Will Wright
Lexington Herald-Leader
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Past articles by Will:
Major Kentucky coal producer declares bankruptcy. 1,100 jobs at risk in three states.
Revelation Energy is the second large Kentucky coal producer to file for bankruptcy protection in the past two weeks. It has idled hundreds of miners. → Read More
Income falls in several Appalachian Kentucky counties as coal fails to bounce back
Several counties in Eastern Kentucky saw a drop in per capita income in recent years as the state’s coal industry failed to bounce back, new data from the Appalachian Regional Commission shows. → Read More
Pikeville landlord pleads guilty to five counts of sex trafficking of minors
Pike County property owner Ernest B. Ray, a.k.a. Junior, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Friday to five counts of sex trafficking of minors in a deal that eliminated six counts of drug tracking filed against him earlier this year. → Read More
Feds sell Eric Conn’s property. Here’s where his massive Lincoln statue is going.
The statue of Abraham Lincoln that belonged to Eric C. Conn, the Kentucky disability attorney sentenced to 27 years in prison for social security fraud, will be donated to the Middle Creek National Battlefield in Floyd County. → Read More
Student has no bathroom and shares a mattress on the floor. Can tiny homes help?
Students in Harlan County, Kentucky, are helping create a community of tiny homes that would house homeless students and people graduating from drug rehab programs. → Read More
Coal companies tied to W.Va. Gov. Justice agree to pay delinquent Kentucky taxes
Companies tied to the governor of West Virginia have struck a deal to resolve some of the biggest property-tax delinquencies in Eastern Kentucky’s coal counties. Four counties got checks totaling nearly $1.2 million. → Read More
Appalshop approaches 50, unveils largest net-metered solar project in Eastern Kentucky
As Appalshop approaches its 50th anniversary, the group will unveil the largest net-metered solar project in Eastern Kentucky at its annual music festival, Seedtime on the Cumberland. → Read More
Hoping to save troubled Kentucky hospital, court approves order to switch operators
A Kentucky bankruptcy court approved a deal Monday that would transfer control of the Southeastern Medical Center in Pineville from its current operator to the hospital’s bankruptcy trustee. → Read More
Citing patient safety violations, Medicare terminates contract with Kentucky hospital
The federal government cut off Medicare and Medicaid payments to Southeast Kentucky Medical Center in Pineville last week following a scathing inspection that found the hospital failed several of its patients. → Read More
With $82 million investment, AppHarvest finally ready to build its 70-acre greenhouse
An $82 million cash investment from Equilibrium Capital has put AppHarvest on a path to finally getting its greenhouse off the ground. Construction should begin this summer. → Read More
Black lung disease continues to surge in Eastern Kentucky. New research suggests why.
New coal mining methods that churn up silica-laden rock are likely responsible for the surge of black lung disease that has afflicted hundreds of miners across Central Appalachia in recent years, new research suggests. → Read More
Democrats pick a Scott County farmer to take on Quarles for agriculture commissioner
Robert Conway, a pro-medical marijuana Scott County farmer, will aim to unseat Republican incumbent Ryan Quarles in November as Kentucky agriculture commissioner. → Read More
Democrats pick a Scott County farmer to take on Quarles for agriculture commissioner
Robert Conway, a pro-medical marijuana Scott County farmer, will aim to unseat Republican incumbent Ryan Quarles in November as Kentucky agriculture commissioner. → Read More
New documentary explores plight of Martin County residents who want clean water
A documentary featuring the plight of people in Martin County, where long water outages and reports of poor quality have brought the Kentucky county into the national spotlight, will be screened at the 21c Museum Hotel in Lexington May 29. → Read More
Five students involved in meth incident at Kentucky middle school; one taken to hospital
Five Letcher County Middle School students on Tuesday were involved in an incident involving methamphetamine and one was taken to the Whitesburg Appalachian Regional Hospital by ambulance, said Letcher County Schools Superintendent Denise Yonts. → Read More
With Kentucky in sight, Elizabeth Warren pitches her plan to battle opioid addiction
In a fire department in Kermit, West Virginia, near the Kentucky border, Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren laid out her plan on Friday to bring millions of dollars to communities rocked by the opioid crisis. → Read More
Beshear’s investigation yields no criminal charges at troubled Kentucky water district
Following an investigation by the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General last year, a grand jury in Martin County found no basis for criminal charges against current or former officials with the Martin County Water District. → Read More
Will this new aviation program create jobs in a region reeling from coal’s collapse?
Gov. Matt Bevin and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers flew to four Kentucky airports Monday to promote a new aviation technician program at Eastern Kentucky University that backers hope will spur economic growth in Eastern Kentucky. → Read More
‘I’m not gonna get wet.’ For fourth year of Derby Day rain, infield crowd came prepared.
From the grandstands of Churchill Downs, well-dressed, mostly mild-mannered Kentucky Derby goers stayed dry and watched as the infield readied themselves for the predicted rain. → Read More
Bill that promises $100 million for Kentucky coal communities gets another chance
The RECLAIM Act, which would bring $100 million to Kentucky’s coal communities, passed the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources on Wednesday and will advance to the full U.S. House of Representatives. → Read More