Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom
NPR and Member stations in Appalachia and the Mid-South have launched a collaboration aimed at strengthening local news coverage and bringing more stories from this region to the rest of the country. The new Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom is a collaboration between West Virginia Public Broadcasting, WPLN, LPM, WEKU-Lexington/Richmond, WKMS-Murray, WKU Public Radio, and WUOT.
Weekly Newsletter
Want a more comprehensive newsletter that provides context on our region from healthcare, to climate, to culture? Sign up for AMSN's NEW e-newsletter: the Porch Light.
This weekly e-newsletter is delivered on Thursdays and includes links to stories created by the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, plus related stories from partner stations. These stories give you a local look at how an issue in your community may be impacting others nearby.
Click here to sign up for the Porch Light today
Text Rural
You can also click here to sign up for "Text Rural" to start receiving the most up-to-date regional stories, directly to your phone. Every Friday, we will text you links to 2-3 stories published by the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom plus 2-3 stories from neighboring rural newsrooms.
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It’s been one year since a devastating tornado destroyed multiple neighborhoods in London, Kentucky, killing 17 people in Laurel County. Residents are still working to rebuild their homes, many with future disasters in mind. -
Researchers have spent two decades restoring native wetlands in southern Kentucky, and with them the white fringeless orchid. But those efforts were disrupted when an EF4 tornado swept through the area in May 2025, carving visible lines in the landscape. -
On first anniversary of deadly tornado, a southern Kentucky community reflects at Day of RemembranceLast weekend was the first anniversary of a tornado that devastated communities in southern Kentucky. A Day of Remembrance event in Laurel County on Saturday honored those who lost their lives and reflected on a year of recovery. -
In May 2025, an EF4 tornado struck Somerset, Kentucky, damaging parts of the city. A local church and a rural electric cooperative have since celebrated reconstruction milestones. -
Across the country, old railroads have been converted into multi-use trails for folks to get out and enjoy nature. An ambitious vision to connect communities in West Virginia to Pittsburgh via rail trail is taking a big step towards completion. -
Miracle Fields are a kind of accessible baseball diamond growing in popularity that can accommodate players with disabilities. -
As the longest continuously held sporting event in the country, the Kentucky Derby has developed its own eccentric culture over more than 150 years. Here's a look at the Run for the Roses from the perspective of a first-time attendee. -
The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continuously running sporting event in the country. Despite its long history, horse racing is still evolving with the emergence of new technological advancements. -
In Kentucky, prize purses for winning horse racers have risen sharply in recent years. Those purses have been fueled in large part by the growth in state-sanctioned gambling on historical horse race machines. -
After chugging through a decadelong project, restoration of a steam locomotive that sat idle in Nashville’s Centennial Park for more than 60 years is nearing completion.
