Appalachia

Trump signs resolution to roll back environmental rule aimed to protect streams from coal debris

While surrounded by coal-state lawmakers and coal miners, President Trump signed a bill this week that rolls back an environmental rule designed to protect streams from coal mining debris. Miners wearing hard hats and overalls stood with politicians in suits during the bill signing at the Whitehouse. Senate majority leader […]

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This slice of ‘Trump Country’ isn’t hopping on the boycott Budweiser bandwagon

Inside the dimly lit Mason Jar Saloon nestled along U.S. 19 on the outskirts of Morgantown, West Virginia, billiard balls clang into one another while Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” blares from the jukebox. The walls are plastered with signs supporting coal miners and touting American pride. One bears the slogan […]

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This photography project aims to fight the stereotype that Appalachia equals poverty

Take a look through Roger May’s crowd-sourced photography project Looking at Appalachia and you’ll gain a perspective of the region in stark contrast with the images born out of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty a half century ago. Black and white images of Appalachians became the cornerstone a national narrative when […]

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‘Beyond Dire’: With marker in hand, West Virginia’s new governor delivers unconventional State of the State

In what may have been the most unconventional State of the State address in West Virginia history, Gov. Jim Justice warned that the state’s situation is “beyond dire” and that the Legislature must work with him to take bold steps — including $450 million in tax increases in the short-term […]

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Not so fast: 84 Lumber Super Bowl ad enrages, amazes, then confuses America

The Pennsylvania company 84 Lumber may have gotten more than it bargained for with their pro-immigration (or was it anti-immigration?) Super Bowl ad. Responses initially fell along political lines, condemned by some #MAGA viewers as condoning illegal immigration, while #NotMyPresident viewers gave a salute of respect for what they saw as the brand’s pro-immigration stance. And then […]

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