There seems little question that the 2020 general election is the most challenging to run in American history. Across Appalachia, those responsible for running the elections appear to be rising to the challenge.
Dan Radmacher
Dan is Appalachian Voice's Media Specialist. Previously, he worked as an opinion journalist for newspapers in Illinois, West Virginia, Florida and Virginia, and then as a communications consultant for a number of environmental nonprofit organizations.
Blog Archives
The Appalachian Voice
High Stakes for Appalachia in the 2020 Census
The 2020 Census will determine how approximately $1 trillion in federal funding is distributed over the next 10 years, as well as which states will gain or lose congressional representatives.
Remaking Downtowns
Communities across Appalachia are striving to bring new energy to downtowns that have suffered from population decline or the loss of once-dominant industries.
Fracked and Overwhelmed
As fracking and related infrastructure expand, so does the industry’s impacts on local residents.
Water Systems: The Invisible Infrastructure
Most Americans don’t think twice about the ability to turn on a tap and have clean, safe water pour out. “Water is something we take for granted,” says Glenn Barnes, associate director of the Environmental Finance Center at the University…
Mountain Wind
While the Southeast currently has the least amount of installed wind energy in the United States, Virginia could soon see its first wind farm.
Youth Build Turbines for KidWind Challenge
Groups of kids all over the nation gather to see who can design and build the best wind turbine. Southwest Virginia’s Off the Grid team won nationals earlier this year.
A DIY Approach to Wind Energy
Roger Beale built a wind turbine in his own Virginia backyard. Now, he’s passing on that information to kids competing in national turbine design competitions.
Former Coal Company Town Integrates Energy Efficiency and Solar
By Dan Radmacher Powering a coal museum with solar panels is the kind of news story that attracts attention, as the city of Benham, Ky., discovered. “It’s put us on the map internationally,” says former Benham Power Board chairman Roy…
Severe Black Lung Disease Makes A Deadly Resurgence
Diagnoses of the most severe form of black lung disease, known as progressive massive fibrosis, are on the rise in Appalachia. The causes of this deadly trend aren’t entirely clear, though it may be linked to the silica rock dust associated with thinner layers of coal.
