iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Today marks the anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain, one of the most important events in Appalachian history.

Several protesting coal miners stand with rifles during the Battle of Blair Mountain.

Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

My latest for The Paper. Idlewild Acres residents are going up against Gvest Capital, a private equity firm based in Charlotte that owns mobile home parks across the region. www.thepaper.media/morganton-mo...

thepaper.media

Morganton mobile home residents organize against rent surge

Idlewild Acres—one of more than 50 mobile home parks across the region that tenants say are owned or managed by MHP, Valleo Residential, and private equity firm Gvest Capital—is facing

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

Methinks the corporatists and oligarchs are rather anxious.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

My latest: Arriving nearly late to Morganton's 6th Annual Juneteenth Brunch, undeservedly landed me an audience seat at a table near the front of the room. This meant I had the chance to sit next to Johnny Eugene Smith, the 89-year old legend who was being honored with an Unsung Hero Award.

commonappalachian.substack.com

From Emancipation to Today: Black Leaders Confront Voter Suppression and America’s Unfinished Freedom

At a Juneteenth Brunch in Morganton, Black leaders from multiple generations confront systemic racism, voter suppression, and America’s unfinished promise of freedom.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Just one of the so-called “divisive concepts,” white conservatives and NC GOP don’t want students to engage with: “The United States was created by members of a particular race or sex for the purpose of oppressing members of another race or sex.” www.newsobserver.com/news/local/e...

newsobserver.com

New NC law tightens campus DEI bans, placing new limits on ‘divisive concepts’

Though Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, previously vetoed the law, Republican lawmakers overrode that effort.

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Reposted by Jeffrey Howard

Cao Cao Power Hour Enthusiast @statsboyandi.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

As someone who grew up in actual rural Appalachia with a parent who had a prescription drug addiction and is roughly the same age, I cannot tell you the level of hatred within my heart for that book and that man. Words do not even begin to describe it.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

It's a shame I've only recently become familiar with DJD's work. As a novelist, he's what I wish John Irving could be; as a thinker and activist, he grows the Wendell Berry tradition in ways more befitting the 21st century. bigskyjournal.com/local-knowle...

bigskyjournal.com

Local Knowledge: The Hearth Light and Fire of David James Duncan - Big Sky Journal

It’s midafternoon in October, and a bonfire is burning behind our house. With me is David James Duncan, revered Montana author, storied activist, and one of the deepest spiritual and ecological minds ...

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jacob biba @jacobbiba.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

"Small towns in Western North Carolina experienced the highest rates of population loss. Chimney Rock Village experienced the largest percentage loss with 10.6%, Old Fort lost 2.8%, and Marshall lost 2.4% of their population between 2024 and 2025." carolinademography.cpc.unc.edu/2026/05/27/u...

carolinademography.cpc.unc.edu

U.S. Census Bureau 2025 City and Town Population Estimates | Carolina Demography

Earlier this month the Census Bureau released the 2025 city and town population estimates. These population estimates show how the city and town populations in North Carolina have changed between July...

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

I spoke with Southlands editor @boyceupholt.bsky.social about his new magazine and the challenges of writing about a region one has adopted as home. This tension sits with me every time I write about Appalachia. commonappalachian.substack.com/p/who-gets-t...

"Who Gets to Tell the South? Boyce Upholt on Outsider Authority" text overlay on top of the Mississippi River

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Blue Ridge Public Radio @blueridgepublic.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Swain County Commissioners Tuesday unanimously passed a 12-month moratorium on new data centers in the county. www.bpr.org/climate-envi...

bpr.org

Swain County unanimously passes data center moratorium

Residents expressed fear of climate, environmental impacts

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Reposted by Jeffrey Howard

Kim Kelly @kimkelly.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Amidst everything else, the Trump regime has quietly killed off the U.S. Forest Service 🌲 “One hundred and ninety-three million acres of your national forests… just handed, on a silver platter, to the people who’ve spent their entire careers trying to destroy it.” www.hatchmag.com/articles/tru...

hatchmag.com

Trump administration orders dismantling of the U.S. Forest Service

Late Tuesday afternoon, with the subtlety of a wrecking ball and the morality of a foreclosure notice, the Trump administration announced the most devastating attack on the U.S. Forest Service in the ...

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

In hew new memoir, Beth Howard invites white Appalachians to fight for racial and economic justice. “The truth is every single one of us can have a chance at the world we deserve. If working-class white people choose solidarity with Black and brown people instead of siding with whiteness.”

progressive.org

Bringing White Appalachians into the Fight

In ‘Song for a Hard-Hit People,’ Beth Howard shares her story of activism and organizing in Appalachia.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

The number of people, and the quantity of decision makers, who attended surprised me. I had the chance to speak with several, and most were very enthusiastic about our chances. Western North Carolina hasn't been this close to getting passenger rail restored since it was discontinued in 1975.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

This weekend's nationwide demonstrations look to be historic in number. Many Appalachians in Western North Carolina are expected to show out against what they view as the further "erosion of fundamental constitutional rights." commonappalachian.substack.com/p/no-kings-r...

commonappalachian.substack.com

'No Kings' Rally on Historic Burke County Courthouse Square Aims to 'Make Joyful Noise'

Indivisible Burke NC is hosting a third "No Kings" event on Saturday, March 28, one among 3,000+ demonstrations planned nationwide in support of democracy.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

I'm a sucker for maps of Appalachia. Here's a comparison between what's considered Appalachia according to ARC and where the Appalachian mountains are located.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

In its latest research report, the NC Rural Center uses recent data to investigate the status of housing recovery in the hardest hit parts of Appalachian North Carolina. Here's a look at some of the household damage. You can read the rest of their report here: ow.ly/G0iQ50Y8nHY.

ow.ly

Housing Recovery in Western North Carolina

This report looks at housing recovery in the Western North Carolina areas most impacted by Hurricane Helene, and where recovery might go in the future.

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Reposted by Jeffrey Howard

Blue Ridge Public Radio @blueridgepublic.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Counties throughout western North Carolina are preparing for Winter Storm Fern this weekend. Here's a noncomprehensive guide of shelters that have been announced across the region. www.bpr.org/climate-envi...

bpr.org

Shelters open throughout WNC ahead of Winter Storm Fern. Here's where

Here is a list of the shelters across the region that have been publicly announced so far.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 22/01/2026

Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina has officially released its new documentary, "A Dream for the Future." I have to admit, sitting in the audience last week during the formal launch event, I teared up seeing this area I love showcased on the big screen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkPj...

youtube.com

A Dream for the Future, a Documentary Film by Foothills Conservancy

YouTube video by Foothills Conservancy

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Appalachian Learning Initiative @appli.org · 21/01/2026

#DidYouKnow Cherokee and Coosa Counties have the highest prevalence of arthritis in #Appalachian #AL, at 43.6%% & 42.2%, respectively, compared to the state rate of 34.2% and the national rate of 27.7% Learn more: www.appli.org/alabama

Map of Alabama showing arthritis prevalence by county (28.1%-43.6%). Cherokee & Coosa counties have the highest prevalence (43.6%, 42.2%). 36.1% of Appalachian Alabama adults have arthritis. This means that more than two out of every three adults in Alabama's Appalachian counties are living with arthritis. Counties with high prevalence are concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, with Cherokee and Coosa counties having the highest prevalence.

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Reposted by Jeffrey Howard

themischiefprince.bsky.social @themischiefprince.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

So this happened in Appalachia! There was some Land Back!

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Tory Wegerski @producertory.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

NEW: Publishers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette announce they are shutting down the newspaper on May 3, 2026. Hours ago, the Supreme Court of the US declined to extend a stay on a court order for the paper to pay its journalists following the end of a 3-year strike.

Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Post-Gazette to Publish Final Edition and Cease Operations May 3, 2026
Block Communications, Inc. and the Block family are saddened to announce that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette plans to publish its final edition and cease operations on May 3, 2026.
Over the past 20 years, Block Communications has lost more than $350 million in cash operating the Post-Gazette. Despite those efforts, the realities facing local journalism make continued cash losses at this scale no longer sustainable.
Recent court decisions would require the Post-Gazette to operate under a 2014 labor contract that imposes on the Post-Gazette outdated and inflexible operational practices unsuited for today’s local journalism.
We deeply regret the impact this decision will have on Pittsburgh and the surrounding region. The Block family is proud of the service the Post-Gazette has provided to Pittsburgh for nearly a century and will exit with their dignity intact.
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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

North Carolina’s 2026 economic distress designations are here. And several counties in Appalachia, those directly impacted by Hurricane Helene have been downgraded, meaning they are considered more economically distressed than they were in 2025. Source: carolinapublicpress.org/73725/helene...

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 11/12/2025

Burke County has the 4th-highest concentration of state employees per capita in North Carolina. That means changes to the state health plan hit us harder than almost anywhere else in the state. My latest for The Paper on what's at stake: www.thepaper.media/as-state-hea...

thepaper.media

As state health costs soar, Burke agencies fear a workforce exodus

Burke County state employees face 2026 health premium hikes up to 220%. State agencies and leaders fear the costs will worsen staffing shortages at schools, parks, and hospitals.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

$7.7 million of this is going toward rebuilding the municipal golf course in East Asheville. Surely there's an expansive list of better ways to allocate this funding. Folks are still living in temporary housing. Small businesses are still repairing and recovering from damage to their storefronts.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

The healthcare crisis is not abstract policy; it's a 69-year-old in Morganton weighing whether to stop taking heart and diabetes meds he cannot afford, and a 20-year-old nephew making $13 an hour who still cannot realistically buy affordable healthcare coverage. www.thepaper.media/federal-stat...

thepaper.media

Federal, state failures push health care further out of reach for Burke residents

Cascading effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the federal government shutdown, and a state budget deadlock make vital health care unaffordable for a growing number of Burke County residents.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Tom Andrews takes 11 medications. His wife takes 18. They have $6,000 in savings. Due to mounting healthcare costs, Medicare cuts, and expired ACA subsidies, they'll soon have to choose which life-saving drugs to keep My latest for Common Appalachian: commonappalachian.substack.com/p/those-are-...

commonappalachian.substack.com

'Those Are Life-Saving Medicines They Need': Burke Faces Healthcare Affordability Crisis

Cascading effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill, the federal government shutdown, and a state budget deadlock push vital healthcare further out of reach for Burke County residents.

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Colin J. Mason @colinjmason.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Vance’s version of Appalachia is full of intentional victims held back by laziness and government dependency. Kingsolver’s Appalachia looks starkly different: a place populated by fiercely independent people whose connection to their land and willingness to work make them easy to exploit. (3/13)

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 23/11/2025

Dozens of pro-immigration demonstrators gathered at four locations around Morganton on Saturday, protesting federal immigration raids that have swept through western North Carolina. I spoke with several protestors in rural, Republican Burke County about what brought them out to protest yesterday.

commonappalachian.substack.com

Indivisible Burke NC Organizes Pro-Immigrant Demonstrations Around Morganton, Protesting ICE Raids

Several pop-up demonstrations took place on Saturday, mostly around downtown Morganton, following a week of intense immigration enforcement by ICE in the greater Charlotte area.

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Reposted by Jeffrey Howard

Appalachian Voices @appvoices.org · 19/11/2025

An investigation by the @washingtonpost.com shows that many areas of the Eastern U.S., including Central #Appalachia, are vulnerable to extreme rainfall and #flooding. Mountains, economic challenges and infrastructure along waterways make preparing for and recovering from floods more challenging.

washingtonpost.com

Where the sky keeps bursting

A Washington Post investigation shows why much of the eastern U.S. is increasingly vulnerable to extreme rain and floods.

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Alaina Wood @thegarbagequeen.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

I will never understand why so many American climate activists are okay with Appalachia — one of the most biodiverse places in the world that has been on the frontlines of fossil fuel exploitation for centuries — getting destroyed by climate disasters because of classism and electoral politics.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

Tom Belt views the weekly demonstration as a means of helping others “stay enthusiastic about speaking out." “We want to try to be examples for everybody that drives by here,” he said. “North Carolina is a purple state, and there are going to be some critical elections coming up.”

commonappalachian.substack.com

Buncombe County Democrats Continue Weekly Demonstrations in Weaverville

In the heart of Southern Appalachia, the mountain town of Weaverville, North Carolina, boasts a passionate core of democrats protesting against President Donald Trump’s authoritarian politics.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 30/10/2025

They've been protesting every week since June 5th. “We pay attention,” Amy Pletcher, a registered Democrat and Buncombe County resident, said. “There are plenty here in Southern Appalachia who vote for those who stand for our rights.” commonappalachian.substack.com/p/buncombe-c...

commonappalachian.substack.com

Buncombe County Democrats Continue Weekly Demonstrations in Weaverville

In the heart of Southern Appalachia, the mountain town of Weaverville, North Carolina, boasts a passionate core of democrats protesting against President Donald Trump’s authoritarian politics.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

Roughly 700 people gathered in Morganton, North Carolina, this morning for a “No Kings” protest organized by non-partisan Indivisible Burke NC, challenging President Trump’s executive power and authoritarian policies. That's quite a feat for a rural town whose population is smaller than 18,000.

commonappalachian.substack.com

'No Kings': Hundreds Rally in Trump Country to Defend Democracy in Morganton

Roughly 700 gathered in Morganton, North Carolina for a “No Kings” protest organized by non-partisan Indivisible Burke NC, challenging President Trump’s executive power and authoritarian policies.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

"Families are terrified," said Carlos Foster, co-founder of the Appalachian nonprofit Hands of Hope. "The raids have been the biggest thing. People don’t know if they’re going to go to work and never come home." theclick.news/nonprofit-ha...

theclick.news

Nonprofit Hands of Hope continues aiding Hispanic families post-Hurricane Helene - The Click

Carlos Foster and Sandra Aguirre formed nonprofit Hands of Hope following Hurricane Helene.

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Jeffrey Howard @jeffrey-howard.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

My first piece with The Click. 1 year since Hurricane Helene. The Mountain Aid Project is one of several Appalachian groups that organized to provide relief in the immediate aftermath and is now expanding its mission to meet the long-term needs of the community. theclick.news/mountain-aid...

theclick.news

Southern Appalachia’s Mountain Aid Project expands ‘inclusive’ mission - The Click

The Morganton-based group providing relief to western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene will soon be a cafe and community hub.

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