W.Va. National Guard Invests More than $5 Million to Grow Apple Trees on a Mine Site
They hope the 250,000 apple trees that will eventually be planted there will bring jobs and help reclaim the land.
West Virginia
Lavender Farming Project Doesn’t Go as Planned
A program to retrain veterans and others on how to grow lavender plants on former strip mines has left participants feeling misled and exploited.
On the Hunt for Wild Orchids
West Virginia is one of the best places around to find wild orchids. A couple of local enthusiasts even discovered a rare orchid there. "Some people play golf, we did North American orchids."
Study Shows Area the Size of Delaware Affected By Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining
An area roughly the size of Delaware has been mined for coal in Appalachia using mountaintop removal, according...
8 Black Lung Indictments Allege Coal Mine Managers Lied About Health Safety
Former Kentucky miners described being pressured to cover up coal dust monitors meant to protect them. New research shows a resurgence in black lung disease.
Study: Songbird that Needs Clean Streams Threatened by Fracking
We've known almost nothing about how the fracking boom is affecting our region's songbird populations -- until now.
Turning Barren Strip Mines into Fields of Purple
A new wave of farmers hopes the lavender industry can provide a steady source of income to support them in West Virginia.
Living With Black Lung: Coal Miners Caught in the Epidemic
These miners' willingness to talk openly about their experiences provides a window into what life is like for the many Appalachian miners still struggling with the disease.
A Surge of Black Lung Disease in Appalachia
An NPR investigation reveals that cases of the brutal disease have more than doubled over the past decade, affecting younger and younger miners.
Fire on natural gas well pad in West Virginia quickly extinguished; none hurt
A piece of equipment on a natural gas well pad in northern West Virginia caught fire Wednesday, officials...
