New legislative agendas at the state level aim to chip away at reproductive rights, even in states that recently passed constitutional protections for abortion. On this episode of Us & Them, Host Trey Kay examines how conservative state supreme courts might limit voter-approved amendments — and how abortion-friendly states are pushing back. Meanwhile, President Trump’s new administration could override all state laws through certain executive actions, including one involving a 19th century anti-vice law. Now that the election’s over, what’s next for abortion?
Hurricane Helene Comes To The Mountains, Inside Appalachia
High winds and soggy grounds from Hurricane Helene caused multiple trees in Mercer County to topple onto houses and roads. Courtesy of Greg Puckett
Listen
Share this Article
Hurricane Helene dumped nearly 30 inches of rain in parts of western North Carolina and east Tennessee. Communities are reeling from the devastation. We check-in with Lilly Knoepp at Blue Ridge Public Radio in western North Carolina.
Also, a new book illustrates the tiny worlds of mountain critters, like a lizard that changes color.
AndWhite potters co-opted the African art of face jugs in the 1800s. A modern-day Black potter says his art can’t be replicated.
In This Episode
Hurricane Helene Hits Appalachia
Rosalie Haizlett Explores “Tiny Worlds”
Reclaiming An African Art
Hurricane Helene Hits Appalachia
Hurricane Helene brought flooding through Appalachia, including southwestern Virginia.
Photo by Roxy Todd
As we were working on this week’s show, Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast. The storm washed away roads and bridges, knocked out power and cell service and left a trail of devastation. Many people are still missing, and the number of confirmed dead continues to rise. Mason Adams spoke with Blue Ridge Public Radio reporter Lilly Knoepp, who lives in western North Carolina, near where the storm caused the most damage.
Helene also rocked southwestern Virginia. Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd reported.
Rosalie Haizlett Explores “Tiny Worlds”
“Tiny Worlds” is a menagerie of little critters found in the Appalachian Mountains.
Photo by Rosalie Haizlett
In 2022, nature artist Rosalie Haizlett set out on a trip to illustrate some of the tiny “critters” of the Appalachian mountains. Her illustrations became “Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains, an Artist’s journey.” Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Haizlett about the book.
Reclaiming An African Art
African Face Jugs came to America through Slavery. Artist Jim McDowell uses the art form to speak about the African American experience.
Courtesy
You’ve probably seen pottery with a face on it.
There are lots of examples of face-shaped vessels out there — from cheap souvenir shop knick-knacks to museum-quality pieces that can sell for millions of dollars.
Some are connected to African Face Jugs, an artform made by enslaved people in the deep South in the mid-1800s.
In 2023, Folkways reporter Zack Harold traced the story of Face Jugs, beginning in the basement pottery studio of West Virginia artist Ed Klimek.
——
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Dinosaur Burps, Sierra Ferrell, Sean Watkins, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Paul Loomis, Blue Dot Sessions
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
New legislative agendas at the state level aim to chip away at reproductive rights, even in states that recently passed constitutional protections for abortion. On this episode of Us & Them, Host Trey Kay examines how conservative state supreme courts might limit voter-approved amendments — and how abortion-friendly states are pushing back. Meanwhile, President Trump’s new administration could override all state laws through certain executive actions, including one involving a 19th century anti-vice law. Now that the election’s over, what’s next for abortion?
On this West Virginia Morning, some cabinet nominees from President Donald Trump are flying a bit under the radar -- and could affect West Virginia's interests. And wildfires may be getting worse -- even in Appalachia.
On this West Virginia Week, the governor and the state's newest senator took their oaths of office. We’ll also hear about an inclusive community, as well as changing access to books in Tennessee’s prisons, and we explore the past and future of a historic building in Shepherdstown.
This week on Inside Appalachia, a West Virginia baker draws on her Finnish heritage to make a different kind of cinnamon roll. Also, for nearly a century, some of Appalachia’s best wood carvers have trained at a North Carolina folk school. Newcomers are still welcomed in to come learn the craft. And, we have a conversation with Kentucky poet Willie Carver Jr.
