Hello, hello! I’m a new reporter based in Wise County, bringing you another edition of Southwest Field Notes.
I just moved to Southwest Virginia this month, and a few people have said they’re sorry when I tell them I’m from New Jersey. It’s OK! I’m just happy to be here now.
I’m from West Windsor, New Jersey, but spent the past few years in Boston for school and graduated in May. Since I made the move, I’ve been admiring the mountains, meeting people and getting used to a mile really equaling a minute down here. Can’t say Boston was the same.
I’ll be covering the coalfield counties for Cardinal, which means I’m doing a lot of driving. Since I can’t be everywhere at once, I’ll rely on you to help me know where to be and when. You can reach me any time at anna@cardinalnews.org.
For this week’s edition, I’ll dive into a few things I’ve heard about in my past few weeks here, from new-old legislation to new-old music stores.
Here’s just a pinch of what’s going on in the region. I have so much to learn, and am grateful for any help.
Support Our Miners Act introduced by the House
As I’m told, there have been many pushes to reform benefits miners receive through the federal black lung program. Since 1969, the federal government has allowed some coal miners who have black lung disease, and their families, to apply for medical care and compensation through various versions of this legislation.
In more recent years, especially as severe black lung grips a younger population, bills have been introduced to help address benefits that advocates say have not adapted to current needs. Iterations of the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act include increases in assistance to pay attorneys, reimbursements for CT scans to diagnose the disease and changes to the medical evidence system, which has inhibited survivors and their families from receiving aid.
It was passed out of committee in 2022, when Democrats controlled the House, but did not progress after that. A more recent version of the bill was introduced in 2025.
Now Congress has the next five months to pass a new bill: the Support Our Miners Act, sponsored by Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., and co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., and Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky.
It’s been hard to lobby for the older legislation because of the number of changes it asks congressional offices to understand, said Quenton King, a government affairs specialist at Appalachian Voices, a nonprofit environmental advocacy organization. The new bill would focus specifically on the monthly stipend some miners receive to account for decades of inadequate increases.
A miner received $144.50 each month when the federal program was created in 1969. In today’s currency, that would equate to nearly $1,200 a month, according to statistics from Appalachian Voices.
A single miner today receives $794 monthly, and increases based on dependents, numbers the organization says have fallen behind the cost of living.
The bill would provide a $458 increase per month for a single miner, nearly $5,500 per year. Automatic adjustments for inflation each year going forward would also be ensured under the new bill.
King said the bill now needs co-sponsors, specifically Republicans. They have reached out to U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith’s office, among others, as they seek to educate Appalachian lawmakers about the bill.
There have been no new co-sponsors since the bill was introduced on June 30. King said they are hopeful there will be a new Congress after the November election that might have more success, but they are “still going to fight to the end for this one.”
The Gnarled String is coming to St. Paul
Today is the last day to visit The Gnarled String Music Shoppe in Norton, a one-stop music store that’s been on the city’s main street for the last year.
But loyal patrons will soon be able to visit the storefront in St. Paul. Jennifer Molinary and Nic Cook’s new location will open at 16617 Russell St. on Aug. 15.
Molinary said she and Cook are ready to get everything set up and open in their new location. Their previous lease was terminated and after searching for a location in Norton and coming up dry, they settled on St. Paul. Molinary’s father owns the building and has been hoping to bring a business in.
Molinary grew up in St. Paul and said there hasn’t been a music store in town for many years. She remembers being young and walking over to one whenever she could.
Now she’ll get to walk over again, this time to work. The couple lives in town and hopes their new storefront will contribute to the effort to revitalize St. Paul’s downtown in recent years.
“Hopefully us having the music shop, the Lyric, and the town bringing more music into it will help bring the community together,” Molinary said.
She said she and Cook are still working out the details for a partnership with the Lyric Theater, home to live performances and community events since the historic theater was restored and reopened in 2022.
They hope to partner with the Lyric to potentially host their Gnarly Desk sessions, a video series where they invite local artists to promote the local music scene in the region and expand its identity beyond traditional genres.
After opening, they’ll also start figuring out how they could offer space for local bands to practice, which became a key part of business at the previous location. Bands would pay $75 monthly for weekly practice sessions and extra time if the schedule allowed.
“We have a lot of bands in the area, and everybody lives pretty far away from each other, so it was nice to have a central location,” Molinary said. “I know the bands here have really appreciated the space.”
Lessons will still be available at the Gnarled String, with Cook teaching string instruments.
Early voting for Aug. 4 primaries is still open
Early voting for Democratic and Republican primaries, held to select a candidate for the November election, is still open for another week.
Early voting will end Aug. 1.
Voters can cast ballots in two races: the Republican primary for U.S. Senate and the Democratic primary for U.S. House District 9.
Bert Mizusawa, Kim Farington and David Williams are on the Republican ticket, and the winner will run against Democratic incumbent Mark Warner on Nov. 3.
Joy Powers, Adam Murphy and Douglas Crockett are running for the Democratic slot in hopes of unseating Republican incumbent Morgan Griffith, R-Salem.
In Wise County, early turnout for the Republican primary was 0.11%, or 27 voters, as of June 22. Early voting in the Democratic primary was .07%, or 19 voters as of the same time.
Allison Robbins, director of elections and general registrar in Wise County, said these are typical numbers for a primary in the county. The turnout in the 2025 Democratic and 2024 Republican primaries were a little less than 300 voters, or a little over 1%, she said.
Those interested in early voting can visit their local registrar’s office.
