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As COVID Strained Appalachian Campus Mental Health Services, This Kentucky University Struggled to Keep Up. Some Students Say It Didn’t.
At Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, Martin, a junior who does not wish to be identified by last name, had an initial assessment done with the on-campus counseling center in…
For the past several months, Sen. Joe Manchin has been the subject of national and international headlines alike. With the tight Democratic…
It took moving out of Appalachia to truly appreciate the richness of the culture I was raised in. I moved from my hometown of Pikeville,…
When I was in elementary school, a teacher told me that I needed to speak “properly.” She said my twang made me sound unintelligent. When I…
As Formerly Incarcerated People Return to Their Communities in W.Va., This Network of ‘Resource Brokers’ Is There to Guide Them
Amber Bjornsson says she had a “true heart change” while serving a two-year prison sentence for the years of fines and felonies she previously collected. Once her sentence was complete, Bjornsson moved into a recovery home. As Bjornsson…
‘An Ordinary Age’: A Q&A with Author Rainesford Stauffer on New Book and Young Adulthood
For today’s young people, many of the large milestones society considers signs of a healthy adulthood are happening later, including moving out of their parents’ homes, marrying, having kids and leaving college. In “An Ordinary Age:…
From Appalachian Cities to Hollers, Community Health Workers Are a ‘Course Correction to Inclusion’
“Housing is health care,” says Jala Rucker, “a community health worker with Project Destiny in Pittsburgh. “It’s hard to think about anything else when your shelter is at risk.” Project Destiny provides a variety of services to residents of…
AppHarvest Promotes New Ag Methods in Appalachia
A start-up, backed by nearly half-billion-dollar investment, seeks to create living wages and sustainable agricultural practices in the region. Some worry about the impact on traditional farmers and others about the source of the funding.…
Commentary: The Confederacy, QAnon and the Cult of the Shining City
It’s appropriate that I began reflecting on what to write in this piece on the Fourth of July, the celebration of America’s independence. After all, I grew up in a small Indiana town that held the state’s biggest Independence Day parade.…
How One University Mascot Has Influenced Generations of West Virginians
West Virginia University’s mascot, the Mountaineer, is a big deal in the state. In fact, fans are called ‘Mountaineer Nation.’ West Virginians have long identified with the mascot as it symbolizes independence, strength and curiosity —…
Commentary: Racial Disparities of COVID-19 Shed Light on the Disparities in West Virginia Journalism
In recent weeks, I’ve watched West Virginia make national headlines and receive praise for its seemingly efficient rollout of the coronavirus vaccine. Just last week, NPR interviewed the head of the state’s task force overseeing the…
