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Articles by David Hodge
Financing Canada’s Food Security Economy
Between February and September 2026, the federal government and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) advanced several initiatives that could materially expand the capital available for Canadian agri-food infrastructure, processing, manufacturing and innovation. In this article, the first in a seven-part series titled, "Food Security and the Law," we examine these emerging capital channels and consider next steps to achieve project readiness for agri-food businesses.
Supernatural Machines: The History of Spirit Communication Devices
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The Religious Socialization of African American and Black Caribbean Adolescents: Ethnic Differences and Covariates, Key Socialization Agents, and Parental Messages
ABSTRACT Religion influences the lives of many Black Americans—including their health and wellness—yet little is known about the religious socialization of Black adolescents. This nationally representative study examined the socialization process among African American and Black Caribbean adolescents. No differences emerged in the frequency of parental religious messaging between the two ethnic groups.
Granny Horror Escape Game With Challenging Survival Adventure
Granny is a popular horror escape game that combines mystery, survival, and puzzle-solving elements in a frightening house environment. The game places players inside an old and dangerous house where they must find a way to escape while avoiding a terrifying enemy named Granny. With limited time, hidden objects, and unexpected traps, Granny creates a tense experience that keeps players focused from the beginning until the final escape. The main goal in Granny is simple but challenging.
Judge Yet to Rule on Justice Family’s Bid to Extend $500M Greenbrier Refinancing Deadline
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV. (VR) — A federal judge has yet to rule on a request by U.S. Sen. Jim Justice’s family to push back the deadline for closing its $500 million refinancing deal in order to settle the legal battle over control of The Greenbrier, with a response from the resort’s current lender due Monday. Attorneys for Justice, his wife Cathy, son Jay, and several Greenbrier businesses asked U.S. District Judge Frank Volk on July 21 for an additional 18 days, until Aug.
Oluv Oil Brings Gourmet Flavor and Community Connection to Clifton Forge’s Five Sides Building
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR) — Tucked inside one of downtown Clifton Forge’s most talked-about landmarks, a small specialty shop is giving local cooks a reason to put down the grocery store bottle and taste something different. Oluv Oil, located at 511 Main St. inside the Five Sides Building, offers premium olive oils, aged vinegars and gourmet cooking essentials that were largely unavailable in the Alleghany Highlands before the shop opened.
AHPS Board Approves Calendar, Staff Raises and Expanded Music Program
LOW MOOR, VA (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands Public School Board met in July to approve the 2026–2027 school calendar, adopt a resolution recognizing Attendance Awareness Month, approve a new fiscal year budget with pay raises for staff, and hear an update on a district music program that expanded its reach into local elementary schools this past year.
Virginia Drought Deepens as Lake Moomaw Levels Continue to Fall
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – Months of below-normal rainfall have pushed roughly 80% of Virginia into drought conditions, and the effects are visible from the reservoirs that supply the Alleghany Highlands to lakes across the state that draw summer tourists. As of July 14, about 34,189 square miles of Virginia—nearly 80% of the state—were classified as being in active drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Another 12% was listed as abnormally dry.
Canadian Wildfire Smoke Shrouds Alleghany Highlands, Prompting Health Concerns
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – A persistent haze has settled over the Alleghany Highlands in recent weeks, dulling mountain views and prompting air quality warnings across Virginia. The culprit isn’t local; it’s smoke that has traveled hundreds of miles from wildfires burning in Canada. More than 800 wildfires have been burning in Canada’s boreal forests in recent weeks, sending a dense plume of smoke southeastward across the Great Lakes and into the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Virginia.
Covington Council Approves Grant, Addresses Road Safety Concerns, Honors Longtime Employee
COVINGTON, VA (VR) — The Covington City Council approved $5,000 in Walmart grant funding for community policing efforts, heard resident concerns about pothole-riddled roads, and honored a longtime city mechanic’s retirement during its regular meeting Tuesday, July 14. Council members voted unanimously to adopt a resolution appropriating $5,000 in Walmart Community Grant funds for the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office’s National Night Out event, scheduled for early August.
Clifton Forge Council Approves Investment Pool, Advances Public Safety Ordinances
CLIFTON FORGE, VA (VR) – The Clifton Forge Town Council on Tuesday heard a presentation about the Virginia Investment Pool and advanced a slate of public safety and quality-of-life ordinances while tabling action on new rules for inoperable vehicles until police concerns can be clarified.
Virginia Confirms 10 Cases of Cyclospora as Health Officials Investigate Regional Outbreaks
(VR) – The Commonwealth has confirmed its first reported cases of cyclosporiasis this summer, as health officials in the Mid-Atlantic and across the country investigate a growing surge in infections and several regional outbreaks. The Virginia Department of Health is reporting 10 cases of cyclosporiasis so far in 2026, according to a July 7 media update. However, the agency said it is not currently investigating any local outbreaks tied to a common source.
Covington Council Reviews Utility Rate Increase, Major Infrastructure Projects, Summer Events
COVINGTON, VA (VR) — The Covington City Council on Tuesday reviewed the impact of its recently adopted utility rate increase, heard a detailed update on ongoing water and sewer projects, and recognized a series of community events that drew visitors to the Alleghany Highlands over the past several weeks. City Manager Allen Dressler told council that, effective July 1, residential utility bills increased by $14 a month — $7 for water and $7 for sewer — with no change to refuse charges.
Alleghany County Supervisors Approve Pay Raise, Utility Projects and Hear Forest Service, Sheriff Reports
COVINGTON, VA (VR) — The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors approved a bigger cost-of-living raise for county employees and awarded several infrastructure contracts Tuesday after hearing updates from the U.S. Forest Service and the Alleghany County Sheriff’s Office. District Ranger Kevin Kyle of the Forest Service’s Warm Springs Ranger District told supervisors his agency is moving forward with a new wastewater treatment plant at the north end of Lake Moomaw.
Justice Family’s Greenbrier Faces $3.6 Million IRS Tax Lien Amid Ongoing Financial Disputes
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. (VR) – The Internal Revenue Service has filed two federal tax liens totaling more than $3.6 million against businesses tied to U.S. Sen. Jim Justice and his family, adding to a growing list of financial and legal troubles surrounding The Greenbrier resort. The liens, filed Thursday with the Greenbrier County Circuit Clerk, target the Greenbrier Hotel Corp. and the Greenbrier Clinic, the resort’s health center.
Storms Flood Roads and Knock out Power to Alleghany County and Covington
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) — Severe thunderstorms swept through the Alleghany Highlands on Saturday, dumping heavy rain and whipping up damaging winds that flooded roads and parking lots and knocked out power to nearly 1,000 homes and businesses at the height of the storm. By Sunday, crews with Appalachian Power and Dominion Energy had restored service to the vast majority of customers across Covington and Alleghany County, according to officials.
Greenbrier Casino Narrowly Avoids Closure with Last Minute License Renewal
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (VR) The Casino Club at The Greenbrier came within hours of going dark before the West Virginia Lottery Commission granted a last-minute renewal of its gaming license, keeping the doors open for guests and members heading into the new fiscal year. The commission approved the renewal during an emergency meeting held by conference call on June 30, just before the casino’s license was set to expire at midnight.
Alleghany Highlands Emerge From Dangerous Holiday Heat Wave, but Risks Linger
COVINGTON, Va (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands spent the Fourth of July holiday under some of the most dangerous heat the region has seen in years, and while temperatures are finally easing this week, local officials say the effects of the extended heat wave from strained utilities to a heightened wildfire threat are far from over.
Alleghany Outdoors Keeps the Jackson River Busy and Turns up the Reggae this Month
ALLEGHANY COUNTY, VA (WVDN) – For eight years, Alleghany Outdoors has been turning the Jackson River and the trail that runs alongside it into one of the busiest recreation hubs in Alleghany County, and this month, the outfitter is adding a reggae concert to the mix.
Douthat State Park Celebrates 90th Anniversary With CCC- Themed Events
DOUTHAT STATE PARK (VR) – Douthat State Park marked 90 years as one of Virginia’s original state parks with a weekend of living history that brought the Civilian Conservation Corps era back to life for visitors of all ages. The park’s “Celebrating 90 Years of History and Culture” weekend, held June 13–15, honored the young men of the CCC whose labor during the Great Depression built the lake, cabins and trails that still define the Bath County destination.
Tickner Named Principal During June School Board Meeting
LOW MOOR, VA (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands School Board on June 15 formally appointed Dee Ann Tickner as the new principal of Jeter Watson Elementary School, capping a meeting that also highlighted student achievements, a college-and-career readiness initiative, and a closed-session review of legal and safety matters.
Susan Wolfe’s Election as Vice Mayor Highlights Busy Covington Council Session
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – On June 9, 2026, Covington City Council on Tuesday approved its fiscal 2026–27 budget, accepted grant funding tied to the city’s upcoming VA 250 celebration, and elevated Councilwoman Susan Wolf to serve as the city’s new vice mayor. Wolfe was unanimously chosen by her colleagues during a roll call conducted by the city clerk.
Clifton Forge Council Adopts Budget, Moves Ahead with Planning Grant, Speed Humps
CLIFTON FORGE, (VR) Clifton Forge Town Council adopted its 2026-27 budget, authorized a new planning grant application, and announced installation of speed humps on key residential streets during its June 9 meeting. Mayor Jeff Irvine opened the session by amending the agenda to add discussion of a Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) planning grant.
State Fair of West Virginia Marks 101st Year with Tradition and Big Plans
FAIRLEA, W.V. (VR) – What began on a two-acre grove in the mid-19th century has grown into one of Appalachia’s signature summer traditions. This August, the State Fair of West Virginia will celebrate its 101st anniversary, blending deep agricultural roots with big- name entertainment and a vision for year-round impact. The 10-day fair, set for Aug.
Covington Council Weighs Budget as Schools, Small Businesses Seek More Support
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – Covington City Council on Tuesday held a brief public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 city budget and fee schedule, hearing appeals for more school funding and small business tax relief before moving on to proclamations, appointments, and an update on major city projects. The June 2 public hearing and work session were held at City Hall.
Alleghany Supervisors Approve Budget Amendment, Back Jefferson School Project, Confront Water Loss
COVINGTON, VA (VR) — The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a midyear budget amendment of nearly $2.4 million, backed fee relief for a major housing project in Clifton Forge, and received sobering updates on school funding, health care access, and water system losses. The board met June 2 for its monthly meeting. Supervisors unanimously adopted amendments to the 2025-26 operating budget totaling $2,394,732.72 after a required public hearing.
Athletes, Artists, Volunteers, and Retirees Highlighted at Alleghany Highlands School Board Meeting
LOW MOOR, VA (VR) -A nearly packed house of students, families, teachers, and community members filled the room Monday night as the Alleghany Highlands School Board used much of its May 18 meeting to celebrate student achievements, volunteer service and longtime employees nearing retirement. The meeting opened with an extended recognition segment for winter athletes, music and art students, forensics competitors and other extracurricular standouts from across the division.
Health Access, Local Hospitals Take Center Stage at Clifton Forge Gathering
CLIFTON FORGE, VA (VR) – Local leaders, healthcare executives, and residents packed a May community gathering in Clifton Forge to confront one of the Alleghany Highlands’ most urgent concerns, access to healthcare close to home. Hosted as the May 2026 Clifton Forge Community Gathering, the event focused on chronic disease, mental health, and substance use, as well as local hospital partnerships and physician recruitment.
Justice Family Faces Twin Legal Fronts over Greenbrier Clinic, Resort Control
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. (VR) – The business empire tied to U.S. Sen. Jim Justice is under mounting pressure on two fronts, with a wave of class action lawsuits targeting the Greenbrier Clinic and a parallel courtroom fight that could determine who ultimately controls the historic Greenbrier resort. At the Greenbrier Clinic, federal regulators shut down mammography services on Feb.
Justice Family Faces Twin Legal Fronts over Greenbrier Clinic, Resort Control.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.V. (VR) The business empire tied to U.S. Sen. Jim Justice is under mounting pressure on two fronts, with a wave of class action lawsuits targeting the Greenbrier Clinic and a parallel courtroom fight that could determine who ultimately controls the historic Greenbrier resort. At the Greenbrier Clinic, federal regulators shut down mammography services on Feb.
Historic Wilson House Offers Peaceful Escape in Highland County
MONTEREY, Va (VR) – Tucked into the quiet folds of Highland County’s Blue Grass Valley, the Wilson House on Marine Ralston Lane offers travelers a rare combination of historic character and modern comfort on an 80-acre mountain retreat. The farmhouse, located at 311 Doreen Ralston Lane near Monterey, has been in the Wilson family for generations.
Alleghany High School Seniors Honored With More Than $200,000 in Scholarships
LOW MOOR, Va (VR)- Alleghany High School’s Class of 2026 was celebrated this week in a scholarship awards ceremony Thursday evening, May 14, that highlighted both the academic achievements of its seniors and the deep support of the surrounding community. Over the course of the evening, more than 215 scholarships totaling in excess of $200,000 were presented to graduating seniors.
River Ridge Family Health Opens New Direct Primary Care Practice in Rockbridge County
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, Va. (VR) – At River Ridge Family Health, patients aren’t rushed through a crowded waiting room or squeezed into a five-minute time slot. Instead, they find a model of care that more closely resembles the family medicine many people remember from decades past. Elizabeth Berry, the owner and sole provider at River Ridge Family Health, has created a direct primary care practice that focuses on time, access, and relationships.
Assistant Mayor Seat Still in Limbo as City Council Weighs Budget Proposal
COVINGTON, VA (VR) – Old Town Covington has joined an elite group of Main Street communities as city council members face a tight budget year that may soon require higher water and sewer rates and a tougher stance on blighted properties. During Tuesday night’s regular meeting, Executive Director Kester Dingus announced that Old Town Covington Inc. is now fully accredited by Virginia Main Street and Main Street America. Only 31 programs in Virginia and 838 nationwide currently hold that status.
Court Appoints Stephen Allen Tucker to Fill Covington District 2 Council Seat, Ending Weeks of Uncertainty Following Mayor Forbes’ Death
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) — A circuit court judge has appointed Stephen Allen Tucker to fill Covington’s vacant District 2 council seat, ending weeks of uncertainty after the death of Mayor Fred F. Forbes III and the City Council’s inability to agree on an interim replacement. In an order dated May 5, Alleghany County Circuit Court Judge Edward K. Stein granted a petition filed on behalf of Covington City Council by attorney Mark C. Popovich.
Alpha-Gal Syndrome Cases Climb as Ticks Spread Across U.S., Doctors Warn of Summer Risk
SOUTHERN U.S. (WVDN) – Cases of alpha-gal syndrome—a red meat allergy linked to tick bites—are surging across the United States due to rising temperatures and expanding tick habitats, according to doctors and public health experts. Once considered a rare condition largely confined to the Southeast, alpha-gal syndrome is now being diagnosed in the Midwest, Northeast, and other regions.
Garlinda’s Fancy Feet Keeps Clifton Forge Dancing After Nearly 40 Years
CLIFTON FORGE, Va (VR) Nearly four decades after opening her doors, Garlynda’s Fancy Feet remains a cornerstone of the Alleghany Highlands dance community, blending technical training with an emphasis on confidence, character, and family style support for local children and teens. Founded in 1986–87 by Garlynda Haynes, the studio has introduced generations of students to ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop and clogging from its home on East Main Street in Clifton Forge.
School Board Honors Standout Staff, Backs Bonuses and Building Repairs
ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS, VA (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands Public Schools board used its April 21 meeting to recognize top teachers, support staff, and students, spotlight a new mentoring program, and approve one-time employee bonuses and key facility repairs. The board opened with a long list of Teacher of the Year and Support Personnel of the Year awards from schools across the division, presented in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce.
Clifton Forge Council Backs Alley Abandonment, Land Sale, and Infrastructure Work
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR)— The Clifton Forge Town Council on Tuesday advanced two property actions, reviewed progress on key water and street projects, and heard public concerns about the town’s approach to licensing food trucks and other mobile vendors. The meeting began with approval of minutes from the council’s Feb.
Covington Leaders Weigh Council Vacancy Pick, Looming Utility Hikes.
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) City council officials moved closer this week to filling the District Two council vacancy created from the unfortunate passing of Mayor Forbes while also confronting steep water and sewer rate hikes needed to keep the utility system afloat.
Greenbrier Resort at Center of High-Stakes Legal and Financial Battle
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (WVDN) – The historic Greenbrier resort, long a symbol of luxury and a major economic engine in southern West Virginia, is now at the center of a complex financial and legal showdown involving its owner, Senator Jim Justice’s family, a regional bank and the parent company of Omni Hotels and Resorts.
Where Everyone Feels Like Family – A Look at City’s Cafe and Brewery
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) – In a dining scene crowded with big chains and frozen fare, The City’s Cafe and Brewery is betting its future on something increasingly rare, a truly family-operated restaurant built on fresh, homemade food and small-town community. Owner Jeannie Boguess opened City’s Cafe last August after months of work turning a former pool hall into a warm, welcoming space. The name itself was born at her kitchen table. “I always said I wanted a diner,” she recalled.
“Garlynda’s Fancy Feet” Molding Minds One Dance Step at a Time
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR) – Garlynda’s Fancy Feet has been shaping confident, disciplined, and resilient young minds in Clifton Forge and the surrounding communities for decades, proving that a small-town studio can have a big-time impact. Founded in the 1980s by longtime educator and Radford University graduate Garlynda Haynes, the studio has grown from a modest local venture into a multigenerational institution.
Covington Residents Face Days of Disrupted Water Service; Local Business Steps Up
COVINGTON, Va (VR) – A water main break in Covington left portions of the city under a boil water advisory for days, forcing schools to go virtual and sending residents scrambling for safe drinking water. City officials said the break, first identified on Thursday, March 26, 2026, occurred off South Carpenter Drive near the CSX railroad. The incident caused a complete loss of water or low water pressure in numerous areas of Covington and parts of Alleghany County.
Depictions of BIPOC and European American characters with psychosis: a content analysis of the top-rated fictional television programming in the United States
Advanced search Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work Latest Articles Submit an article Journal homepage Full Article Figures & data References Citations Metrics Reprints & Permissions Read this article /doi/full/10.1080/15313204.2026.2648540?needAccess=true ABSTRACT This content analysis investigated the visibility and framing of Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) characters with psychosis in fictional television programming.
Alleghany Tennis Players Competing on Cracked Courts as School Board Eyes Upgrade
ALLEGHANY HIGHLANDS (VR) – As spring sports return to the Alleghany Highlands, one program is quietly succeeding on some of the most neglected facilities in the district: the Alleghany High School’s tennis teams. While football remains the dominant sport in much of Virginia, and Alleghany is no exception, parents and athletes want safe, respectable conditions for every extracurricular program. Recent investments have reinforced football’s prominence.
Covington Mayor Fred Forbes Remembered as “Man of the People” After Sudden Death
COVINGTON, Va. (VR) — Covington Mayor Fred Fenton Forbes III, a former construction foreman who rose to lead his hometown through a period of transition and loss, died Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. He was 63. City officials and residents across the Alleghany Highlands are mourning the death of a leader they describe as plainspoken, hardworking and deeply rooted in the community he served.
Women’s History Month Honors Generations Who Fought for a Seat at the Table
USA (WVDN) – Women’s History Month, celebrated each March, began not with a sweeping act of Congress but with a small California school district determined to rewrite the story of who gets remembered. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women in Santa Rosa, California, organized the first Women’s History Week.
St. Patrick’s Day From Ancient Missionary to Global Celebration
Millions of people around the world will wear green, watch parades, and raise a glass on March 17, but the history of St. Patrick’s Day reaches far beyond shamrocks, leprechauns, and green beer. The holiday grew from the story of a fifth-century missionary and evolved throughout centuries of Irish identity, immigration, and religious tradition, becoming a global celebration of Irish culture. St. Patrick himself was not Irish.
St. Patrick’s Day From Ancient Missionary to Global Celebration
Millions of people around the world will wear green, watch parades, and raise a glass on March 17, but the history of St. Patrick’s Day reaches far beyond shamrocks, leprechauns, and green beer. The holiday grew from the story of a fifth-century missionary and evolved throughout centuries of Irish identity, immigration, and religious tradition, becoming a global celebration of Irish culture. St. Patrick himself was not Irish.
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