Written by Kevin Ridder

AVMountainBorder-frontporch1

Kevin Ridder

Born in Arizona and raised in Tennessee, Kevin’s love of the mountains drove him to move even further east to Boone, N.C., where he serves as The Appalachian Voice's Associate Editor and a communications associate for the organization.

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Pipeline Developers Push Back Against Grassroots Resistance

Legal challenges continue to stall numerous pipelines as Mountain Valley developers continue to push forward on the MVP Southgate project. A tree-sit in Mountain Valley’s path reaches one year.

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pipeline protest

Pipelines Continue to Face Obstacles

As the Mountain Valley Pipeline continues to cause problems and spark protests, the Atlantic Coast Pipeline faces new legal troubles.

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Taking on TVA

Communities are resisting the Tennessee Valley Authority’s frequent cost increases and lack of transparency and clean energy.

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family tends to cemetery

Preserving Historic African-American Cemeteries

Communities across the region are working to document and preserve historic African-American cemeteries to keep them from becoming lost to history.

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Church

Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate Public Comment Period Begins

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will be accepting public comments on the 73-mile fracked-gas pipeline through Sept. 16, 2019.

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people at table

TVA Refuses to Excavate One Coal Ash Pit, Will Dig Up Another

The Tennessee Valley Authority does not plan to excavate coal ash at their Bull Run Fossil plant in Anderson County, Tenn., unlike the utility’s agreement to fully remove coal ash at the Gallatin Fossil Plant near Nashville, Tenn.

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Welcome Josh and Tyler!

Appalachian Voices would like to welcome the two newest members of our team, Josh McClenney and Tyler Hughes!

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Two people sit on couch in front of wall of photos and documents

The Appalachian African American Cultural Center

One couple’s mission to preserve community history in Southwest Virginia.

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Protest banners hanging on pipeline equipment

Pipeline Protesters Charged with Threats of Terrorism

Two peaceful protesters of the Mountain Valley Pipeline were recently arrested and charged with threats of terrorism, a felony.

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Pipeline protestor holds sign that says, "What will the state do? How much is enough power and profit? We are watching you."

Pipeline Legal Disputes Escalate

As residents in the path of the Mountain Valley and Atlantic Coast pipelines call for investigation of potentially toxic pipeline coatings, federal and state officials loosen permitting regulations.

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