Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Grace Hill @gracehill.bsky.social · 6d

For Clapsaddle, the award and her platform as the 2025 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence presented an opportunity for her to share a realistic insight into the lives and culture of indigenous people. Her debut novel, “Even As We Breathe,” for which she was selected for the residency and award, details the life of a Cherokee teenager, as he seeks out better career opportunities than could be found on his reservation, by going to work around the time of World War II at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, N.C.

Reposted by Emma Kelly

ProPublica @propublica.org · 6d

NEW: ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the Trump administration’s cuts to an aid program.

Trump Canceled 94 Million Pounds of Food Aid. Here’s What Never Arrived.

ProPublica obtained records from the Department of Agriculture that detail the millions of pounds of food, down to the number of eggs, that never reached food banks because of the administration’s cut...

projects.propublica.org

72 1.3K 2K

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Center for Biological Diversity @biologicaldiversity.org · 8d

The conservation world lost one of its guiding lights on Wednesday when renowned primatologist Jane Goodall passed away at 91.

Over 65 years studying chimpanzees in the wild, Goodall proved that primates are a lot like people. But her impact goes far beyond chimps. 🧵

Close up of jungle plant life. There is a quote from Jane Goodall in white text over the image. It reads: "What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make."

2 44 160

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 8d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

650 8.2K 25K

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 12d

Have spent a couple cloudy, drizzly days bouncing around NC/SC practicing photography with my dad. One year post Helene, it still hurts to see remaining damage and compare with SWVA

1 2 5

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 12d

Have spent a couple cloudy, drizzly days bouncing around NC/SC practicing photography with my dad. One year post Helene, it still hurts to see remaining damage and compare with SWVA

1 2 5

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D. @sarahmackattack.bsky.social · 17d

Welp here we are again, fresh out of Archaeologists for Skype a Scientist matches.

This fall, we have matched 248 groups with Archaeologists for online Q&As. I have 38 more groups who need a match, but I'm out of Archaeologists!

Archaeologists! Please volunteer
www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html

a woman is smiling and holding a cup that says help me .

Alt: a woman is smiling and holding a cup that says help me .

media.tenor.com

26 200 260

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Holly Anderson 🍇 @hollyanderson.bsky.social · 17d

KY TN NC VA convergence folks … who would like a new best friend??

Two photos of a black and tan coonhound with the following text

American Black and Tan
Coonhound Rescue
Cindy Messler Pack • 1h • ©
Good morning! I have a time sensitive foster need!
This handsome young 1 year old male is located in Southeast Kentucky. He is in the care of LMU vet school for a few more days, then he will have to go back to an overcrowded and stressful shelter on Thursday, unless ABTCR can find a foster! He is friendly with other dogs and will be fully vetted and UTD on vaccines. Will you please help this hound begin his best life ever? I will attach our fostering application in comments. Thanks for your willingness to make a difference!

6 35 94

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 18d

Pieces of the monument to labor that was community-designed for a small park in downtown Pound, VA. Both artists working on the piece have deep ties to coal and these are just a few of the elements. Every detail, down to the book titles, came from local residents and is tied to a personal story.

1 1 8

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 18d

Pieces of the monument to labor that was community-designed for a small park in downtown Pound, VA. Both artists working on the piece have deep ties to coal and these are just a few of the elements. Every detail, down to the book titles, came from local residents and is tied to a personal story.

1 1 8

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 24d

no no (pointing up the holler to Tudor’s) Appalachian foodway!

1 1

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 27d

Scenes from an idyllic SWVA coalfield evening

2

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · 29d

Got to visit an AML site for work up near Clinchco in Dickenson County! Absolutely taken over with invasive autumn olive but full of wildlife and ready for a new reclamation journey

1

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Grace Hill @gracehill.bsky.social · 29d

👋🏻 from Appalachia, home of the newest national park, signed into law in 2021: the New River Gorge National Park

www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm

4 14

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Appalachian Voices @appvoices.org · Sep 7

Vonda Robinson of the National Black Lung Association explains why the recent tax cut for metallurgical coal "felt like a slap in the face" in this opinion piece for @cardinalnews.org.

https://loom.ly/R9plZ0k

1 1

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Sep 6

Ro Khanna is speaking in Pennington Gap at the 4th annual SWVA Democratic Rural Roundup! We have coffee and donuts and community

1

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Sep 3

vimeo.com/1113427549?s... if anyone needs an uplifting glimpse of some of the folks who protect our parks

How We Fight

“How We Fight” is a short documentary that follows a series of protests at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in the first months of the Trump administration.…

vimeo.com

1 2

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Aug 29

Almost heaven

1 1 4

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Aug 29

Almost heaven

1 1 4

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Aug 18

The VT professors within this department are some of the best people I’ve been able to work with. Several help run the Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia grant program, which is 1 of the most culturally beautiful and community accessible funding sources I’ve ever seen. A huge loss for all of us

Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · Aug 18

Anyway, happy Monday! The Dean is shutting down my department - Religion & Culture, the only 1 of is kind in the country & home to the innovative Major in Humanities for Public Service. There is no immediate budgetary or political pressure for this decision

1 4

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Aug 18

The VT professors within this department are some of the best people I’ve been able to work with. Several help run the Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia grant program, which is 1 of the most culturally beautiful and community accessible funding sources I’ve ever seen. A huge loss for all of us

Matt Gabriele @profgabriele.com · Aug 18

Anyway, happy Monday! The Dean is shutting down my department - Religion & Culture, the only 1 of is kind in the country & home to the innovative Major in Humanities for Public Service. There is no immediate budgetary or political pressure for this decision

1 4

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Alexandra Witze @alexwitze.bsky.social · Aug 7

The president just issued an executive order asserting new and wide-ranging authority over the issuance of federal grants. This will have huge repercussions for the daily operations of US science. 🧪

Also, lawyers are gonna be lawyering.

www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to improve the process of Federal

www.whitehouse.gov

27 150 310

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Appalachian Voices @appvoices.org · Aug 5

Earlier this year, the EPA halted $3 billion in grants, causing project freezes in underserved communities across many rural areas and sparking a class action lawsuit. That case has its first hearing in front of a federal judge this afternoon.

Trump Country Feeling Pain of Environmental Justice Grant Cuts

In February the skies opened over southwestern Virginia, dumping seven inches of rain in a torrent that washed out roads, destroyed homes and businesses, and prompted Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to declare a state of emergency.

news.bloomberglaw.com

1 2

Reposted by Emma Kelly

Elle Cordova @ellecordova.bsky.social · Jul 31

Federal agencies hiding out in a bunker

77 1.2K 3.2K

Emma Kelly @evkelly.bsky.social · Jul 31

dailyyonder.com/rural-commun...

Rural Communities, Tribes Sue EPA Over $2.8 Billion in Canceled Funding for Flood Mitigation and Resilience Projects | The Daily Yonder

A coalition of nonprofits, tribes, and local governments is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over the termination of $2.8 billion in

dailyyonder.com