appalachia

The Kentucky Supreme Court has ruled environmental groups can intervene in a court case involving a coal company and water pollution. Thursday’s ruling upholds a lower court decision that the groups can participate in a lawsuit filed by the state’s Energy and Environment Cabinet against Frasure Creek Mining. The state filed a lawsuit against the mining company for violations of the Clean Water Act in eastern Kentucky. A settlement was reached, but the environmental groups say it is inadequate.

A scholarship program intended to serve college students in far eastern Kentucky has been expanded. What was originally called the Appalachian Scholarship Fund has been expanded to all coal-producing counties in Kentucky, including those in the western portion of the state. The program applies to students in the last two years of their education who attend a university, public or private, in a coal-producing county. The intent was to keep eastern Kentucky students from leaving the area for college.

A plan to create scholarships for college students in the Appalachian region is in danger after the Senate removed the funding in its budget proposal.  The scholarship program was intended as a compromise after a bill to move the University of Pikeville into the state university system couldn’t garner enough support.  It would give college juniors and seniors money to attend private universities or public university partnerships in the Appalachian region to finish their education.  The House’s version of the budget funded the scholarships with coal severance tax money, but the Senate remove

The House Education Committee is expected to consider a proposal next week to make the private University of Pikeville part of the state's higher education system.  House Speaker Greg Stumbo said Tuesday that the proposal remains alive and well, despite some county-level opposition to a plan to use revenue from the state's coal severance tax to fund it.  Former Governor Paul Patton, now president of the University of Pikeville, proposed turning the private school into a state university as a means to allow more Appalachian residents to go on to college.  State funding could lower tuition, m