We sat down with Blake Moss to discuss his goal to connect small business owners in Poland with those in eastern Kentucky.

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Janina Jefferson was murdered in 2016, ex-husband remains investigator’s chief suspect.

The post Police still searching for Wise County murder suspect appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

UDPATE: 3:06 p.m. Saturday – Virginia State Police confirmed with News 5 WCYB that an active search is still ongoing for Wise County resident Travis Turner, head football coach at Union High School.

WISE COUNTY, Va. – A Wise County football coach remains missing after police visited his home and found him gone, according to WVVA.com.

Union High School head football coach Travis Turner, 46, has not been found after officers with the Virginia State Police were sent to his home this week.

Officers were not sent to arrest Turner, but on the way to his residence, they were told they wouldn’t find the football coach there. There is currently no information about who informed police of this.

A statement from Wise County Schools read, “At this time, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to us.”

There are several social media posts about Turner’s disappearance, including a Facebook post from Leslie Caudill Turner saying, “As of right now, 10:25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that’s all we know. We love him and need him here with us.”

The Appalachian Project said in a Facebook post, “I have neither the words nor the wisdom to say much of anything regarding what transpired…but wanted to acknowledge the pain.”

Also, the Tazewell Bulldog Radio Network posted: “There are multiple families who are devastated…There is a community rocked to its core.”

As of Saturday morning, Turner was still missing, and Virginia State Police are now continuing their investigation into his disappearance.

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Area leaders were invited to share their experiences at a panel at the University of Pikeville on Friday, October 17, 2025.

The post Mountain Grrl Experience Begins with the Front Porch Panel appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

The Appalachian Regional Commission may have their budget greatly reduced by the Trump Administration.

The post ARC Receives Budget Cuts appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

Seedtime on the Cumberland will be taking place in Whitesburg June 6-7, 2025, and will offer art, music, and more.

The post Seedtime on the Cumberland to Celebrate Appalachian Art and Music appeared first on Mountain Top Media.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The SOAR Summit has announced that Gayle Manchin, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, will deliver the keynote address at the closing plenary session of the 2024 Summit.

Manchin will speak on Friday, Oct. 18, at the University of Pikeville, bringing a close to the three-day event with her vision for advancing economic opportunity and community development across the region.

As Federal Co-Chair of the ARC, Manchin has advocated for economic revitalization, workforce development, and sustainable growth throughout Appalachia. Her leadership has played a pivotal role in reshaping the region’s future, and her insights at the SOAR Summit are expected to inspire and empower the next generation of Appalachian leaders.

The 2024 SOAR Summit will take place from Oct. 16-18 in downtown Pikeville and is presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission. Gayle Manchin’s keynote on Oct. 18 will be one of the Summit’s most anticipated events, highlighting the efforts being made to address the unique challenges and opportunities in Eastern Kentucky and the greater Appalachian region.

In addition to its lineup of speakers, the SOAR Summit will feature the EKY Experience Exhibit Hall, which will be open to the general public for free on Oct. 16. Located inside the Appalachian Wireless Arena, the exhibit hall will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 17, offering immersive exhibits that showcase the innovation, culture, and opportunities that define Eastern Kentucky.

The SOAR Summit offers a diverse range of programming tracks designed to address key issues and opportunities in Appalachia, including:

● Workforce Development
● Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Economic Development
● Connectivity and Digital Equity
● Grant and Community Development
● Healthy Communities

These tracks provide a structured opportunity for attendees to engage with experts, learn best practices, and build valuable connections across sectors.

Registration is open now, with tickets available for $150, which includes access to all Summit sessions, keynotes, and networking events. The Blueprint Partner Program, available for $300, offers partner-specific programming and exclusive events.

For more information about the summit and to register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-soar-summit-tickets-936396937447.

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A new $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will boost the resources and assistance for farmers and food businesses in Appalachia.

According to Rural Action, the new Appalachian Regional Food Business Center’s goals include reaching at least 10,000 food and farm businesses through grants, technical assistance, and assistance with land access.

Adam Hudson, senior director of agriculture for the nonprofit Coalfield Development, said producers will be able to apply for funding for new equipment or other needs to help accelerate their businesses.

“These are going to be direct grants to agriculture businesses that can then use these funds to accelerate their businesses and improve their marketability of their products,” Hudson explained.

According to the USDA, the goal of the program is to transform the food system in rural communities to better benefit producers and consumers by providing more options, increasing access, and creating new and improved markets. The $400 million initiative is funding the creation of 12 new regional food business centers nationwide.

Hudson added the five-year grant will position the region for long-term scaling up of food and meat processing, distribution, and aggregation in Central Appalachia.

“We really want to take our time [to] make sure we’re executing this well,” Hudson emphasized. “So that we serve the farmers and those in the food and ag community well, and that they have a say in the voice and the processes and programs within this project.”

According to a report by the Appalachian Regional Commission, the region lost nearly 30,000 farms and nearly 2 million acres of farmland between 2007 and 2017, significantly outpacing national rates of farm and farmland loss.

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A Pike County man convicted on meth trafficking charges is allegedly on the run.

The Pike County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office reports that David Parsons, 37, of Pikeville, has escaped from the Harlan County Detention Center where he was being held. Pike Commonwealth’s Attorney Bill Slone says Parsons was serving a five-year sentence on a felony drug trafficking conviction out of Pike County and was being held in Harlan County as a state inmate.

Slone says Parsons was serving on a work-release detail when he walked away, and his escaped was concealed by his fellow inmates. His last know whereabouts was on the work-release detail on Tuesday. His absence from custody was noticed on Wednesday, Slone says.

Slone says he does not have a reason to believe Parsons is armed, but he said Parsons should be considered dangerous after escaping while serving a felony conviction.

Slone says those with information on Parsons’ whereabouts are encouraged to contact their local law enforcement agency.

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Source: Mountain Top

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]]> https://mountain-topmedia.com/kentucky-governor-makes-pitch-for-more-federal-virus-relief/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kentucky-governor-makes-pitch-for-more-federal-virus-relief Wed, 13 May 2020 20:02:57 +0000 https://mtntop.media/2020/05/13/kentucky-governor-makes-pitch-for-more-federal-virus-relief/ FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky has enough in its unemployment insurance trust fund until summer to meet the unprecedented demand for benefits but will eventually need a cash infusion, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday in urging another round of federal assistance to states. In a Facebook Live interview with the Courier Journal, Beshear also stressed the importance of wearing masks as Kentuckians venture out more as the economy starts reopening. The state’s unemployment trust fund has gone through massive amounts of money as record numbers of Kentuckians request jobless assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. Beshear said the state is committed […]

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FRANKFORT, Ky.
(AP) — Kentucky has enough in its unemployment insurance trust fund
until summer to meet the unprecedented demand for benefits but will
eventually need a cash infusion, Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday in
urging another round of federal assistance to states.

In a Facebook Live interview with the Courier Journal, Beshear also stressed the importance of wearing masks as Kentuckians venture out more as the economy starts reopening.

The
state’s unemployment trust fund has gone through massive amounts of
money as record numbers of Kentuckians request jobless assistance during
the coronavirus pandemic.

Beshear
said the state is committed to assisting everyone in need as it
gradually kick-starts commerce in a strategic way that seeks to avoid a
resurgence of virus cases, Beshear said.

“We
believe that we certainly have enough in the fund until the end of
spring, and in fact … at least part of the summer,” Beshear said. “But
like every other state, we are waiting on the federal government for
the next CARES Act legislation. No state can get through this crisis
without direct budgetary aid.”

Without
direct assistance to shore up the trust fund, Kentucky will have to
borrow from the federal government, as it did during the 2008-09
recession.

The Democratic-led U.S. House is planning to take up a relief package
that provides nearly $1 trillion to states and cities. Republicans in
charge of the Senate are wary of another round of aid. Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, will be at the center of
negotiations.

Beshear warned the recession will last longer with another infusion of federal assistance.

“It’s
disappointing to see in D.C. the same old kind of back-and-forth and
horse-trading going on when this is a time of national crisis,” the
Democratic governor said. “Where every state and local government in the
country needs help to make sure that we can get our economy up and
going.”

Meanwhile,
Beshear acknowledged that some Kentuckians “kind of struggle” with
being asked to wear masks in public. But he stressed the need to do so
as the economy reboots.

“Is it fun? No,” he said in wrapping up the social media interview with the Louisville newspaper. “Is it uncomfortable? Yes. But does it protect the people around you? Absolutely.”

Meanwhile,
McConnell announced Wednesday that Kentucky received nearly $98 million
to increase coronavirus testing. The funding stems from congressional
action to combat the pandemic. Kentucky has ramped up testing as it
gradually reopens more of the economy.

“Expanding
the availability of testing is one of the best ways to slow the spread
of the coronavirus and keep Kentucky families safe,” McConnell said in a
statement.

For
most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such
as fever and cough that clear up within weeks. For some, especially
older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more
severe illness, even death.

Source: Mountain Top

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