Researchers at public universities in Kentucky and West Virginia are planning to collaborate alongside local residents on a four-year project to better understand, predict and prepare for flash flooding in Appalachia and climate change’s impacts on it.
Surface coal mining worsened deadly Eastern Kentucky floods in July 2022, study shows
A nearly $1.1 million award from the U.S. National Science Foundation will bring together civil engineers and scientists from environmental and social fields to study a range of topics, including soil moisture’s impact on flash flooding. Researchers also will gauge monitors installed in waterways to help tailor flooding solutions “to community goals, serving as a model for resilience planning in vulnerable communities across the U.S.,” according to the project’s description.
Researchers will analyze decades of precipitation and streamflow data from the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest in Breathitt County and install soil moisture sensors throughout the research forest to better understand flooding in headwater streams.
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Christopher Barton, a University of Kentucky professor of forest hydrology and watershed management and principal investigator for the project, in a statement said researchers want to do everything they can “to build up the infrastructure to understand, predict and prepare for flash floods in this region.”
“To best help, we also must understand how climate change and landscape alterations affect flash floods,” Barton said.
The “novel collaboration” is also funding researchers from the University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, West Virginia University and Marshall University. A main goal of the collaboration is developing improved early warning systems to alert communities when flash floods are worsening.
Eastern Kentucky University will also be using the funding to aid high school and middle school teachers develop science education programming and plant trees as a part of reforestation efforts to mitigate flash floods.
Lindsey Cormack from the Stevens Institute of Technology will talk about her recent book “How to Raise a Citizen” at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Oct. 15) in the Downtown Library, Milano Reading Room.
Young people have shown an active concern about many issues, but are often disengaged from the political process. Cormack will focus on ways to engage young people in civic education.
The event is supported by the West Virginia Humanities Council, WVU Humanities Center, WVU Libraries and Department of Political Science.
Building on a 134-year mission of academic excellence, service to others and equipping leaders, West Virginia Wesleyan College continues to gain recognition in prestigious college rankings. The college was ranked among the top 10 for Best Value in the South in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges and is listed as one of the Best Regional Colleges by The Princeton Review.
In the U.S. News & World Report rankings, the college was ninth for Best Value among Regional Colleges in the South and 30th overall in the same area. West Virginia Wesleyan College was the only West Virginia higher education institution to earn a Best Value Ranking.
West Virginia Wesleyan is also listed as one of the Top Performers on Social Mobility, which assesses how well schools graduate students who received federal Pell Grants.
Vice President for Enrollment and Marketing John Waltz said, “We’ve experienced two consecutive years of overall growth, over 10% in that time. With West Virginia freshman enrollment up 20% and a 40% growth in graduate enrollment, it is clear that students and families value a Wesleyan education and recognize it as the premiere education in our region. West Virginia Wesleyan continues to provide critical solutions to market needs.”
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In determining Best Value Schools, U.S. News & World Report considered academic quality and cost after accounting for total expenses and financial aid.
More than 95 percent of WVWC students receive financial aid in the form of scholarships. WVWC awards academic scholarships up to $18,000 per year, which can be combined with co-curricular scholarships (athletics, creative arts, community service), the West Virginia PROMISE Scholarship, and all outside scholarships obtained by incoming students.
The U.S. News & World Report rankings follow the college’s listing in the ‘Best in the Mid-Atlantic’ section of The Princeton Review’s “2025 Best Colleges: Region by Region” publication.
College Raptor, a leading college planning platform, also selected West Virginia Wesleyan College as one of its Hidden Gem Colleges in the Southeast, based on graduation rates, retention, student-to-faculty ratio, endowment per student and other metrics via the National Center for Education Statistics.
West Virginia Wesleyan College will host Fall Open Houses on October 26 and November 16, giving prospective students the opportunity to discover how they can find their place at their Home Among the Hills. For more information, visit www.wvwc.edu.
Nick Saban a big hit for golf fans at 2024 WM Phoenix Open Pro-Am
Nick Saban heard dozens of “Roll Tide” cheers from the crowd at Wednesday’s Annexus Pro-Am at the WM Phoenix Open.
The Kansas State Wildcats play the West Virginia Mountaineers in a college football Week 8 game on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
Which team will win the game?
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Check out these picks and predictions for the game, which is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. MST and can be seen on FOX (stream with this free trial from FUBO).
Kansas State is coming off a 31-28 win against Colorado in Week 7. West Virginia lost to Iowa State last week, 28-16.
Kansas State is a 3-point favorite over West Virginia in college football Week 8 odds for the game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Wildcats are -150 on the moneyline. The Mountaineers are +130.
The over/under for the game is set at 54.5 points.
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Watch Kansas State at West Virginia live with FUBO (free trial)
Dimers.com: Kansas State 28, West Virginia 27
It writes: “After extensive simulations, our model gives Kansas State a win probability of 52%, while West Virginia has a win probability of 48%.”
ESPN: The Wildcats have a 56.6% chance to defeat the Mountaineers
The site’s matchup predictor gives West Virginia a 43.4% shot to beat Kansas State on Saturday.
Odds Shark: Kansas State 34.4, West Virginia 29.2
The site says Kansas State will win, cover the spread, and the total will go over.
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