iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 17h

Signal species are constantly sending humans messages about our changing world, and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom produced an hourlong radio special all about them. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Presents: Calls from the Wild

Signal species are constantly sending humans messages about our changing world, and the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom produced an hourlong radio special all about them.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 18h

Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election predictor out of the University of Virginia, moved Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District from a “likely Republican” win to “leans Republican.” www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

Political forecaster moves open Kentucky House seat rating toward Democrats

Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election predictor out of the University of Virginia, moved Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District from a “likely Republican” win to “leans Republican.”

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Newspapers are shutting down and shedding reporters across the country, especially in Central Appalachia. Andrew Henderson sat down with a Lexington Herald-Leader reporter who was recently laid off alongside a dozen colleagues. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

Kentucky newspaper layoffs have a reporter asking: Can local journalism be saved?

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

As Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear continues testing the waters for a potential presidential run in 2028, his new book “Go and Do Likewise” hit shelves Tuesday. Here are our five takeaways from the book. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear’s new book is out. Here are 5 things we learned.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The letter from a top Department of Justice official said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams was “under investigation” for not complying with demands on voter data. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

DOJ escalates threats on Kentucky voter data in letter to Sec. Adams

The letter from a top Department of Justice official said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams was “under investigation” for not complying with demands on voter data.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Had a few people ask me about competition in the news business these days. The way I see it, a healthy local news ecosystem benefits everyone, making for more informed and engaged communities. Our competition are those in the business of making us feel more isolated and helpless.

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Reposted by Ryan Van Velzer

Piper Hansen @piperjhansen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

i was one of the H-L journalists laid off today. working in my home state for a paper i respected for years was an honor and a privilege. i got to work with some of the industry's best who were also let go and this community is worse off for it

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Reposted by Ryan Van Velzer

Caitlin McGlade @caitmcglade.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

I, the only data reporter at the Charlotte Observer, am among the McClatchy layoffs in the bloodbath today. The HR person asked me not to talk about it! AMA. Anyway, here’s a link to one of my most important stories this year. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/a...

charlotteobserver.com

A Black teen found hanged near Charlotte church was a suicide, police say. Questions remain

In May, 16-year-old Juliana Nzita was found dead in a Charlotte churchyard. CMPD called it a suicide. Her family isn’t so sure.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Several of my friends and many more of my colleagues were laid off today by McClatchy. I really despise what many corporate media companies are doing to local journalism. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

McClatchy guts Lexington Herald-Leader newsroom, among nationwide layoffs

McClatchy laid off 12 journalists at the Lexington Herald-Leader and eliminated a majority of its positions, as a part of its deep, nationwide layoffs.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Wendell Berry made famous his community of Port Royal, Kentucky, through his writings about agrarian philosophy. The Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom caught up with his hometown newspaper to reflect on Berry's life and legacy in Henry County. www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

lpm.org

How Wendell Berry's local newspaper approached the coverage of his death, legacy

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Kentucky tax revenues in the past fiscal year fell well short of triggering an income tax cut in 2028, marking the third time in four years the trigger was missed.www.lpm.org/news/2026-09...

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

“The sheriff showed up and was asking some people if they'd seen his picture, and a young man was like, ‘I think that gentleman's inside,’" Mohr said. “And then there he was, and he was sitting there speaking to the lead male actor, and yeah, he was arrested.”

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

update: Local news reports show that cable television company Great American Family is filming its latest movie in downtown Paris this week, called “The Greatest Christmas Gift of All.” (yes this is real)

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The administration of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced controversial cuts to a medical clinic this summer that were later reversed, but is choosing not to release details of their communications leading up to the cuts. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

lpm.org

Beshear administration won’t reveal communications ahead of Lee Specialty Clinic cuts

The Beshear administration is withholding 127 emails related to the Lee Specialty Clinic in advance of controversial cuts announced in June, including who sent them and when.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

As data center proposals spring up in communities across Kentucky, residents want more answers about their would-be neighbors from developers and their own public officials. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

lpm.org

Neighbors to Kentucky hyperscale data centers demand transparency

As data center proposals spring up in communities across Kentucky, residents want more answers about their would-be neighbors from developers and their own public officials.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Kentucky health officials have identified at least 13 new measles cases as part of an ongoing outbreak of the virulent disease. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

lpm.org

Measles outbreak confirmed in western Kentucky

Kentucky health officials have identified at least 13 new measles cases as part of an ongoing outbreak of the virulent disease.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Opposition to hyperscale data centers is stoking bipartisanship in Kentucky, with Republicans and Democrats finding common cause in their resistance to local proposals. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

lpm.org

Hyperscale data centers provoke bipartisan outrage across Kentucky

Opposition to hyperscale data centers is stoking bipartisanship in Kentucky, with Republicans and Democrats finding common cause in their resistance to local proposals.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Data show Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg underestimated how many people would be targeted when he agreed to give ICE more time to detain immigrants at the city jail.www.lpm.org/investigate/...

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

A federal ban on intoxicating hemp products will go into effect in November, but an additional month’s reprieve is working its way through Congress. Kentucky’s hemp industry hopes it means new energy to protect the growing sector. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

lpm.org

Kentucky farmers, businesses call on Congress to pass extension on intoxicating hemp ban

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Kentucky Public Radio and NPR obtained a draft of the NIOSH letter before publication. Researchers found that working veteran underground coal miners in central Appalachia are suffering from the incurable and fatal lung disease at the highest rates in nearly 50 years. www.lpm.org/2026-08-05/a...

lpm.org

Appalachia's black lung rates highest in nearly 50 years as miners' protections stall

Rates are now as bad as the 1970s, with thousands of miners sick and dying. Mining experts blame toxic silica dust, now more common in mines.

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Last year, Black drivers were more than twice as likely as white drivers to be searched by Louisville police officers during a traffic stop. That’s the topline finding in a report given to the Louisville Metro Police Department from its own hired consultant. www.lpm.org/news/2026-08...

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Ryan Van Velzer @ryanvanvelzer.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

Republicans and Democrats shared the stage at this year's annual Fancy Farm political picnic in western Kentucky Saturday, with the open U.S. Senate seat top of mind and next year's gubernatorial primaries shaping up. www.lpm.org/2026-08-01/f...

lpm.org

Fancy Farm picnic politicking focuses on fall's US Senate race, 2027 gubernatorial primary

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