex and…
Contaminants Found in East Tennessee Springs
Springs are often assumed to be a safe, clean source of drinking water. But they can harbor a number of health hazards, as new research published in the journal Geosciences shows.
Native Plant Rescue Squad Aims to Boost the Biodiversity of Tennessee Neighborhoods
By saving native plants from destruction and helping these plants find new homes, the Native Plant Rescue Squad is “helping reconnect people to themselves through the natural world.”
Snorkelers Explore Appalachia’s Diverse Freshwater Life
The rivers and streams of southern Appalachia attract snorkelers with their wide variety of species and beautiful sites.
TAGS: appalachia appalachian waters biodiverse explore appalachia fish Hidden Rivers key species snorkeling Southeast streams
Virginia Agency Orders Bristol to Address Polluting Landfill
Residents are hopeful after the Bristol Virginia City Council responds to the state Department of Environmental Quality’s order to address landfill concerns.
Safe Passage: The I-40 Pigeon River Gorge Wildlife Crossing Project
A collaborative effort to make the Pigeon River Gorge section of I-40 safer for wildlife and humans is yielding results.
TAGS: Great Smoky Mountains National Park North Carolina Pigeon River Gorge Safe Passage Smokies Safe Passage Tennessee wildlife connectivity wildlife crossing wildlife safety
Chubs: A key species and a mystery
TAGS: appalachia biodiverse Blue Ridge Mountains bluehead chubs Linville River river chubs unique species
Cultivating Communities Through Seed Saving
Seed saving allows gardeners and farmers to explore new varieties of the plants they grow while forming communities around the practice.
