The Federal Communications Commission’s Eighth Broadband Progress Report finds approximately 19 million Americans, mostly rural, lack access to high-speed Internet. In Central Appalachia the digital divide is stark: in West Virginia’s McDowell and Mingo Counties, upwards of three-quarters of the population do not have access; in East Kentucky over 50% in Leslie and Breathitt Counties […]
Since January, thousands of coal miners have been laid off in Central Appalachia. We’ve heard a lot of opinions about the causes of this decline and what the future holds – from industry leaders, elected officials and even the presidential candidates. But what do those who mined the coal have to say? Letcher County underground […]
Coal production has been declining lately, and many counties in our listening area are concerned that they will be short on much needed revenue as less coal mined means fewer severance tax dollars coming in. In this report Ted Boettner and Paul Miller of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy describe the West […]
A companion to our WMMT report, this video visits Terry Creech and his orchard atop Black Mountain, Kentucky’s highest peak at 4,100 ft. Creech is a rare breed, a second generation commercial apple grower in Harlan Conty, KY. In the fall Jeremy Williams, Harlan County Extension Agent, and Mitch Whitaker from the Letcher County Office […]