Erica Peterson

Erica reports on environment and energy issues for WFPL, which run the gamut from stories about the region’s biodiversity to coal mine safety and pollution issues. In the name of journalism, she’s gone spelunking, tagged mussels and taste-tested bourbon. Erica moved to Louisville in June 2011 from Charleston, West Virginia, where she worked for the state’s public radio and television affiliate. Besides Kentucky and West Virginia, she’s lived in New Jersey, Minnesota and Illinois. She lives with her husband and son in Louisville.

Congress Considers Weighing In On Drug Testing For Race Horses

Erica Peterson

The marquee U.S. horse race is this weekend: the Kentucky Derby. It's always a lavish affair. A debate has reemerged about what drugs horses are given on race days and it's roiling the industry.
From Coal To Code: A New Path For Laid-Off Miners In Kentucky

Erica Peterson

The state's coal industry is shrinking fast; more than 10,000 workers have lost their jobs since 2008. A small firm in eastern Kentucky is turning unemployed coal workers into software developers.
A Summery Spread That's As Cool As A Cucumber

Erica Peterson

It's summertime and cucumbers are abundant. If you don't feel like making pickles, why not try Benedictine? This blend of cream cheese, cucumbers and onion is a Kentucky classic, dating back a century to a Louisville tearoom.