Kentucky

A Kentucky coal company has been found in contempt for failing to submit court-ordered plans to clean up two polluted West Virginia mine sites.

Updated on Jan. 5, 2022 at 2 p.m. A storm that could dump a significant amount of snow is set to take aim at West Virginia, forecasters said.

In this week’s episode of Inside Appalachia we hear a roundup of some of our region’s news, from recovery efforts in Kentucky following devastating tornadoes, to how infrastructure funding from Congress could benefit communities in Appalachia. We’ll also hear from teenagers in Western North Carolina share poetry about how they see themselves and their identities.

On this West Virginia Morning, portions of Kentucky are in recovery mode following deadly tornadoes that left a trail of devastation. Also, in this show, West Virginia lawmakers are hopeful they can reduce or eliminate the personal income tax in the upcoming 2022 legislative session.

Don Gonyea talks with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear about storm damage in his state, and how the recovery effort is going.

Rescue and recovery efforts continue in parts of the South and Midwest after deadly storms tore through six states early yesterday morning. Mayfield, Kentucky, was especially hard hit.

Tornadoes and severe weather caused catastrophic damage across multiple states late Friday. Kentucky's governor feared dozens were dead after the storm struck a candle factory.

Scott Simon talks with Ronnie Noel, an official in Hopkins County, Kentucky, about how severe weather and tornados last night have affected his area.

On this West Virginia Morning, high levels of PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” have contaminated a plastics recycling company in Henderson, Kentucky. We learn about the extent of the pollution. Also, in this show, 50 years ago, 18, 19 and 20-year-olds were given the right to vote. West Virginia’s senior U.S. senator at the time, Jennings Randolph, was instrumental in that effort.

It’s been a year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic, forcing all major institutions — including jails and prisons — to rapidly find ways to try to limit the spread of the virus. But some public health experts say those efforts have fallen short.