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.
Changes for Blue Ridge Parkway in 2018
The Blue Ridge Parkway’s project list for 2018 includes repairs to the Linn Cove Viaduct and Flat Top Manor at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, planning for 5,300 acres of recently acquired land near Waterrock Knob, the re-opening of the cafe at Doughton Park, and more.
Review of Mountaintop Removal’s Health Impact Terminated
The Trump administration officially ended a federal study that would have reviewed the human health impacts of living near mountaintop removal coal mining.
EPA Dismisses Coal Ash Civil Rights Case
A civil rights case brought by Uniontown, Ala., residents who argued that their health problems were caused by TVA coal ash dumped at a nearby landfill was dismissed.
Cash for Carbon: Working Woodlands Program Grows in Appalachia
Over 25,000 acres of forest in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia will remain undeveloped for use in Forest Stewardship Council-certified timber markets.
West Virginia State Park Logging Bill Defeated
Widespread public backlash led to the defeat of a West Virginia bill that would have lifted the 80-year ban on commercial logging in state parks.
Sanctuary for Research Chimpanzees Opens Outdoor Habitat
In January, Georgia-based chimpanzee sanctuary Project Chimps opened a six-acre expanse of woods to 15 apes that had spent their entire lives indoors for biomedical research.
Eastern Cougar Declared Extinct
The eastern cougar, a subspecies of the North American cougar that once roamed much of the Eastern United States and parts of Canada, was officially declared extinct in February.
N.C. Rock Faces Closed to Protect Falcons
The U.S. Forest Service is seasonally closing nine recreational rock faces in North Carolina to protect rare peregrine falcon nests.
East Tennessee Historic Park Wins State Award
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation named the Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park as the 2017 State Park of the Year.
West Virginia Teacher Strike Leads to Salary Increase
West Virginia school employees gained a 5 percent raise for the coming school year, ending a statewide walkout that lasted nine school days.
