NPR news reported this week
that two months before the deadly explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine,
workers deliberately disabled a monitor on a mining machine that was designed
to measure methane gas levels. Davitt
McAteer is leading an independent investigation at the request of Governor
Manchin. McAteer (pictured; photo credit: Erica Peterson) says the
investigation is a long and arduous process.
Carte Goodwin (pictured) is West Virginia’s
next U.S. Senator. Gov. Joe Manchin made
the announcement Friday at the state capitol. Manchin will run for the seat in a special election in November. In the midst of all of this, Manchin also
became chair of the National Governor's Association this weekend, after having
served as vice-chair for the past year. Manchin spoke about his new role and goals as
chairman.
To commemorate the centennial of Kentucky’s
state capitol building, Kentucky Public Radio has profiled some of the
commonwealth’s noted political figures. Congress members like western Kentucky’s
William Natcher are increasingly rare.
Natcher, who represented his district for decades never missed a
vote. He never took campaign
contributions, and he usually gave no interviews.
West
Virginia
Public Broadcasting is profiling global leaders in science and business in a
series titled Inspiring West
Virginians. In this segment, we travel to Strasburg, Pennsylvania to
visit with renowned pediatrician D. Holmes Morton and his wife, Caroline, both
from southern West Virginia.
Medical schools throughout Appalachia focus part of their students’ education on rural medicine. One program has been at East Tennessee State University’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine since 1985. The Appalachian Preceptorship is a month long program where medical students from out of state are provided an opportunity to learn more about a rural practice. It’s a hands on approach. Medical students even learn how to milk a cow. We spoke with Dr. Forrest Lang, the director of the Appalachian Preceptorship.
Plus: WV: Mine safety, Burnt Part, Augusta Heritage ... KY: Forests ... OH: Indian Head Rock... and more