A Morgantown builder who focuses on home construction that's better for the environment is putting his skills to work for people in Haiti. Eco-conscious home builder, John Garlow, is turning a 40-foot-long by 8-feet-wide metal rectangular box into a living and working space for a non-profit organization that's working to bring clean drinking water to people in Haiti.

Since last month’s Upper Big Branch mine disaster, NPR has been looking into the circumstances and causes of the explosion that killed the 29 miners. Co-produced by Rural Affairs Correspondent Howard Berkes and Labor and Workplace Correspondent Frank Langfitt, the investigation focuses on problems with airflow and ventilation at the mine owned by Massey Energy. The reporters talk about their findings and the process they used in conducting the investigation.  Frank Langfitt explained his interest in this story.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency is nearing the end of its public comment period on their proposed veto of a Logan County surface mine. This week in Charleston, West Virginia hundreds of mountaintop removal supporters and opponents addressed regulators about the veto. (Pictured: Spruce #1 mine; flight courtesy of SouthWings)

A new book by West Virginia photographer Steve Shaluta and writer Jeanne Mozier offers readers a visual tour of the state. "West Virginia Beauty, Familiar and Rare" highlights some well known places as well as some that are lesser known. (Pictured: Writer Jeanne Mozer & photographer Steve Shaluta with stacks of their book.)

As the summer season inches closer, it’s also time for many college students to begin summer school. At West Virginia University, a series of summer classes is aimed at educating students about cultural topics. And one in particular is teaching students the ins and outs about brewing beer.(Pictured: Sven Verlinden works with a bag of grain in his lab at WVU.)

 Our food writer Fred Sauceman is the editor of the latest in a series of books about southern food. Cornbread Nation 5: The Best of Southern Food Writing is published in association with The Southern Foodways Alliance at the Center for the Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi.  Fred talks about his latest work.

Major utilities aren’t the only facilities burning coal. College campuses often have their own coal-fired power plants. One of them, Indiana University, has become the target of national and local environmental groups calling for the school to stop burning the fuel.

The Kentucky State Police’s current employment rate is between 10 and 20 percent below capacity. With the commonwealth in tight budget times, the KSP is reintroducing retired police officers to the force. One retired officer who has found his way back to the agency.