John Raby
@johnraby61.bsky.social
Gardener, baker, storymaker in my 5th decade as a writer for The Associated Press. I am a native of Southeast Michigan and currently live in West Virginia USA (gardening zone 7A)
The body of a coal miner has been found in a flooded West Virginia mine, the governor says
apnews.com/article/floo...
apnews.com/article/floo...
The body of a coal miner has been found in a flooded West Virginia mine, the governor says
Gov. Patrick Morrisey says crews have found the body of a coal miner missing for days after a mine flooded in West Virginia.
apnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The body of a coal miner has been found in a flooded West Virginia mine, the governor says
apnews.com/article/floo...
apnews.com/article/floo...
Just wow. Taken tonight. 📷 🌱
November 12, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Just wow. Taken tonight. 📷 🌱
Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation’s capital can continue, judge says
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation’s capital can continue, judge rules
A West Virginia state judge has allowed the continued deployment of more than 300 West Virginia National Guard members to Washington, D.C.
apnews.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation’s capital can continue, judge says
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
This maple tree in the first photo blocks the sun for a few hours in the back garden but I sure don’t want to mess with it, as shown by the red fall colors.
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
November 3, 2025 at 5:49 AM
This maple tree in the first photo blocks the sun for a few hours in the back garden but I sure don’t want to mess with it, as shown by the red fall colors.
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
The burning bush in the second photo is putting on a show, too. 🌱
I present to you perhaps the world smallest watermelon pick tonight from the garden before the big freeze.
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
October 24, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I present to you perhaps the world smallest watermelon pick tonight from the garden before the big freeze.
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
It tasted perfectly fine. 🌱
Picked my loofa before tonight’s hard freeze. 🌱 The fun part is still ahead with taking off the husks, shaking out billions of seeds and washing the goo out of those that are barely ready.
October 24, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Picked my loofa before tonight’s hard freeze. 🌱 The fun part is still ahead with taking off the husks, shaking out billions of seeds and washing the goo out of those that are barely ready.
Love being able to pick zucchini in October. Gonna make some chocolate chip zucchini bread that the kids will devour in no time. 🌱
October 11, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Love being able to pick zucchini in October. Gonna make some chocolate chip zucchini bread that the kids will devour in no time. 🌱
I picked the last of the potatoes from the garden the day before fall arrived, and tonight I finally got around to making them in the air fryer with olive oil, salt and garlic. 👨🍳🌱
October 7, 2025 at 12:58 AM
I picked the last of the potatoes from the garden the day before fall arrived, and tonight I finally got around to making them in the air fryer with olive oil, salt and garlic. 👨🍳🌱
Hadn’t seen any visitors in almost 2 weeks. Then these two beauties showed up today. It was more like a pit stop because fueled up and were on their way.
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
September 25, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Hadn’t seen any visitors in almost 2 weeks. Then these two beauties showed up today. It was more like a pit stop because fueled up and were on their way.
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
Glad they at least sat still for one last photo. 🌱
West Virginia and Pitt have agreed to extend their Backyard Brawl football series for four more years from 2033 to 2036.
September 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
West Virginia and Pitt have agreed to extend their Backyard Brawl football series for four more years from 2033 to 2036.
Reposted by John Raby
BREAKING: Suspect in custody in connection with Charlie Kirk shooting is a 22-year-old from Utah, an AP source says.
Trump says 'with a high degree of certainty' that suspect in Charlie Kirk killing has been caught
The suspect in custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk is a 22-year-old from Utah.
bit.ly
September 12, 2025 at 1:23 PM
BREAKING: Suspect in custody in connection with Charlie Kirk shooting is a 22-year-old from Utah, an AP source says.
Every day, I wonder whether it might be the last time I see a butterfly this year before the great migration.
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
September 11, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Every day, I wonder whether it might be the last time I see a butterfly this year before the great migration.
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
This was today on my Mexican sunflower.
Safe travels, my friend. 🌱
Finally got around to cutting the watermelon I picked from the garden before the recent cold snap hit. 🌱
September 9, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Finally got around to cutting the watermelon I picked from the garden before the recent cold snap hit. 🌱
It’s Backyard Brawl week.
West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez says “13-9” is still a sore spot when that 2007 loss to Pitt is brought up.
“It was the worst moment of my professional career from a game standpoint. I tried to move past it a long time ago.”
apnews.com/article/west...
West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez says “13-9” is still a sore spot when that 2007 loss to Pitt is brought up.
“It was the worst moment of my professional career from a game standpoint. I tried to move past it a long time ago.”
apnews.com/article/west...
Rich Rodriguez faces Pitt for first time since 2007 loss that derailed WVU's national title hopes
Rich Rodriguez will coach West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl against Pittsburgh for the first time since he left 18 years ago.
apnews.com
September 9, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It’s Backyard Brawl week.
West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez says “13-9” is still a sore spot when that 2007 loss to Pitt is brought up.
“It was the worst moment of my professional career from a game standpoint. I tried to move past it a long time ago.”
apnews.com/article/west...
West Virginia’s Rich Rodriguez says “13-9” is still a sore spot when that 2007 loss to Pitt is brought up.
“It was the worst moment of my professional career from a game standpoint. I tried to move past it a long time ago.”
apnews.com/article/west...
A cantaloupe picked today from my garden. 🌱
September 3, 2025 at 1:33 AM
A cantaloupe picked today from my garden. 🌱
Reposted by John Raby
Rural hospitals are preparing to lose billions of dollars from President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending cut bill signed into law this summer.
FACT FOCUS: Rural hospitals are expected to lose money from Trump's bill, despite RFK Jr.'s promise
There's more to that nearly 900-page bill than Kennedy let on at the White House.
bit.ly
August 30, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Rural hospitals are preparing to lose billions of dollars from President Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending cut bill signed into law this summer.
West Virginia beats Robert Morris 45-3 in Rich Rodriguez’s first game back as coach
apnews.com/article/robe...
apnews.com/article/robe...
Marchiol and White shine, West Virginia beats Robert Morris 45-3 in Rich Rodriguez's coaching return
West Virginia beat Robert Morris 45-3 in the return of Rich Rodriguez as West Virginia's coach. Nicco Marchiol passed for one touchdown and threw for another, Jahiem White had two short TD runs for th...
apnews.com
August 30, 2025 at 9:58 PM
West Virginia beats Robert Morris 45-3 in Rich Rodriguez’s first game back as coach
apnews.com/article/robe...
apnews.com/article/robe...
Visits like this is why I can never get any work done. 🌱😍
August 28, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Visits like this is why I can never get any work done. 🌱😍
Finally was able to get a video, photo _ something! _ of a hummingbird on the Mexican sunflowers.
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
August 25, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Finally was able to get a video, photo _ something! _ of a hummingbird on the Mexican sunflowers.
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
Every stinking’ time I had tried before, they would immediately take off upon seeing me. They sure like their privacy around here. 🌱
The way the sun angle made my Mexican sunflower glow today. 🌱📷❤️
August 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
The way the sun angle made my Mexican sunflower glow today. 🌱📷❤️
This beauty spent the better part of the afternoon on the Mexican sunflowers today. 🌱
August 22, 2025 at 10:49 PM
This beauty spent the better part of the afternoon on the Mexican sunflowers today. 🌱
A federal judge allowed four football players to compete at West Virginia this season, the latest ruling in one of a long line of cases challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules.
apnews.com/article/ncaa...
apnews.com/article/ncaa...
Judge allows 4 West Virginia football players fighting NCAA eligibility rules to compete
A federal judge has allowed four football players fighting NCAA eligibility rules to compete at West Virginia this season.
apnews.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM
A federal judge allowed four football players to compete at West Virginia this season, the latest ruling in one of a long line of cases challenging the NCAA’s eligibility rules.
apnews.com/article/ncaa...
apnews.com/article/ncaa...
Reposted by John Raby
BREAKING: Texas House gives initial approval to new maps that would create up to five more winnable congressional seats for the GOP.
Live updates: Texas House approves new congressional maps that favor Republicans in 2026 midterms
The Republican-controlled Texas House of Representatives voted Wednesday to pass initial approval to a redrawn congressional map that creates up to five new winnable GOP seats in Congress.
bit.ly
August 20, 2025 at 10:44 PM
BREAKING: Texas House gives initial approval to new maps that would create up to five more winnable congressional seats for the GOP.