Justin Hicks

Black Lung And Beasts Of The East, Inside Appalachia

This week, a new report finds the number of black lung cases is at its highest since the 1970s. The human cost is high. Also, the author of a new book says reintroducing nearly extinct animals back into the wild can boost damaged ecosystems, but they can't repair them. And, roadside attractions pay tribute to our enduring fascination with weird.

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Appalachia's Black Lung Rates Highest In Nearly 50 Years As Miners' Protections Stall

Rates are now as bad as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick and dying. Mining experts blame toxic silica dust, now more common in mines.

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Coal's Cost On Energy Prices, Inside Appalachia

This week, coal power can be expensive. Utilities run coal-fired power plants harder in the winter and summer when demand is high. Also, two films made in West Virginia shot to the top of Netflix’s streaming charts. The state wants to encourage even more movies to be made in West Virginia by helping keep production costs down. And, an Eastern Kentucky pharmacist serves vegan food for the holidays.

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A Look Back At 2025, Inside Appalachia

This week, we look back at 2025. We met some fascinating people, like Aaron Dowdy of country rock band Fust. Also, central Appalachia continued to recover from Hurricane Helene. From the beginning, the recovery brought people together. And, we made a trip to Hillbilly Hotdog to take on "The Homewrecker."

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