Across Appalachia
Environmental and cultural news briefs
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.
N.C. Struggles to Resolve GenX Contamination
The North Carolina legislature has yet to resolve the debate between the state House and Senate over a bill that seeks to address drinking water contaminated by the potentially cancer-causing chemical GenX.
