This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust Belt and even the Northeast. That leaves so much room for geographic and cultural variation, as well as many different views on what Appalachia really is.
Coalition Continues Fight Against Mine Near State Forest
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Members of the Kanawha State Forest Coalition gathered supporters at the Capitol Thursday evening to rally against an approved mine site just 1,500 feet from the forest’s edge.
The state Department of Environmental Protection approved the permit in May, although officials say the proposal had been in the works for years.
Supporters gathered to share stories of home the mine will impact them, from Daile Boulis who says her Loudendale home’s value has dropped by at least 50 percent since the permit was approved to Ukiah Cordell who hikes the forest often with her family.
“I really care about Kanawha State Forest,” Cordell said, “and I hope everybody else helps as much as they can because I am.”
Credit Ashton Marra / West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Daile Boulis of Loudendale lives next door to the Kanawha State Forest.
“I love living across the street from Kanawha State Forest,” Boulis told the crowd. “I have fallen in love with where I live and I want to stay there.”
“I’m so grateful, sitting here looking at all these people. I don’t feel like I’m fighting alone.”
Members of the coalition will hand deliver more than 2,000 signed petitions to Governor Tomblin’s office Friday urging him to ask DEP Secretary Randy Huffman to reconsider the mine permit.
The Surface Mining Board will hold a hearing Monday to allow community members to voice their concerns with the mine and the mine company to defend it. Chad Cordell said Thursday if a ruling doens’t go in their favor, the coalition is preparing a lawsuit.
With recent reports of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Huntington, students gathered at the center of Marshall University’s campus to voice their concerns for their fellow students and community members.
WVPB’s annual TV/radio simulcast The Legislature Today kicks off Jan. 16 through March 13. Every Friday at 6 p.m., our journalists will bring you the latest news from the West Virginia Legislature, including interviews with lawmakers and stakeholders. In our first episode this year, you’ll see an interview with Del. Sean Hornbuckle and Sen. Mike Woelfel, both minority leaders in their respective chambers and both from Cabell County. Here’s an excerpt.
The House Judiciary Committee received updated numbers of child welfare lawyers and foster beds, as well as insights from a statewide tour of listening sessions last year.