Novel Shares Story Of Historical Black Kingdom In Western North Carolina

Following the American Civil War, a group of freed people fled violence and bought land in Western North Carolina. In the summer of 1873, these people formed a Black communal society they named “The Kingdom of the Happy Land.” A new novel tells a story set in the kingdom, both in the past and in the present day. It’s titled, “Happy Land.” Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez.

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Black Lung Disease

Arts & Culture WVPB Staff, May. 17, 2025

School Nutrition Cuts And Jennifer Garner Talks School Partnerships, This West Virginia Week

Top stories this week include the impact of federal cuts to school nutrition programs in West Virginia and Jennifer Garner on school-business partnerships and healthy eating.

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Health & Science Emily Rice, Aug. 28, 2024

Will The New Silica Dust Standard Rule Be Implemented?

Before a new MSHA rule to limit miner's exposure to silica dust could take full effect, opponents threw up a new roadblock.

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Health & Science Emily Rice, Jun. 04, 2024

MSHA Holds Panel Discussion As Silica Dust Rule Implementation Draws Closer

A new federal silica dust rule is about to take effect. Monday, a panel of Black Lung experts expressed hope for the future of young miners — if they’re educated about their rights.

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Health & Science Emily Rice, Mar. 12, 2024

U.S. Department Of Labor To Hold Black Lung Benefits Educational Events

West Virginians with black lung will have the opportunity to learn about eligibility for benefits at upcoming educational events.

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Arts & Culture Mason Adams, Oct. 09, 2023

How A Reporter’s Investigation Of Appalachia’s Black Lung Epidemic Pushed Federal Officials To Respond

Miners are suffering from an advanced version of black lung disease known as progressive massive fibrosis. It’s the result of digging at increasingly thin coal seams. That means they’re also cutting into quartz, which creates silica dust. Advanced black lung results from breathing in that blend of silica and coal dust.

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Arts & Culture Bill Lynch +, Oct. 09, 2023

The Rise Of Advanced Black Lung, Inside Appalachia

This week on Inside Appalachia, black lung disease is back. In fact, it never went away. Now, younger and younger miners are living with a particularly nasty form of black lung disease. Regulators and the coal industry have known about the problem for decades — but they’ve been slow to respond. One reporter asks, “What would happen if thousands of workers in any other industry got sick and died just because of where they worked?”

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