In communities across the country, Wal-Mart stores are destinations, but when a new store is announced, it's often met by protesters who say the big box retailer hurts small businesses and downtown commerce. Such a fight took place several years ago in Morgantown, WV on a significant archeological site where American Indian remains and artifacts were buried. The Wal-Mart plan was scratched, but a new study by a WVU Economics professor says Wal-Mart’s effect on small businesses isn’t as bad as it’s been portrayed.

Charleston, WV native Dave Evans spent two and a half weeks in Iraq this summer. He is an expert at fitting and making prosthetics. He has put that knowledge to use in a number of war zones, including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Sierra Leone. This work started for him when he lost both legs in an ambush in Vietnam when he was 18 years old. With the help of an internet phone connection, I talked to him from Iraq about what he’s seen. Dave Evans was scheduled to arrive back home in West Virginia Wednesday night.

Some Appalachian governors started this week discussion energy policy at the Southern Governors Association at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. WV Gov. Joe Manchin left that meeting to see a different kind of energy first-hand. He stopped by the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Greenbank, where students were gathered for the Governor’s School for Mathematics and Science.

August 16 is National Homeless Animals Day. In West Virginia, the Kanawha-Charleston Animal Shelter is marking the day by displaying more than 6500 dog and cat collars, one for each animal euthanized at the shelter last year. That means, on average, 17 animals were killed a day in the Kanawha county. A county over, in Cabell County, one organization takes a different approach. At Little Victories shelter, no animals are euthanized.

In Kentucky, middle and high school students returned to the classroom this week. Some may be asked by their teachers about what they did on their summer vacation. At least150 Lexington kids can say they got their first taste of the working world through the city’s summer youth employment program.

The Knouse Cooperative plant has made applesauce in the WV’s Eastern Panhandle since 1922. It will stop production at its Inwood plant around November 14. The closure of the the only applesauce producing plant in the region marks a change in the fruit-growing business.

Anna Pishner Harsh grew up in big family in Harrison County, WV, and they celebrated their Italian heritage. Harsh started the Allegro Dance company in Clarksburg 15 years ago to help carry on Italian traditions, but puts a new twist on technique. She combines traditional dance with modern movement, theatrical presentation and vocal performances. The Allegro Dance Company is now based in Wheeling, WV. One of the dance company’s practices is to learn more about this unique blend of performing art.

Author Donald McCaig has raised sheep and sheep dogs on his Virginia farm for 25 years. Now he sharing what he's learned with others who want to train their dogs. 

The next time you savor a beer, consider how it came to be. The process of making the tasty beverage creates waste material and uses loads of water, but some beers are becoming known for their sustainable manufacturing as well as their taste.