Mountain State Matters

I originally started Mountain State Matters as a blog for my Interactive Storytelling class at Medill. Now, the class is over. I’m going to keep trying to maintain and update the site, but posts will likely be more sporadic than they used to be. Keep checking back, though! Also, check out the geo-tagging tab at the top, as I’ll be trying to geo-tag each post. If you’re looking for posts about a certain area of the state, you might be able to find them on the map.

I’m also looking for other contributors. If you’re from or interested in West Virginia and think writing a post or two a week about the state sounds like a good time, let me know! You can comment on this post, or e-mail me at erica DOT m DOT peterson AT gmail DOT com with your contact information. Submissions of WV-related photos and stories are also appreciated and encouraged.

Hey all,

Mountain State Matters has now grown to over 40 (40!) posts, and I’m conducting a bit of readership research. No matter who you are or why you’re here, if you wouldn’t mind answering the following questions I’ll be forever grateful. You can post the responses as a comment (no need to leave your full name) or e-mail me at erica DOT m DOT peterson AT gmail DOT com.

1. Tell me about yourself. Where do you live? What do you do? How old are you?

2. Why are you reading this blog? Did you happen upon it during a Google search? Are you interested in West Virginia news and issues? Do you know me and feel obligated to read my blog?

3. What online groups and communities do you belong to? Do you use Facebook, Myspace or Flickr?

4. How do you prefer to read blogs: via online, e-mail digest, RSS feed, etc.?

5. Which posts/categories on Mountain State Matters have you enjoyed the most?

6. What can I improve about the website that would make it more interesting/prettier/easier to navigate?

7. Anything else?

Thanks for your time!

–Erica

The Associated Press reported today that Dick Cheney took a shot (pun intended) at West Virginia. It turns out there are Cheneys on both sides of his family.

“And we don’t even live in West Virginia,” Cheney quipped.

“You can say those things when you’re not running for re-election.”

Haha. Hilarious. I hope someone takes the liberty of adding Vice President Cheney to the definition of “inbred” at Urban Dictionary.

UPDATE: Cheney has apologized. Here’s the Huffington Post’s coverage of his monumental gaffe. My favorite West Virginia politician response to the whole debacle is definitely Rep. Nick Rahall’s, as reported in The Washington Post’s blog:

“We may owe the vice president a debt of gratitude for yet another great West Virginia slogan: Dick Cheney is not from here,” Rahall told us.

Photo by: World Economic Forum

This blog is about the mountain state of West Virginia, and contains news, commentary and opinions on issues that are important to the state. Past and current residents, as well as anyone who has visited or has an interest in the state, are encouraged to read and share their opinions.

Although West Virginia’s population was only about 1,818,000 as of 2006, there’s a pretty strong state identity. Here are some online communities interested in WV news:

Groups on facebook.com:

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia

Race Against the States–West Virginia

The Better Virginia Went West

West Virginia is the Best Virginia

West Virginia: We Really Are a State

I F***ing Love West Virginia <3

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

West Virginia Pride

West Virginia: Born and Raised

Yahoo! Groups

West Virginia Lesbians

WV Gab

West Virginia Railfans

Other

This site has a bunch of West Virginia-related blogs, and the state’s largest newspaper (The Charleston Gazette) has a bunch of blogs associated with it. West Virginia Blue appears to have a pretty wide readership as well.

Here are some sites that have a lot to do with West Virginia that I expect to be referring to:

Mining:

Mine Safety and Health Administration: www.msha.gov

U.S. Office of Surface Mining: www.osm.gov

End Mountaintop Removal: www.ilovemountains.org

700 Mountains: www.700mountains.org

News:

The Charleston Gazette: www.wvgazette.com

The Beckley Register-Herald: www.register-herald.com

West Virginia Public Broadcasting: www.wvpubcast.org

Universities:

West Virginia University: www.wvu.edu

Marshall University: www.marshall.edu

Government:

West Virginia: www.wv.gov

Senator Jay Rockefeller: http://rockefeller.senate.gov

Senator Robert C. Byrd: http://byrd.senate.gov

W.Va. Blue (West Virginia Democratic primary information): www.wvablue.com

Blogs

West Virgina Legal Weblog: http://legalweblog.blogspot.com

The West Virginia Blog: http://west-virginia.blogspot.com

Charleston Economic Development: http://charleston-west-virginia-economic-dev.blogspot.com

West Virginia Political Sweatbox: http://wvpoliticalsweatbox.blogspot.com

Back Porch Politics: www.backporchpolitics.com

Change West Virginia: www.changewv.com

West Virginia Business Blog: http://wvbusinessblog.blogspot.com

Restore Balance West Virginia: www.restorebalancewv.org

Other

Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment: www.appalachian-center.org

Appalachia Regional Commission: www.arc.gov

West Virginia is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s one of the best places in the United States to go white water rafting, tour a coal mine, go hiking in one of the state’s 49 state parks, eat ramps or watch the sun set.

It’s also the second-poorest state in the country and is plagued by poverty-related issues such as lack of transportation, lack of jobs and environmental problems.

Several times I’ve mentioned the state’s name, I’m convinced the person I’m talking to has no clue that West Virginia is actually a state of its own, and not just part of Virginia. (WV actually became a state when it separated from Virginia to join the Union side of the fight during the Civil War.)

So, this is an antidote for those clueless about the Mountain State, as well as a resource for those living in West Virginia or interested in West Virginia news and issues. Some topics that I expect to be following are:

1. Environmental/Mountaintop Removal issues. The Mountain State is on its way to becoming mountainless and flat, thanks to the coal mining technique of mountaintop removal. Mining is always in the news, and the industry and environmental ramifications are issues that affect most West Virginians.

2. Health Care issues. As the Democratic presidential primaries make their way to West Virginia, the candidates’ separate health care plans are important issues. West Virginia constantly ranks among the fattest states in the nation, and 8.9 percent of the state’s children are uninsured.

3. The country’s economic problems. As the United States’ economic forecast continues to look bleaker, I’d like to explore the effects on an area that has had chronic economic problems for a number of years.