Fred Echols
Producer and ReporterFred Echols is a long-time member of the WVTF Music/RADIO IQ news department and produces news content as well as public affairs programs. Fred's career in broadcasting began in North Carolina's Triad before switching from commercial radio, where he'd held numerous positions including program director. He was a long-time host of All Things Considered on WVTF and Radio IQ, and listeners still hear him on Radio IQ news programs, including during Cardinal Conversations features. He's also heard during our on-air fund drives.
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Important, but little known, stories from the histories of people in southwestern Virginia will be getting recognition thanks to a project being funded by the Mellon Foundation.Two Virginia Tech professors used a $3 million grant to create an organization called Monuments Across Appalachian Virginia. Lindsey Hull has written about it for Cardinal News, and she talked with Fred Echols. -
Katsiaryna Shmatsina, who goes by Kate, is a lawyer and political analyst from Belarus working toward a doctorate at Virginia Tech.She's being tried in absentia in her homeland, accused of plotting to overthrow the government. The charges stem from policy papers critical of the government that she wrote in Belarus.Fred Echols talked with Dwayne Yancey who has written about her situation for Cardinal News.
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Virginia has made considerable progress in expanding broadband internet access.One place where things have not gone quite so quickly is the area west of the Blue Ridge Parkway. And the road itself is part of the problem.Internet companies have to get a federal permit to run cable underneath the Parkway. That can take a long time.Fred Echols talked with Tad Dickens who covering this issue for Cardinal News.
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Investor-owned utilities in Virginia are allowed by law to earn a specified rate of return from their operations.They often cite inability to get that return as a reason for requesting permission to raise their rates.Several utilities are in the process of doing that right now. Cardinal News business reporter Matt Busse has been covering that story and he spoke with Fred Echols.
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A data center proposed for Pittsylvania County would be a major economic development win for Southside Virginia. The center would be built on a 900-acre tract just east of Danville.Grace Mamon reported on the proposal for Cardinal News, and she talked about it with Fred Echols.
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Since the end of the pandemic, average wages in the part of Southwest Virginia the state designates as Region One have grown by nearly 6%.It's a surprising trend for a part of the state that continues to lag behind in overall average pay.Dwayne Yancey wrote about it for Cardinal News and he spoke with Fred Echols.
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Some places put up shell buildings or create industrial parks to bring in new jobs and new people. Others emphasize improving their quality of life to spur growth. Two Virginia communities are taking the latter approach this year.Fred Echols talked with Matte Busse, who wrote about them for Cardinal News.
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The Virginia General Assembly has cut funding for the Health Wagon from the upcoming two-year budget. The action came after it was revealed the Southwestern Virginia free medical clinic is paying CEO Teresa Tyson more than $500,000 a year.Emily Schabacher with Cardinal News was first to report on the compensation package. She talked about it with Fred Echols.
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When farmers in Southwest Virginia started planting hemp to produce CBD oil they thought it would be a reliable cash crop for many years to come. But five years later the market for hemp has proven to be unsustainable.Katie Thomason wrote about the collapse of the hemp market for Cardinal News. She talked about it with Fred Echols.
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A Virginia House committee chaired by Henrico County Delegate Rodney Willet will spend the next few months looking for ways to make health care more accessible in rural parts of the state.Emily Schabacker with Cardinal News covered the committee's first meeting in Tazewell County and spoke with Fred Echols.
