Category: Appalachian Mountains
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Every spring, as the forest floor warms and life stirs beneath the leaf litter, a quiet frenzy builds across Appalachia. Not for buried treasure or rare gems, but for something equally valuable to those in the know: morel mushrooms. Hickory chickens. Molly moochers. Muggins. Each regional nickname a small nod to the cultural significance these…
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It’s ramp season in Appalachia, and if you know, you know. Ramps are wild onions but calling them that doesn’t do them justice. They’re stronger than any onion or garlic you’ve ever tasted, with broad green leaves and a slender bulb that grows close to the ground. They’re one of the first green things to…
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In the spring of 1932, atop the majestic Lookout Mountain at the Georgia-Tennessee border, a unique attraction quietly opened its gates to the public for the first time. Few could have predicted that this natural wonder, transformed by vision and entrepreneurship, would evolve into one of the South’s most enduring tourist destinations. The story of…
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Breathitt County, Kentucky, is a place with a complicated history. By the early 1900s, it had earned the nickname “Bloody Breathitt” for its reputation of violence, political corruption, and feuds. In 1903, the murder of James B. Marcum, a lawyer who challenged the powerful, became a defining moment in the county’s story. This is not…
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On a summer evening in June 1980, what appeared at first glance to be a couple sharing an intimate moment in West Virginia’s Droop Mountain Park turned out to be a gruesome discovery. A college student stumbled upon the bodies of two women—Vicki Durian (26) and Nancy Santomero (19)—who had been shot at close range…
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The Hidden Cost of Budget Cuts- How Republican Proposals Could Impact Their Own Voters in Appalachia
In the aftermath of the 2024 election, the newly empowered Republican government is moving forward with an ambitious budget resolution that proposes significant cuts to federal spending. While budget restraint is often framed as fiscal responsibility, a closer examination reveals a concerning reality: the proposed cuts could disproportionately impact many of the same voters who…
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“From cornbread to ramps, the flavors of the mountains tell a story of resourcefulness, community, and deep-rooted tradition. As the author of three cookbooks on the subject, I’ve spent years uncovering what makes this cuisine so special.” Appalachian food has always been about working with what’s available. Long before “sustainable” and “organic” became trendy, mountain…
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In the backwoods of eastern Kentucky, there’s an old church that’s been standing longer than anyone can remember. It’s a plain, boxy building with peeling white paint and a steeple that tilts like it’s about to give up. The bell inside hasn’t been rung in years, not since the last preacher left town. But folks…
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In the Appalachian Mountains, a healthcare emergency is taking shape. The new Republican budget resolution threatens to destroy the medical safety net that millions of residents depend on in a region already hit hard by poverty, health problems, and limited care options. Throughout Appalachian states — Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and Ohio and more— Medicaid isn’t just…
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In the Great Smokie Mountains, Cherokee stories tell of a dangerous being that once hunted in the forests in the Smoky Mountains. Known as U’tlun’ta’ or “Spearfinger,” this shapeshifting witch is one of the most frightening characters in Native American folklore. Spearfinger had one terrifying feature: her right index finger was long and sharp like…
Echoes of Appalachia 