Growing up less than a mile away from the site of the 1892 Homestead strike in Pittsburgh, a steadfast union city, I never thought my first picket line would be in Washington, D.C. On December 7, 2023, I spent my lunch break on the picket line alongside journalists from The […]
Read MoreTag: Politics
Front Porch Politics: An Alabama Democrat’s Roadmap for Defeating Trumpism in Appalachia
You may not have felt it, but last week, Appalachia experienced a political earthquake. The epicenter is Huntsville, Alabama, where Democrat Marilyn Lands won a special election for the seat in Alabama House District 10. The seat was left open after Republican David Cole resigned following his conviction for voter […]
Read More100 Days Hiring Reporter to Cover Democracy and Politics
100 Days in Appalachia is seeking a knowledgeable and motivated contract reporter to cover democracy, voting access and impacts of voter manipulation ahead of the 2024 election. The ideal candidate is someone experienced in reporting on matters relating to state and local elections in the Appalachian region who can address […]
Read MoreW. Va. Bill Poses Legal Challenges for Faith-based Immigrant Services
Religious leaders say that a bill passed by the West Virginia House of Delegates this week could criminalize faith-based groups that provide assistance to undocumented immigrants. HB 5031 changes the definition of “human smuggling” in state code to transporting or harboring individuals who are known to be in the country […]
Read MorePain and Possibility: Reckoning with Historic Inequity on the West Side
Derek Hudson has lived on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia, his entire life. He grew up on Bigley Avenue, a major road that runs parallel to the Elk River and defines the eastern boundary of the neighborhood. After attending local public schools – first Taft Elementary, then what […]
Read MoreIn One Community, Faith-based Services Fill the Gaps When Government Can’t – or Won’t
On a Friday afternoon, the washers and dryers run nonstop at Bream Memorial Presbyterian Church, in Charleston, West Virginia. Three bright-white tiled shower rooms line one wall. MREs – Meals Ready-to-Eat – sit on shelves behind a small wooden reception desk. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the church serves lunch […]
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