A federal grant program aims to bring economic opportunity to long-abandoned mine lands. But as some sites are seeing progress, others are finding more obstacles.

A new coalition aims to improve safety for wildlife and humans alike along a curvy section of Interstate 40 near Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where vehicle collisions with bear, deer and elk are on the rise. The Safe Passage group aims to help species large and small thrive in the Pigeon River Gorge, and decrease dangerous accidents for motorists.

In March 8 letters to state officials, activists said that hundreds of thousands of struggling families in North Carolina will remain at risk of eviction and utility shut-offs if further action is not taken before the end of the month.

The Appalachian Bear Rescue in Townsend, Tenn., has saved more than 300 bears from eight different states over the last 25 years.