In author Willie Carver, Jr.’s new book, he reconsiders a negative childhood experience with a neighborhood girl who might have just been looking for a friend.

Also, a southwestern Virginia community rang the alarm after more and more of its children were diagnosed with cancer. A local journalist is trying to unravel the cause.

And, the city of Asheville has a new crusading reporter. He’s a puppet.

You'll hear this story and more this week, Inside Appalachia.

In This Episode:

Willie Carver Jr.'s Novel Tore All To Pieces
Health Care Hollow In Tennessee
Childhood Cancer Rates Rise In Scott County, Virginia
Preserving Little Green Apples
Air Pollution Can Cause Lung Cancer
Asheville's New Puppet Correspondent

Willie Carver Jr.'s Novel Tore All To Pieces

A book cover with the title, "Tore All To Pieces." There is a photo of a young girl with red hair. The author's name is "Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr." — The cover of *Tore All To Pieces* by Willie Carver Jr.

*Courtesy of University Press of Kentucky*

Kentucky writer and educator Willie Edward Taylor Carver, Jr. has a new book. It’s a mosaic novel that draws from his upbringing, and his experiences as a gay man in Appalachia. The title is Tore All To Pieces, and it weaves together poetry and short stories into a narrative about people and place.

Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Carver about the book, and about the joys of bologna gravy.

Health Care Hollow In Tennessee

A building in the middle a field. — The Perry County Community Hospital shuttered in 2020 and sat vacant for years. It reopened under new owners in September 2025.

*Photo Credit: LaTonya Turner/WPLN News*

Hospitals in rural America are closing at an alarming pace, and Tennessee has the highest closure rate.

WPLN in Nashville is looking at the trend, and what's being done to reverse course.

Reporter Catherine Sweeney went to Linden a Tennessee town that watched its hospital go dark but is now on the path to recovery.

Childhood Cancer Rates Rise In Scott County, Virginia

A child with a golden retriever in bed. — Andryk Williams is joined by a therapy dog.

*Photo courtesy of Kelsey Williams*

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating. And tragic when it happens to a child.

But when multiple childhood cancer cases appear in a community, folks start asking questions. That’s what’s happening in Scott County, Virginia. Scott County has seen a dramatic rise in childhood cancer diagnoses.

Marina Waters is a reporter who’s been covering the issue. Host Mason Adams spoke with her.

Preserving Little Green Apples

Green apples sitting in a basket on a table. — Early transparent green apples from the market ready to be cut up for freezing.

*Photo Credit: Connie Bailey Kitts/West Virginia Public Broadcasting*

Fruit trees in much of central Appalachia are just coming off their spring bloom. Their fruit won’t be ripe until late summer, early fall, but some varieties of apples show up early. Some folks call them June Apples, June transparent apples or even early transparents. The growing season and flavor of this fruit set it apart. And generations of Appalachians have kept these apple trees alive.

In one of our early Folkways stories, from 2020, reporter Connie Kitts discovered that these early apples were in danger of disappearing.

Air Pollution Can Cause Lung Cancer

For decades, we’ve known smoking can lead to lung cancer. Public health messages usually focus on personal behavior that the only way to prevent lung cancer is for people to stop smoking. But new research finds a connection between lung cancer and air pollution, particularly in urban areas.

The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant spoke with researchers about reducing cancer rates through environmental policy.

Asheville's New Puppet Correspondent

A blue puppet with orange hair. — Little Ginger at the BPR studio on March 6, 2026.

*Photo Credit: Laura Hackett/BPR*

There’s a new “voice for the people” in Asheville. He’s a blue puppet with bright red hair. His name is Little Ginger and you can find him on Instagram. He’s a crusading reporter, taking on potholes and local property taxes.

Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Laura Hackett has more.

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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Mary Hott, Paul Loomis, John Blissard and Hello June.

Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.

You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.

You can find us on Instagram,