Across Appalachia
Home on the Range … In Appalachia?
Many people believe wild bison have only ever lived and roamed in Yellowstone National Park or the vast open spaces depicted in Western films. Yet, Indigenous and archaeological records indicate that bison were found in nearly every state of what is now the United States — sorry, Hawaii — including in Appalachia. In Letcher County, Kentucky, the Appalachian Rekindling Project, an Indigenous, women-led organization, is seeking to reintroduce bison to the region on 63 acres of a reclaimed mountaintop removal coal mine.
Read MoreSaving 5 Miles on the Gauley River
Arc of Appalachia, an Ohio-based nonprofit, launched a campaign to purchase and protect 1,336 acres in Nicholas County, West Virginia. The property includes 5 miles along the Gauley River and 1 mile of Big Beaver Creek.
Read MoreState Park All-Terrain Wheelchair Program; Fire Ants in South Virginia
Two Across Appalachia stories from Virginia cover six Virginia parks adding all-terrain wheelchairs and invasive fire ants spreading in the state.
Read MoreIndigenous Organization Acquires Land on Proposed Federal Prison Site in Kentucky
A controversial proposed prison site in Letcher County, Kentucky, is facing new barriers thanks to a community-based Indigenous organization and new suggested budget cuts from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Read MoreAmeriCorps Continues, but Its Future Is Uncertain
It’s been a chaotic year with potential trouble ahead for AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for national service and volunteerism.
Read MoreEconomic First Responders: CDFIs, The Unsung Heroes of Appalachian Financial Services
CDFIs serve as ‘economic first responders’ in Appalachia. A drastic reduction in one of their funding sources could significantly alter or slow down their work providing capital to small business owners, mentorship to entrepreneurs, protections from predatory lending and flexible, fast capital in times of natural disaster.
Read MoreCommunity-based Indigenous organization acquires property on proposed federal prison site as part of grassroots effort to create a different future for Eastern Kentucky
The Appalachian Rekindling Project held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate its recent purchase of a 63-acre plot of land within the currently designated boundaries of a federal prison proposed for construction in Letcher County, Kentucky.
Read MoreNew Effort to Reduce ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency set stricter limits on the levels of certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water and is providing funding to test and treat public water systems and private wells.
Read MoreStudy Predicts Five-fold Increase in Regional Wildfires
A recent study warns of a dramatic increase in the amount of land burned by wildfires in southern Appalachian forests, and provides information for fire and land management strategies.
Read MorePisgah View, North Carolina’s Newest State Park, Moves Forward
A 1,300-acre land acquisition advances North Carolina’s newest state park to the master planning stage.
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