Podcasts about ohio valley resource

This week on Inside Appalachia, amid recent hospital closures, Appalachian women are having to travel farther and farther to give birth. Maternal Medicine In The Mountains We'll talk with reporter Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven about maternal health care deserts in western North Carolina and hear a report from Crystal Good, about what options Black families in West Virginia have for finding birth workers that look like them. Appalachian PRIDE Following one of the opinions written in the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, State legislatures across the Ohio Valley are considering anti-LGBTQ policies, while people across Appalachia took part in celebrations during LGBTQ Pride Month in June. Katie Myers with the Ohio Valley Resource got reactions and spoke to residents. Indigenous Peoples Gather In W.Va. To Discuss The Environment High schoolers with Indigenous backgrounds came from all over the country to the Eastern Panhandle this summer for a leadership congress. They talked about conservation, Native identity, and the growing effects of climate change. Shepherd Snyder has more. Greyhound Racing Series Continues In 2023, West Virginia will be home to the last two remaining greyhound racetracks in the United States. Reporter Randy Yohe breaks down the government policies that sustain dog racing, and considers its future in the state at a time when it's dying everywhere else. Canaries Out Of The Coal Mine As old coal mines are restored, they've been repurposed for an increasingly broad number of new uses. In Pennsylvania, reclaimed mine land is being used for an art project involving birds. Kara Holsapple and Jacqui Sieber of the Allegheny Front have more. Feeding The Hungry In Appalachia's Food Deserts Supply chain issues and rising gas prices are making it harder for people to get food. As David Adkins reports, local entrepreneurs are looking to meet the demand. A Ray Of Hope Mountain View Solar, a solar installation company in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is training and hiring people in recovery from substance use disorder. Shepherd Snyder has more. Serious About Seed Saving During the pandemic, millions of Americans turned to gardening. In Appalachia, people have long saved heirloom seeds that have been passed down for generations. Today, that tradition continues, partly through organizations like seed libraries and community gardens that collect these seeds to save them from being lost. Folkways reporter Rachel Greene spent time in Ashe County, North Carolina — talking to the people giving new life to old seeds.

Between yard signs, television commercials, texts, calls, and emails, y'all know what time it is: election season.  And with a number of school elections, local elections, and state seats up for grabs, this week's “In Conversation” has you covered.  Host Rick Howlett talked to the Louisville Public Media journalists who have been covering the elections: Kentucky Public Radio Capitol Reporter Divya Karthikeyan WFPL Education and Learning Reporter Jess Clark WFPL City Politics and Government Reporter Roberto Roldan WFPL Managing Editor for Collaboratives Ryland Barton Justin Hicks, Data Reporter for WFPL and the Ohio Valley ReSource They are among the team who put together the 2022 Voter Guide from LPM.

Jessica Shelton and Katie Myers have been on the frontlines of responding to the flooding disaster in Eastern Kentucky in a variety of roles. We talk with them about their work and the region's recovery. Jessica Shelton is the director of the Appalachian Media Institute at Appalshop in Whitesburg, Kentucky. We talk with her about her work as an organizer with the grassroots organization EKY Mutual Aid, which has been helping those directly impacted by the devastating floods that hit southeastern Kentucky in late July by meeting needs in real time and offering direct cash assistance. Katie Myers is the economic transition reporter for the Ohio Valley ReSource and WMMT 88.7 FM in Whitesburg, Kentucky. Her work has also appeared on NPR and Inside Appalachia, and in Belt Magazine, Scalawag Magazine, the Daily Yonder, and others. We talk with Katie about reporting on the flood and her own experience waking up to the disaster. To get these podcasts and more rural stories in your inbox, register at www.ruralassembly.org/newsletters

This week on Inside Appalachia, amid recent hospital closures, Appalachian women are having to travel farther and farther to give birth. Maternal Medicine In The Mountains We'll talk with reporter Clarissa Donnelly-DeRoven about maternal health care deserts in western North Carolina and hear a report from Crystal Good, about what options Black families in West Virginia have for finding birth workers that look like them. Appalachian PRIDE Following one of the opinions written in the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, State legislatures across the Ohio Valley are considering anti-LGBTQ policies, while people across Appalachia took part in celebrations during LGBTQ Pride Month in June. Katie Myers with the Ohio Valley Resource got reactions and spoke to residents. Indigenous Peoples Gather In W.Va. To Discuss The Environment High schoolers with Indigenous backgrounds came from all over the country to the Eastern Panhandle this summer for a leadership congress. They talked about conservation, Native identity, and the growing effects of climate change. Shepherd Snyder has more. Greyhound Racing Series Continues In 2023, West Virginia will be home to the last two remaining greyhound racetracks in the United States. Reporter Randy Yohe breaks down the government policies that sustain dog racing, and considers its future in the state at a time when it's dying everywhere else. Canaries Out Of The Coal Mine As old coal mines are restored, they've been repurposed for an increasingly broad number of new uses. In Pennsylvania, reclaimed mine land is being used for an art project involving birds. Kara Holsapple and Jacqui Sieber of the Allegheny Front have more. Feeding The Hungry In Appalachia's Food Deserts Supply chain issues and rising gas prices are making it harder for people to get food. As David Adkins reports, local entrepreneurs are looking to meet the demand. A Ray Of Hope Mountain View Solar, a solar installation company in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, is training and hiring people in recovery from substance use disorder. Shepherd Snyder has more. Serious About Seed Saving During the pandemic, millions of Americans turned to gardening. In Appalachia, people have long saved heirloom seeds that have been passed down for generations. Today, that tradition continues, partly through organizations like seed libraries and community gardens that collect these seeds to save them from being lost. Folkways reporter Rachel Greene spent time in Ashe County, North Carolina — talking to the people giving new life to old seeds.

On this West Virginia Morning, state legislatures across the Ohio Valley are considering a variety of anti-LGBTQ policies, and the U.S. Supreme Court's Dobb's decision has some worried about an erosion of rights for gay and trans people. But as Katie Myers of the Ohio Valley ReSource reports, last month's pride celebrations showed a celebration of identities, from the region's largest cities to smallest towns.

This week's episode of Inside Appalachia features stories about a West Virginia black metal band that plays songs about local history. We'll also hear how folks are helping make skiing, whitewater rafting, and rock climbing more accessible to people in West Virginia. And while labor struggles in Appalachia historically included coal miners, we'll hear how other workers in other industries have attempted to unionize in the past year.  Making Skiing More Affordable During the winter, a lot of people are getting out and skiing, but the sport has a high cost to entry. Lift tickets can cost upwards of $200 a day. But in West Virginia, there are grassroot efforts to make skiing and other outdoor sports more affordable. Part of that effort is headed up by Corey Lilly, the director of Outdoor Economic Development in the City of Beckley. Inside Appalachia co-host Caitlin Tan spoke with Lilly about bridging the economic gap in the outdoor sports world. Black Metal In Appalachia Appalachia is home to creators of all kinds, including heavy-metal musicians. In fact, there's a movement of musicians across the region who play a strain of music known as black metal. An example is the band Nechochwen, from northern West Virginia. The band plays songs about local history and Native American heritage. Aaron Carey, who makes up half the band, spoke with Inside Appalachia co-host Mason Adams from his home in Wellsburg, West Virginia. Fast Food And Steel Workers Attempt Unionization There's recently been a resurgence of labor activism across West Virginia. We often think of unions in the context of coal miners' strikes, but workers in other industries are organizing too, as Ohio Valley ReSource reporter Katie Myers reports. Helping Children Who've Experienced Trauma No matter who you are or where you're from, adversity is part of being human. A federal study found that more than 60 percent of people surveyed had what's known as an adverse childhood experience. This could include violence, abuse, neglect, or an unstable living situation. Research shows that trauma in childhood can lead to chronic mental and physical problems later in life. Even one event can cause problems. But what happens when children experience multiple traumas? This week, we feature an excerpt from the Us & Them podcast, hosted by Trey Kay. He introduces us to a grandmother raising her granddaughter who experienced trauma at an early age. We'll hear how the child is doing today, and the challenges her grandmother has faced in helping her grandchild heal.  Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Nechochwen, Dog and Gun, Wes Swing, and Dinosaur Burps. Roxy Todd is our producer. Our interim executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode. Alex Runyan is our new Associate Producer. 

The story of Appalachia can't be summarized in one book, one article or one movie. Our region goes beyond just ill-considered stereotypes. This week on Inside Appalachia, we'll learn about people who are digging beneath the surface, telling authentic stories about life in Appalachia. From women who are writing a new TV show about the realities of overcoming addiction and finding recovery, to a community theater company in Harlan County, Kentucky, that produced a play called “Shift Change.” It confronts racism, and neighbors who stand on opposite sides of politics. In this episode we'll also hear from writers, playwrights, filmmakers and storytellers who confront the complexities of life here in Appalachia. They share why we should be proud of these complexities, and be willing to learn something new about Appalachia — even those of us who live here. Her Hope Haven Earlier this year, we aired a story that featured a young woman named Ashley Ellis. Ellis passed away a few weeks ago. In this episode, we'll listen back to a story about a project she helped write -- a TV show called “Her Hope Haven,” which explores the opioid crisis from the point of view of people who are inside the recovery process.  Higher Ground A local theater company in Harlan County, Kentucky called “Higher Ground” decided to make a play about 2020. For the cast, that meant coming to terms with a difficult year — from COVID-19 to police violence. When the ensemble decided to cover the summer's Black Lives Matter protests, a lot of feelings came up. The Ohio Valley ReSource's Katie Myers spoke with cast members and creators on how they reckoned with race, religion and community in their play called “Shift Change.” Twilight In Hazard Alan Maimon is an award-winning journalist who lived in and reported on Eastern Kentucky in the early 2000's. He recently published a book, called “Twilight in Hazard: An Appalachian Reckoning,” which looks at how the past and current events might play into the future of the region. Co-host Caitlin Tan talked with Maimon about the book. Dopesick  “Dopesick” is a new series streaming on Hulu. It details the rise of prescription opioids, namely Oxycontin, and the wreckage it has caused in Appalachia and across the nation. June Leffler spoke with Beth Macy, who helped create the show and wrote the book it is based on. Holler When Nicole Riegel was growing up in Appalachian Ohio, she couldn't wait to get out. As an adult writer and film director, the place drew her back and she found herself re-connecting with her town and community in unexpected ways. The result is a film called “Holler.” Katie Myers spoke with the filmmaker about leaving, and returning to, your small hometown. W.Va.'s Growing Elder Population The Mountain State is home to a lot of older folks. More than 20 percent of the state's population is over 65 and we are seeing signs of a crisis in health care. While our average age is going up, the number of younger workers is going down. And that's a challenge for senior care facilities and home care companies.

Eula Hall, health care leader and self described “hillbilly activist,” spent a lifetime assisting her Eastern Kentucky neighbors and encouraging poor people to fight for their rights. After passing away on May 8 at age 93, she was lauded in her native Floyd County, by a Kentucky Congressman and Senator, and in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.  Longtime friends Steve Brooks and Maxine Kenny recall experiences with Eula that began when they came to Eastern Kentucky in the late 1960s and early 70s and worked with her to get the Mud Creek Clinic started, and to address other injustices that poor people were facing at that time. That's followed by a 2013 interview with Eula at an Appalshop book signing event for "Mud Creek Clinic: The Life of Eula Hall and the Fight for Appalachia" by Kiran Bhatraju. Also featured is an interview with labor historian Chuck Keeney, the author of a new history on West Virginia’s Battle of Blair Mountain, now in its centennial year. This story comes to us from Appalach-America, a new podcast produced by the Ohio Valley ReSource and Louisville Public Media.

As the U.S. confronts climate change with a move to a new, clean energy future, what happens to those places that gave us the old energy — the fossil fuels that powered the country for more than a century? In “Welcome to AppalachAmerica,” host Jeff Young and the reporters at the Ohio Valley ReSource dig into the big questions around this energy shift: How can we move forward on clean energy when so many people fear they'll be left behind? Can coal country come out a winner as we tackle climate change? And just what would a “just transition” look like? You'll hear from miners making a career shift, people trying to reimagine their communities, and some of Washington's power players on climate policy. And you'll learn why the path to solutions to some of America's biggest challenges run right through Appalachia.

The poverty of Appalachia is easy to stereotype and ridicule, but the region’s social and socioeconomic troubles are a snapshot of America’s larger problems. Jeff Young is managing editor of Ohio Valley ReSource, a regional journalism collaborative reporting on economic and social change in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his investigations into the struggles of the people and businesses there, and why they don’t bode well for the future of the nation. His new book is “Appalachian Fall: Dispatches from Coal Country on What’s Ailing America.”

On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Legislature will convene for its 2021 regular session this week. We hear from a few lawmakers about their priorities this session for criminal justice reform. Also, in this show, we hear the second part in a series from the Ohio Valley ReSource on addiction treatment during the pandemic.

On this West Virginia Morning, we explore how the pandemic has affected West Virginia’s economy and how it will impact recovery. Also, we hear reports on a second West Virginian charged for taking part in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the latest on schools reopening to in-person instruction, and we hear a story from the Ohio Valley ReSource series Black Lives in Red States.

On this West Virginia Morning, we hear from a few West Virginia state lawmakers who highlight goals they hope to tackle in the upcoming legislative session. Also, in this show, we learn about a toy drive in Wyoming County that enlisted the help of local fire departments to deliver toys to families in need during the pandemic, and we hear about a new series from the Ohio Valley ReSource called Black Lives in Red States.

The poverty of Appalachia is easy to stereotype and ridicule, but the region’s social and socioeconomic troubles are a snapshot of America’s larger problems. Jeff Young is managing editor of Ohio Valley ReSource, a regional journalism collaborative reporting on economic and social change in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. He joins host Krys Boyd to discuss his investigations into the struggles of the people and businesses there, and why they don’t bode well for the future of the nation. His new book is “Appalachian Fall: Dispatches from Coal Country on What’s Ailing America.”

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews journalist Jeff Young about his new book APPALACHIAN FALL: DISPATCHES FROM COAL COUNTRY ON WHAT'S AILING AMERICA. Jeff Young is the managing editor of Ohio Valley ReSource, a regional journalism collaborative reporting on economic and social change in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The ReSource includes seven public media outlets across the three states, and aims to strengthen news coverage of the area’s most important issues. Jeff previously worked for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and was a Washington correspondent for the Public Radio International program “Living on Earth.” His reporting has been recognized with numerous awards, and he was named a 2012 Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky.

On the latest episode of Now, Appalachia, Eliot interviews journalist Jeff Young about his new book APPALACHIAN FALL: DISPATCHES FROM COAL COUNTRY ON WHAT'S AILING AMERICA. Jeff Young is the managing editor of Ohio Valley ReSource, a regional journalism collaborative reporting on economic and social change in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The ReSource includes seven public media outlets across the three states, and aims to strengthen news coverage of the area’s most important issues. Jeff previously worked for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and was a Washington correspondent for the Public Radio International program “Living on Earth.” His reporting has been recognized with numerous awards, and he was named a 2012 Nieman Journalism Fellow at Harvard University. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/eliot-parker/support

(Interior of Cincinnati's Old Main Library)  Not letting a pandemic get in the way, the Kentucky Book Festival is “on” - virtually. | A mini book festival of our own features poet Lynell Edwards; novelists Wesley Browne and Karen Salyer McElmurray; and, the new non-fiction from the Ohio Valley Resource, documenting views of America from the perspectives of the coal-mining communities of Appalachian Kentucky  Interviews in order of appearance:  Tom Martin with Sarah Volpi Woods - Kentucky Book Festival  Tom Eblen with poet Lynell Edwards  Tom Martin with Wesley Browne, author of Hillbilly Hustle  Tom Martin with Ohio Valley Resource Managing Editor Jeff Young, author of Appalachian Fall  Tom Martin with Karen Salyer McElmurray author of Wanting Radiance   If you appreciate access to this important content during this global health pandemic, please help WEKU continue to provide public service journalism and critical information to Central and Eastern Kentucky communities. Please make your contribution to WEKU today.

(Interior of Cincinnati's Old Main Library)  Not letting a pandemic get in the way, the Kentucky Book Festival is “on” - virtually. | A mini book festival of our own features poet Lynell Edwards; novelists Wesley Browne and Karen Salyer McElmurray; and, the new non-fiction from the Ohio Valley Resource, documenting views of America from the perspectives of the coal-mining communities of Appalachian Kentucky  Interviews in order of appearance:  Tom Martin with Sarah Volpi Woods - Kentucky Book Festival  Tom Eblen with poet Lynell Edwards  Tom Martin with Wesley Browne, author of Hillbilly Hustle  Tom Martin with Ohio Valley Resource Managing Editor Jeff Young, author of Appalachian Fall  Tom Martin with Karen Salyer McElmurray author of Wanting Radiance   If you appreciate access to this important content during this global health pandemic, please help WEKU continue to provide public service journalism and critical information to Central and Eastern Kentucky communities. Please make your contribution to WEKU today.

The challenges that the Appalachian region faces aren't just Appalachian problems; they're American problems. Those problems include addiction, poor health outcomes and the need for communities to make a transition from fossil fuel extraction, and they will largely determine whether we, as a nation, can meet challenges of inequality, climate change and economic recovery. Far from being a backwater, Appalachia is a bellwether for the country. This week is the debut of Louisville Public Media's very first book, "Appalachian Fall," written by Jeff Young, Managing Editor of the Ohio Valley ReSource collaboration, and the rest of that reporting team. The book is a collection of the reporting this team has done on the future of Appalachia — from the Blackjewel coal miners blocking the train tracks in Harlan County to people on the front lines of the opioid crisis and others fighting for a just economic transition for coal country. Kirkus Reviews says the book is: "Blunt, essential reading on today's Appalachia that is less elegiac and more forward-thinking than most." This week we talk to Jeff Young, and reporters Brittany Patterson, who covers energy and environment, and Sydney Boles, who covers economic transition in Appalachia. Donate to support this and future episodes of In Conversation.

On this West Virginia Morning , we hear two stories of challenges and resilience in Appalachia. We also bring you a report from the Ohio Valley ReSource on coal company American Resources Corporation.

There's no playbook for how to conduct elections during a global pandemic. A few weeks ago, Wisconsin held their primary like normal. In Kentucky, we've already delayed ours until June, and we're still trying to figure out whether in-person voting will be safe by then.  Some states already have absentee voting available on request, while some (like Kentucky) require the voter to have a valid reason why they can't go to the polls on Election Day. And some lawmakers worry that allowing mail-in voting for all could lead to fraud. On today's show, we talked about election plans in Kentucky and surrounding states, and the challenges facing those who are in charge of making the decisions. Sydney Boles with the Ohio Valley Resource joined us at the top of the hour; she's been looking into election plans in Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. Later in the hour, we checked in with Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams, who said it's unlikely Kentucky will be able to hold a traditional election in June. Adams said it takes 16,000 poll workers to make an election happen, and most of them are over age 65, so particularly vulnerable to complications from coronavirus. He told us he and Governor Beshear are negotiating an agreement for what Kentucky's primary election will look like. To wrap up the show, we talked to Kentucky Public Radio's statehouse reporter Ryland Barton about the General Assembly session that came to a close on Wednesday.In Conversation Donate to support this and future seasons of In Conversation.

As the nation grapples with climate change, the need for a fair transition for workers and communities that have depended upon coal jobs and revenue has also gained traction. Even in West Virginia such discussions are starting to get attention despite strong political support for the coal industry. Ohio Valley ReSource reporter Brittany Patterson covers a recent conference in Charleston where speakers facilitated a conversation about what constitutes a “just transition” as well as how West Virginia and other regions that depend on coal could actually get there.

In this episode we’ll hear about The STAY Project's Appalachian Love Fest in Harlan, KY on February 15th, 2020. Then, we’ll learn about how community groups in Wise County, VA are working with Montgomery Alabama based Equal Justice Initiative to acknowledge the history of lynchings in their county through research and public markers. And last, from the Ohio Valley Resource, we’ll learn about a recent report citing the Ohio Valley region as home to some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country.

In this episode (from August 22, 2019) we bring you the personal story of one miner living with Black Lung who recently travelled to Washington, D.C. to ask Congress to uphold the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Then, from the Ohio Valley Resource we learn how HIV rates are on the rise in counties hard hit by the opioid epidemic while some community members still remain skeptical of harm reduction programs meant to curb the spread of infectious diseases. And, from WEKU’s Eastern Standard we hear about the history of the proposed Bunches Creek Dam that would have been situated just above Cumberland Falls.

In this episode we explore environmental & economic pressures in the region, as well as learn about pre-diabetes and diabetes prevention. From the Ohio Valley Resource we learn about new communities where toxic fluorinated chemicals have been found in the water, how crashing hemp prices have some farmers worried, and about the challenges faced by some rural groceries in coal communities. Then, we'll hear about prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes prevention and about economic development efforts in Pound, VA.

In this episode we bring you stories about economic development initiatives in Harlan County, KY and Pound, VA. And, from the Ohio Valley Resource we’ll learn about innovative approaches to addressing the addiction crisis in our region.

A former Harlan County, KY, coal mine that had produced more than 120 million tons of coal before closing in 1962 was reopened several years ago and now serves as a heritage tourism site drawing over 5,000 visitors a year, according to this report from the Ohio Valley ReSource. In 2018, the attraction was awarded a $2.55 million Abandoned Mine Land Pilot grant to update the 35 minute tour inside the mine as well as nearby historic buildings for use as retail and office space. The AML Program chiefly provides funding for polluted land and water reclamation, but over the last five years, federal support has grown to include projects that could grow local economies. This effort could increase dramatically with passage of the Federal RECLAIM Act currently introduced in Congress.

In this show we learn about the history of Letcher County’s Bookmobile. And, we’ll celebrate American Archives Month by listening back to an oral history interview from the Appalshop archives. Last, but not least from the Ohio Valley Resource & the Center for Public Integrity we’ll hear about the intersection of pollution, climate change, and floods in Central Appalachia.

Tourists attracted to verdant mountain views, an abundance of nature and outdoor recreation opportunities, and a local legend are what city managers and others in Norton, VA are hoping will usher in the next chapter in the economic history of this region that has depended on coal mining for the past 100 years. Tourism in this area of southwestern Virginia received a boost which local leaders worked to capitalize on when a 2011 Animal Planet episode of its program “Finding Bigfoot” included a search for "Woodbooger," a bigfoot-style creature believed by some to live in the surrounding mountains. Read the full story from the Ohio Valley ReSource here.

In the midst of the region’s declining industries, politicians are betting big on job training, with millions directed at those who lost jobs in coal mining and power plants. The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced nearly $5 million for worker training programs in Appalachia. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky announced more than $2 million in funding from the National Dislocated Workers fund, and Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced more than $1 million in funding from the same program. But critics say worker training alone is no solution and that such retraining programs have a poor record in actually connecting dislocated workers with local employment that pays a comparative wage. Ted Boettner, an economist and executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, argues that a more broad-based approach to jobs, public investment, and wages will be necessary for coal country. Becca Schimmel from the Ohio Valley ReSource reports.

In this episode we bring you stories about challenges to rural healthcare in the region, the last Neon Days Festival, and mine lands sitting idle across the country. First, Appalshop's Tayna Turner & Taylor Pratt spoke with women leading the 141-day-long-and-still-going-strong 24/7 peaceful protest outside Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport, TN. They are there to publicly oppose Ballad Health’s decision to close the neonatal intensive care unit (or NICU) and to downgrade other services. Then, WMMT's Rachel Garringer spoke with Dr. Sam Quillen at Neon Days 2019 about the history of the festival, the town, and the uncertain future of small-town festivals. And finally, from Ohio Valley Resource reporter Britanny Patterson we learn about mine lands sitting idle across the region. Music on this episode features Music on this episode features Anna & Elizabeth with a tune called “The Very Day I’m Gone” from the JuneAppal Album by the same title which features songs of Addie Graham performed by contemporary musicians.

This Week In Conversation, we talk labor. From recent right-to-work legislation in Kentucky to groundbreaking reporting on failures in the way the state investigates on-the-job deaths to Harlan County miners protesting to demand their pay, these issues have been in the news lately. We talk with AFL-CIO of Kentucky President Bill Londrigan, University of Louisville labor law professor Ariana Levinson, Eleanor Klibanoff of the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Sydney Boles of the Ohio Valley ReSource. Click here to support the work we do.

We talk with Josh Holbrook, one of the Kentucky coal miners currently protesting coal companies Black Jewel, Black Hawk, and Revelation for stiffing him and his coworkers on backpay after going bankrupt.    Additional links/info below... GoFundMe - Letcher County BlackJewel Coal Miners  Action Network - Fund for Former Revelation, Black Hawk, and Black Jewel Miners Demonstrating in Harlan County  Brittany Patterson & Sydney Boles, Ohio Valley Resource, " Laid-Off Employees Of Bankrupt Blackjewel Mining Seek Pay, Answers" Oakley Fugate & Shaylan Clark, "Black Jewel Protest in Cumberland" Curren Sheldon, 100 Days in Appalachia, "The Protesting Kentucky Coal Miners Who Stood Up and Stopped a Train"   Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org) Lobo Loco, "Malte Junior - Hall"

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the announcement of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Amy McGrath to run against Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the 2020 election. Scheduled guests: Tom Loftus, Louisville Courier Journal; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource at WKU Public Radio; and Will Wright, Lexington Herald-Leader.

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the announcement of Lt. Col. (Ret.) Amy McGrath to run against Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in the 2020 election. Scheduled guests: Tom Loftus, Louisville Courier Journal; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource at WKU Public Radio; and Will Wright, Lexington Herald-Leader.

In this episode we're exploring local history and regional news. First, WMMT’s Ohio Valley Resource Reporter Sydney Boles sets out to learn the history behind the RC Cola signs around Whitesburg. Then, from the WMMT archives, we revisit a story about the Houndog Hookers, rug makers from Blackey who grew to national notoriety during the 1950s and 60s. And finally from the Ohio Valley Resource, some recent regional news.

In this episode we bring you recent news from the Ohio Valley Resource, an exploration into some curious billboards scattered around eastern Kentucky, some youth produced audio from the Appalachian Media Institute Library, and a story about this year’s free Levitt Amp concert series!

Host Bill Bryant and a panel of journalists discuss the week's news, including the latest on the primary election campaigns. Scheduled guests: Daniel Desrochers, Lexington Herald-Leader; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource and WKU Public Radio; and Hillary Thornton, WKYT-TV in Lexington.

Host Bill Bryant and a panel of journalists discuss the week's news, including the latest on the primary election campaigns. Scheduled guests: Daniel Desrochers, Lexington Herald-Leader; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource and WKU Public Radio; and Hillary Thornton, WKYT-TV in Lexington.

In this episode we bring you a variety of stories about research, events, and solutions to issues facing eastern Kentucky and the Appalachian Region. First, Bev May and Nell Fields talk about their work with the Mountain AIR Project - researching and treating respiratory health issues in Letcher and Harlan Counties. Then, from the Ohio Valley Resource we’ll hear three regional news pieces exploring: new online approaches to providing therapy for survivors of domestic violence in rural areas, updates on new federal funding to expand broadband to rural communities, and questions around the economic relationship between state prisons and county jails in rural Kentucky counties. We’ll wrap this show up with a short interview with Crystal Kinser about TEDxCorbin, which is taking place on Saturday March 9th.

In this episode we bring you stories - past and present - on health, the economy and education in the mountains. We begin with four pieces from the Ohio Valley Resource and wrap up with the fourth in a six-part series from Michael & Carrie Kline with Talking Across the Lines about race and class in Mt. Hope, WV in the 1960s.

Kentucky Valley Educational Cooperative Executive Director Jeff Hawkins and staff members Dessie Bowling and Bernadette Carpenter describe proposals put forth by KVEC school districts to better serve disadvantaged rural students and improve the economy in Appalachian Kentucky. Recommendations come from "A Region's Way Forward," a call to action for achieving learner equity and school centered community reinvention in economically distressed eastern Kentucky. Mimi Pickering host, and along the way, you'll hear some stories from the Ohio Valley ReSource about innovative KVEC initiatives over the past couple years.

In this episode, we bring you stories of sickness and health in Appalachia. First, from WMMT’s own Ohio Valley Resource reporter, Sydney Boles - we’ll hear from widows of miners with Black Lung about how effects of the deadly disease ripple out into the community. Then, also from OVR we’ll learn about a vaping company that in marketing products to teenagers, is creating a major health risk for youth. While the first two stories focus on challenges to health in the region, we’ll finish this episode on a positive note with the second in a 6 part series from Michael and Carrie Kline. In this edition Fayetteville, WV residents Bernice Clayton and Nathan Shelton, describe their older family members’ ability to make do from scratch, from the land, with local and healthy home grown foods.

In this episode we bring you recent news from the Ohio Valley Resource on a proposed bill to shore up miners pension benefits and reinstate the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. Then, WMMT’s Mimi Pickering takes us back a gathering of business women in Harlan County KY in November 2018. We finish this episode with the first in a 6 part series. Hope Shorts: Wit & Wisdom on Race Class & Community Survival from Mount Hope WV - was produced by Michael and Carrie Kline.

In Kentucky, West Virginia, and Ohio weak or nonexistent state policies make it harder for residents and businesses to afford to install a solar system and make it less likely that the region will attract jobs and economic benefits associated with this fast-growing industry. And as electricity bills continue to shoot up, boosting the ability of individuals, businesses and municipalities to invest in solar could help them control their energy costs. Ohio Valley ReSource reporter Brittany Patterson explores the opportunities being lost in a region sorely in need of jobs and lower electric bills.

This episode features stories centering the land we live on, and how we craft healthy lives for our families and communities on that land. From the archives we’ll hear a delightful story produced during the Appalachian Media Institute's 2009 Audio Lab. Sarah Craft recorded her family on hog-killing day. Then, WMMT reporter Sydney Boles brings us an update on Letcher County’s CANE commercial kitchen. Last, we’ll hear three pieces from the Ohio Valley ReSource. The first focuses on state policies across the region that restrict the expansion of renewable energy sources like solar. In the second, we learn about record breaking rates of Sexually Transmitted infections across the U.S. And last, we’ll hear about some ideas for how to clean up and re-purpose abandoned mine lands throughout Central Appalachia. Photo of Letcher County Farmers Charlie and Joyce Pinson at the CANE Kitchen, by Sydney Boles.

It's been a heavy week in national news, so in this episode of Mtn. News we’re bringing you a hopeful story about the first ever pride festival in eastern KY, which took place in Pikeville on October 20th. And, from the Ohio Valley Resource, How is Healthcare shaping this mid-term election?

First, in this episode we bring you an update on the water crisis in Martin County, from WMMT’s new Ohio Valley Resource reporter, Sydney Boles. Then, from OVR, a piece about Dr. Rahul Gupta - Chief Health officer for the State of WV. And last, but not least, we’re in the midst of our Fall 2018 Fund Drive, so we wanted to share some clips from WMMT’s history with our listeners. We’ll hear an excerpt from a 2012 Mtn. Talk featuring stories of the early days here at the station.

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the latest on the state's political races. Scheduled guests: Daniel Desrochers, Lexington Herald-Leader; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource and WKU Public Radio; and Kevin Wheatley, WDRB in Louisville.

Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the latest on the state's political races. Scheduled guests: Daniel Desrochers, Lexington Herald-Leader; Becca Schimmel, Ohio Valley ReSource and WKU Public Radio; and Kevin Wheatley, WDRB in Louisville.