Podcasts about mcdowell county

Scott MacFarlane, CBS News Correspondent, recaps his recent trip to McDowell County to shed light on the continuing flood recovery. Details on exemption requests for school vaccines with Amanda Geduld, of The 74. Matt Lewis drops by to debate the demise of the Democrats. Joe Brocato talks baseball and softball. 

My interview with Randi starts at 25 mins Stand Up is a daily podcast that I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more RANDI WEINGARTEN is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. This freedom is achieved through an economy that works for all, including the ability to form a union; great public schools and affordable higher education; healthcare as a right; retirement security; the right to vote and civil rights; a vibrant democracy; and safe, welcoming and healthy environments and communities. The AFT and its members advance these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through members' work—we care, fight, show up and vote. Prior to her election as AFT president in 2008, Weingarten served for 11 years as president of the United Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2, representing approximately 200,000 educators in the New York City public school system, as well as home child care providers and other workers in health, law and education. Weingarten is the recipient of many commendations; she was included in Washingtonian's 2021 Washington's Most Influential People, City & State New York's 2021 New York City Labor Power 100, and Washington Life's 2018 Power 100 list of prominent leaders, and in 2017 received the Roosevelt Institute's FDR Distinguished Public Service Award. In 2013, the New York Observer named Weingarten one of the most influential New Yorkers of the past 25 years. Weingarten has led the AFT's efforts to strengthen public education for all children and to address the crisis in the teaching profession caused by deep disinvestment and the deprofessionalization of teaching. Through the AFT's Fund Our Future campaign, AFT members and leaders throughout the country are fighting for adequate investment in public education. Parents and many others have joined the AFT's efforts to end the overuse and misuse of standardized tests, and to fix—not close—struggling schools, something Weingarten has advocated since her involvement in the creation of New York City's Chancellor's District, which dramatically improved achievement in what had been some of the city's lowest-performing schools. Weingarten has launched major efforts to place real education reform high on the nation's and her union's agendas. She created the AFT Innovation Fund, a groundbreaking initiative to support sustainable, innovative and collaborative education reform projects developed by members and their local unions. At Weingarten's direction, the AFT developed a model to transform teacher evaluations from a way of simply rating teachers to a tool for continuous improvement and feedback. This model is used to align tenure and due process, so that tenure serves as a guarantee of fairness, not of a job for life. Weingarten led an AFT committee that called for all prospective teachers to meet a high entry standard—as in medicine or law—so that they're prepared from the day they enter the classroom. Weingarten oversaw the development of the AFT's Quality Education Agenda, which advocates for reforms grounded in evidence, equity, scalability and sustainability. She promotes what she calls “solution-driven unionism”—an approach to collective bargaining and collective action that unites the interests of union members and those they serve in the pursuit of solutions that benefit students, schools and communities. Under Weingarten's leadership, the AFT continues to grow and expand its voice as a union of professionals. Nationwide, the AFT is the second-largest union of nurses and other health professionals and the largest higher education union, representing 230,000 higher education faculty, professional staff and graduate employees. Weingarten helped source millions of dollars of personal protective equipment for nurses and health professionals experiencing shortages as they served on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Weingarten is an advocate for a New Deal for Higher Education, a campaign calling for substantial federal investment in higher education that would prioritize teaching, research and student supports; provide sustainable careers with professional voice for all faculty and staff; allow all students to attend regardless of ability to pay; create academic environments free of racism and other forms of bigotry; and cancel student debt. The AFT provides our members tools and information they can use to manage their federal student loan debt, including having that debt forgiven, while advocating for solutions to the escalating cost of higher education, predatory loan practices, and terrible loan servicing that is holding people back. The AFT and a broad array of parent and community partners across the country have collaborated on events to advance a community- and educator-driven agenda for public school reform. Weingarten spearheaded the development of Share My Lesson, the United States' largest free collection of lesson plans, classroom activities, and teaching strategies and resources created by educators, for educators—all at no cost. The AFT has a long-standing partnership with First Book, which has provided 5 million free and reduced-price books to children. Weingarten and the AFT were asked to lead a partnership to transform McDowell County, W.Va., one of the poorest counties in the United States. The AFT has assembled more than 100 partners not only to improve the quality of education provided to children in the county, but to focus on jobs, transportation, recreation, housing, healthcare and social services. Weingarten believes the rural way of life is worth fighting for, and the AFT's experience in McDowell County informs the work Weingarten is advancing to help rural communities thrive—through education, healthcare and economic opportunities. The AFT supports the strategic establishment of 25,000 community schools where students and families can access tailored health services and social services in one place, and marginalized communities can have access to services and support. Weingarten views this goal as especially vital to help children, families and communities recover from the wide-ranging impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing recession. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, the AFT worked with scientists and health professionals to develop a blueprint for reopening schools. The AFT continues to advocate for the funding and necessary testing and safety protocols to ensure in-person learning is safe.  During the Trump administration, Weingarten led the AFT's efforts to oppose Trump and Betsy DeVos' fervent attempts to defund and destabilize public education and to stand up to the administration's racist policies and attacks on facts and democracy. In 2012-13, Weingarten served on an education reform commission convened by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which made a series of recommendations to improve teaching and learning. She was appointed to the Equity and Excellence Commission, a federal advisory committee chartered by Congress to examine and make recommendations concerning the disparities in educational opportunities that give rise to the achievement gap. For 10 years, while president of the UFT, Weingarten chaired New York City's Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella organization for the city's 100-plus public sector unions, including those representing higher education and other public service employees. As chair of the MLC, she coordinated labor negotiations and bargaining for benefits on behalf of the MLC unions' 365,000 members. From 1986 to 1998, Weingarten served as counsel to UFT President Sandra Feldman, taking a lead role in contract negotiations and enforcement, and in lawsuits in which the union fought for adequate school funding and building conditions. A teacher of history at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood from 1991 to 1997, Weingarten helped her students win several state and national awards debating constitutional issues. Elected as the local union's assistant secretary in 1995 and as treasurer two years later, she became UFT president after Feldman became president of the AFT. Weingarten was elected to her first full term as UFT president in 1998 and was re-elected three times. Weingarten's column “What Matters Most” appears in the New York Times' Sunday Review the third Sunday of each month. You can follow her on Twitter at @rweingarten (Twitter.com/rweingarten) and on Facebook (Facebook.com/randi.weingarten.9). Weingarten holds degrees from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the Cardozo School of Law. She worked as a lawyer for the Wall Street firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan from 1983 to 1986. She is an active member of the Democratic National Committee and numerous professional, civic and philanthropic organizations. Born in 1957 and raised in Rockland County, N.Y., Weingarten now resides in the Inwood neighborhood of New York City. Join us Monday's and Thursday's at 8EST for our Bi-Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Blue Sky Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art  Hire DJ Monzyk to build your website or help you with Marketing

is there tension in the Morrisey administration? Metronews Midday co-host Dave Allen discusses. Sydnei Tatum, a photographer, has been documenting the damange left behind by the February flood in McDowell County. Political Commentator Matt Lewis talks Trump. 

Morning Show 04-24-25 Hour2 Mall txts, Amelia Knisely on McDowell county by The Watchdog

Today on MetroNews this Morning:--The Legislature wraps up its 60 day regular session--A bill considered essential to welcoming data centers to the state passed, but some believe it will cost more than supporters are letting on--Senator Capito is headed to McDowell County to take a look at flood recovery two months after the high water.--In Sports: Mountaineer baseball wins 10 straight 

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, March 28, 2025. Lakota Software Solutions and the WV Small Business Development Center team up to grow the Fairmont company…residents and businesses are coming together to help those affected by the recent flooding in McDowell County…and Marshall University offers courses on lifelong durable skills like critical thinking…on today's daily304.   #1 – From WV SBDC – Founded in 2007, Lakota Software Solutions is the brainchild of Aaron Wilson and Phillip Merritt, who worked together at the NASA facility in Fairmont. As a leading biometrics company, Lakota offers commercial software solutions in addition to government contract solutions. Lakota's founders--both graduates of West Virginia University and Fairmont State University--take pride in giving back to the state, specifically through the company's internship program.  When it came time to grow the company, they connected with Todd Crump from the West Virginia Small Business Development Center, who helped them advance their goals. The company has indeed grown its footprint. Based out of the I-79 Technology Park in Fairmont, Lakota Software Solutions has been recognized as one of the premier providers of software support and exporting software outside of the U.S. Read more: https://wvsbdc.com/scaling-success-how-wv-sbdc-helped-lakota-software-grow-at-home-and-abroad/   #2 – From WVSOS – In this episode of “Just Three Questions,” West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner chats with Delegate David Green about the flood recovery that's underway in McDowell County.   Approximately 40 bridges were washed away or damaged by the floods in February. Watch the video to learn how you can help local businesses get back on their feet. “Just Three Questions!” is a weekly video series hosted by Secretary Warner to talk with community leaders about issues important to business development in West Virginia. Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iANdGkfFzY   #3 – From MARSHALL UNIVERSITY – Marshall University believes in preparing learners for a future where skills matter—not just for today, but for life. Durable skills—like communication, critical thinking, and emotional awareness—are called “durable” because they last a lifetime. Discounted rates are available for nonprofit organizations who are interested in purchasing durable skills courses. Learn more: https://www.marshall.edu/microcredentials/durable-skills/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Emergency officials and victims in McDowell County detail damage from the February 15th floods--A debate at the Capitol over whether teachers owe parents notification about conversations with students--Federal prisons in West Virginia are starting to be impacted by DOGE cuts--In Sports; the new regional format for girls high school basketball in West Virginia starts tonight 

West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner on National Entrepreneurship WeekJeff Jenkins from MetroNews on flooding in McDowell County

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --WVU's Board of Governor's has made their choice for the next President of the university--A firefighter will be escorted with one last ride later today--A Mount View High School student offers a frightening tale of the McDowell County flood--In Sports: Marshall wins on the road 

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --The horrific story of three McDowell County residents lost in the flood--Damage across McDowell County is severe--Lawmaker ready to approve a relaxing of standards on vaccination for school children--In Sports: WVU to face Cincinnati tonight 

Breaking news out of Washington, D.C.: passenger flight PSA Flight 5342 and a military helicopter collide over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Carolina Weather Group live coverage of the tragedy, which prompted a massive emergency response and search and rescue effort in the frigid river. Hear from our aviation experts on what flight data shows us about the flight of American Airlines flight, which was being operated as American Eagle, and the Black Hawk helicopter. Live analysis of the mid-air collision from Ricky Matthews and Chris Jackson. Coverage of the crash begins at 20 minutes in this live stream replay. Before the breaking news, join us as we cover at least three wildfires burning in western North Carolina, including the Crooked Creek fire which has forced evacuations near Old Fort, North Carolina in McDowell County. The area was hit hard by Helene and now has hundreds of acres burning in what was described as an "out of control" wildfire. Tonight, WLOS's Jason Boyer joins the Carolina Weather Group with the latest on the fire -- and to explain the weather conditions promoting the start and spread of fires. With low humidity and gusty winds, the fire danger remains high.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Jan. 2, 2025. The WV DNR offers helpful tips for new enthusiasts interested in hunting or fishing…Salute to Service honors West Virginia veterans by sharing their stories…and, newly opened in Charleston, Miss Ruby's Corner Market highlights West Virginia's Black agricultural renaissance…on today's daily304. #1 – From WVDNR – If you've ever wanted to hunt or fish but didn't grow up with those traditions, 2025 is a perfect time to get started. Learning the rules, gathering the right gear, and figuring out how to safely enjoy the outdoors can seem like a lot at first, but starting your journey doesn't have to be overwhelming.  The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources offers tips for getting you started, beginning with a free  hunter education course. Also, connecting with a local hunting or fishing group or joining an online community is a great way to find mentors and friends, get advice, share gear or plan trips. Once you're ready to begin your journey, you can purchase your 2025 license online from the WV DNR. Read more: https://wvdnr.gov/hunting-fishing-starter-guide/   #2 – From VETERANS.WV.GOV – Salute to Service honors the late Phill Gene McDonald of McDowell County, who served as his platoon's team leader while on a mission in Vietnam. McDonald was assigned to Company A, 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, where he was known as “Preacher” due to his strong faith and dedication to prayer and reading from the Bible. His courageous actions during the war earned him the Medal of Honor. Salute to Service is a series where the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance shares the untold stories of veterans from the Mountain State. It is never too late to honor the sacrifice that Veterans have made for America, our way of life and our allies. Read more: https://www.wvveteransblog.com/uncategorized/salute-to-service-west-virginia-veterans-hall-of-fame-inductee-phil-mcdonald/   #3 – From BLACK BY GOD – On Charleston's West Side, Miss Ruby's Corner Market is a social enterprise of Keep Your Faith Corporation, a nonprofit community organization. Dural Miller, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KYFC, Inc. named the market after his grandmother, Ruby Mae Pearl Miller.  Opened just last month, the market is but one example of West Virginia's Black agricultural renaissance, a movement reclaiming the land, food systems, and community spaces that have been historically overlooked. Miss Ruby's Corner Market represents more than access to fresh fruits and vegetables—it embodies community renewal and the reclamation of Black agricultural roots. By sourcing from local farms, the market will create economic opportunities while fostering connections between urban and rural spaces. Read more: https://blackbygod.org/articles/black-business-and-financial-literacy/miss-rubys-corner-market-a-symbol-of-renewal-in-west-virginias-black-agricultural-renaissance/?vgo_ee=bQKWs3uAd6yBkiMnMGR4I4U05UF2IdZyY1O8QqtjI%2B4%2BlvSyYWPE%2Bw%3D%3D%3ANFQENXJyM3ZAXRQvgDb7i%2FdLLLD%2F6ryF   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024  West Virginia University's new folklife exhibit explores cultural connections past and present…discover that perfect Hallmark holiday town, right here in Almost Heaven…and WV School of Osteopathic Medicine awards its first two The Health Plan scholarships…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV PUBLIC – The term “folklife” can evoke the sounds of fiddles and banjoes, or black and white images of grandparents on the old family farm. And those can both be true.  But an exhibit at West Virginia University invites the public to explore how the traditional still influences us today — and how new traditions might influence tomorrow. Catherine Rakowski is the research and exhibition specialist for the West Virginia and Regional History Center at WVU in Morgantown. The center is displaying a piece of folk art she wasn't sure she would ever get a chance to show off to the public -- a friendship quilt. Rakowski said it's one of her favorites, and with good reason: Some 20 hand-embroidered squares, each containing a floral design, and more importantly the name of its maker, are bordered with pink and white fabric borders.  Read more: https://wvpublic.org/folklife-exhibit-explores-cultural-connections-past-and-present/   #2 – From WV LIVING – When temperatures drop, people around the globe reach for the remote to find feel-good movies with loveable leads that are up to holiday hijinks. But more important than the protagonists are their settings: the stunning small towns the characters get to call home. West Virginia is full of such places, small towns overflowing with charm and holiday spirit. From extravagant parades and light shows to beautifully decorated homes and festivals that allow you to step back in time, a walk through these picture-perfect places will warm the heart of the most stubborn scrooge. Check out holiday happenings in Harpers Ferry, Elkins, Bramwell and other small towns in Almost Heaven. Read more: https://wvliving.com/picture-perfect-holiday-towns/   #3 – From THE REAL WV – Two West Virginia natives are attending medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine without the burden of tuition and fees, thanks to a medical scholarship program offered by The Health Plan. WVSOM first-year students Sarah Lester of McDowell County, and Emma Beatty, a native of Clay County now living in Wetzel County, have been awarded The Health Plan Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees and is renewable for four years, allowing the students to graduate medical school without worrying about those costs.  Since 2009, The Health Plan Scholarship program has provided more than $3 million in scholarships to more than 50 medical and nursing students who intend to stay and practice in the state of West Virginia. The need-based program is also available to medical and nursing students at West Virginia University and Marshall University. Read more: https://therealwv.com/2024/11/08/the-health-plans-medical-scholarships-help-two-wvsom-students-stay-in-west-virginia-to-practice/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Bluefield-based alt rocker Matt Deal dishes on his latest release "Drunken, Belligerent Forget-Me-Nots", growing up in McDowell County, and artificial intelligence in music. Deal also chimes in on Chappell Roan wanting to be seen as some "random bitch on the street" by her fans and his classic rap track "Mashed Potato Juice". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mothmaninthebiblebelt/support

The body of Michael Craig Phillips found 16 years ago still leaves a case unresolved - but a similar case - involving a dead woman is closed after 14 years. Both cases have their similarities, and their disparities. Two young people, both bludgeoned to death and covered up in hopes of never being found. In this episode, Julia and Harper cover two cold murder cases in McDowell County. One that remains unsolved to this day, and the other, a 14-year-long cold case that eventually ended in a conviction: one that may help cover the possibilites of the case in progress.

 In 1851, a Yancey County Mountain politician and businessman acting as his own attorney used a bullwhip on opposing counsel outside the McDowell County court in Marion. Listen to find out the outcome of the court case.

The murder of both Sid Hatfield and Ed Chambers in 1920 - committed in Broad Daylight, with witnesses and family present. This episode sees Julia and Harper visiting another infamous Courthouse. This site is the stage of the notorious double-murder, sometimes known as the McDowell County Courthouse murders - responsible for inciting the historic Battle of Blair Mountain. Listen to how this Crime Ignited the Coalfields - in tonight's Walk Through History.

Welcome to Mountaineer Media's special three-part storytelling series, "The Golden Bear Way." This series explores WVU Tech's past, present, and future, highlighting the program's most important initiatives and how it's using the breathtaking backdrop of the New River Gorge to tell its story. To kick off the series, we speak with President T. Ramon Stuart, the program's leader. The McDowell County native shares his vision for the University and how it is actively positioning itself to succeed in the future. Whether you're a prospective student, an alum, or a fan of our state's heritage, this series is a source of inspiration. Join us as we dive into the history, adventure, and achievements of WVU Tech, starting with an exclusive interview with President Stuart.

Forty-two million Americans or about 12 percent of the the population need help feeding their families. That help often comes from a federal program called SNAP - which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps. The Mountain State is one of the top recipients of SNAP benefits. Nearly 45 percent of recipients are older adults or families with someone who's disabled while nearly 60 percent are families with children. The nation's food support program began six decades ago, as a pilot program in McDowell County. Since then it has reduced poverty and hunger across the nation. In an award-winning encore episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with three people, a retiree, a mom and a lawmaker who all say that nutritional support has made a difference in their lives. 

 Stand Up is a daily podcast. I book,host,edit, post and promote new episodes with brilliant guests every day. Please subscribe now for as little as 5$ and gain access to a community of over 700 awesome, curious, kind, funny, brilliant, generous souls Check out StandUpwithPete.com to learn more RANDI WEINGARTEN is president of the 1.7 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy. This freedom is achieved through an economy that works for all, including the ability to form a union; great public schools and affordable higher education; healthcare as a right; retirement security; the right to vote and civil rights; a vibrant democracy; and safe, welcoming and healthy environments and communities. The AFT and its members advance these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining and political activism, and especially through members' work—we care, fight, show up and vote. Prior to her election as AFT president in 2008, Weingarten served for 11 years as president of the United Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2, representing approximately 200,000 educators in the New York City public school system, as well as home child care providers and other workers in health, law and education. Weingarten is the recipient of many commendations; she was included in Washingtonian's 2021 Washington's Most Influential People, City & State New York's 2021 New York City Labor Power 100, and Washington Life's 2018 Power 100 list of prominent leaders, and in 2017 received the Roosevelt Institute's FDR Distinguished Public Service Award. In 2013, the New York Observer named Weingarten one of the most influential New Yorkers of the past 25 years. Weingarten has led the AFT's efforts to strengthen public education for all children and to address the crisis in the teaching profession caused by deep disinvestment and the deprofessionalization of teaching. Through the AFT's Fund Our Future campaign, AFT members and leaders throughout the country are fighting for adequate investment in public education. Parents and many others have joined the AFT's efforts to end the overuse and misuse of standardized tests, and to fix—not close—struggling schools, something Weingarten has advocated since her involvement in the creation of New York City's Chancellor's District, which dramatically improved achievement in what had been some of the city's lowest-performing schools. Weingarten has launched major efforts to place real education reform high on the nation's and her union's agendas. She created the AFT Innovation Fund, a groundbreaking initiative to support sustainable, innovative and collaborative education reform projects developed by members and their local unions. At Weingarten's direction, the AFT developed a model to transform teacher evaluations from a way of simply rating teachers to a tool for continuous improvement and feedback. This model is used to align tenure and due process, so that tenure serves as a guarantee of fairness, not of a job for life. Weingarten led an AFT committee that called for all prospective teachers to meet a high entry standard—as in medicine or law—so that they're prepared from the day they enter the classroom. Weingarten oversaw the development of the AFT's Quality Education Agenda, which advocates for reforms grounded in evidence, equity, scalability and sustainability. She promotes what she calls “solution-driven unionism”—an approach to collective bargaining and collective action that unites the interests of union members and those they serve in the pursuit of solutions that benefit students, schools and communities. Under Weingarten's leadership, the AFT continues to grow and expand its voice as a union of professionals. Nationwide, the AFT is the second-largest union of nurses and other health professionals and the largest higher education union, representing 230,000 higher education faculty, professional staff and graduate employees. Weingarten helped source millions of dollars of personal protective equipment for nurses and health professionals experiencing shortages as they served on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. Weingarten is an advocate for a New Deal for Higher Education, a campaign calling for substantial federal investment in higher education that would prioritize teaching, research and student supports; provide sustainable careers with professional voice for all faculty and staff; allow all students to attend regardless of ability to pay; create academic environments free of racism and other forms of bigotry; and cancel student debt. The AFT provides our members tools and information they can use to manage their federal student loan debt, including having that debt forgiven, while advocating for solutions to the escalating cost of higher education, predatory loan practices, and terrible loan servicing that is holding people back. The AFT and a broad array of parent and community partners across the country have collaborated on events to advance a community- and educator-driven agenda for public school reform. Weingarten spearheaded the development of Share My Lesson, the United States' largest free collection of lesson plans, classroom activities, and teaching strategies and resources created by educators, for educators—all at no cost. The AFT has a long-standing partnership with First Book, which has provided 5 million free and reduced-price books to children. Weingarten and the AFT were asked to lead a partnership to transform McDowell County, W.Va., one of the poorest counties in the United States. The AFT has assembled more than 100 partners not only to improve the quality of education provided to children in the county, but to focus on jobs, transportation, recreation, housing, healthcare and social services. Weingarten believes the rural way of life is worth fighting for, and the AFT's experience in McDowell County informs the work Weingarten is advancing to help rural communities thrive—through education, healthcare and economic opportunities. The AFT supports the strategic establishment of 25,000 community schools where students and families can access tailored health services and social services in one place, and marginalized communities can have access to services and support. Weingarten views this goal as especially vital to help children, families and communities recover from the wide-ranging impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing recession. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, the AFT worked with scientists and health professionals to develop a blueprint for reopening schools. The AFT continues to advocate for the funding and necessary testing and safety protocols to ensure in-person learning is safe.  During the Trump administration, Weingarten led the AFT's efforts to oppose Trump and Betsy DeVos' fervent attempts to defund and destabilize public education and to stand up to the administration's racist policies and attacks on facts and democracy. In 2012-13, Weingarten served on an education reform commission convened by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which made a series of recommendations to improve teaching and learning. She was appointed to the Equity and Excellence Commission, a federal advisory committee chartered by Congress to examine and make recommendations concerning the disparities in educational opportunities that give rise to the achievement gap. For 10 years, while president of the UFT, Weingarten chaired New York City's Municipal Labor Committee, an umbrella organization for the city's 100-plus public sector unions, including those representing higher education and other public service employees. As chair of the MLC, she coordinated labor negotiations and bargaining for benefits on behalf of the MLC unions' 365,000 members. From 1986 to 1998, Weingarten served as counsel to UFT President Sandra Feldman, taking a lead role in contract negotiations and enforcement, and in lawsuits in which the union fought for adequate school funding and building conditions. A teacher of history at Clara Barton High School in Brooklyn's Crown Heights neighborhood from 1991 to 1997, Weingarten helped her students win several state and national awards debating constitutional issues. Elected as the local union's assistant secretary in 1995 and as treasurer two years later, she became UFT president after Feldman became president of the AFT. Weingarten was elected to her first full term as UFT president in 1998 and was re-elected three times. Weingarten's column “What Matters Most” appears in the New York Times' Sunday Review the third Sunday of each month. You can follow her on Twitter at @rweingarten (Twitter.com/rweingarten) and on Facebook (Facebook.com/randi.weingarten.9). Weingarten holds degrees from Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the Cardozo School of Law. She worked as a lawyer for the Wall Street firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan from 1983 to 1986. She is an active member of the Democratic National Committee and numerous professional, civic and philanthropic organizations. Born in 1957 and raised in Rockland County, N.Y., Weingarten now resides in the Inwood neighborhood of New York City. The Stand Up Community Chat is always active with other Stand Up Subscribers on the Discord Platform.   Join us Thursday's at 8EST for our Weekly Happy Hour Hangout!  Pete on Threads Pete on Tik Tok Pete on YouTube  Pete on Twitter Pete On Instagram Pete Personal FB page Stand Up with Pete FB page All things Jon Carroll  Follow and Support Pete Coe Buy Ava's Art 

Homer Hickam is a true West Virginia hero. Raised in Coalwood, a mining town in southern West Virginia, he went on to fight in the Vietnam War, work for NASA, and become a best-selling author. His book, Rocket Boys, was made into the popular movie October Sky. In this episode, he shares with Garrett stories from his life that reveal how his upbringing in West Virginia contributed to his success. Homer tells about the inspiration behind his books, expresses his love for the Appalachian mountains, and gives his thoughts about education, the importance of community, and so much more. He even gives a sneak peek into some upcoming projects that he is working on. Garrett's conversation with Homer evokes a sense of both comforting familiarity and otherworldliness. This episode of Forgotten America will leave you in awe of how much things have changed since the 40s but also grateful for the resilience of the Mountaineer Spirit.   Follow Homer's work by visiting his website: https://homerhickam.com/ Get a copy of his newest book, Don't Blow Yourself Up, here: https://homerhickam.com/project/dont-blow-yourself-up/ October Sky (movie adaptation of his memoir, Rocket Boys): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132477/ Coalwood, WV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalwood,_West_Virginia Buddy Ebsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Ebsen Jake Gyllenhaal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Gyllenhaal Carrying Albert Home: https://homerhickam.com/project/carrying-albert-home/   Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13  Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

Our country's divides often reveal themselves in our choices and habits, including how and where we get our information. As the economics of the media landscape have imploded, the economics of the industry have forced changes. In the past two decades, online sites have taken over much of the income stream from classified ads and general advertising. That has led newspapers and broadcasters to slash thousands of jobs. Many local news outlets have gone out of business and there are now more than 200 counties across the country with no source of local news. One of those is McDowell County in West Virginia.  Last year, publisher Missy Nester was forced to shut down the Welch Daily News  after a valiant effort to keep the paper running. Join host Trey Kay and reporter Todd Melby on this episode of Us & Them to see what happens when local news organizations stop telling the stories of a community.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, March 23, 2024. Blennerhassett Island may be a beautiful park to visit, but it also boasts a fascinating history. A popular brewery in Morgantown expands. And learn about Chef Boyardee's West Virginia connection…on today's daily304. #1 – From THE HISTORY PROJECT – In the middle of the Ohio River between Parkersburg, West Virginia and Belpre, Ohio, sits Blennerhassett Island, a place named for the Anglo-Irish gentry who built their estate there in the 18th century and named it for themselves. But this paradise would not last after the arrival of Aaron Burr … Learn more about Blennerhassett Island with The History Project, the Daily304's presentation of famous people, places and events that shaped West Virginia. Then plan a visit to Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park when the park opens for the season in May.  Read more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=9SxdBF2F82tG57HN&v=q6U2SQBxDr8&feature=youtu.be    #2 – From DOMINION POST – Chestnut Brew Works, a staple of the Morgantown microbrewery scene for over a decade, completed a long-anticipated expansion last month with the launch of Chestnut Beer Hall at 132 Pleasant St. Owner Bill Rittenour and his team transformed the former Black Bear Burritos into a space woven with local talent, history and flavor. Local artist Brian Pickens contributed freehand wall art that evokes the crisp, green taste of hops. Pickens also painted the support posts running down the center of the space to look like vibrant tree trunks. Local craftsmen Scott Frederick and Michael Barr created high-top tables using now-rare Chestnut lumber reclaimed from an old church in McDowell County. Rittenour took some of the same lumber and made one-of-a-kind tap handles replete with Appalachian history. The Beer Hall will feature 10-16 Chestnut Brew Works beers on tap. Cheers! Read more: https://www.dominionpost.com/2024/03/06/chestnut-brew-works-new-pleasant-streetspace-celebrates-appalachia-craft-beer/   #3 – From WV EXPLORER – Did you know the iconic image of Chef Boyardee that adorns so many food packages worldwide is that of a genuine person? Not only that -- he has West Virginia connections. In the early 1900s, The Greenbrier was managed by the same company that managed The Plaza Hotel in New York City, according to historian Bob Conte. When they sent staff down to The Greenbrier, among that staff was 16-year-old Ettore Boiardi, anglicized as “Hector Boyardee.” A native of Italy, Boiardi worked as an apprentice chef in his hometown and in Paris and London before boarding ship for Ellis Island in 1914. He eventually worked his way up to Head Chef at The Plaza Hotel, where he served President Woodrow Wilson and troops returning from WWI. After serving a stint at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, Boiardi opened his first restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio, where patrons frequently asked for samples and recipes of his spaghetti sauce. He met Maurice and Eva Weiner, owners of a local self-service grocery store chain who helped Boiardi and his brother Paolo develop a process for canning and distributing spaghetti sauce. In 1938, production was moved to rural Milton, Pa., where its products were sold under the “Chef Boy-Ar-Dee” brand. And the rest, they say, is history. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2024/03/12/chef-boyardee-west-virginia-resort-the-greenbrier/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Saturday, Feb. 17   #1 – From WV EXPLORER – Spring ramp festivals are drawing more attention than ever, thanks to a renewed interest in West Virginia and Appalachia, says the publisher of West Virginia Explorer Magazine. David Sibray says ramp festivals witnessed a leap in attendance in 2023 and he's expecting the number to grow due to increased interest in the state as a destination for vacations and residency. In January 2024, National Geographic named whitewater rafting in the New River Gorge in West Virginia among its “Best of the World” Top 20 Travel Experiences. This designation follows a series of recent significant announcements in other high-profile travel publications. A seasonal staple of Appalachian cuisine, ramps or rampion, a wild leek native to eastern North America, are among the first edible plants to appear in the mountains in spring. WV Explorer's Ramp Dinners and Festivals guide will be updated soon with 2024 dates. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2024/02/06/spring-ramp-festivals-west-virginia-david-sibray/    #2 – From WMYW –  In the latest episode of the Daily304's “What Makes You Wonderful” podcast, we climb into the intriguing world of geological wonders with special guest David Sibray, publisher and editor-in-chief of West Virginia Explorer Magazine.  This week's spotlight shines on Castle Rock, nestled in the quaint town of Pineville, West Virginia. While other geological formations may steal the limelight, Castle Rock emerges as a captivating underdog, ready for adventurers and nature enthusiasts. With a passion for uncovering the lesser-known treasures of the region, David Sibray offers invaluable insights into the unique charm of Castle Rock. Sibray says it stands as a testament to the beauty and storied history. Listen now: https://daily304.libsyn.com/wmyw-unveils-castle-rocks-charm-with-david-sibray?es_id=5656116a01   #3 – From WBOY-TV –  Most West Virginians know that Hurricane is pronounced HUR-uh-kun and Canaan is pronounced kuh-NANE, but here are a few places in West Virginia that unless you live there, you will probably say wrong the first try. 12 News referenced the book “A Guide to Pronunciation of Place Names in West Virginia” for this story, which was published by West Virginia University in 1981. If you travel to Rio in Hampshire County, you'd better pronounce it RY-oh, like the locals do. Meanwhile, Iaeger, the vowel-heavy town in McDowell County, is pronounced YAY-gur--similar to Jägermeister, the German liquor. Read on for more place names you might be mispronouncing, and be sure to check out Part 1 of the story.  Read more: https://www.wboy.com/only-on-wboy-com/west-virginia-place-names-you-might-be-pronouncing-wrong/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.  

Omi Salevea of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority in the Blue Ridge Mountains, shares why outdoor recreation is important in preserving natural landscapes and for protecting culture and heritage. And why it's good for your body too!One of my favorite places to get outdoors is in Old Fort, a small town not far from Asheville in McDowell County, NC. It's a mountain town in the way the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains surround this beautiful place. And there's a rich history dating back to before the Revolutionary War and so many incredible things to do outside. Omi fills us in on all there is to see and do in this special area and why one trip is just not enough.Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, provides an update of the largest construction project in the airport's history and how they have marked yet another record-breaking year in 2023.With about a 22.2% increase over 2022 figures, the airport's annual passenger count grew beyond the historic 2 million mark for the first time ever.The global air travel industry in 2023 demonstrates people are traveling more and more and the Asheville Regional Airport is growing to become a landmark infrastructure project for Western North Carolina.Find out more! Only on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jason Tartt is the founder of Appalachian Gold Foods, a name that nods to the region's agricultural potential because of its fertile soil and loving people. Dedicated to boosting the economy, Tartt sees McDowell County as a potential economic powerhouse for food, agriculture, clean energy, tourism, and community health. As an entrepreneur and farmer, Tartt creates training programs for those aspiring to enter the food industry or start their own businesses. He's passionate about unlocking Appalachia's potential, aiming to empower communities and foster sustainable businesses primarily centered around agribusiness. Learn more at www.appalachiangold.com

family comes from McDowell County. His first book, The Moonshine Messiah, is a mystery set in the coalfields of West Virginia. Bill Lynch spoke to Johnson about his book and the long road to getting published. The post A Mystery Novel From The Coalfields And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

In this episode we continue our Appalachian Storyteller series with Adda Davis, who we all dearly called "Addie." She's a McDowell County, WV native now living in Russell County, VA. She is a retired elementary school teacher and counselor and spends her time in many authors' guilds around the region, including the Appalachian Authors Guild. You can follow her online at her website https://addaleahdavis.com/index.html.  #AddaLeahDavis #appalachia #appalachainauthor

On this West Virginia Morning, SNAP is a federal nutrition program – the name stands for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. It used to be called food stamps. The program started as a pilot project in the 1960s in McDowell County. Trey Kay learns more about the program that some say has changed lives. The post How SNAP Has Changed Lives And An Archaeological Dig At WVSU, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

More than 12 percent of Americans, or 42 million people, need help getting enough food to eat. In West Virginia, that number is about 18 percent. That help comes from a federal program called SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps. The Mountain State is one of the top recipients of SNAP benefits - nearly 45 percent are older adults or families with someone who's disabled while nearly 60 percent are families with children. The government's food support program actually has its roots in McDowell County, West Virginia where it began as a pilot project in the 1960s. Since then the program has reduced poverty and hunger across the nation. Today, SNAP gets caught up in political debates and election cycles. On this Us & Them episode, host Trey Kay talks with three people, a retiree, a mom and a lawmaker who all say that nutritional support has made a difference in their lives.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Friday, May 5  State officials cut the ribbon on West Virginia's Taiwan office…Learn more about the Mountain State's thriving industries…and McDowell County hosts Hometown Trail Days…on today's daily304. #1 – From WSAZ-TV –  The sound of “Country Roads” played half a world away in Taiwan as state leaders and lawmakers cut the ribbon on West Virginia's Taiwan Office. West Virginia is now one of 16 states with an office in Taiwan. One Taiwanese business, APG Polytech, already operates in Mason County. “With this office, at a very low cost, we can attract more jobs, more opportunity and employ West Virginians,” West Virginia Economic Development Sec. Mitch Carmichael said.   Carmichael says a big announcement is already in the works. “One in particular, I'll say, with a number of jobs -- over a hundred great jobs -- that we're in negotiations with,” he said. Read more: https://www.wsaz.com/2023/04/28/wva-delegation-opens-state-office-taiwan/?es_id=bc9d434760   #2 – From WV ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT –  West Virginia's diverse economy has moved beyond our history of resource extraction to include a robust array of products and services, including information technology, defense, aerospace, food and agriculture, and more.  Learn about the key industries that have taken a foothold here and learn why leading companies make their home in the Mountain State. Read more: https://westvirginia.gov/thriving-industries/   #3 – From WVNSTV –  The Town of Bradshaw in McDowell County is hosting Hometown Trail Days on May 19-20. The event is an opportunity to experience guided tours of local, unmarked trails in southern West Virginia's lush mountains in your ATVs, SXSs, and dirt bikes. Other activities include a poker run, parade and mud run. To register, visit www.wvhometowntraildays.com. Read more: https://www.wvnstv.com/news/local-news/hometown-trail-days-ripping-through-bradshaw/ Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Wednesday, April 26  A McDowell County businessman wins a prestigious Appalachian food fellowship…WV Women Work is recognized for its efforts helping women in nontraditional careers…and plan your waterfall hunting trip in Almost Heaven…on today's daily304. #1 – From FRESH & FRIED HARD – Congratulations to Jason B. Tartt, Sr., winner of the 2023 Appalachian Foodways Practitioner Fellowship. Tartt is the owner of T&T Organics in McDowell County. T&T Organics provides educational support to future and current food producers, and sells organic heirloom products at affordable prices to the residents. A former military policeman, Tartt returned to his hometown in 2010, with a mission to farm and take care of his family and community. He began T&T in 2014. Since that time, Tartt has farmed and co-founded Economic Development Greater East and several other organizations. He is also a co-founder of Appalachian Gold, a collaborative created to sell food products from Appalachia and its many sub-regions. He recently appeared on CNN in an episode of Kamau Bell's “United Shades of America,” featuring Blacks in Appalachia and he with his mother Ronnie Tartt are featured on the PBS program, “The Food Principle.” Read more: http://freshandfriedhard.com/2023/04/19/black-wv-farmer-wins-2023-appalachian-foodways-practitioner-fellowship/  #2 – From WV NEWS – West Virginia Women Work has been recognized for its efforts helping women secure jobs in non-traditional occupations. The nonprofit group has helped women explore the skilled trades with a 12-week, pre-apprenticeship program that offers free training in carpentry, electrical work, plumbing, masonry and welding. The organization was one of seven state programs honored this month with the Power of Performance Putting People to Work award. The apprenticeship program opens a door to new career opportunities, allowing the women to go on to work in a full apprenticeship under a journeyman or master of a skilled trade, earning hours while learning on the job.   “Both our Morgantown and Charleston classes are pouring concrete,” Executive Director Carol Phillips said. “It's to get them familiar with hand tools, entry- level skilled trades training with the goal of placing them in an entry-level or apprenticeship position in the skilled trades.”   Read more: https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/west-virginia-nonprofit-recognized-for-helping-women-learn-skilled-trades/article_6c973a44-e120-11ed-be1e-9735a7860652.html   #3 – From WV EXPLORER – The Mountain State of West Virginia is a paradise for waterfall hunters.  Randall Sanger, author of "Waterfalls of Virginia and West Virginia," is among the foremost photographers of West Virginia waterfalls and has contributed greatly to its fame as a destination for waterfall hunters.  From Wolf Creek Falls and Sandstone Falls in the New River Gorge to the cascades of Blackwater Falls State Park and Camp Creek State Park and Forest, Sanger offers beautiful images of some of the state's most beautiful waterfalls, along with descriptions and where to find them. Visit WV Tourism to download a free passport to West Virginia waterfalls. Check in and earn prizes as you go! Learn more: https://wvexplorer.com/2022/07/21/slide-show-must-see-waterfalls-in-west-virginia/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

If God is love, can God exist where love is absent? In this bonus podcast episode, co-hosts Joe Webb and Brad Davis break down Brad's latest blog post, taken from a Maundy Thursday reflection he wrote for the Welch Charge of the United Methodist Church in McDowell County, WV during Holy Week 2023.

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia.   Today is Sunday, April 9  Completion of a stream restoration project means more fishing opportunities at Kanawha State Forest…WVDOH crews have been busy clearing enough tree canopy to stretch from Charleston to Myrtle Beach …WV native Homer Hickam hopes more Coalwood stories are coming to the screen…on today's daily304. #1 – From WV EXPLORER – A stream restoration project designed to improve fishing and recreation at Kanawha State Forest has been completed. Started in 2020, the project was a significant undertaking and included the removal of the Davis Creek Dam, which was built in the 1930s. Structures were added to stabilize stream banks and provide additional aquatic habitat and fishing opportunities. By removing a pond, the length of fishable water has been increased from about 1,000 feet to more than one mile. These changes create pool habitat and will allow the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to begin stocking trout. The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's In-Lieu Fee Program funded the restoration efforts at an estimated cost of $1 million. "This project is one more example of the work we're doing to restore streams to their natural state while also providing additional opportunities for anglers to enjoy. We're thrilled to see this type of investment in our natural resources and are proud to partner with the WVDEP and Kanawha State Forest to make it happen,” WVDNR Director Brett McMillion said. Read more: https://wvexplorer.com/2023/04/05/trout-fishing-kanawha-state-forest/   #2 – From WVDOT – West Virginia Division of Highways maintenance crews cleared more than 430 miles of trees and branches away from the state's roadways between November 2022 and the end of March 2023, enough to stretch from Charleston to Myrtle Beach. "I can't tell you how proud I am of the crews,” said Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston, P.E.  “I gave them a challenge. They believed they could do it. I believed they could do it. They did it!"   Canopy clearing plays a vital part in prolonging the life of the pavement on West Virginia's 36,000 miles of road. Along with keeping ditches cleared and proper drainage, keeping roads cleared of overhanging canopy is important both to the life of the road and to the safety of drivers. Like cutting grass in the summer, milling and filling potholes or clearing ice and snow, canopy clearing is part of the WVDOH core maintenance program. Combined, core maintenance procedures prolong the life of pavement and keep roads safer. Read more: https://transportation.wv.gov/communications/PressRelease/Pages/The_numbers_are_in_WVDOH_cuts_enough_tree_canopy_this_season_to_stretch_to_Myrtle_Beach.aspx?userID=3c8d79ff-850b-4aa0-8154-f3871713196e&campaign_name=wv_dept_of_commerce&campaign_medium=advocacy&campaign_source=everyonesocial&es_id=1342303c19   #3 – From THE CHARLESTON GAZETTE-MAIL –  While he has long been a name familiar to West Virginians, it's not an overstatement to say Homer Hickam has inspired people all over the world. On the surface, his 1998 memoir, “Rocket Boys,” tells the story of his life growing up in the coal company town of Coalwood in McDowell County. But the story is about more than boys building rockets. At its core, it's about family, changing times, and doggedly pursuing a dream against all odds. The book became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into the critically acclaimed 1999 film “October Sky.” Hickam is the author of several novels including “The Coalwood Way” and “Sky of Stone,”about life in Coalwood, and “Carrying Albert Home,” about a fantastical road trip with a special pet.  The author, who turned 80 in February, has been busy writing screenplays with the idea of creating a series set in Coalwood, focused more on people like his parents and the coal miners.  “Sometimes you can plan those adventures. Sometimes the adventures just come in over the transom. They land in your lap. There it is. You want it? Grab it.” Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/dailymailwv/daily_mail_features/rocket-boys-author-hopes-more-coalwood-stories-coming-to-the-screen/article_964523f2-b511-5935-b2ac-829c076443b9.html Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304 curated news and information is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce: Sharing the wealth, beauty and opportunity in West Virginia with the world. Follow the daily304 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @daily304. Or find us online at wv.gov and just click the daily304 logo.  That's all for now. Take care. Be safe. Get outside and enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

McDowell County is the most Southern County in West Virginia, bordering southwest Virginia.  Blacks began migrating into the County when railroads came to the County, on or about 1895.  The railroads provided mass transportation of coal to eastern and mid western parts of the nation.  This new industry created jobs requiring hard labor coupled with low skills.  Because of the lack of suitable housing, coal companies built houses for its employees.  The grouping of these houses was called “coal camps”. The population increased rapidly, going from 7,300 in 1896 to over 98,000 in 1950.   The Black population increased greatly during this period; and its Black population was the highest of any County in the State.   Along with the influx of Black miners, Black professionals soon followed to serve the community. They included Medical Doctors, Nurses, Dentists, Pharmacists, School Teachers and School Administrators. This professional class served the entire population, except of course, the educational sector. Coal mining soon became the main industry, employing thousands of employees, with close to 35% being Black.  The coal companies were segregated and several mines' production staff were nearly all Black.  It should be noted that these mines were duly recognized as being more efficient than other mines.    Black policy makers were included in all phases of civic life, including the union representing the coal miners. The County once boasted 4 separate Black High Schools, more than any other County in the State.  Its graduates have distinguished themselves in various professions throughout the nation and exhibit great pride in their home County, affectionately referred to as “The Patch”. Also included in the Black migration were gamblers, women of ill repute and others of similar ilk.   A small area, approximately 6/7 acres, commonly called “Cinder Bottom” was where the above-named, engaged in their individual professions.   Coal is no longer “King” and the population has sunken below 18,000 and is ranked among the poorest counties in the nation. DIANE KEYES-source  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/wvuncommonplace/message

In this episode, we discuss life in McDowell County, West Virginia with several high school students from River View and Mount View. Learn more about the Student Pack by visiting jointhefamily.info.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --Last week's ice storm continues to cause power outages in the Potomac Highlands---Former award winning school counselor who admitted to sexual charges against children will be sentenced today--A fatal officer involved shooting from the weekend in McDowell County is under investigation--In Sports: Marshall takes on UConn in the Myrtle Beach Bowl this afternoon

In this episode, McDowell County students talks about the GROW Your Own Pathway program which gives future teachers a head start in preparing for their careers. Learn some specifics and insights on what the program is and how it's doing big things for West Virginia juniors and seniors. Visit jointhefamily.info to learn more about the Student Pack initiative.

Today on MetroNews This Morning: --A vote in the U.S.Senate averts a potentially crippling national rail strike--McDowell County is awarded flood recovery assistance, but Kanawha County is denied--Green Power Motor Company talks about success with E-V school bus testing--in Sports, the high school football season culminates this weekend with the Super6 championships on Wheeling Island

Be on the lookout for a surprise bonus episode later this week!!!Today's episode is all about the Marion Massacre, which took place in Western North Carolina. What started with exploring a story of labor organizing that ended in tragedy that's close to home for yours truly, ended with reflections on how the police state is inherently designed to benefit systems of oppression. A well-kept mountain secret makes way for teaching an important lesson about how we have the opportunity to make a choice about our contributions to the ongoing journey towards true liberation.Sources for today's episode:- All newspaper articles that were referenced or used as source material for this episode were compiled by McDowell County locals in scrapbook formatted and later presented digitally by the Mountain Xpress. They can be accessed at the following two links:1) https://issuu.com/mountainx/docs/marionscrapbookpart12) https://issuu.com/mountainx/docs/marionscrapbookpart2Additional Sources include:- Frankel, J. (2011, March 29). Mountain shame: Remembering the Marion Massacre. Mountain Xpress. - Jones, A. H. (2021, October 7). North Carolina's Anti-labor Record is a Shameful Betrayal of our State's People. The Mountaineer. - Palumbo, M. (n.d.). The Lawrence Mill Strike and Other Famous Mill Strikes. Retrieved August 13, 2022, from http://20thcenturyhistorysongbook.com/song-book/the-industrial-age/the-lawrence-mill-strike-and-other-famous-mill-strikes/. - Guthrie, W. (2011). The Marion Massacre. YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved August 13, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFZU9c6mdkw. Support and follow the pod:linktr.ee/rednecksrising

Storms on July 13th dumped heavy rains – up to 4.5 inches – resulting in flash flooding across parts of VA and WV. Buchanan County VA and McDowell County WV suffered the worst impacts of the storm. These storms knocked out power, cell, phone and even water services in some areas, though much of service has been restored. Preliminary damage assessment shows at least 17 bridges washed away, and many roadways are still impassable due to flooding, landslides and debris. A State of Emergency has been declared by the governors for both Buchanan County and McDowell County. At this time, the needs are largely focused around cleanup and supply needs. The Salvation Army is coordinating with VOAD partners in both states, as well as government authorities. To offer your support and help The Salvation Army's emergency disaster services response to storms like this, visit https://give.salvationarmysouth.org/  

Flooding in McDowell County from earlier this week results in a State of Emergency Declaration from the Governor. The national said goodbye to Woody Williams--World War II's last Medal of Honor recipient on Thursday. An investigation is underway after an explosion at a silicone recycling plant in Parkersburg Thursday and there is concern among state health officials as the new variant of Covid 19 begins to take hold. In Sports, more from Big XII Media Days in Texas and a West Virginia coaching legend gets another high honor. Joe Brocato is filling in for the vacationing Kyle Wiggs and will have those stories. It's all in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

The body of the late Woody Williams--the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of World War II will lie in honor in the US Capitol Rotunda today. The state Board of Education hears plans from the State Police and Homeland Security about preparations on how to react to a mass shooting in a West Virginia school. The first cabs and chassis for the Green Power Motor company facility in South Charleston have arrived ahead of the plant's opening in September. The DOH is working to make repairs after flash flooding caused severe road damage this week in McDowell County. In Sports, Neal Brown and his Mountaineers speak during Big 12 Media Day in Texas. Joe Brocato will tell us more about what they had to say about the 2022 Mountaineer Football Season. He's in for Kyle Wiggs. Those stories and more in today's MetroNews This Morning podcast.

On this West Virginia Morning, after years of inconsistent access to tap water, some communities in McDowell County are now connected to a reliable water system. One of those communities is Keystone, where 57 percent of the population is Black.

为你读英语美文 · 第460期主播：永清Rocket Boys第二章 Sputnik节选作者：Homer Hickam，翻译：永清“Look, look!” O'Dell suddenly cried jumping up and down and pointing skyward. “Sputnik!”“快看，快看！”奥德尔突然喊道，上蹿下跳，指向天空，“伴侣号！”Roy Lee sprang to his feet and yelled, “I see it too! “and then Sherman whooped and pointed. I stumbled off the steps and squinted in the general direction everybody was looking. All I could see were millions of stars. “There” Mom said, taking my head and sighting my nose at a point in the sky.罗伊·李跳了起来，喊道：“我也看到了！”然后谢尔曼大叫着指了指。我跌跌撞撞地走下台阶，眯着眼睛朝大家盯着的方向看去。我能看到的只是满天繁星。“在那”，妈妈说着，我抬起了头，对着天空中那个点的方向。Then I saw the bright little ball moving majestically across the narrow star field between the ridge lines. I stared at it with no less rapt attention than if it had been God Himself in a golden chariot riding overhead. 然后，我看到一个明亮的小光球神圣地在漫天繁星的缝隙间略过。我目不转睛地盯着它，仿佛上帝乘坐着金色马车，从头顶飞过。It soared with what seemed to me inexorable and dangerous purposes if there were no power in the universe that could stop it.它翱翔在苍穹，对我来说，势不可挡又带着危险，仿佛宇宙中没有任何力量能够阻挡它。All my life everything important that had ever happened had always happened somewhere else. But Sputnik was right there in front of my eyes in my back yard in Coalwood, McDowell County, West Virginia, U.S.A.. 在我的一生中，似乎所有重要的事情都发生在别处。但就在我家后院，美国西弗吉尼亚州麦克道尔县梅林镇，伴侣号就在我眼前。I couldn't believe it. I felt that if I stretched out enough I could touch it. Then, in less than a minute, it was gone.我简直不敢相信，仿佛触手可及。然后，不到一分钟，它就消失在天际。在Rocket Boys这本里，开篇的一句话便是“All one can really leave one's childhood is what's inside their heads. Education, in other words, and not earthly possessions, is the ultimate legacy, the only thing that cannot be taken away. 能让一个人真正能脱离原生环境的只有他们头脑中的东西。换句话说，教育，而不是世俗的财产，才是最终的遗产，是唯一不能被夺走的东西。”主播介绍永清：英语专业八级，毕业于西安外国语大学公众号：为你读英语美文文章，音乐，图片非商业用途，版权归作者或版权方所有我们生活在世界各地，从事不同职业，为你读我们喜欢的美文。

"Something exciting is happening in McDowell County, West Virginia. There, in what used to be coal country, the American Federation of Teachers is leading a project called Reconnecting McDowell. It's a program initiated over a decade ago by Gayle Manchin, wife of now Senator (then Governor) Joe, and it makes you think long and hard about her husband." The F-Word is released bi-weekly featuring timely commentaries by Laura Flanders and guests.

"Something exciting is happening in McDowell County, West Virginia. There, in what used to be coal country, the American Federation of Teachers is leading a project called Reconnecting McDowell. It's a program initiated over a decade ago by Gayle Manchin, wife of now Senator (then Governor) Joe, and it makes you think long and hard about her husband." The F-Word is released bi-weekly featuring timely commentaries by Laura Flanders and guests. Flex your media muscles, become a monthly sustaining member for $3, $5, $12 at http://Patreon.com/theLFShow Independent Media! Advertising free!

"Something exciting is happening in McDowell County, West Virginia. There, in what used to be coal country, the American Federation of Teachers is leading a project called Reconnecting McDowell.  It's a program initiated over a decade ago by Gayle Manchin, wife of now Senator (then Governor) Joe, and it makes you think long and hard about her husband." The F-Word is released bi-weekly featuring timely commentaries by Laura Flanders and guests. Flex your media muscles, become a monthly sustaining member for $3, $5, $12 at http://Patreon.com/theLFShow  Independent Media! Advertising free!

McDowell County, West Virginia, in the heart of what used to be coal country, is one of the most impoverished counties in the US — a place that embodies the challenges facing many American areas in transition. But something new is happening there; it's called Reconnecting McDowell, a multi-partner effort, led by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Can education be the driver of local economic and social development in one of the poorest places in the US? What if the best anti-poverty program is investing in teachers and children? In this episode, for May 1, a traditional labor holiday around the world, we take a look at Reconnecting McDowell and speak to some of the beneficiaries. Drawing on some of the labor movement's earliest traditions, could this partnership between local drive and national commitment provide a model for the future?“I feel like we are coming back to serve and coming back to plant seeds in an area where we have let our seeds and the grass wither and go dry. It's time to quit looking for the grass that's greener on the other side and actually plant seeds.” - Nadia Johnson, Communities in School Coordinator, Mount View High School, Welch, WV “We have to start with the little mom and pop shop that hires two or three people. And then you have another little mom and pop shop that hires two or three people. And we keep going with that momentum.” - Harold McBride, Mayor of Welch, McDowell County, WV“What we've learned here is that the first action is not to point fingers. The first action is not to blame. The first action is to come together and figure out what we need to do, who needs to do it, and whose voice has to be heard.” - Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIOGuestsNadia Johnson, Communities in School Coordinator, Mount View High School, Welch, WVHarold McBride, Mayor of Welch, McDowell County, WVRandi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO Full episode notes including related articles and LFShow episodes to watch and/or listen to are posted at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow. Patreon Members receive access to the FULL UNCUT CONVERSATION for this podcast on the Thursday, following the podcast episode release on Monday.  We are listener & viewer sponsored.  The show airs on 300+ Public Television  households across the U.S., on over 40 community radio stations and as a podcast.  Become a member at https://Patreon.com/theLFShow

Joe Stewart is a fixture in NC politics who is parts lobbyist, politico, historian, and stand-up-comic.  The 35-year political veteran, who wears suspenders and bowties sans coat, talks about his life, his many jobs in politics and policy, and how lobbying is a lot like bowling.   Skye and Brian also discuss the latest debacle from Congressman Madison Cawthorn, a Leandro update, and a debrief on Skye's camping trip to McDowell County last weekend.   The Do Politics Better podcast is sponsored by New Frame, the NC Travel Industry Association, and the NC Beer & Wine Wholesalers Association.