Across Appalachia
Environmental and cultural news briefs
Devastating Forest Fires Ignite Southeast
Numerous forest fires burned across the Southeast throughout the autumn. Nearly 120,000 acres of forest burned, and the city of Gatlinburg, Tenn., was badly damaged, with 14 lives lost.
W.V. Chemical Spill Settlement Reached
A settlement in a class-action lawsuit compensates residents affected by the Jan. 9, 2014, chemical spill at Freedom Industries in Charleston, W.Va., which dumped 7,500 gallons of the coal-washing chemical MCHM into the Elk River.
New POWER Initiative Grants Aim to Bolster Coal-Impacted Economies
An October round of POWER Initiative grants awarded nearly $28 million dollars of support for 42 projects in 13 states that have been negatively impacted by the decline of the coal industry.
Residents Seek to Halt New Development
A proposed city plan to erect a shopping center and sports complex in Abingdon, Va., along the Virginia Creeper Trail faces criticism.
Lifting Restrictions on Rural Broadband in East Tennessee
A coalition of organizations representing underserved and underrepresented areas in East Tennessee is working to bring broadband internet services to rural areas of the state.
