The Appalachian Voice
River Cleanup of Helene Debris Continues
As the region continues to recover after Hurricane Helene, a look at cleanup efforts in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina reveals lessons about how to improve the cleanup of public waterways after future floods.
Read MoreThe Appalachian Voice Celebrates 30 Years
The first issue of The Appalachian Voice went to press in early 1996. We look forward to our next 30 years of bringing you news and stories that highlight underreported issues affecting Appalachia’s land, air, water and communities.
Read MoreSaving the Ruffed Grouse, Appalachia’s Woodland Drummer
The ruffed grouse is a woodland bird that lives in young, regenerative forests in Appalachia and is considered one of the most commonly hunted birds for sport. The ruffed grouse has black or dark brown feathers on their neck, which they can raise into a distinctive collar — the ruff that gives them their name.
Read MoreNoquisiyi Mound Returns to Cherokee Ownership
The Noquisiyi Mound is a sacred and historically significant Cherokee site in what is now Franklin, North Carolina, that was recently returned to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In January, the Franklin City Council voted unanimously to return the mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. One month later, the deed was officially signed.
Read MoreRule Change Would Gut the Clean Water Act
A federal rule change will cut protections for wetlands, headwater streams, and rivers that go underground. In Appalachia, this would harm wildlife, damage water quality and increase flood risk.
Read MoreThe Beast of Bristol Saga Continues
The Beast of Bristol is back. Or rather, the landfill’s impact and its intense odors, which have grown less frequent but never fully dissipated for some residents, have been recognized in a new federal public health agency report.
Read MoreBob Egbert: A Life of Service and Environmental Advocacy
A Navy veteran, community activist and lifelong environmental advocate, Bob Egbert has spent decades working to protect Virginia’s environment and to strengthen citizen engagement in government.
Read MoreHome on the Range … 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 MoreCreating New Appalachian Monuments
Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia is a three-year project that is seeking to expand “the idea of what a monument can be.” It features nine monuments that explore different forms and a variety of the region’s stories. The monuments take a variety of forms: traditional statues, a children’s book, an album and a music festival, a quilt and more.
Read MoreCoal Labor History Sets Stage for Community
Residents and local leaders in Pound, Virginia, have been working hard to bring new life to the town’s historic downtown. Last year, Pound received funding from Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia to create a labor-oriented monument downtown.
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