Blankenship On Trial: Recent Episodes
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On April 5, 2010, 29 men were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia. Federal regulators say a history of unsafe practices led to the explosion and prosecutors are now trying to prove that culture at Massey Energy came from the top down, starting with former CEO Don Blankenship. These are the stories as they are told in the courtroom, the evidence as presented by both sides and the community's reactions to the trial of Don Blankenship.
On this West Virginia Morning, Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders' iconic items earned big bucks at auction. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, reporter Andrew Henderson went to the auction and hung around for the fried chicken.
Also, West Virginia lawmakers have said school funding reform is a top priority in next year’s legislative session, and they got a glimpse of the governor’s perspective on the issue.
And, members of the Joint Committee on Children and Families were frustrated by the lack of detailed information they received regarding critical incidents involving children in state care.
Finally, state lawmakers also discussed AI-surveillance cameras for nearly an hour and a half on Sunday as controversies continue over the use of the technology.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, residents across Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia have packed public meetings in recent months to speak out against data centers. A recurring concern is how the developments could affect the cost of electricity. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Curtis Tate reports this comes as utility prices have already been on the rise.
Also, legislative interims got underway at the state capitol in Charleston over the weekend, a chance for lawmakers to address significant issues that come up between the regular 60-day session that begins in January.
And, democrats in the West Virginia House of Delegates are renewing their call for Gov. Patrick Morrisey to bring the legislature back in for a special session to address what they call a crisis with the public school funding formula.
Finally, Morrisey ordered U.S. and state flags lowered at all state facilities and in Jefferson County in honor of former state Sen. Herb Snyder, who died last week. Flags will be flown at half-staff until sunset on Friday, Aug. 14.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey gets pushback over school clothing vouchers, Huntington residents seek to ban Flock cameras, and black lung is big again.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, for nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it’s easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to life by Artist Fred Lasswell in the 1930s, but now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke to Rose about drawing the famous hillbilly.
Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is getting pushback for the concerns he’s raised about school clothing voucher funds that are accessed through ATMs.
And, a group of Huntington residents hopes to ban the city from entering into any contracts for mass surveillance systems.
Finally, individuals who live or work in Lewis and Upshur counties and lost work due to the severe storms on July 21 and 22 may qualify for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, federal health researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have a new report about black lung disease among the most experienced coal miners in Appalachia. They are suffering from the incurable disease at the highest rates in nearly half a century. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports.
Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey has launched an investigation into whether funds from the school voucher clothing program were actually used to purchase things other than clothes for kids.
And, coal volumes for two of the nation’s biggest railroads are up from last year. Domestic coal shipments declined amid a flurry of favorable Trump administration policies.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA) has just launched its inaugural Coolest Thing Made In West Virginia tournament. Nominations are open now and the public voting begins in a few short weeks. Assistant News Director Maria Young caught up with WVMA President Bill Bissett to find out what organizers hope will come from the competition – and what makes a really cool product.
Also, a former delegate has removed himself from the November general election ballot, avoiding a hearing before the state election commission.
And, southern West Virginia residents concerned about water quality in their homes and communities have a chance to tell Gov. Patrick Morrisey all about those issues.
Finally, three members of the Marion County Board of Education are being sued for sexual discrimination by two employees.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, roadside farmstands with homemade jams and bread are a common sight in Appalachia. Because they’re unmanned, many of them work on the honor system: Take a carton of berries, leave some cash. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia and has this.
Also, American Electric Power has agreed to buy one of the nation’s newest coal-fired electric plants. It also comes with permits to build a natural gas plant.
And, Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s office released a statement on Monday, addressing concerns about the School Clothing Allowance program.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, data center development is a fast-growing industry, with projects popping up in seemingly every corner of the country. But that’s not been the case in West Virginia so far. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Chris Schulz reports state officials are rolling out the red carpet for the expensive and increasingly expansive projects.
Also, National Night Out will be celebrated across West Virginia on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The event began in 1970 in Philadelphia, as an effort to encourage police-community partnerships and promote neighborhood camaraderie.
And, bugs are everywhere. They’re essential to things like farming and a healthy environment, and they’re hard to ignore when you spend time outside. Working with some folks at the Natural History Museum of Utah, WPLN news editor Daniel Potter been making a podcast about bugs, including some you can’t miss this time of year: fireflies.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, parents are urged to have the difficult discussions and take the necessary steps to keep their children safe from harm after a teacher and state delegate is arrested for sexual abuse. Maria Young spoke to U.S. Attorney Moore Capito about how best to protect children from predators who seem both successful and safe.
Also, a recent national story looked at Ascend West Virginia, an effort to attract remote workers. News Director Eric Douglas caught up with NPR reporter Scott Neuman to discuss the program in relation to other similar efforts and what he discovered.
We also get updates from flood recovery efforts, one power plant expands while another files for bankruptcy, and the state records its first case of measles in two years.
Finally, from this week’s Inside Appalachia, Mason Adams speaks with writer Emilee Hackney about her new book All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir. It explores the tension between loving her home in Tazwell, Virginia, while also feeling stifled there, and what happened when she left.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
A new memoir explores the struggle to stay in Appalachia and the struggle to leave.
Also, an exhibit in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, documents the contributions of the Catawba Nation to the American Revolutionary War.
And, grab some sunscreen as we make a visit to the Nelsonville Music Festival in Ohio.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- All That's Unseen
- Remembering Russell Yann
- Appalachian Researchers Work To Save Rare Giant Salamander
- Museum Highlights Catawba Nation Involvement In Revolutionary War
- Designing Dignity With Home Care
- Spotted Lanternfly Threatens Agriculture
- Connie Jordan Green On Poetry And Growing Up In Oak Ridge
- A Postcard From Nelsonville Music Festival
All That's UnseenEmilee Hackney, author of All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir.
CourtesyVirginia writer Emilee Hackney has a complicated relationship with her home. She loves the place where she’s from, in Tazewell County — her friends, family, the swimming holes and mountains and wild places — but she also felt stifled. Her new memoir All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir explores this tension and her experience when she did leave.
Host Mason Adams spoke with Hackney about the book.
Remembering Russell YannRussell Yann, the former owner of Yann’s hotdogs in Fairmont, West Virginia.
Courtesy of Marion County Convention and Visitors BureauAppalachia loves its hotdogs. You can sometimes even clock where someone is from, based on how they eat their dogs — whether they get them with sauce, chili or coleslaw. Sometimes even how they’re cooked.
In 2021, Folkways Reporter and noted hotdog afficionado Zack Harold filed this story about Yann’s hotdogs in Fairmont, West Virginia, following the passing of its owner, Russell Yann.
Appalachian Researchers Work To Save Rare Giant SalamanderThe red parts behind the baby hellbenders heads are their gils, which will get absorbed in the next few months.
Photo Credit: Jared Kunish/WKU Public RadioThis year, the Eastern Hellbender became Kentucky’s first-ever state amphibian. The mammoth salamander was once abundant along Appalachia’s waterways, but it’s struggled to maintain healthy populations amid climate change and human activity. In 2024, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed listing the animal as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
WKYU's Hope Heffley has more on conservationists’ efforts to preserve the hellbender.
Museum Highlights Catawba Nation Involvement In Revolutionary WarA display of weapons similar to those used by Catawba warriors during the Revolutionary War.
Photo Credit: Marshall Terry/WFAEWith the nation’s 250th birthday, there’s been a lot of remembrance of the War for Independence. Including the battles that took place in the South, in multiple states that make up Appalachia. In Kings Mountain, North Carolina, an exhibit highlights the role of the Catawba Nation in the Revolutionary War. The tribal group lived in the Charlotte area and supported the colonial army at almost every major battle and skirmish that took place in the South.
WFAE’s Marshall Terry reports.
Designing Dignity With Home CareHome care physicians and care managers coordinate plans through instant message apps.
Photo Credit: Kiley Koscinski/WESAAs with other Appalachian states, Pennsylvania’s population is getting older. This will likely create new healthcare challenges. In the series "Designing Dignity," WESA’s Kiley Koscinski visited Japan, a country with an aging population, to learn how it’s preparing.
This week, Koscinski explores chronic care, a major driver of healthcare spending. Japan has tried to reduce hospitalizations by providing care in the patient’s home, but a workforce shortage could threaten the program’s success.
Spotted Lanternfly Threatens AgricultureSpotted lanternflies can feed on more than 70 species of plants, including hardwood and fruit trees.
Courtesy of the West Virginia Department of AgricultureWith its distinctive Dalmatian pattern and splash of red, the spotted lanternfly stands out as a threat to dozens of plants. The insect is well on its way to becoming one of the worst pests American agriculture has ever seen, with the potential to cause millions, perhaps billions of dollars in losses to crops.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz spoke with WVU Extension entomologist Carlos Quesada to learn more about the insect and how to stop its spread.
Connie Jordan Green On Poetry And Growing Up In Oak RidgeConnie Jordan Green, author of Nameless as the Minnows.
Courtesy of Connie Jordan GreenFor more than 50 years, east Tennessee’s Connie Jordan Green has written everything from young adult novels to a long running newspaper column about gardening. Her poetry explores the natural world, living on a farm and growing up in a secret Tennessee city built during World War II.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Green about her childhood and her latest collection of poetry, Nameless as the Minnows.
A Postcard From Nelsonville Music FestivalThis summer, the Nelsonville Music Festival in Southeast Ohio celebrated its 20th anniversary. The festival has functioned as a showcase, especially for bands from Ohio, the Ohio River Valley and greater Appalachia. This year’s lineup included performances from Wednesday, Geese, S.G. Goodman and others.
Associate Producer Abby Neff went to the festival.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Flatt and Scruggs, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis, John Inghram and Mary Hott and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Irina Zhorov is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chirs Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, writer Emilee Hackney has a complicated relationship with where she grew up. She loved her friends, family, the swimming holes and wild places in Tazewell County, Virginia, but she felt stifled. Her new memoir, All That’s Unseen: An Appalachian Memoir, explores this tension and what happened when she did leave.
Also, once a candidate has been placed on the ballot for the general election, there are only certain reasons they can be removed, but state election officials have been asked to try.
And, the West Virginia Department of Health (WVDOH) has confirmed the state’s first case of measles in more than two years.
Finally, the state’s overall unemployment rate is tied with the national average at 4.2%, but some counties in the state are much higher or lower.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a recent national story identified West Virginia’s Ascend program as being highly successful, even though the numbers are relatively small. News Director Eric Douglas caught up with NPR reporter Scott Neuman to discuss the program in relation to other similar efforts and what he discovered.
Also, applications for West Virginia’s School Clothing Allowance program opened later than usual this year – and closed earlier than expected.
And, transferring knowledge from master to apprentice is one of the oldest ways of handing down traditions, but applications are open for a program to support that relationship.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the criminal charges against teacher and now-former delegate Elliott Pritt shocked many of his colleagues – and alarmed parents in West Virginia who wonder how best to protect their children from predators who seem both successful and safe. Moore Capito, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, whose office is prosecuting the case, talked with Assistant News Director Maria Young about what specific steps parents can take to keep their children from harm.
Also, the owner of a coal-fired power plant north of Parkersburg has filed for bankruptcy.
And, a new natural gas-powered power plant is coming to the region, according to a press release from Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
Finally, the city of Wheeling broke ground Tuesday on a project that’s expected to breathe new life into the downtown area.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, traditional Appalachian ballads have found new life in the form of an audio drama podcast produced by the Appalachia Book Company. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Andrew Henderson brings us a reimagined story of a traditional railroad disaster ballad.
Also, a state delegate accused of enticing a minor has officially resigned from the House of Delegates.
And, over the weekend Gov. Patrick Morrisey formally requested that President Donald Trump issue an Expedited Major Disaster Declaration for West Virginia following the severe storms and flash flooding that struck the state last week.
Meanwhile, across north central West Virginia, cleanup efforts continue – with the help of scores of volunteers.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, tornadoes are notoriously unpredictable, making forecasting nearly impossible. But now, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to improve forecast models. We listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public media program based in Pittsburgh, that reports on environmental issues in the region.
Also, Del. David Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, who was charged last week with enticing a minor, has a preliminary hearing Monday before U.S. District Judge Frank Volk in Charleston.
And, several hundred West Virginia National Guard members remain on hand in the north central part of the state, where Pleasants, Upshur and Lewis counties were among the hardest hit areas in last week’s severe weather.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, torrential rains flood the north-central part of the state – damaging homes, businesses and bridges – and claiming the lives of two people.
A West Virginia delegate who is also a school teacher is facing criminal charges involving a student – and calls for his resignation. And – health officials are working hard to keep the number of cyclosporiasis cases in the state from growing.
West Virginia also welcome more than 10,000 scouts for ten days filled with the kinds of adventures Almost Heaven is known for.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
After a disaster, can comics help set the record straight?
Also, sifting through Hurricane Helene’s debris, one group tries to reunite keepsakes with their owners, including love letters.
And, a cafe in Virginia feeds the hungry and tries to destigmatize homelessness. For its outreach manager, whose brother lived on the streets for years, it’s personal.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene Out Now
- Recovering Keepsakes After Hurricane Helene
- Open Door Café Supports, Destigmatizes Unhoused Community
- 100 Days In Appalachia Looks To Youth For Future Of America
- The Dental Health Gap In W.Va.
- Bats Save Farmers Billions Of Dollars, But They’re In Danger
- Designing Dignity Through Care Managers
Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene Out NowThe cover of Islands in the Sky, the first book from the Appalachia Comics Project.
Courtesy of the Appalachia Comics ProjectLast year, we reported on the Appalachia Comics Project, which was raising money to produce a graphic novel featuring stories told by Hurricane Helene survivors and illustrated and produced by comics professionals.
Now, nearly two years after the storm, the bookis out. It’s called Islands in the Sky: A People’s History of Hurricane Helene. We revisit host Mason Adams' interview with Andrew Aydin, who conceived the project. He’d previously served as an aide to Congressman John Lewis and co-authored the comic trilogy March about Lewis’ role in the civil rights movement. That work informed his view on the power of comics as he got to work after Helene.
Recovering Keepsakes After Hurricane HeleneA photo album covered in muck that has yet to be reunited with its owner.
Photo Credit: Laura Hackett/BPR NewsHurricane Helene left behind millions of cubic yards of debris in western North Carolina. Most of that is trash, but every so often, clean-up crews find something personal: a stuffed animal, a coffee mug or a love letter.
Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Laura Hackett reports on one group’s efforts to return some of those treasured keepsakes to the people who lost them.
Open Door Café Supports, Destigmatizes Unhoused CommunityJeff Hatfield describes the compost as he shovels it, “See how this right here, that’s real dry. And then all this up through here, all that’s wet.”
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAppalachians sure love their gardens. And it’s not just homeowners who grow them. At Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia, gardening is a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story about digging into the roots and connecting to more than just the land.
100 Days In Appalachia Looks To Youth For Future Of AmericaThis month marked the United States’ 250th anniversary. Around the nation, there was a lot of remembrance of our history. But also consideration about its future. That will ultimately be shaped by younger generations.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz spoke with 100 Days in Appalachia Director of Video Nick Curran and Editor-in-Chief Jesse Wright about a project to amplify their voices.
The Dental Health Gap In W.Va.Dr. Malav Shah provides dental care to a Boone County resident during a clinic visit. Shah is among the healthcare providers working to improve access to dental care in southern West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMany Appalachians can’t access affordable dental care. The problem is especially acute in West Virginia. State data shows by third grade, more than half of kids show signs of tooth decay. And more than 10% of older adults have had alltheir teeth extracted.
In the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits a mobile dental clinic with public health hygienist Bobbi Muto.
Bats Save Farmers Billions Of Dollars, But They're In DangerVirginia big-eared bats have been listed as endangered since 1979.
Photo Credit: Alex Silvis/West Virginia Division of Natural ResourcesA lot of people are afraid of bats, but they’re an important part of the ecosystem and beneficial to our agriculture. But due to climate change and disease, bat populations are declining.
WVPB’s Eric Douglas reports for the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.
Designing Dignity Through Care ManagersTsuruko Sano, 99, poses with her care manager, Hiroko Kominami at the Jasmine Group Home in the Nishiarai neighborhood of Tokyo.
Photo Credit: Kiley Koscinski/90.5 WESAAs baby boomers continue to age, more Gen X and Millennial adults are finding themselves becoming caregivers for their parents. In Pittsburgh, the city’s major health systems are partnering with federal agencies to design a new program aimed at keeping seniors at home for as long as possible.
It’s a strategy Japan has had in place for more than two decades.
In this installment of the "Designing Dignity" series, WESA’s Kiley Koscinski looks at how Japan’s care managers bridge medical and social support.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Mary Hott, Hello June, Paul Loomis and Ron Mullennex.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Irina Zhorov is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Ibby Caputo.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Open Door Café in Wytheville, Virginia uses gardening as a way to feed the hungry while breaking down the stigma of homelessness. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story about digging into the roots and connecting to more than just the land.
Also, hundreds of first responders and emergency crews are on the ground in the areas of West Virginia hardest hit by Tuesday’s storms.
And, education leaders in West Virginia have taken action following the arrest and charging of a Fayette County teacher for enticing a minor.
Finally, a statewide virtual conference next month will look at ethical issues around addiction recovery.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Housing is becoming less affordable for many people. As a result, more cities and towns grapple with growing homeless populations. Hundreds of cities across the nation now have laws that prohibit camping on public property to discourage encampments and illegal activity.
On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a community conversation in Morgantown about that city’s approach to housing. Morgantown is one of five West Virginia cities with a public camping ban. Local advocates say there are twice as many homeless people as there are shelter beds available.
This year, lawmakers did not have the votes to pass a statewide camping ban, but some leaders say that’s a better approach than patchwork local measures.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.
A poster for “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions” is displayed at an information table during the community forum at West Virginia University’s Mountainlair. The event brought together local service providers and advocates to discuss homelessness, housing barriers and public policy in Morgantown.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action GroupUs & Them host Trey Kay, left, moderates “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions,” a community forum at the Gluck Theatre in West Virginia University’s Mountainlair. Joining Kay on the panel, from left, are the Rev. Zac Morton of First Presbyterian Church, Laura Jones of Milan Puskar Health Right, Erin Shelton of Project Rainbow and Rainbow House, and Mindy Thorne of Catholic Charities West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action GroupRon Allen, a member of the Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group and one of the organizers of “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions,” welcomes the audience to the Gluck Theatre in West Virginia University’s Mountainlair.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action GroupRichard Dennis, a member of the Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group and one of the organizers of “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions,” listens to the panel discussion at the Gluck Theatre in West Virginia University’s Mountainlair.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action GroupThe Rev. Zac Morton of First Presbyterian Church speaks during “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions,” a community forum at West Virginia University, as Laura Jones of Milan Puskar Health Right listens. Morton discussed how local churches collaborate to help people experiencing homelessness and the barriers that can make it difficult for them to secure housing.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group“We’re seeing a report card on how well our society is doing at caring for other people, and we’re not getting a very good grade. Instead of dealing with that fundamental problem, a lot of people don’t want to examine it because it requires work, introspection and a recognition that decades of bad policy have brought us here.”
— The Rev. Zac Morton
Laura Jones, executive director of Milan Puskar Health Right, speaks during a community forum about homelessness in Morgantown. Jones discussed the connections between unstable housing, trauma and health.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group“Every single person who is unhoused is unique. There is no one way people behave and no single reason people end up in this situation, other than the fact that we do not have affordable, low-income housing. Once someone becomes unhoused, that experience itself is often traumatic, making it even harder to do everything required to get back into housing.”
— Laura Jones
Erin Shelton, founder and board president of Project Rainbow and Rainbow House, speaks during a community forum about homelessness in Morgantown. Shelton advocates for low-barrier services for people who are often excluded from traditional programs.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group“A lot of the things people see that make them uncomfortable are symptoms of homelessness. If we educate ourselves and meet people, we humanize them. Once you meet people, they are not scary anymore. They are people. They are your neighbors, your community members and your friends.”
— Erin Shelton
Mindy Thorne, a director with Catholic Charities West Virginia, speaks during a community forum about homelessness in Morgantown. Thorne works with Grace Shelter, a low-barrier shelter at Hazel’s House of Hope that provides emergency housing and individualized case management.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group“These policies were made without an understanding of the consequences. There was no plan that said, ‘We are going to put this camping ban in place, and these services will be available instead.’ There was none of that. It was simply, ‘We’re done.’”
— Mindy Thorne
Del. Geno Chiarelli, R-Monongalia, reviews material during a meeting of the House Public Health Subcommittee at the West Virginia Capitol in Charleston on Feb. 4, 2026. Chiarelli sponsored legislation seeking to prohibit syringe service programs and a separate bill proposing a statewide ban on camping on certain public property.
Photo Credit: Perry Bennett/WV Legislative Photography“I don’t think that more people jailed is necessarily a measure of success. But if vandalism goes down, if syringe litter decreases, if people stop having their homes broken into and their packages stolen, I think those are indicators that the camping ban would be working.”
— Del. Geno Chiarelli
Erin Shelton, left, and Mindy Thorne listen during “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions,” a community forum at the Gluck Theatre in West Virginia University’s Mountainlair.
Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group“When elected officials make policy in response to a community’s discomfort and fear of people experiencing homelessness, they are not actually responding. They are reacting.”
— Erin Shelton
Us & Them host Trey Kay speaks to the audience during “Unhoused in Morgantown: Barriers and Solutions” as the Rev. Zac Morton listens at the Gluck Theatre in West Virginia University’s Mountainlair.Photo Credit: Mountaineer Indivisible Citizens Action Group
“Part of the homelessness question is who we are willing to see in our communities, who we turn away from and what kind of community we want to be.”
— Trey Kay
On this West Virginia Morning, many people struggle to find affordable housing, and more cities and towns now grapple with growing homeless populations. On the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a public conversation in Morgantown about that city’s housing approach. Local advocates say there are twice as many homeless people as there are shelter beds. But some elected leaders say there’s a better approach than patchwork local measures.
Also, a state delegate from Fayette County has been charged with enticing a minor. We have the latest.
And, with high winds and heavy rains across much of the state Tuesday, the town of Weston was among the hardest hit.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, there are many insects that threaten West Virginia's agriculture and bother us when we're trying to enjoy time outdoors. But with its distinctive Dalmatian pattern and splash of red, the spotted lanternfly stands out for its ability to threaten dozens of plants, commercial and domestic.
Chris Schulz spoke with WVU Extension entomologist Carlos Quesada to learn more about the insect and how to stop its spread.
Also, late Tuesday night,Gov. Patrick Morrisey declared a State of Emergency for all 55 counties. Much of the state was pummeled by heavy storms, torrential rains and high winds. The National Weather Service in Charleston reports the northern and central parts of the state were hardest hit, with between three and five-and-a-half inches of rain in Lewis County, and as much as seven inches of rain reported in Upshur County.
And, regional electric grid operator PJM recently wrapped up its competitive bidding process for power in 2028, and the PSC is looking into rules for the future.
Finally, thousands of scouts are descending on West Virginia for Scouting America’s 2026 National Jamboree.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a look at how the hot, humid weather of summer is a prime season for the sometimes disease-carrying ticks.
Also, severe weather is forecast for today, the Department of Human Services has a new secretary and soon, West Virginia will have a new teacher of the year.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, an unattractive, slimy, two-foot salamander may hold the key to detecting healthy water ways in West Virginia.
The Eastern Hellbender is now officially known as Kentucky’s first-ever state amphibian. The species was once abundant along the waterways of Appalachia, but it’s struggled to maintain a foothold amid climate change and human activity. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKYU's Hope Heffley has more on conservation efforts across the region.
Also a severe and long-lasting gastrointestinal illness is on the rise in West Virginia. The state Department of Health now shows there have been 139 identified cases of cyclosporiasis across the state, up from 69 less than a week ago.
And candidates for the Fifth Family Court Circuit, which covers Mason, Jackson and Wirt Counties, have just about one month to get their applications submitted to replace Judge Constance Thomas, who will retire at the end of August.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, weekend storms may help clear the smokey air, Huntington City Council approves Flock cameras and how Fentanyl may have made its way into the country.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, if you’ve ever seen the eye-catching ‘Bus On A Rock’ in the New River and wondered why – and how – it got there, we have some answers for you.
And, West Virginia has one of the lowest, if not the lowest, workforce participation rate in the country. A key goal for West Virginia’s Rural Health Transformation Program plan is to improve health outcomes to get more people back into the workforce.
Also West Virginia’s busiest bridge is getting some needed repairs, and the Public Service Commission of West Virginia has opened an investigation into water pressure standards.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the client of a Charleston attorney says the DEA allowed millions of doses of potentially deadly Fentanyl into the United States.
In 2023 and 2024, the Sinaloa Cartel brought millions of doses of fentanyl into the U.S. mostly across the border into New Mexico. Those pills then headed east.
Charleston attorney and member of the House of Delegates, Tristan Leavitt represents federal whistleblowers. His client, DEA Special Agent David Howell, says the agency allowed millions of pills to come into the U.S. as part of an operation to capture cartel leaders at the direction of the New Mexico U.S. Attorney.
News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Leavitt to discuss the case.
Also, a data center development is facing state intervention for failing to prevent flooding of neighboring properties.
And a federal judge in Eastern Kentucky has escalated the penalties he imposed on a coal company owned by U.S. Sen. Jim Justice.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, renovation work is underway on the Holly Grove mansion, the oldest surviving residence on the state capitol complex after several decades of plans.
If you’ve visited the West Virginia Capitol Complex lately – perhaps over the Fourth of July festivities – you may have noticed construction work underway in the old building next to the Governor’s mansion. Maria Young caught up with Robert Kilpatrick with the Department of Administration, to find out more about the project – and plans for the historic building.
Also Huntington City Council approved the implementation of a new surveillance program in the early hours of Tuesday and two groups on opposite ends of the electric power generation debate have come out against a new power plant proposed for northern West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, it’s hard enough to connect a baseball and bat in mid-air. Imagine doing it when you can’t see.
In beep baseball, blind athletes rely on sound to hit the ball and run to a base. Last month (June), the East Louisville Lions Club hosted the Indianapolis Thunder, an adult beep baseball team, for a demonstration. Emily Chen-Newton with LPM News via the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom has more on the sport where players keep their ears on the ball.
Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reporting an outbreak of intestinal illness in 31 states – including West Virginia and a weapons manufacturer is coming to the eastern panhandle.
And a proposed advanced recycling facility in eastern Kanawha County is raising concerns for local residents.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, humidity and dewpoint can have a big impact on how we experience summer heat. Every week, in a segment we call Science Behind the Forecast, the Appalachia Mid South Newsroom’s Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew break down what we know - and what we don't - about the climate and weather in the region.
And the Allegheny Front based in Pittsburgh, a public radio program that reports on environmental issues, looks at the native, spike-covered hawthorn and how its long, sharp thorns contribute to its vulnerable status.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the state is under a flood watch through Sunday, the fire in Parkersburg is under investigation and a class action against the state’s foster care system will move forward.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, not much has been known about Appalachia’s contributions to the Underground Railroad – until now.
Before the Civil War, slaves escaped to the free north through the underground railroad. Cicero Fain is a historian at Marshall University documenting the region’s Black history through his Appalachian Freedom Heritage Initiative. Fain spoke with Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams about documenting dozens of previously unknown underground railroad sites throughout our region.
Also, Secretary of State Kris Warner is maintaining his position to not share voter rolls with the federal government, despite new threats of legal action. In Parkersburg, the remnants of a warehouse fire are finally out and cleanup and investigations begin.
And it promises to be a stormy weekend and as Maria Young reports, a flood watch is in effect for much of the state, through Sunday morning.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, affordable dental care is a little-talked-about challenge low-income families face in this state, but there is an effort underway to change that.
West Virginia is home to many people who cannot access affordable dental care. State data shows by third grade - more than half of kids show signs of tooth decay. And more than 10 percent of older adults have had all their teeth extracted. From the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits a mobile dental clinic with public health hygienist Bobbi Muto.
Also the state Board of Education approves a partial intervention into Harrison County Schools as it grapples with overstaffing and a reluctance to cut positions, an issue many counties are facing after COVID-19 era funding ended.
And a new manufacturing firm is coming to Wood County – and bringing with it millions of dollars in investments and jobs to support data center development.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, many people are looking towards the country's future now that the nation's 250th anniversary is behind us. It will ultimately be shaped by young adults that don't always have a place at the table. 100 Days in Appalachia director of video Nick Curran and editor-in-chief Jesse Wright recently sat down with reporter Chris Schulz to discuss a project to capture voices and perspectives about what comes next.
Also, a lawsuit brought by the state of West Virginia against Apple alleging the company’s business practices safeguard child sexual abuse materials will remain in state courts.
And a festival in Shepherdstown is continuing a tradition of developing new American theater.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning a new musical, written right here in our region, takes a look at a small Ohio town, just across the river from West Virginia, that played a significant role in the development of the nation.
The town of Marietta, Ohio played a pivotal role in the future of the United States and Ohio statehood – keeping the state slave free 60 years before the Civil War. But the vote passed by one vote. Singer songwriters Larry Groce and Todd Burge have written a musical that dives into that history. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Groce to find out more.
Also new fish stocking opportunities may give anglers a reason to get out to their favorite spot, and the warehouse that burned in Parkersburg Sunday had a history of hazardous waste fires.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom recently wrapped up a month-long series about signal species. These are animals, plants and other organisms that offer us clues about the changing world around us – if you pay close enough attention.
LPM’s Bill Burton sat down with deputy managing editor John Boyle to discuss how the series came together with our partners in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Also, a fire in a Wood County industrial storage facility prompted Gov. Patrick Morrisey Sunday to declare a State of Emergency.
And, the Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture was created by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. It targeted agricultural projects that addressed land access issues facing underrepresented groups — including veterans, Black farmers and Indigenous farmers.
Finally, three people were killed in last month’s flash flooding in Kentucky. West Virginia just passed the 10-year anniversary of some of the deadliest flooding in the state’s history. As Curtis Tate reports, flash flooding is the top killer among U.S. weather disasters.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, bats play a critical role in our ecosystems and agriculture. We’ll hear how their numbers are declining in the face of a changing climate and disease.
Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams also brings us the story of pioneering artist Oscar Micheaux, an African-American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s.
In this episode, we also hear about a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States based on a West Virginia case. We learn about the state’s maternal and fiscal health. And with dangerous heat for the holiday weekend, we hear about how to avoid the dangers of dehydration.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
In the 1920s, Oscar Micheaux was an entrepreneur filmmaker in western Virginia. He became a world-renowned director and producer.
Also, Kentucky’s poet laureate lives down the road from what has been called the country’s most lethal cryptid. Attempts to spot it have led to deaths.
And, we talk soul food with Xavier Oglesby, who's passing on generations of kitchen wisdom to his niece.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- How Oscar Micheaux Changed Filmmaking From Appalachia
- Playwright August Wilson's Life And Legacy
- Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage
- Kentucky Poet Laureate Talks Deadly Cryptids
- Baby Barn Owl That Left His Nest Too Soon
- Sharing Soul Food
How Oscar Micheaux Changed Filmmaking From AppalachiaOscar Micheaux.
Courtesy of the New York Public LibraryOne of America’s pioneering filmmakers had nothing to do with Hollywood but nevertheless left his mark on the emerging industry. Oscar Micheaux was a homesteader, who then turned his attention to making movies in the early 1900s. He was a Black man who made movies for Black audiences at a time when they weren't allowed into mainstream, white-only theaters. And for several pivotal years in the 1920s, he operated out of Roanoke, Virginia.
Host Mason Adams brings us this story.
Playwright August Wilson's Life And LegacyIn a 1968 photo, playwright August Wilson poses amidst the burnt remains of the Hill District's Mainway Market, torched in the riots following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Courtesy of the Frank F. Hightower Photograph Collection/University of Pittsburgh PressAcclaimed playwright August Wilson was deeply influenced by his hometown of Pittsburgh. Wilson was the author of 10 plays collectively known as The Pittsburgh Cycle. They include the Pulitzer Prize winning plays Fences and The Piano Lesson. Now there’s a new book about him, titled August Wilson’s American Century, by University of Pittsburgh professor Lawrence Glasco, and it explores that deep influence with his hometown.
WESA’s Bill Driscoll spoke with Glasco.
Angelo’s Old World Italian SausageSonny (left) and his father Angelo pose in front of the meat case at Angelo’s Market in Powellton Hollow. From father to son to father to son, Angelo's Old World Italian Sausage has been around in the hills of West Virginia for a while.
Courtesy of the Argento FamilyIn 2023, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us to Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage. Angelo’s makes a craft sausage distributed throughout West Virginia, as well in southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. The recipe comes from the Calabria region of Italy, and it’s made in West Virginia.
Kentucky Poet Laureate Talks Deadly CryptidsKentucky’s governor appoints a new poet laureate every two years. Last year, Gov. Andy Beshear named award-winning poet, essayist and teacher Kathleen Driskell to the post. Driskell’s poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Rattle and Appalachian Review, among others. She’s authored six poetry collections. Her most recent is Goat-Footed Gods.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Driskell about living next to the dead, and America’s most lethal cryptid.
Baby Barn Owl That Left His Nest Too SoonThe juvenile barn owl was safely kept and transported in a dog crate.
Courtesy of the Wildlife Center of VirginiaThe Wildlife Center of Virginia in Waynesboro treats hundreds of injured animals every year, from possums, to eagles, to bear cubs. And even a fledgling barn owl that fell from its nest in a grain silo in Augusta County.
WMRA's Meredith McCool has more.
Sharing Soul FoodXavier Oglesby cuts onions for a macaroni salad he is cooking inside Manna House Ministries’ kitchen. A pot of boiling water is behind him, cooking the pasta for the dish.
Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSoul food like cornbread, extra-cheesy mac-n-cheese and collard greens plays an important role in Black communities across Appalachia. In 2023, Folkways Fellow Vanessa Peña spoke with Xavier Oglesby, a master artist in soul food cooking from Beckley, West Virginia.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, Bennie Moten Kater, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis, John Inghram and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Inside Appalachia this week discusses the influence and contributions of Oscar Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s. Mason Adams speaks with Roanoke historian Jordan Bell about Micheaux's life and career.
Also, a private school has been put on probation and another has been permanently disqualified from participating in the Hope Scholarship program.
And, a new West Virginia business partnership is investing millions of dollars in the byproducts of coal mining.
Finally, the state of West Virginia has finished the fiscal year ahead of projections for revenue.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia has one of the highest percentages of elderly residents in the nation. As baby boomers grow elderly amidst a workforce crisis of caretakers, WESA's Kiley Koscinski reports that both the U.S. and Japan are considering robots as a potential solution as part of this “Designing Dignity” series.
Also the Supreme Court of the United States rules that West Virginia's law barring transgender women from girls' sports can stand, and hospital consolidations play a considerable role in the closures of labor and delivery services.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as baby boomers in West Virginia and nationwide continue to age, more Gen X and Millennial adults are finding themselves as caregivers for their parents. Pittsburgh’s major health systems are designing a new program alongside federal agencies aimed at keeping seniors at home for as long as possible.
It’s a strategy Japan has been exploring for more than two decades.
In this “Designing Dignity” series, WESA’s Kiley Koscinski takes a look at how the country’s care managers bridge medical and social support.
Also, southern West Virginia saw significant flooding last week and Kentucky saw even more over the weekend. But a system to detect rising water isn’t any closer to completion.
And, the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum is creating the largest labor history driving trail in the United States, and community members have a chance to shape how it will look.
Finally, West Virginia’s America250 celebration kicks off in just a few short days. We bring you a snapshot on what to expect.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, bats are the subject of myths and legends, often in a negative light. But that goes against the reality of their role in ecosystems, including critical agricultural services for humans. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Eric Douglas reports bat populations have dropped significantly in the face of a changing climate and disease.
Also, Air National Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe over the weekend was awarded the inaugural Freedom 250: Hometown Hero Award. Last November, Wolfe, and his partner U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, were on duty in Washington, D.C., when they were ambushed and shot. Specialist Beckstrom died from her injuries. Wolfe continues to recover.
And, the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule on a West Virginia case this week.
Finally, in a Saturday ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of devastating floods, the town of Clendenin received a $450,000 Transportation Alternatives Program grant.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel arrives in Charleston, the SNAP ban on soda is blocked, and we look at an effort to expand local medical care through EMS.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Some folks are working to preserve the memory of Bristol, Virginia’s Black Bottom, a largely African American community wiped out by urban renewal.
Also, small food producers embrace digital technology for the humble farm stand.
And, kudzu; it’s coming for us.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Souls Of Bristol’s Black Bottom
- Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, Tennessee
- Roadside Farmstand Gets An Upgrade
- State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 Years
- Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky Mountains
- Black Bears Are Migrating As Climate Change Threatens Habitat
- The Vine That Ate The South
- Herbicide Drones Are Killing Kudzu
- Herbalism In Appalachia
The Souls Of Bristol’s Black BottomUndated photo of Bristol’s Black Bottom.
Courtesy of Black in Appalachia/Virginia HumanitiesUrban renewal was a 20th century movement by local, state and federal governments to revitalize struggling cities. But Black neighborhoods and business districts were often sacrificed. In Bristol, Virginia, Black business owners ran barber shops, groceries and doctor’s offices in Black Bottom, which was leveled to make way for new streets and civic projects.
“The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom” is a partnership between Black in Appalachia and Virginia Humanities. The project uses interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling to remember the community. Organizer and storyteller Tina McDaniel helps lead the project. She says learning about 'Black Bottom was a revelation.'
Host Mason Adams spoke to McDaniel about the project.
Roots Book Ban Reversed In Knox County, TennesseeAlex Haley’s 1976 Roots is about the horrors of the slave trade in America and designated an official state book of Tennessee. Knox County recently backtracked its decision to remove the critically acclaimed book from school libraries.
Photo Credit: Camellia Burris/WPLNKnox County, Tennessee officials have reversed their decision to remove the book Roots from school libraries. In May, just a couple weeks prior, the book was banned by a school board committee.
Written by Alex Haley, the novel follows generations of a Black family from enslavement in America in the 1700s through changes and upheavals to the second half of the 20th century. Roots won a Pulitzer Prize and was adapted into an award-winning television miniseries.
It was one of 124 titles that have been removed from library shelves in Knox County. In particular, school board members objected to a depiction of rape of an enslaved woman by a slaveholder. Public outcry to the ban was immediate.
WPLN’s Camellia Burris reports.
Roadside Farmstand Gets An UpgradeJessica Camden, owner of Sugarbirds Farm Stand, holds two of the 30 vendors’ products available for sale inside.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRoadside farmstands with fresh eggs or tomatoes are a common sight in Appalachia. They can be a way for people, especially rural women with kids at home, to support themselves economically. They often work on the honor system; there’s nobody there. Take a carton of berries and leave some cash. But the humble farm stand is changing to keep up with an increasingly cash-free society.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch recently visited a stand in Wythe County, Virginia.
State Regulators Audit Kentucky Power After 20 YearsMary Cromer, deputy director of the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, stands outside of their Whitesburg offices.
Photo Credit: Andrew Henderson/AMSNPower bills have been rising across much of Appalachia. That’s the case in eastern Kentucky, too, and led to state regulators ordering an audit of Kentucky Power for the first time in more than 20 years.
Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman met with a new coalition that hopes the audit could lead to lower bills.
Volunteers Document Species In The Smoky MountainsThe Great Smoky Mountains are the most biodiverse site in the national park system. Every square foot of the park teems with life, much of which park visitors rarely see.
Photo Credit: Katie Myers/GristFor years, citizen scientists have been documenting plants and wildlife in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They do work the Park may not have capacity for, tracking changes in the ecosystem and helping us better understand Appalachia’s biodiversity.
BPR and Grist reporter Katie Myers tagged along with a group of volunteers into the Smokies.
Black Bears Are Migrating As Climate Change Threatens HabitatAn adolescent bear scales a tree on May 20, 2026.
Photo Credit: Caroline Eggers/WPLNBlack bear encounters are on the rise, and climate change is often a hidden culprit.
WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports that Tennessee wildlife managers are working to promote peaceful coexistence.
The Vine That Ate The SouthKudzu covers a patch of woods behind an Arby’s in Knoxville, Tennessee on May 8, 2026.
Photo Credit: Jacqui Sieber/WUOTKudzu is a leafy vine that has spread through the South and Appalachia, draping whole landscapes with its greenery. Some people find it beautiful, at least at first. But, it’s an invasive plant that can swallow entire sections of forests and choke out other plants.
WUOT’s Jacqui Sieber has more on efforts to tackle the “vine that ate the South.”
Herbicide Drones Are Killing KudzuAn herbicide-spraying drone douses a thicket of kudzu at one of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's study sites last summer. Many sites like this are only accessible on foot or by air due to the vine's thickness and difficult terrain. Officials say drones like this can turn days or weeks of work into an afternoon.
Photo Credit: Jacob Stewart/Kentucky Fish & WildlifeGoats aren’t the only tool to keep kudzu in check. In Kentucky, wildlife officials are testing whether new drone technology could help fight kudzu.
Michael Collins with WKYU has more.
Herbalism In AppalachiaCrystal Wilson adds elderberry flowers to create a fever tincture as her guinea hens fuss around her feet.
Photo Credit: Heather Duncan/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIn the warm months, a lot of people stock up on roots and herbs to use as medicines. Some, they grow, and others, they find in the woods. Here in Appalachia, those remedies have been a path to wellness and independence for centuries.
Folkways Reporter Heather Duncan has more.
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Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Vincent Huey, Tim Bing, John Blissard, Mary Hott, Paul Loomis, Dinosaur Burps and Blue Dot Sessions
This week, we say goodbye to Kelley Libby. Kelley's been Inside Appalachia’s show editor since 2020 and was also a lead editor for the Folkways project. As much as anyone, Kelley has helped shape Inside Appalachia into the show that it is. Kelley, we can’t thank you enough. Good luck with your next adventure!
And, introducing Irina Zhorov, who will take over as show editor. We’re glad to have her.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Jennifer Goren and Molly Born.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, urban renewal in the last century was supposed to revitalize struggling cities, but it often sacrificed Black neighborhoods and business districts, like Black Bottom in Bristol, Virginia. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with organizer Tina McDaniel about “The Souls of Bristol’s Black Bottom,” a project in Bristol that remembers the community through interpretive signs, public art and digital storytelling. McDaniel says learning about Black Bottom was a revelation.
Also, the Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) has scheduled a public comment hearing for construction of a gas-electric generation plant in Monongalia County and three solar energy projects.
And, as West Virginia prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, construction is underway on the Capitol grounds, where the world’s largest transportable Ferris wheel is going up.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, federal cuts and changes to state law focused on Medicaid programs could undermine West Virginia’s drug addiction and treatment system for 50,000 residents. In the latest encore episode of Us & Them, which was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid supports recovery organizations and what that work looks like.
Also a new data center is announced in Wheeling, changes to Medicaid benefit requirements and flooding in Boone County.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This year, West Virginia lawmakers made significant changes to drug and alcohol treatment programs funded by Medicaid, which many people use. The new legislation ties Medicaid payments to patient outcomes rather than the number of patients served.
The Mountain State has the nation's highest overdose rates, and overdose death rates among Black residents exceed those of any other group. In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns how Medicaid funding supports organizations working in recovery and what that work looks like on the ground.
This episode of Us & Them, recently honored with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, is presented with support from The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.
Reverend James Patterson has led the Partnership of African American Churches (PAAC) for the past two decades as its founder and president/CEO. PAAC is a nonprofit, collaborative, faith-based community development corporation based in Charleston, WV, that also provides health care.
Photo Credit: PAAC"Every time we had discussions, I was doing focus group research. We started talking about kids, the challenges they face, and other issues in our communities. Everybody kept saying, 'the real problem is them drugs' — that’s exactly how they said it. So, we decided to do something about it. We began by implementing prevention programs and training community health workers, and then we trained them in peer support as recovery coaches."
— Rev. James Patterson, founder and president/CEO of the Partnership of African American Churches.
Many Black West Virginians have had uncomfortable experiences when visiting the doctor — experiences that can discourage people of color from seeking medical care, mental health treatment or help for drug addiction. Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches and a researcher of this phenomenon, explains the impact of these encounters.
Photo Credit: PAAC"Every day, people face subtle but constant annoyances because of their color — especially Black people. They are insulted, invalidated and sometimes physically, verbally and mentally assaulted just for being Black. I see this as a double malady that people must overcome daily, particularly when they’re also dealing with addiction and racism. The stress they endure is something others rarely experience.
We are a licensed behavioral health center that provides treatment for substance use disorder. We offer a residential treatment facility, medication-assisted treatment and multiple sober living facilities."
— Dr. Wendy Lewis, clinical director for the Partnership of African American Churches, Charleston, WV
Kevin Watkins received training as a peer support coach from the Partnership of African American Churches. A native of Charleston’s Westside — a community with a high concentration of Black residents — Watkins describes the area as "the valley of the shadow of death" because many people he knew died too young. Watkins struggled with substance use disorder, starting with alcohol at a young age and later turning to marijuana, pills and, eventually, speed, which he injected.
Photo Credit: PAAC"I had a teacher who was trying to help me, to show me the right way. I was one of those kids with ADD—I could never sit still—so I spent most of my time in the office. I don't think he understood the full extent of my problem, or he wouldn’t have paddled me as he did. I knew I had issues when I tried to break into his house.
Looking back, I wonder why I did it all. Part of it was the divorce—my dad was never around, having started another family—so I never had the support system other kids had. I felt like I fell through the cracks in Orchard Manor. Sometimes I’d wake up in the old county jail, not even knowing why I was there, beat up and bleeding. I knew I had a serious situation on my hands."
— Kevin Watkins, peer support coach trained by the Partnership of African American Churches
Robert Hansen is retired after nearly 50 years in West Virginia's behavioral health field, including a two-year stint as director of the state’s Office of Drug Control Policy — known as the drug czar.
Photo Credit: The Charleston Gazette-Mail“Residential treatment programs in West Virginia have grown dramatically. Back in 2016, 2017 and 2018, the state had about 150 to 200 treatment beds. Today, there are more than 1,700. Providers are expanding services on the theory that Medicaid funding will continue.
The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government — with Congress and the president’s approval — while West Virginia must supply matching dollars. The Partnership of African American Churches is funded similarly; as they apply for grants from the Bureau of Behavioral Health or the federal government, they have opportunities aligned with their expertise. Otherwise, their core funding is no different from any other addiction treatment provider."
— Robert Hansen, former director of West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy.
On this West Virginia Morning, a $1 million initiative through the Rural Health Transformation Program aims to help rural EMS agencies expand access to health care in rural and underserved areas of West Virginia. It focuses on connecting patients with care earlier – before chronic illnesses become acute. Secretary of Health Dr. Arvin Singh talked with Assistant News Director Maria Young to explain how the program is designed to work – and who it will focus on first.
Also, a federal judge has blocked West Virginia’s ban on buying soda with federal benefits.
And, on the 10th anniversary of the devastating and deadly flood that hit West Virginia in 2016, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced West Virginia will receive nearly $4 million for flood mitigation.
Finally, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced charges involving health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes against 455 defendants nationwide – including some in West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, one in 10 Americans now say they are a caregiver for a parent age 65 and older, according to recent Pew research. Reporters Blake Farmer and Cara Anthony with our partner HealthQ explore why embracing the title of “caregiver” matters—and how recognition and support can make a difference in this phase of life.
Also, some state lawmakers express support for a federal ban on greyhound racing, a new segment of Corridor H opens and details of the America250 Capital City Celebration emerge.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, freshwater mussels are scattered throughout waterways in Kentucky and neighboring states like Tennessee and West Virginia, playing a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKYU’s Hope Heffley has more on why those populations have dwindled over the years.
And Corridor H adds a new segment while the state's Rural Health Transformation initiative focuses on rural emergency medical services.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, an heir files suit to keep his community hospital open, disparities in the distribution of school choice vouchers, and a West Virginia lawmaker is among those targeted in White House UFC fight plot.
We also discuss how a simple conversation with his mom led one state senator to uncover his towns hidden history... and, a not-so-cuddly creature is making its way into Appalachia.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Ballads tell stories about all kinds of real-life events, but after Hurricane Helene, one group of ballad singers felt some topics were still too raw.
Also, the author of a new book on ancient Ohio credits a former grad student with introducing him to the region’s mysterious earthworks.
And, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Ballad Singing After Hurricane Helene
- How To Protect Amphibians Against Climate Change
- Tornado Destroys Orchid Restoration In Southern Kentucky
- Traveler's Guide To Ancient Ohio
- Abandoned Gas Wells In W.Va.
- Tennessee Town Struggles To Reopen Its Only Hospital
- The Legacy Of Norman Jordan
- Rising Temperatures Bring Armadillos To Kentucky
Ballad Singing After Hurricane HeleneJohn Phillips of Mars Hill, North Carolina performs an Appalachian ballad called “Little Maggie” at the ballad swap at Zadie’s Market in Marshall, North Carolina.
Photo Credit: Sarah Melotte/Daily YonderWhen Hurricane Helene tore through western North Carolina in 2024, it took lives and upended communities. A community of ballad singers lost a place where they could share their tradition. The storm set them back, but it didn’t stop them. And what might’ve seemed lost could be restored.
From Marshall, North Carolina, Sarah Melotte reports for the Rural Remix, a podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies.
How To Protect Amphibians Against Climate ChangeClimate change has affected the seasons and made weather less predictable. And severe storms and flooding are causing damage to wildlife habitat. Kylie Frederick is a journalism student at West Virginia University (WVU), and reports that protecting amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, can start at home.
Tornado Destroys Orchid Restoration In Southern KentuckyTara Littlefield, a botanist and ecologist with the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves, has been working to restore this wetland site in Mount Victory.
Photo Credit: Lily Burris/WEKUResearchers have spent nearly 20 years restoring a threatened species of orchid in southern Kentucky. Those efforts were disrupted after a tornado last spring. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Lily Burris went to Mount Victory to learn about the recovery.
Traveler's Guide To Ancient OhioThe cover of "Traveler's Guide to Ancient Ohio" by John E. Hancock.
Courtesy of Ohio University PressThousands of years ago, Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. Some were burial mounds. Others were curious shapes and designs whose purposes are not entirely understood.
John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, has spent years studying these earthworks. Recently, he published Traveler's Guide to Ancient Ohio. If you want to visit these ancient sites, it’s a good place to start.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book.
Abandoned Gas Wells In W.Va.Dave McMahon, left, and Ted Boettner look at an abandoned natural gas well near Kanawha State Forest in Kanawha County.
Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAccording to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP), there are more than 6,000 abandoned or orphaned natural gas wells in the state. But some advocates say that number is low.
WVPB’s News Director Eric Douglas visited a few.
Tennessee Town Struggles To Reopen Its Only HospitalLocal minister Benji Johnson stands outside of the shuttered Jellico Regional Hospital on Monday, March 30, 2026.
Photo Credit: Pierce Gentry/WUOTAs the health care industry cuts unprofitable rural hospitals, small towns across Appalachia are paying the price.
WPLN’s Pierce Gentry takes us to Jellico, Tennessee, where the local government is struggling to reopen its only hospital.
The Legacy Of Norman JordanStudents participate in a poetry workshop at the 2024 Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy.
Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAffrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement through the 1960s and 1970s. He was also one of the most published poets in the region, anthologized in at least 42 books. He died in 2015 at the age of 77. Along with his writing, Jordan left another legacy: a summer camp for teens to learn music, theater and dance.
Last summer, Folkways reporter Traci Phillips visited the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in Westover, West Virginia.
Rising Temperatures Bring Armadillos To KentuckyArmadillos are moving farther north to states like Kentucky and the surrounding region.
Courtesy of Bernheim Forest and ArboretumIn 2023, we reported on the appearance of armadillos as far north as Virginia. Now, they’re being found in Kentucky, which is seen as another indicator of rising temperatures in the region. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Giselle Rhoden has more on how the species has made its way north from South America.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June, Paul Loomis, Jeff Ellis and John Inghram.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Indigenous people created hundreds of earthen monuments in what is now Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia. John E. Hancock, a professor of architecture and design at the University of Cincinnati, spent years studying these earthworks. He published a guidebook for visiting them. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Hancock about the book.
Also, a West Virginia lawmaker was on a target list created by the group accused of plotting to attack the UFC fights at the White House Sunday night.
And, a McDowell County resident whose great-grandfather donated the land for what is now the Welch Community Hospital has filed a lawsuit he hopes will keep the hospital open.
Finally, a new national analysis has identified disparities in the distribution of school choice vouchers in West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, state Sen. Ryan Weld has written a history of Wellsburg through a unique lens -- he focused on 14 homes in the town and the people who lived in them. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Weld to learn more about his project.
Also lawmakers are speaking out against major energy infrastructure projects and a new report identifies three strategies for economic growth in West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, an Appalachian distillery has rediscovered an old technique for aging their bourbon and whiskey products.
Also, competitive cycling returns to Charleston, state funds to help children affected by the opioid epidemic and lawmakers continue to look at school funding.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the nine-banded armadillo has become an indicator of rising temperatures in Kentucky and the surrounding region. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, LPM’s Giselle Rhoden has more on how the species has made its way north from South America.
Also rural emergency medical services have an opportunity to receive Rural Health Transformation funds, and U.S. electricity generation from solar surpassed coal for the first time in May.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the unhoused population in the state declines, child well-being remains the same, and just how many abandoned gas wells are there?
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
This week, we’re revisiting a show featuring storytellers out loud in front of audiences. Folks like five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest, Bil Lepp.
Also, musicians Anna & Elizabeth, whose storytelling used something known as a crankie.
And, we’ll head to the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Crankie Comes To NC: What It Is And Why People Freak Out When They See One
- A Triangle Of Skunks
- Sweet Tea And Red Wine
The Crankie Comes To NC: What It Is And Why People Freak Out When They See OneAnna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle combined their talents to form Anna & Elizabeth. Although the duo no longer performs together, they often used crankies to enhance the storytelling in their performances.
CourtesyIn 2021, Inside Appalachia dedicated an episode to storytellers. And to their inventiveness. For example, have you ever heard of a “Crankie?”
Crankies are cloth and cut-paper scrolls. They’re an old-fashioned way to share images that go along with stories. And you can pair them with music. Think a small, tiny theater, with someone turning a crank to show pictures.
During their multi-year collaboration, musicians Anna Roberts-Gevalt and Elizabeth LaPrelle used crankies. They would turn them alongside their Appalachian ballad singing. Host Mason Adams saw Anna and Elizabeth perform at the Ferrum Folklife Festival in Virginia and remembers how the crankies let him follow the story, while their harmonies raised goosebumps.
This story was recorded back in 2013, when Anna & Elizabeth were still performing together. It was produced by Laura Candler for WUNC.
A Triangle Of SkunksBil Lepp is probably best known as the five-time champion of the West Virginia Liars Contest. The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage called him, “a side-splittingly funny man.” Lepp lives in Charleston, West Virginia, and he’s one of our region’s most famous storytellers. Back in 2019, he told a story about summer camp and a family of skunks. He performed the story “Skunks” during a Mountain Stage performance at the West Virginia Culture Center.
Sweet Tea And Red WineMichael Reno Harrell is a storyteller from Burke County, North Carolina. His mother’s family, including his aunt Eloise, spent most of their life in Buncombe County, just outside Asheville.
CourtesyMichael Reno Harrell is a professional storyteller from Burke County, North Carolina. When we spoke to Harrell in 2021, we asked him which story he wanted us to play. This was during the social distancing part of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he hadn’t seen some of his family in a while. So, he chose a story about his mom, his sister-in-law and his aunt Eloise. It’s called “Sweet Tea and Red Wine.”
The National Storytelling Festival is October 2-4, 2026, in Jonesborough, Tennessee.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, Michael Reno Harrell and Anna and Elizabeth.
This episode was originally produced by Roxy Todd with help from Zander Aloi. Jade Artherhults was associate producer, and Andrea Billups served as executive producer.
These days, Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, this week’s Inside Appalachia features storytellers from around the region, including author, television host and five-time West Virginia Liars Contest winner Bil Lepp. Here he is back in 2019, telling a story during a Mountain Stage performance at the West Virginia Culture Center.
Also, state regulators were in Morgantown Wednesday evening to hear from the public about a proposed transmission line project in northern West Virginia.
And, a B-minus report card may not sound like a lot when it comes to maternal mental health, but it is an improvement for West Virgina.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Daniel Johnston, a visual artist and singer-songwriter from West Virginia made his mark in the indie music scene of the1980s. His raw and unpolished style earned him a label as an outsider artist, and a place in the state’s Music Hall of Fame.
Johnston recorded his best-known songs on cassette in his parents’ basement in Hancock County. Songwriters saw past the lo-fi production values and musicians like Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain championed his work.
Johnston was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his 20s, and as his fame grew, his mental health struggles increased. He died in 2019 at age 58, leaving hundreds of songs and drawings.
In this award-winning episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with family members, musicians and others about Daniel’s life and legacy.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Spotify, the NPR app and wherever you get your podcasts.
Daniel Johnston is among the 2025 inductees to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame. Johnston burst onto the '80s indie scene with wobbly vocals and homemade cassettes that quickly earned him a devoted following.
Photo Credit: J McConnicoPhoto Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe West Virginia Music Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization in Charleston, dedicated to documenting and preserving the lasting contributions West Virginians have made to all genres of music. Its mission is to recognize the many influential musicians who have shaped the American musical spectrum — from country, classical and jazz to rock, R&B, gospel and traditional — and eventually establish a permanent facility to house a museum for recordings and memorabilia. For now, the Hall of Fame is headquartered in the Charleston Town Center Mall. Some of the notable inductees are: Bill Withers, Billy Edd Wheeler, George Crumb, Hazel Dickens, Red Sovine, Kathy Mattea, Tim O'Brien, Little Jimmy Dickens, Fred "Sonic" Smith and Barbara Nissman.
Photo courtesy Bill and Mabel Johnston Slide CollectionDaniel Johnston was born in Sacramento, California, in 1961, the youngest of Mabel and Bill Johnston’s five children. A few years later, the family moved to Bill’s home state of West Virginia, settling near Chester in the northern panhandle—where this photo was taken on Jan. 1, 1969, when Daniel was eight years old.
Family members say that as a kid, all Daniel wanted to do was draw cartoon figures and record songs. He dropped out of college twice, struggled to keep a job and often spent his paycheck on comic books.
His drawings range from simple black-and-white sketches to brightly colored depictions of imaginary beings and superheroes. His songs center on unrequited love, loneliness, the struggle between good and evil, and his battles with mental illness.
When Johnston was in his 20s, he was diagnosed with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. His career was often interrupted by lengthy stays in psychiatric units.
Shelly Reed and Trey Kay standing in front of “The World’s Largest Teapot” in Chester, WV.
Photo Credit: Amy EddingsShelly Reed is Daniel Johnston’s cousin. She grew up in Chester, and still lives there today. Reed says Chester is known for two things: Daniel Johnston and the “World’s Largest Teapot,” a tourist attraction since 1938. Johnston, famous for his music and his visual art, created much of that art while growing up near Chester. But many landmarks of his presence—including his childhood home and murals he painted at the high school—are gone.
“People in town… I don’t know, they even erased his stuff. He drew a picture of a bear and other things at the high school. I’m sure they wish they had it now, because he became so famous. But they colored over it, painted over it. Have you seen his yearbook? He drew a lot of pictures in it. He was always drawing pictures—always… After he died, my daughter and I stayed at their house for two weeks because they were overwhelmed with selling all the things people wanted after he passed away. I was in shock. I thought, ‘I cannot believe people are paying anywhere from $100 to $800.’ It’s just kind of crazy that I’m related to him… You know, he was just a kid from Chester, West Virginia, who liked playing the piano, writing down every thought in his head and drawing every picture that came to mind—and here he is, famous.”
— Shelly Reed, Daniel Johnston’s cousin
Daniel Johnston recorded many of his songs on a $59 Sanyo boombox in the basement of his family’s Hancock County home. The early 1980s were an especially creative time for him; he compiled those songs into self-produced cassette albums and gave them to anyone who would listen.
Courtesy PhotoShelly Reed, left, and Trey Kay look at a vinyl record of Daniel Johnston’s “Hi, How Are You” album, which was originally self-produced on cassette.
Photo Credit: Amy EddingsDaniel Johnston’s most famous self-produced album was “Hi, How Are You?” It gained worldwide recognition among musicians, including Sonic Youth, Beck, Yo La Tengo, Pearl Jam and Wilco. The lo-fi cassette featured one of Johnston’s most recognizable characters on the cover, a googly-eyed frog-like alien Johnston named Jeremiah the Innocent. The late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain made the frog image iconic when he wore a T-shirt featuring it to the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards. Here, Johnston’s cousin Shelly Reed shows “Us & Them” host Trey Kay a vinyl copy of “Hi, How Are You?” at her home in Chester.
Irwin Chusid
Photo Credit: Flash RosenbergIrwin Chusid is a music historian and journalist who has been a free-form DJ at WFMU in New Jersey for more than 50 years. He frequently featured Daniel Johnston’s music on his shows. Chusid coined the term “outsider artist,” and he considers Johnston’s work to be in that category.
Chusid first discovered lo-fi music when a friend played him “Philosophy of the World,” the 1969 album by the three-sister group The Shaggs. His ensuing fascination with outsider music led him to write “Songs in the Key of Z: The Curious Universe of Outsider Music,” which includes Johnston. Chusid said Johnston is in a league of his own.
“[Daniel Johnston] has pop appeal and a huge body of work—songs people can cover or sing. Anyone can listen and hear a hook, a melody, a verse, a chorus, or something unusual in the lyrics. They can hear Daniel’s soul in that music. And that applies to every—can I use this word?—‘great’ outsider musician: They’re expressing their soul.”
— Irwin Chusid, music historian and journalist.
Mabel, Bill and Daniel Johnston.
Photo courtesy of Hi How Are You FoundationFamily members describe Daniel as someone who wanted to draw and play music all the time. Daniel’s mother Mabel told filmmaker Jeff Feurzeig in his award-winning 2005 documentary, “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” that “he didn't want to do any of his chores like help mow the lawn or wash the car or any of those things.” She added that she had to “settle that.” Daniel recorded arguments with her on his cassette player and sometimes used them in songs like “Brainwash” and “Mabel’s Grievances.” He also made films spoofing her. Dick Johnston said they were brought up in a Christian home, and his mother objected to some of Daniel’s antics.
"The earliest dispute that arose about what he was doing had more to do with his art than his music, maybe. He was drawing these dead dogs' eyeballs. And you could find these things all over the county for the longest time because he and his friends were putting them everywhere. And mother thought that was distasteful. I've never heard them comment on the songs except to say that they are very good and that they thought that they were a little on the depressing side."
— Dick Johnston, only brother and former manager of Daniel Johnston and the manager of his estate.
Young Daniel Johnston playing piano at his family's home near Chester, WV. Bill Johnston said everyone got musical training.
Photo Courtesy of Bill and Mabel JohnstonListen to Daniel Johnston’s song “Walking The Cow.”
Watch Daniel Johnston’s perform “I Live My Broken Dreams” in Austin, TX on MTV in 1985.
Daniel Johnston and musician and artist Kathy McCarty in July 1985. When they met, McCarty was living in Austin, TX and fronting the band Glass Eye.
Photo Credit: Dick JohnstonIn 1983, Dick invited Daniel to spend the summer at his home near Houston, thinking that would help Daniel get on his feet. Dick said Daniel got a job atAstroWorld. But a few months later, Daniel moved in with a sister in San Marcos, south of Austin. Soon after, Daniel disappeared and skipped town with a traveling carnival. Dick said Daniel thought family members were going to put him in a psychiatric hospital because of his bipolar disorder.
Five months later, the carnival stopped in Austin and Daniel chose to stay. He got a job at a McDonald’s and passed out his homemade cassettes to anyone who showed an interest.
He gave a cassette to Austin-based musician and singer-songwriter Kathy McCarty, whose band, Glass Eye, was a favorite in Austin’s growing live music scene. McCarty said she got a lot of cassettes from people seeking to open for them.
“This weird guy came up to me and gave me a cassette tape. He was clearly dying of nervous energy—he could barely bring himself to talk to me. I took his cassette and said, ‘Yeah, I’ll listen to it.’ It was ‘Hi, How Are You?’ I listened to about two songs and thought, ‘My God, this guy’s a genius.’ We didn’t even practice that day; all we did was listen to his tape over and over. I think we scheduled half an hour for him to play six or seven songs. He rushed through three, then ran off stage. He went to the bathroom, climbed out the window and took off.”
— Kathy McCarty, musician and visual artist
Courtesy PhotoDaniel’s local popularity led to his appearance on an episode of “The Cutting Edge” on the popular music video cable station MTV in the summer of 1985. By that fall, McCarty said Johnston suffered a psychotic episode in which he violently attacked his manager after which he spent time in a psychiatric hospital in Austin. His father, a former WWII pilot, flew to Austin to take Daniel back to West Virginia after another psychotic break. His mental health continued to deteriorate. During a trip to New York City to record his first studio album, “1990,” he assaulted another musician and was briefly hospitalized. Following a recording trip to Maryland, Daniel got into an altercation with a woman in Chester who ended up jumping out of the window of her second-story apartment to escape Daniel after he kicked down the front door. He told a judge he was trying to save the woman from a demon. The judge sent him to a psychiatric hospital in Weston, WV, where he stayed for some time before he was released into the custody of his parents. Daniel would spend a total of five years in mental health institutions over the course of his lifetime.
“Dave, here I am on MTV holding up my tape, ‘Hi How Are You,’ and they're recording me tonight, I'm on MTV. Remember when we used to watch MTV back home? Look, I'm on MTV, Baby!”
– Daniel Johnston, speaking on an MTV promo for “The Cutting Edge”
CourtesyKathy McCarty began working on “Dead Dog’s Eyeball: Songs of Daniel Johnston” after Daniel was hospitalized in Weston. She said she recorded his songs so people could hear the music in a more relatable way. She accomplished that goal: The album was well-received, and one track, “Living Life,” appeared on the soundtrack of the 1995 romantic drama “Before Sunrise,” starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy.
“Oftentimes people used to ask me in interviews, do you think that his mental illness is like, what makes him such a great songwriter? And I'd be like, ‘no, if he had not been mentally ill, it would have been much better.’ His mental illness - it stood in his way.”
— Kathy McCarty
Jeff Tweedy
Photo Credit: Pitch Perfect PRDaniel continued to record, often collaborating with other musicians. His eighteenth and final album was issued in 2012 but his most enduring work was the material from the 1980s, much of it from West Virginia.
His dad, and later, his brother Dick, managed him. They toured with him, booking local artists to accompany him. Daniel eventually stopped playing guitar or piano because of tremors from the medications he took.
In 2017, Daniel announced he would retire from performing. He did a final, five-date tour. Each stop featured a different band influenced by his music.
Jeff Tweedy, the frontman of Wilco, and his son backed up Daniel at the Old Vic in Chicago. A video of the concert shows Daniel sitting in a chair, reading his lyrics off a music stand. Both hands grip the microphone to steady his shaking body.
Watch Daniel Johnston perform with Jeff Tweedy and his son at the Old Vic in Chicago in 2017.
Tweedy will induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and perform at the ceremony. He said it’s a great honor.
If it was up to me he'd be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or he'd be in every state's Hall of Fame. I don't know, I just think that you know I think that there are a lot of good reasons to keep his music alive and keep a focus on the art that he made.— Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco
Daniel continued to record, often collaborating with other musicians. His eighteenth and final album was issued in 2012 but his most enduring work was the material from the 1980s, much of it from West Virginia.
His dad, and later, his brother Dick, managed him. They toured with him, booking local artists to accompany him. Daniel eventually stopped playing guitar or piano because of tremors from the medications he took.
In 2017, Daniel announced he would retire from performing. He did a final, five-date tour. Each stop featured a different band influenced by his music.
Jeff Tweedy, the frontman of Wilco, and his son backed up Daniel at the Old Vic in Chicago. A video of the concert shows Daniel sitting in a chair, reading his lyrics off a music stand. Both hands grip the microphone to steady his shaking body.
Watch Daniel Johnston perform with Jeff Tweedy and his son at the Old Vic in Chicago in 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03Mu9Utm94MTweedy will induct Daniel Johnston into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and perform at the ceremony. He said it’s a great honor.
If it was up to me he'd be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or he'd be in every state's Hall of Fame. I don't know, I just think that you know I think that there are a lot of good reasons to keep his music alive and keep a focus on the art that he made.
— Jeff Tweedy, of the band Wilco
Daniel Johnston performing with B.E.A.M. Orchestra during a European tour in 2010.
Courtesy PhotoDaniel Johnston performed outside the U.S. at venues in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy. In 2010, he toured Europe with the B.E.A.M. Orchestra, an 11-piece outfit from Holland. Live recordings from that tour are on Daniel’s 2010 album “Beam Me Up!”
Dick Johnston, left, with Daniel Johnston in Austin, TX.
Photo courtesy of the Hi How Are You FoundationDick Johnston manages Daniel’s estate. He said proceeds from the sales of Daniel’s drawings and other merchandise pay for the upkeep of his voluminous archives and legacy-building projects.Dick said he’d like to develop a cable or television series based on Daniel’s life.
Daniel’s visual art is also in the spotlight. The art publisher Rizzoli will soon release “Daniel Johnston,” a 400-page book spanning four decades of Johnston’s work.
Daniel is also remembered through the Hi, How Are You Foundation, a non-profit co-founded by Tom Gimbel, who managed Daniel in the 1990s. The foundation’s “Hi, How Are You Project” educates young people worldwide about mental health through community-building events.
For a kid who started out making cassette tapes in his family’s basement, that’s quite a legacy.
“OK, even if you don’t like outsider music, you’re missing something in the human experience if you’re not listening to Daniel Johnston. He’s a deeply philosophical commentator on the world, society, life and our experience, and I think he has valuable things to offer. It’s something that shouldn’t be missed.”
— Dick Johnston
On Sept. 11, 2019, Daniel Johnston was found dead in his home in Waller, Texas. He was 58 and died of an apparent heart attack.
Photo Credit: Peter JuhlThis mural tribute to Daniel Johnston is in Houston, TX. It was unveiled on Hi, How Are You Day, a celebration of Johnston held every year on his birthday, on Jan. 22, 2020. The mural was created by muralist Anat Ronan and artist Jacob Calle.
Photo Credit: Jacob Calle
On this West Virginia Morning, the late singer-songwriter Daniel Johnston grew up in West Virginia and came onto the indie music scene in the 1980s. Last year, Johnston was inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame and he’s featured in the next episode of Us & Them. In this award-winning show, host Trey Kay learns about Johnston’s legacy which was partly shaped by his challenges with mental illness.
Also, an international nonprofit is launching an initiative to ease West Virginia’s childcare dilemma.
And, Marshall University is trimming some programs as it eyes growth in the coming years.
Finally, the state is sponsoring a poetry contest for the America 250 celebration on the Fourth of July.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia is currently conducting public comment hearings concerning developer NextEra Energy’s application to construct a new 107.5-mile-long transmission line from Pennsylvania through West Virginia to Virginia. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, in Morgantown.
Known as the MidAtlantic Resiliency Link, the line would cross Monongalia, Preston, Mineral and Hampshire counties. Chris Schulz recently spoke with Kaitlin McCormick, senior director of project execution at NextEra, about the need driving the project.
Also, homeless advocates have released new figures that show a drop in the number of unhoused people in West Virginia.
And, the state is looking for information on technology to help monitor patients in rural settings.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, there are just over 6,000 abandoned or orphaned natural gas wells in West Virginia, according to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Some estimates suggest that number is low. The surprising thing, though, is where some of them are located. News Director Eric Douglas has this story.
Also, West Virginia is holding steady in a national report on child well-being.
And, the application deadline for the Hope Scholarship Program is just a week away on Monday, June 15. State Treasurer Larry Pack, who serves as Chairman of the Hope Scholarship Board, is encouraging more families to apply for the funding.
Finally, a statewide initiative launched Monday aims to help West Virginians prepare for disasters before they strike.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, throughout the Southern United States, you’ll often find three-pronged leaves with hairy vines swallowing entire sections of forests. It can be a beautiful sight at first glance. But the invasive plant causes persistent ecological problems in the region. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WUOT’s Jacqui Sieber has more on efforts to tackle the ‘vine that ate the south.’
Also, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) has a new chief operating officer. Gov. Patrick Morrisey has named William "Bill" D'Aiuto to the newly created leadership position.
And, U.S. Attorney Matthew Harvey, who oversees the Northern District of West Virginia, has been named to a leadership position on a board that targets major drug trafficking operations across multiple states. Harvey will serve as the vice-chair of the Washington-Baltimore High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the Trump administration invests in coal, Medicaid concerns rise in the Mountain State, and Mountaineer Food Bank expands.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Some of the stories on our show inspired college student art — including a vivid image of a bear smashing a clarinet.
Also, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens.
And, COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. One author says, these folks are anything but passive.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- WVU Students Carve Prints From Stories On Inside Appalachia
- The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban
- New Book Exposes ‘America’s Contempt’ For Marginalized Underclass
- Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal Miners
WVU Students Carve Prints From Stories On Inside AppalachiaMeghan Sterrett “Bearing the thought of being disposable."
Courtesy of Joseph LupoWe occasionally hear from educators who find ways to work Inside Appalachia into their classrooms. In December, the show was tagged in an Instagram post by West Virginia University (WVU) art professor Joseph Lupo.
The post showcased four-color reductive relief prints made by WVU students — each one inspired by a story or episode they heard on Inside Appalachia.
Host Mason Adams spoke with three of Lupo’s students and asked them to describe their work and its connection to the show. But first, he asked Lupo to explain the assignment he gave his class.
The Three Kitchens Of New VrindabanSaci Suta offers food to Krishna in the devotee kitchen.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingNew Vrindaban is a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle. It started in the late 1960s and is home to a few hundred permanent residents — but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple — and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold.
But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Folkways reporter Zack Harold’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.
New Book Exposes ‘America’s Contempt’ For Marginalized UnderclassThe cover of Sarah Jones' new book Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Jones/Simon & SchusterMore than one million Americans have died from COVID-19. Some groups of folks died at much higher rates than others. And those deaths tended to follow lines of race, class, age and disability. In other words, conditions that were already making life harder for some people played out during the pandemic, too.
Last year, host Mason Adams spoke with reporter Sarah Jones about her book, Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass.
Leann Ray And Her Support For Coal MinersWest Virginia Republican Sens. Jim Justice and Shelley Moore Capito pose with coal miners at a White House event where President Donald Trump signed executive orders to loosen regulations for coal mining.
Courtesy Office of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.The Trump administration has slashed federal jobs and loosened energy production regulations, and delayed a Biden-era rule to protect miners against silica dust, which contributes to black lung disease. Last April, we spoke with Leann Ray, the editor-in-chief of the nonprofit news outlet, West Virginia Watch, about an editorial she wrote.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Tim Bing, Frank George, Blue Dot Sessions and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The Ohio-based festival over the years has hosted American music icons, like John Prine, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, while also supporting regional artists. Inside Appalachia’s Abby Neff spoke with festival founder Tim Peacock to learn more.
Also, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services this week has released a ruling on pending changes to Medicaid coverage. Opponents say thousands in West Virginia will lose coverage.
And, Google has created a website to provide information on the company’s plans to develop a data center near the Putnam County town of Buffalo.
Finally, low income West Virginia residents can apply soon for energy assistance to get through the summer heat if they are in danger of having their service shut off.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, if your aging parent needs surgery, you might need to take time away from work to care for them. A federal policy called the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) gives many employees job-protected leave for caregiving. But it has noteworthy limitations. HealthQ’s Cara Anthony and Blake Farmer, as part of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, spoke with Jocelyn Frye from the National Partnership of Women and Families to learn more.
Also, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has released their final report on the mining accident that killed a miner last November.
And, an apprenticeship program in the state’s schools is reporting widespread success in its first few years of operation.
Finally, activists who are concerned about the risks coal mining poses to endangered species in Appalachia notched a courtroom victory last week.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, one in six West Virginians is food insecure. Meaning, 270,000 people in the state regularly don’t know where their next meal will come from. Assistant News Director Maria Young recently toured Mountaineer Food Bank’s greatly expanded, new facility to find out what it takes to meet that need every day – and what it will take in the years to come.
Also, human rights advocates are raising questions about reported immigration enforcement in West Virginia earlier this year.
And, a reminder for anyone who takes a parking spot reserved for Purple Heart recipients. Starting next week, there will be stiff penalties for unauthorized use of those spaces.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, while baseball fields are run of the mill in most communities, there’s a certain type of diamond that’s less common: it’s called a “Miracle Field.” There are three of these in West Virginia – in Morgantown, Wheeling and Green River. These are accessible baseball facilities that can accommodate players with disabilities. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Cynthia Abrams reports that these fields are a growing trend across the country.
Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is doubling down on prevention as medicine to improve the state’s health.
And, collections for West Virginia’s General Revenue Fund surpassed $381 million in May. That’s $44 million more than estimated, according to Morrisey’s office.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, black bears now inhabit all 55 counties of West Virginia, and bear encounters are on the rise across Appalachia. Climate change is often a hidden culprit. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports that state wildlife managers are working to promote peaceful coexistence.
Also, Sierra Club West Virginia will debut its finished “Quilting for Community” project Tuesday evening in Morgantown – designed, cut and sewn by community members who may or may not have had any sewing skills when they began. The project will then launch a statewide tour that is expected to lead to similar projects across West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the springtime drought lingers, beverage distributor workers continue to strike and the state’s amphibians are struggling.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week
A new roleplaying game gives folks in the workplace a chance to be a mythical Appalachian monster.
Also, southeast Ohio’s Nelsonville Music Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary in June. We talk with the founder about what keeps people coming back.
And, members of a Ukrainian Catholic church in Wheeling, West Virginia, make pierogies for their community every week. What makes them so good?
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Monsters Of Appalachia Game Connects Coworkers
- Rail Trails Connecting Appalachian Cities
- Pressure On Power Grids
- Southeast Ohio Residents, Wildlife Experts Warn Against Fracking
- Flash Flooding In Dante, Virginia
- Tick Season Could Be All-Year Round
- Rebuilding After EF4 Tornado Struck Somerset, Kentucky
- Nelsonville Music Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary
- A Passion For Pierogies In Wheeling, W.Va.
Monsters Of Appalachia Game Connects CoworkersPeople in the workplace often have to do team-building exercises. But instead of the stale old icebreakers, a team of university developers are using Appalachian cryptids. Bigfoot, the Flatwoods Monster and Moth-person are all part of the game called Monsters of Appalachia. It was developed by the Center for Transformational Play at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
Host Mason Adams spoke with Jessica Hammer, associate professor and director of the center.
Rail Trails Connecting Appalachian CitiesOnly four gaps remain in all of West Virginia to complete the 238-mile Parkersburg to Pittsburgh Corridor. The terminus of the Marion County rail trail in Fairmont represents one of those gaps.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAcross the country, old railroads have been converted into multi-use trails for folks to get out and enjoy nature.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz has more on an ambitious vision to connect communities in West Virginia and Pennsylvania by rail trail.
Pressure On Power GridsAn electrical substation sits off Poindexter Road in Louisa County, near Crossroads Community Church. Infrastructure maintenance and upgrades are one of many factors currently driving up electric bills in Virginia.
Photo Credit: Anjoleigh Schindler/WMRANorthern Virginia is home to the biggest concentration of data centers in the world. It’s known as “data center alley.” And now, its power needs are affecting rural places throughout the region. As utility companies expand the power grid to keep up, new substations and transmission lines are being proposed. One project stretches across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. Another extends through nine counties in Virginia. It’s drawing pushback from environmentalists and residents.
WMRA’s Anjoleigh Schindler reports.
Southeast Ohio Residents, Wildlife Experts Warn Against FrackingDriving into the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area.
Photo Credit: Julie Grant/The Allegheny FrontAn Ohio commission is accepting bids to lease thousands of acres of a remote, state-owned wildlife area for fracking.
The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant visited the area and has more.
Flash Flooding In Dante, VirginiaJames Mabry stands on his back porch that overlooks the creek along Saw Mill Hollow Road in Dante. In July 2025, an unexpected and unprecedented amount of rain caused flash flooding requiring evacuations and rescues in this small community. Access was difficult for the emergency crews who partnered amongst counties to respond. A bridge that connected him to the other side of the creek was washed away.
Photo Credit: Stephanie Klein-Davis/WVTFA 2022 scientific paper suggests Appalachia could see nearly twice as many flash floods by the end of the century. Climate change is causing more extreme rainfall, and the town of Dante, Virginia is one of many places where flooding is getting even worse. Dante has had floods throughout its history.
Radio IQ's Katie Burke spoke with an African American family whose ancestors came to work in the mines. They survived a flood last July.
Tick Season Could Be All-Year Round In LouisvilleWe’re seeing the effects of climate change in other, unexpected ways, too. We have seen a lot of ticks this year, and scientists say they’re likely to become even more prevalent because of climate change.
The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s Bill Burton and meteorologist Tawana Andrew regularly discuss the region’s climate and weather. This week, they’re talking ticks.
Rebuilding After EF4 Tornado Struck Somerset, KentuckyMembers of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Somerset cut the ribbon on their rebuilt building on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/WEKUA year ago, an EF-4 tornado struck Somerset, Kentucky, damaging part of the city. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Curtis Tate has more on efforts to rebuild a local church and an electric cooperative’s headquarters.
Nelsonville Music Festival Celebrates 20th AnniversaryTyler Childers and his band performing at the Nelsonville Music Festival in 2019.
Photo Credit: Joel Prince/Nelsonville Music FestivalThis year, the Nelsonville Music Festival in southeast Ohio will celebrate its 20th anniversary. Over the years, the festival has hosted a who’s who of American music icons, like John Prine, Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn, while also supporting regional artists.
Associate Producer Abby Neff sat down with director and founder Tim Peacock to talk about the festival.
A Passion For Pierogies In Wheeling, W.Va.Making pierogies by hand is a long-time tradition in a small church in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Will Warren/West Virginia Public BroadcastingJust about every culture has some version of the dumpling. China has the wonton. Italy, ravioli. And in India and Pakistan, samosas.
Different forms of dumplings have made their way into Appalachia, brought by immigrants who blended their recipes into the region’s cuisine. That includes folks from eastern Europe, who began arriving more than a century ago.
From our archives, Folkways reporter Will Warren went to a weekly pierogi making session in Wheeling, West Virginia, and brought us this story in 2024.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Mary Hott, David Odell and Dave Bing, Hello June and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, monsters in the workplace? Maybe. Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh is developing a team building game using Appalachian cryptids like Bigfoot and the Flatwoods Monster. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Jessica Hammer, associate professor and director of the university’s Center for Transformational Play, to learn more.
Also, despite the recent soggy weather, most of West Virginia remains under drought conditions.
And, three treatments for cancer patients are available for the first time in southern West Virginia.
Finally, bells will be ringing across the state as part of the America 250 celebration.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, America’s foster care crisis is serious for nearly 400,000 kids who rely on the system. In the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks into the shortage of licensed foster homes – and the wide range of agencies and nonprofit organizations who offer help navigating what can be a complicated system.
Also, state lawmakers are making it easier for workers to get training on new skills faster.
And, a bitcoin mining company has acquired property in northeastern Kentucky, near Ashland, to build a hyperscale data center. This story was produced as part of the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.
Finally, improved water quality in West Virginia has led to fewer restrictions on sport fish consumption across the state.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Hundreds of thousands of kids rely on America’s foster care system.
West Virginia has the highest rate of foster care placements of any state - four times the national average. Foster care is most often needed because of parental substance use, mental health challenges, poverty and neglect. Six-thousand Mountain State kids are in foster care, but there’s a shortage of licensed foster homes and residential facilities and that’s why nearly 400 kids live in out-of-state institutions.
On this Us & Them, an encore episode finds more than half of all states have seen their number of licensed foster homes drop, some by as much as 60 percent because many new foster parents don’t stay in the system for long.
While official foster care cases are tracked and overseen by state agencies, many types of so-called kinship care are not official or included in state data.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, CRC Foundation and Daywood Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Dominic Snuffer was 5 when he and his four younger siblings entered foster care.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I was in several foster care situations… I think three or four. It always seemed short and seemed as if we were getting bounced around.The hard part was probably just the beginning, how much I just always try to keep my siblings in check. I felt as if, if they behaved in a way, just like the other situations we might get taken away. It feels like yesterday that I got adopted. It went by fast. The things that make me smile was definitely adoption day. ‘Cause I knew, I finally found a family and I could try and live out the rest of my childhood.”
— Dominic Snuffer**
Larry Cooper is executive vice president of innovation at The Children’s Home Network (CHN) in Tampa Bay, Florida. The agency works with children in foster care and provides services to help prevent families from entering the system. Cooper has worked at CHN for more than 20 years, including eight years licensing foster homes and recruiting and training foster parents. He says the approval process is strict by design but can take more than a year, and some prospective foster parents drop out along the way.
Photo courtesy of The Children’s Home Network“You might fall off because of just life experiences that you may be going through. You might have a change in jobs. You might have an illness in your family. You might have a death in the family. And so I used to see for every 100 parents that I recruited, I might get only four to six families actually get a kid into their home for every hundred that would call me and be interested in becoming a foster parent.”
— Larry Cooper**
Marc and Brandi Wilson live in St. Clairsville, Ohio, just across the river from Wheeling, West Virginia. Brandi worked as a Child Protective Services worker in West Virginia for 20 years. In 2014, her work at the Department of Health and Human Resources and her personal life collided when they became foster parents to a baby related to Marc.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“ They both took the stand and said that they give up the rights to their child, I just started breaking down. She [Brandi] was sitting beside me like this and she looked over at me. She said, ‘What's wrong?’ I said, ‘I can never imagine saying that about my own child’. She was kind of numb to it because she's worked in the field. It was hard to hear somebody say that.”
— Marc Wilson**
“It wasn't until he was sitting next to me in the courtroom that I realized not everybody hears relinquishment. Not everybody hears abuse, neglect. Not everybody hears that - as CPS workers [this is] just everyday language. So once I was with him and realized, okay, this isn't everybody's life. They may have drug issues, domestic violence, gangs coming in and out of their home, but these words are not everyday life for a lot of people.”
— Brandi Wilson**
Rachel Kinder oversees several family support programs at Mission West Virginia, including kinship care initiatives. She has worked in the foster care system for more than two decades. Kinder says the number of children in West Virginia’s formal foster care system peaked at 7,200 in 2019 and has declined somewhat since, though many informal kinship care arrangements are not reflected in state data.
Photo Credit: Mission West Virginia“I can tell you the number of kids in formal care, so if there are 6, 078 kids in foster care in West Virginia, right now 58 percent of those are in kinship relative placements. For kids in informal care, where grandma or an aunt or some type of relative or even what we call fictive* kin has stepped in, it's almost impossible to get numbers on that.”
— Rachel Kinder**
*Fictive care refers to placements where a foster parent knows the child, but is not related to them. This could be a teacher, family friend, or a neighbor.
Nikki and Louisa Snuffer live in Sissonville, West Virginia, and have long considered foster parenting part of building their family. The couple has 12 children ranging in age from 10 months to 20 years old and they also breed French bulldogs.
The Snuffers say their oldest daughter welcomed a baby last fall, making them grandparents for the first time. Their son Dominic attends Marshall University and is on track to graduate soon. The couple has also welcomed another child through a kinship placement. Nikki Snuffer now works with the Mountaineer Challenge Academy, a residential program that helps at-risk teenagers pursue education, structure and career training.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“It actually was a pretty easy decision because we were both on the same page almost always with helping people. I've known since probably my early high school years that I did want to do foster care. However, we really wanted no more than maybe three. And the way life and things happen. we got five at one time. I have two brothers who were put in foster care that I never knew and I still don't know. So we made a commitment that when we got into it, that we would never split up families.”
— Louisa Snuffer**
“If they call us for a sibling group, we're not going to say ‘no’ to them because that was our number one belief. Like, ‘We need to do whatever we can to keep siblings together.’ When we were initially approved, we were approved for four children. So, DHHR [Department of Health and Human Resources] told us we could have four children in the house, given the space. And that, that was kind of our cap. I said, ‘Maybe we'll do three tops,’ you know, that seems like a manageable number. And the very first call we got for placement was a sibling group of five. Of course we said, ‘yes.’ We had to do a few things to get approved for a fifth child. They moved in with us. Things went great.”
— Nikki Snuffer**
Nikki Snuffer holds her granddaughter. Many of the children the Snuffers have cared for they first came to know through Nikki Snuffer’s former work at Winfield High School, where she taught in the National Guard–sponsored Future Leaders Program led by veterans. She now works with the Mountaineer Challenge Academy, a residential program that helps at-risk teenagers pursue education, structure and career training.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“[For] my kids that have gone to Winfield, I make them go through the [Future Leaders] program. Not because I'm teaching it, but because even if it wasn't me, I'd want them to get these skills. It's the kind of things that are forgotten these days.”
— Nikki Snuffer**
On this West Virginia Morning, researchers have spent almost two decades restoring a threatened species of orchid in southern Kentucky. But those efforts were disrupted when an EF-4 tornado swept through the area in May 2025, carving visible lines in the landscape. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Lily Burris went to Mount Victory to learn about the recovery.
Also, area residents in northern and eastern West Virginia can offer their feedback in person next month on a proposed electric transmission line in the region.
And, beverage distributors for southern West Virginia have now been on strike for two weeks and counting.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, unpredictable weather is making it harder for amphibians to survive in West Virginia – and elsewhere. Kylie Frederick, a journalism student at West Virginia University (WVU), reports on how efforts to protect frogs and similar creatures start at home.
Also, the West Virginia University Cancer Institute is enrolling pancreatic cancer patients for a promising, first-in-human clinical trial that doctors hope will improve survival rates for a very challenging disease.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, after statewide primary elections, at least one race is headed for a recount. Also, independent audits find potential savings at three state agencies – as well as a critical deficit that could affect struggling families.
And, a busy summer is on tap in the capitol city. And, the termination of a federal grant program for first time farmers is leaving some growers – and communities – in a bind.
We also discuss the effects of Hurricane Helene in Appalachia.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Hurricane Helene devastated central Appalachia and disrupted the lives of people in recovery.
Also, in West Virginia, fur trapping continues, even in the 21st century.
And, baseball is America’s past-time. One league is making the game more inclusive.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Substance Use Recovery After Hurricane Helene
- Pittsburgh Researcher Moves To China After Trump Cuts
- The Tao Of Fly Fishing Rods
- W.Va. Fur Trade In The 21st Century
- The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And W.Va.
- The Homewrecker Returns To Hillbilly Hotdogs
- Baseball Field In Tennessee Accommodates Players With Disabilities
Substance Use Recovery After Hurricane HeleneDevon, sitting in his daughter's room in Arden, is in recovery for drug addiction. Helene upended his life, but his network of friends and support group helped him get through it.
Photo Credit: Jesse Barber/GristIt’s been a year-and-a-half since Hurricane Helene ravaged central Appalachia, especially western North Carolina. The storm upended communities, including support for people living with addiction and behavioral health issues.
Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Katie Myers has been exploring how people are still recovering.
Pittsburgh Researcher Moves To China After Trump CutsNatalie and Jason Walsman have been living in Pittsburgh since 2020, but are now selling their home and moving to China.
Photo Credit: Brynn Kleine/90.5 WESAAs the Trump administration cuts federal science funding, people in research hubs like Pittsburgh are wondering how or if that shift might reshape their communities.
WESA’s Glynis Board spoke with one researcher and his family about their recent decision to move to China.
The Tao Of Fly Fishing RodsLee Orr fly fishing on the Elk River.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMost of the time, athletes welcome technical innovations in sports equipment. Gone are the days when folks ran marathons in Converse sneakers. And you don’t hear basketball players pining for short shorts. But some fly fishermen still prefer to do things the old-fashioned way. In 2023, Folkways reporter Zack Harold took us to the Elk River to meet Lee Orr of the 304 Rod Company.
W.Va. Fur Trade In The 21st CenturyJeremiah Whitlatch has taught his daughters how to trap, and they help out at the auction.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPeople have long trapped animals for their hides.
In North America, Europeans swapped iron tools, cookware and whiskey for animal skins. The pelts were part of a lucrative business that lasted well into the latter part of the last century. In fact, trapping was one of Appalachia’s first industries.
These days, fur trappers struggle to earn a living. The fashion industry has largely turned away from fur. Still, some trappers in West Virginia have adapted or found new careers using their particular skills. A few years back, Folkways reporter Lauren Griffin brought us this story.
The Sweet Taste Of Syrup In Virginia And W.Va.Maple Sugar Road in Highland County, Virginia.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingHighland County, Virginia and its neighboring counties in West Virginia are some of the southernmost areas in the U.S. where you can make maple syrup. Making maple syrup has become tradition in these communities, but producers are experimenting – both out of curiosity and out of necessity. In 2023, Folkways reporter Clara Haizlett visited the Alleghany Highlands.
The Homewrecker Returns To Hillbilly HotdogsLast summer, producer Bill Lynch traveled to Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage, West Virginia. It’s a local institution and a tourist attraction. In 2024, the hotdog stand’s signature menu item suddenly became unavailable. But the "Homewrecker" has now returned. Bill went to the hotdog stand to take the homewrecker challenge: eating the three-pound hotdog in less than 12 minutes.
Baseball Field In Tennessee Accommodates Players With DisabilitiesMurfreesboro’s Miracle Field has been in operation since 2017.
Photo Credit: Cynthia Abrams/WPLN NewsYou can find a baseball field in most communities, but some diamonds are rarer than others. Like a “Miracle Field.” A baseball facility that can accommodate players with disabilities. WPLN’s Cynthia Abrams reports that these fields are a growing trend across the country.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Tim Bing, Tim and Dave Bing, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps and John Inghram.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Chris Julin, Nicole Musgrave and Jennifer Goren. Special thanks to our guest editors this week, Whitney Henry-Lester and Amy Pedulla.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, it’s been a year-and-a-half since Hurricane Helene ravaged central Appalachia. Communities are still recovering, including those who were already in recovery for addiction. Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Katie Myers has more.
Also, at least one of West Virginia’s too-close-to-call primary races will go to a recount.
And, new reporting shows that renewable energy is growing across the country with some surprising states leading the way.
Finally, a 70-acre stretch of land in Upshur County will be transformed into a multi-purpose recreational complex, thanks to multiple grants and a generous gift.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a small federal grant program aimed at increasing first-time farmer’s access to land, training and tools was finding fertile ground in West Virginia. But in March, the Trump administration suddenly terminated it, leaving local partners uncertain about their futures. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Chris Schulz reports.
Also, during a Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on Capitol Hill this week, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., asked if a warfare training center in southern West Virginia could help modernize military training.
And, millions in federal funds will protect West Virginia from exposure to lead in drinking water.
Finally, the unemployment rate in West Virginia has fallen from March levels but remains slightly higher than the national average.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, last weekend was the first anniversary of a tornado that devastated communities in nearby southern Kentucky. A Day of Remembrance event honored those who lost their lives, and reflected on a year of recovery. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Shepherd Snyder has this report.
Also, West Virginia lawmakers are taking a hard look at the sustainability of statewide spending on special education.
And, the beginning of July promises to be an extremely busy time for the City of Charleston, with not one but two major celebrations underway.
Finally, the streets of Charleston will once again be filled with world-class cycling races, set to kick off June 16.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the price of gas has skyrocketed, but how do you know if you would save money with an electric vehicle? The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region, reports on how to find out if you would save money with an electric vehicle.
Also state audits reveal potential savings, the state's gas tax is expected to rise and vets warn about pets accidentally eating cannabis.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, an historic steam locomotive that occupied Nashville’s Centennial Park for decades will soon hit the rails again. John Boyle of the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom reports on a yearslong restoration effort to save the train.
Also some lawmakers are back in Charleston this week for interim meetings and canvassing starts today for last week's primary election.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, a long-serving judge dies, the primary election wraps up and national hospital week is observed.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachian music comes in all kinds. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spoke with Mason Salomeini, organizer of the electronic music celebration Dungeon Fest in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
Also some of Tuesday's primary races remain too close to call, the state's math scores improve and students have new opportunities in the utilities and energy sector.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Chuck Anziulewicz is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, psychedelic drugs might find acceptance as a treatment potential for mental health conditions and drug addictions. From the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay checks back with a friend named Dimitri Mugianis who’s been using a psychedelic drug called ibogaine to help people kick addictions.
Also, the governor's endorsements in the primary election get results, beverage distributors go on strike and the production of mining tools goes local.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Secretary of State Kris Warner provided an election night update on voter turnout and results from Tuesday’s primary election.
Also Sen. Shelley Moore Capito cruises to the Republican nomination, and election analysis from a West Virginia University professor.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Jim Kaufman, president and CEO of the West Virginia Hospital Association, spoke with Maria Young about some of the challenges that lie ahead for hospitals and those who need them in the Mountain State.
And the Primary Election is tomorrow, as well as a look at making America's pastime accessible to all.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the primary election in the state turns ugly and racist, an ambulance driver is indicted for the death of a man in Elkview and Democrats call for an investigation of Senator Jim Justice.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, substance use disorder and mental health challenges reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic, so a few localities decided to try something new. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams spent time over several months with crisis teams in Huntington and Princeton.
And the state commits to helping children through improvements to foster care and new savings accounts, while local and federal law enforcement focus on seatbelt enforcement.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Chuck Anziulewicz is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a plan to funnel millions of dollars in oil and gas royalties toward conservation efforts is getting support from an unexpected group. From The Allegheny Front, we learn about fracking proposals in southeastern Ohio – and what West Virginia University (WVU) researchers say could be the impact on wildlife.
Also, West Virginia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its child welfare system took center stage Wednesday.
And, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Wednesday it is creating a new Special Missions Command in Kearneysville, West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, across the country, old railroads have been converted into multi-use trails for folks to get out and enjoy nature. Chris Schulz has more on an ambitious vision to connect communities in West Virginia to Pittsburgh via rail trail.
Also, a new statewide effort to boost school safety got its first investment this week.
And, the West Virginia Democratic Party is calling for a federal investigation into Sen. Jim Justice and his efforts to maintain control of The Greenbrier Resort.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, prices at fuel pumps have surged since the United States went to war with Iran. But the Middle East conflict is also having major impacts on international shipping and supply chains. As Shelby Bloomer with Kentucky-based radio station WKMS reports, those issues are taking a major toll on Appalachian corn farmers. This story was produced by the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom.
Also, ahead of the May 12 primary election, voters in West Virginia’s 8th senatorial district began receiving a mailer from an out-of-state political action committee that targets one candidate and raises race as an issue.
And, some Catholics are excited by the news of new leadership in West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, in an effort to attract more horse racing competitors this year to West Virginia, the state Legislature increased the funding cap to $2 million for certain races – and neighboring states are taking similar action. When Golden Tempo won the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, his owner, trainer and jockey won an estimated $3.1 million winning purse. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports much of that growth can be attributed to increased gambling on historical horse racing games.
Also, the source and cause of a small mercury spill in Charleston remains under investigation, but the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the City of Charleston coordinated cleanup efforts throughout the weekend.
And, following an environmental group’s litigation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently put protections in place along nearly 4,000 miles of river in 17 states, including Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, for four species of mussels. Derek Operle with member station WKMS reports.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, an opioid settlement reaches a milestone, gas prices shock Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and we have more information on the recent chemical spill near Nitro.
Bill Lynch is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Historian Mills Kelly’s love affair with the Appalachian Trail started when he was a boy scout. He was 12.
Also, the region is known for exporting coal, but it’s losing people, too.
And, Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque in southwestern Virginia fuses Asian ideas with Appalachian comfort food, like cheesy egg rolls.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail
- Acupuncture May Ease Alpha-Gal Syndrome
- Depopulation In Appalachian Coalfields
- Ambulance Crews In Rural Tennessee Administer Antibiotics On Site
- A Community Rallies Around Cuz’s Barbeque
- Environmental Engineer Turned "Water Healer"
A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian TrailThe cover of A Hiker's History of the Appalachian Trail by Mills Kelly.
Courtesy of Mills Kelly/Arcadia PublishingMills Kelly knows an awful lot about the Appalachian Trail (AT). While he’s never attempted a thru-hike, the lifelong hiker has covered hundreds and hundreds of miles of the trail. He’s also a trail scholar. He shares its history on The Green Tunnel Podcast.
He’s also written several books about the trail, including his most recent. It’s called A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail. Producer Bill Lynch recently spoke with Kelly about his life with the AT.
Acupuncture May Ease Alpha-Gal SyndromeAcupuncturist Jessica Dodds holds up an alpha-gal vial she uses to assess allergy severity.
Photo Credit: Christine Phelan Kueter/WMRANobody loves ticks. The bloodsuckers have a reputation for spreading Lyme disease, but that’s not all. They can also infect people with Alpha Gal Syndrome, a red meat allergy.
Symptoms of the allergy range from a rash to crippling gastro-intestinal upset. It has even very rarely led to death. Sometimes the allergy fades over time, but sometimes it doesn’t, and there is no cure.
But as WMRA’s Christine Kueter reports, some are getting relief through acupuncture.
Depopulation In Appalachian CoalfieldsIn this Oct. 16, 2014 photo, fog hovers over a mountaintop as a cut out of a coal miner stands at a memorial to local miners killed on the job in Cumberland, Kentucky.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/David GoldmanThe population inAppalachia’s coal-producing counties has declined since the boom of the 1950s. As the coal industry mechanized and shrunk, jobs went away, and young people did, too. Now, a series of population estimates show things might get even worse.
Journalist Jim Branscome grew up in southwestern Virginia and has been following this story. Host Mason Adams spoke with Branscome back in the fall.
Ambulance Crews In Rural Tennessee Administer Antibiotics On SiteParamedics in Hawkins County have been administering Zosyn, a penicillin antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body, to treat septic patients in ambulances since last year. The program is made possible through a partnership between Hawkins County EMS and Ballad Health, a major hospital operator in the region.
Photo Credit: Pierce Gentry/WPLN NewsUntreated infections are one of the most frequent causes of death in the United States. Getting lifesaving antibiotics is a challenge in rural areas that don’t have easy access to hospitals.
For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, reporter Pierce Gentry tells us about an effort in Hawkins County Tennessee to find a solution.
A Community Rallies Around Cuz’s BarbequeCuz's Uptown Barbeque was selected in 2019 by World Restaurant Awards as one of the top under-the-radar restaurants in the world.
Photo Credit: Connie Bailey Kitts/West Virginia Public BroadcastingFood in Appalachia is a blend of the food from all the other places people came from to get here. In West Virginia, we have pepperoni rolls because about 100 years ago, Italians working in the coal mines wanted an easy lunch.
Different food ideas show up all the time.
At Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque in Tazewell County, Virginia, you get local mountain flavors, but with an Asian inspired twist. There are items on the menu like Morel mushrooms, cheesy egg rolls and country ham caprese.
In 2022, Folkways reporter Connie Bailey Kitts and her family stopped in at Cuz’s for dinner and brought us this story.
Environmental Engineer Turned "Water Healer"Carol Parenzan is an environmental engineer and former riverkeeper who is starting a new chapter as The Water Healer.
Courtesy PhotoThe Susquehanna River is one of the world’s oldest rivers. It’s also one of its most threatened. The Susquehanna has been named America’s most endangered river multiple times. More than a decade ago, Carol Perenzen became its inaugural riverkeeper. She helped connect people to their river and advocated for its protection. Now Perenzen has a new project.
The Allegheny Front’s Kara Holsapple has more.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Eric Vincent Huey, Mary Hott, Hello June and John Inghram.
Mason Adams is our show host. Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Jennifer Goren and Zander Aloi.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and on Facebook.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Mills Kelly is a lifelong hiker and Appalachian Trail scholar. He shares the trail’s history and more on The Green Tunnel Podcast. He’s also written several books, including his most recent, called A Hiker’s History of the Appalachian Trail. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Kelly to learn more.
Also, Jefferson County Schools have been placed on lockdown for a second day in a row after threatening calls were made.
And, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said Thursday on her weekly press call that she was shocked to see the price for a gallon of regular gas in West Virginia had climbed to more than $4. Capito shares what she said it will take to get those numbers down.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, two weeks ago, on April 16, John Lucas was run over by an ambulance from the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority at 2 a.m. in Elkview. And then he was dragged for nearly two miles. He died from his injuries. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with the family’s attorney, Scott Summers, and brings us this interview.
Also, federal, state and local agencies are working to monitor conditions at the site of a fatal chemical leak near Nitro last week.
And, a new national study shows teacher pay is not keeping up with inflation, and West Virginia is bringing up the rear.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as temperatures rise and people start heading outside, the chance of contracting a tick-borne illness goes up. Cases of Lyme disease have seen a sharp rise in recent years, so reporter Chris Schulz recently spoke with Dr. Kane Maiers, associate medical director for UPMC GoHealth Urgent Care in West Virginia, to learn more.
Also, potholes across West Virginia are on track for repair by the end of May, according to Gov. Patrick Morrisey. That’s happening as the state steps up safety efforts for workers.
And, the League of Women Voters of West Virginia has published its annual legislative scorecard on 20 bills that became law in the recently completed legislative session.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Green Bank Observatory is offering a limited chance to go behind the scenes to check out its Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). SETI tours are offered to small groups – ages 12 and up – several times a month through October. Maria Young caught up with the Observatory’s news manager, Jill Malusky, to find out more about the tours – and what exactly scientists there are looking for.
Also, a new study is shedding light on the need for more mental health resources for new and expecting mothers.
And, a developing industry is taking off with federal support.
Finally, text messages illegally using the West Virginia State Seal have been reported to the Secretary of State’s office.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
It’s been a year since Hurricane Helene barreled into central Appalachia. The storm caused floods and landslides. The disaster changed the shape of rivers. It also took lives and upended entire communities, but from the beginning, the recovery brought people together.
Also, country music’s Rob McNurlin grew up with traditional music in Eastern Kentucky. His friend Marty Stuartsays he’s a folk hero.
And, we check up on Virginia rapper and producer Byron Mack.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Hurricane Helene: One Year Later
- Whitewater Raft Guides Clean Up Nolichucky River
- Filmmaker Tells Country Star Rob McNurlin's Story
- Using Invasive Fish As Food For Prey
- Catching Up With Virginia Rapper Byron Mack
- Matthew Perry Foundation At Healing Appalachia Music Festival
Hurricane Helene: One Year LaterA home dedication for a survivor of Helene, who received a new home in Washington County through the Trails to Recovery organization.
Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQIt’s been a year since Hurricane Helene hit the mountains of Appalachia. The storm brought catastrophic flooding and devastated parts of western North Carolina, east Tennessee and southwestern Virginia. Our partner station RadioIQ produced a documentary about how folks recovered and rebuilt after the storm.
Roxy Todd's RadioIQ reports from southwestern Virginia.
Whitewater Raft Guides Clean Up Nolichucky RiverThe Nolichucky River clean up crew. (left to right) Michael Crooks, Parrish Ross, Justin Morgan, Amelia Taylor, Nick Wirick.
Photo Credit: Rolando Arrieta/NPRErwin, Tennessee, was near the epicenter of Helene’s destruction, and it saw extensive damage along the Nolichucky River.
NPR’s Rolando Arrieta visited the area to meet with whitewater rafters and find out how the cleanup is going.
Filmmaker Tells Country Star Rob McNurlin's StoryCountry musician Rob McNurlin (center) standing next to Colonel Steven Middleton (left of McNurlin). Middleton directed the documentary, From The Cowboy's Boot Heel: The Musical Journey of Rob McNurlin.
Photo courtesy of Colonel Steven MiddletonFor decades, Rob McNurlin has played in hole-in-the-wall bars, clubs and coffee houses throughout central Appalachia. He’s recorded songs, made videos and even hosted television programs, but was never able to break into the mainstream. After McNurlin announced plans to retire, filmmaker Colonel Steven Middleton asked if he could tell the singer’s story. He made the documentary, The Cowboy’s Boot Heel: The Musical Journey of Rob McNurlin.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Middleton.
Using Invasive Fish As Food For Injured Birds Of PreySomerset High School teacher Hank Gevedon demonstrates how to filet a carp.
Photo Credit: Sam Dick/WEKUInvasive carp are a nuisance in waterways across the country. The carp reproduce quickly and crowd out native species. They’re even a hazard to boaters. A southern Kentucky high school teacher and his students are using the invasive fish to feed injured raptors, like bald eagles, vultures and hawks.
For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WEKU’s Sam Dick has more.
Catching Up With Virginia Rapper Byron MackFlat Five owner Byron Mack shows a trophy for an award won by one of his songs.
Photo courtesy of Byron MackA couple years ago, Host Mason Adams reported on one of Appalachia’s most influential music recording studios. Since that story aired in the summer of 2023, Byron Mack has been through some changes.
Mason sat down with him at his home in Salem, Virginia.
Matthew Perry Foundation At Healing Appalachia Music FestivalMatthew Perry Foundation's Nick Gaines at Healing Appalachia.
Photo Credit: Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public BroadcastingHealing Appalachia was held in Ashland Kentucky a few weeks ago. The three-day music festival celebrated recovery, and included performances by Chris Stapleton, Tyler Childers and Molly Tuttle.
This year, Healing Appalachia worked with the Matthew Perry Foundation, which was founded shortly after the actor’s death. The organization supports groups tackling addiction in their communities.
WVPB’s Randy Yohe attended Healing Appalachia and spoke with Matthew Perry Foundation Program Director Nick Gaines.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Rob McNurlin, Larry Rader and Byron Mack.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We also had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, hundreds of low-income households in Mercer County are about to get a significant financial boost – one that organizers hope will make a difference for recipients as well as their communities.
And, a retiring Appalachian singer announced his plans – then got a call from an old friend. We bring you the story behind the story of Rob McNurlin’s life.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, federally subsidized flights to and from rural airports are expected to continue for now – even if the government shutdown forces the suspension of those subsidies.
And, Us & Them host Trey Key looks into why young people are showing up to vote in record numbers and who is helping to shape their views.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This episode first aired in 2023, focusing on the strategies to motivate young voters, and we’re sharing it again in the wake of the Sept. 10, 2025, assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Kirk, a renowned conservative youth organizer, was shot and killed during a campus event at Utah Valley University.
Nothing divides Americans like politics — but young voters continue to matter. Us & Them host Trey Kay talks with journalist Kyle Spencer, whose book Raising Them Right traces how conservative organizers spent years building a youth movement on campuses. Spencer says the growth was strategic and well funded. Money can organize power, she notes, though it doesn’t force a single, uniform ideology on young people.
Kay also talks with Abby Kiesa of Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), who explains how youth participation has shifted in the Trump era and why a deeper problem persists: the political system still struggles to turn young people’s political interest into sustained turnout.
Revisiting this Us & Them episode in the wake of Kirk’s death offers context for how campus-based organizing — and reactions to it — have shaped youth politics today.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Kyle Spencer is an award-winning journalist and frequent New York Times contributor. She has written about Christian rockers, Philadelphia murderers, Harlem parents in the age of school reform, million dollar PTA's, marijuana etiquette and gay culture among young American Catholics. In recent years, she has focused much of her attention on the ways in which race, class, and culture are impacting life inside American classrooms.
Courtesy PhotoLearn more about Kyle Spencer’s book Raising Them Right: The Untold Story of America's Ultraconservative Youth Movement and Its Plot for Power.
As the founder and president of Turning Point USA, the late Charlie Kirk is credited by President Donald Trump with motivating young conservatives to vote in the 2024 election.
Photo Credit: Jackson Forderer/AP PhotosLearn more about Turning Point USA.
Candace Owens has emerged as a notable conservative pundit. Owens served as communications director for Turning Point USA, but since then has become an influential commentator and entrepreneur.
Photo Credit: Gage SkidnoreVisit Candace Owens website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgKc-2rFcRw“Mom and Dad… I’m a Conservative” is a self produced humor video by Candace Owens.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-poqjet5mYCandace Owens responds to Congressman Ted Lieu playing a recording of her making a statement about Adolf Hitler.Abby Kiesa runs the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University. She has worked on several major research projects and evaluations while at CIRCLE, as well as on several partnerships to support growing voters for a more equitable electorate. Kiesa is well-versed in the wide range of youth civic and political engagement efforts and practice, and brings a broad view of the institutions and interventions that can make up ecosystems for civic development among all youth.
Courtesy PhotoFor more information about CIRCLE.
On this West Virginia Morning, the newest justice on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has already been sworn in. But today that happens in a public ceremony.
And, West Virginia typically puts on a spectacular display of fall colors. We'll tell you how to view them from above the trees.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, we look at the government shutdown and where it is likely to hit the hardest in West Virginia. Also, a law enforcement partnership yields dozens of arrests – in one particular area.
A steam locomotive built more than 70 years ago is on the move. And, an international volunteer group that began in West Virginia is working to put a book in the hands of children across America.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
COVID-19 exposed the contempt society has for marginalized people. The author of a new book says these folks are anything but passive.
Also, rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some pumpy crags.
And, the online world of Appalachian memes and what they tell us about the folks who live here.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- New Book Exposes 'America's Contempt' For Marginalized Underclass
- Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing
- West Virginians Pay For Rising Costs At Out-Of-State Coal Plants
- Memes Carry On Appalachian Humor
- Compost Drop-Off At A Farmers Market
New Book Exposes 'America's Contempt' For Marginalized UnderclassSarah Jones is a senior writer at New York Magazine and author of Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass.
Photo Credit: Anna Carson DeWittMore than one million Americans have died from COVID-19. Some groups of folks died at much higher rates than others. And those deaths tended to follow lines of race, class, age and disability. In other words, conditions that were already making life harder for some people played out during the pandemic, too.
A new book digs deeper; it’s titled Disposable: America's Contempt for the Underclass. It’s written by Sarah Jones, a reporter at New York Magazine who grew up in Appalachia.
Adaptive And Inclusive ClimbingA colorful scene of athletes, climbing gear, wheelchairs and trekking poles are scattered at the base of a cliff. Everything has a golden glow from the light beaming through the fall foliage. Ropes of various colors hang in front of the wall waiting to be used.
Photo Credit: Katie Jo Myers/Adaptive Climbers Festival, 2023The mountains of Appalachia are home to some killer rock climbing. And, in a lot of cases, its crags and cliffs are fairly easy to get to. That’s why some groups are choosing Appalachia as a climbing destination, a place to return to time and time again.
In 2023, Emily Chen-Newton reported this story about why climbing festivals are making a home in Appalachia.
West Virginians Pay For Rising Costs At Out-Of-State Coal PlantsOVEC's Kyger Creek plant, on the right, sits next to the Ohio River in Gallia County, Ohio.
Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public BroadcastingElectricity prices continue to rise and people aren’t happy about it. In West Virginia, Appalachian Power customers have been paying hundreds of millions of dollars in hidden costs. That money is going to buy power from two coal plants that aren’t even located in the state.
WVPB’s Curtis Tate has more.
Memes Carry On Appalachian HumorAndi Marie Tillman depicts her character Papaw on FaceTime.
Photo courtesy of Andi Marie TillmanHumor runs deep here in Appalachia. Even online, where memes about mountain life seem to go viral all the time.
Last fall, Folkways Reporter Madeline Miller brought us this story about two artists who’ve taken holler humor to the digital realm.
Compost Drop-Off At A Farmers MarketLaura Totin Codori, the founder and CEO of Worm Return, with her dog Ginger at the East End market, wants Pittsburgh to be a “city that composts.”
Photo Credit: Kathy Knauer/The Allegheny FrontFinally, apple cores, potato peels and other food waste are a big climate problem when they end up in landfills. Now, the city of Pittsburgh is giving residents a chance to save their food waste from becoming just trash. People can drop off food waste at city-run farmers markets, where it then becomes compost.
The Allegheny Front’s Isabell Kim visited the farmers market in the East Liberty neighborhood and brings us this report.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Gerry Milnes, John Inghram, Tim Bing, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Clara Haizlett.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, forecasting storms involves a lot more than noticing a few dark clouds and some rain drops. The National Weather Service relies on volunteers – they’re offering the training that’s needed.
And, West Virginia’s clean energy jobs have been growing – but the federal energy policy is focused heavily on fossil fuels rather than renewables. Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate takes a look at what that means for clean energy development.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, books are not always readily available for children everywhere in the U.S. An international volunteer group started in West Virginia makes sure all preschool kids get new picture books and learn a love of reading.
And a foodbank that serves 12 counties of West Virginia is struggling to meet a sharp increase in demand.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, an annual report from West Virginia University (WVU) gives some insight into crime and safety on campus. Also, a new plan aims to make West Virginia more competitive when it comes to science and technology grants.
A local effort to prevent overdose deaths has grown to a nationwide phenomenon. Save a Life Day, took place Thursday – for the first time in every state.
And, a green lumpy fruit native to West Virginia is having its moment. Whether you think it tastes like mangoes or pineapples or something in between, the popular pawpaw is the newest soft drink flavor around.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
For nearly a century, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has staged a formal dance. Organizers rely on a manual that’s been passed down for generations.
Also, abortion is illegal in most cases in Tennessee. So, what happens after a birth? A photographer followed one mother for a year.
And, new prisons are touted as a way to bring jobs to former coal communities. Not everybody agrees the trade-off is worth it.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Tradition Of The Grand March
- Indian Creek Water Worries Residents
- Stacy Kranitz And “A Year After A Denied Abortion”
- Appalachian Rekindling Project Halts Prison Construction On Strip Mine
- Appalachian Prison Book Project
- Memories Of Family And Loss With Burn Poet Sarah Henning
The Tradition Of The Grand MarchPaige Smith, the 2023 Mountain Laurel Festival queen, gets crowned by Gov. Andy Beshear while the previous year’s queen looks on.
Photo Credit: Will Warren/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is the oldest festival in the state of Kentucky, and it happens Memorial Day weekend.
It’s a four-day celebration culminating in “The Grand March,” a traditional dance that has been passed down since the first festival in 1931.
Folkways Reporter Will Warren, a Pineville native, went to the festival over Memorial Day weekend in 2023 and brought us the story.
Indian Creek Water Worries Residents One of the three places along the creek where water started sprouting out, and with it a white stringy slime.
Photo Courtesy of David StoverResidents of Wyoming County, West Virginia, say their drinking water is making people sick. But it’s unclear exactly why — and who’s responsible for fixing the problem.
State regulators say water from a nearby mining complex is flowing into the creek, but who owns the mine and who is responsible for cleaning up the toxic water?
WVPB’s Briana Heaney reports.
Stacy Kranitz And “A Year After A Denied Abortion”Mayron Michelle Hollis with one of her children.
Photo Credit: Stacy Krantiz/ProPublicaTennessee photographer Stacy Kranitz acknowledges the complicated history of people taking pictures of poor Appalachians, often focusing on the harsher, ugly elements that reinforce stereotypes. She actively wrestles with it in her work.
Host Mason Adams spoke with Kranitz about her work documenting the lives of a young family last year called “The Year After a Denied Abortion.”
Appalachian Rekindling Project Halts Prison Construction On Strip MineCentral Appalachia is home to 16 federal and state prisons. And building the prisons in that region was based partly on the idea of replacing lost jobs in coal country. Some of them were even built on the site of former surface mines.
Now, federal officials are considering adding a new prison in Letcher County, Kentucky. The area’s U.S. Representative, Hal Rogers, firmly supports the project.
But as the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting’s Jared Bennett tells us, the project is also drawing opposition, both from locals and from activists around the country.
Appalachian Prison Book Project Stacks of books sit waiting to be sent to incarcerated people in the offices of the Appalachian Prison Book Project on the second floor of the Aull Center in downtown Morgantown April 27, 2024.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public BroadcastingFor incarcerated people, books can provide crucial information to navigate the justice system, educate themselves and develop plans to reenter society. But people in prison have limited access to books. The Appalachian Prison Book Project is trying to change that.
WVPB’s Jack Walker reports.
Memories Of Family And Loss With Burn Poet Sarah HenningSara Henning's latest book of poetry is Burn.
Photo Courtesy of Sara HenningIn her new book Burn, Marshall University professor and poet Sara Henning draws on her complicated family history and rough upbringing to explore young love, loss and the weight of grief.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with her.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, John Inghram, Jeff Ellis, Erik Vincent Huey and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
As the United States prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, attention is focused on the relevance of the American Revolution to our country today.
The new episode of Us & Them spotlights a recent community event at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia with host Trey Kay and three top historians to talk about the realities of our revolutionary past.
Ken Burns’ upcoming PBS series The American Revolution shines a light on the war that transformed 13 colonies into a nation. This timely episode of Us & Them revisits America’s origin story with fresh eyes, probing what we remember, what we forget, and why it matters now.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from WETA and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting recently hosted a community conversation ahead of the PBS documentary series The American Revolution, produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. The series, eight years in the making, premieres Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 — on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the war’s start. The American Revolution traces how 13 British colonies rebelled, won independence and formed a new government that reshaped the continent and inspired democratic movements worldwide.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s sneak preview of The American Revolution took place Sept. 4, 2025, at the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education on the Shepherd University campus in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
Photo courtesy of the Byrd CenterLearn more about the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education.
Learn more about Shepherd University.
Zachary Dougherty, director of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, welcomes attendees to WVPB’s preview of The American Revolution. The Byrd Center preserves congressional archives and fosters public understanding of the legislative process and American democracy.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public BroadcastingTrey Kay, host of Us & Them, moderated the event. He told the audience he wanted to use scenes from The American Revolution as a springboard for a conversation about what the Revolution means today.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRaymond Smock, director emeritus of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education and former historian of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“What came out of this revolution is not a myth. It was a new order for the ages—the idea in the Declaration of Independence that "we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” Eventually that applies to women; it applies to everybody, and we’re still unfolding that story. … We overthrew a king in an age of kings and emperors; in Japan there were shoguns; and we created this new thing. There’s nothing mythological about that — that’s powerful.”
— Raymond Smock, director emeritus of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
Learn more about the Raymond Smock Papers Collections.
Friederike Baer, an early American historian at Penn State Abington, is the author of Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War and appears in Ken Burns’ PBS series The American Revolution.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I think this is a war that is romanticized. … I grew up in Germany but went to undergrad and graduated in the United States. When I learned about the American Revolution, it was very much about the ideological origins of the revolution — which is really important, of course. We’re a founding republic; it’s radical in many ways. But the war itself was almost overlooked. It wasn’t until much later that I realized this was not just a long war — it was a violent war.
All wars are violent, you could argue, but because of the civil war nature of this conflict, and also the frontier violence in North America, the horrors people witnessed and experienced were truly horrific when you read the primary sources.”
— Friederike Baer, historian at Penn State Abington
Learn more about Dr. Baer’s book Hessians: German Soldiers in the American Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Bankhurst, associate professor of history and director of the Center for Appalachian Studies at Shepherd University.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“John Adams, looking back after the war, tried to make sense of a conflict his generation spent a lifetime parsing. He recalled America split into ‘hot patriots,’ ‘vile Tories,’ and a quiet third who went with whoever held power. The modern consensus says that’s off—perhaps only 10% to 15% stayed loyal. The larger point stands: the revolution was a long war, not a simple us-versus-them story. It was a war of ideas among Americans as much as a fight against an external foe. … Here in the Shenandoah Valley, divisions ran deep; within months of the Beeline March, Continental soldier James Morgan was murdered by a Loyalist gang near Martinsburg, bayoneted to his cabin door. The area around that site is still known as ‘Torytown.’”
— Benjamin Bankhurst, historian and director of Shepherd University’s Center for Appalachian Studies
Learn more about Shepherd University’s Center for Appalachian Studies and Communities.
Audience member Michael Galloway in Shepherdstown, W.Va., explains why the American Revolution still matters to him, noting the region’s deep interest in its own role — from the colonial era through the Civil War.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I think the idea of resistance and self-reliance, especially in this area, the idea that we still do see ourselves as separate in some ways and that we rely on our small communities to take care of each other rather than an overarching federal presence, especially here in West Virginia. ”
— Michael Galloway from West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, at WVPB’s pre-screening of “The American Revolution”
Shepherd Facilities employee Kevin Murphy said the 250th anniversary of America’s founding should be a time not only to commemorate, but to recommit to the work of a republic.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“It comes down to reflection. That’s the value of programs like this — and of history itself — so we can look at where we’ve come from. We can read letters from soldiers and ordinary people, look within, and avoid just following the crowd. We find the values we most relate to and use them to be a better citizenry.”
— Shepherd Facilities employee Kevin Murphy attending The American Revolution screening
Jessie of Middleway, W.Va., said fourth-grade trips to Yorktown, Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown sparked her love of Revolutionary history. At WVPB’s preview of The American Revolution, she offered her answer to how we balance a heroic origin story with a warts-and-all account of the nation’s founding.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“Yeah, we want both. I think you have to have a hero to follow—like George Washington—to bring out the best in people. But you also have to question every decision a leader makes. … The troops were mostly common people, rallied to fight behind something the elite convinced them to join. … They had to have a leader, some common thread for why they were showing up to risk their lives. … Even without full representation, I think they were questioning leadership. That’s why Washington had to start organizing everybody and really get them behind why they were fighting.”
— Jessie of Middleway, W.Va.
Raymond Smock, director emeritus of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education, speaks to the audience during WVPB’s preview of The American Revolution, as Friederike Baer of Penn State Abington and Benjamin Bankhurst of Shepherd University listen.
Photo Credit: Liz McCormick/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“But this same crazy government got us through the Revolution. They did some amazing things. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 carved out the future Midwestern states and set aside land for education. They were thinking ahead, and they knew our democracy was not gonna work unless citizens were educated.”
— Raymond Smock, director emeritus of the Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education
On this West Virginia Morning, there’s renewed attention on the American Revolution in the run-up to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and our nation’s founding. A new episode of Us & Them spotlights a recent community event at Shepherd University with host Trey Kay and three top historians to revisit America’s origin story.
And, 12 people were arrested by West Virginia State Police for alleged immigration violations, while the latest court filings in the debate over the state’s school vaccine requirements are zeroing in on a linchpin legal question.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Save A Life Day is Thursday, and this year – for the first time – the event, intended to stop overdoses from becoming fatalities, will take place in all 50 states.
And, a green lumpy fruit native to West Virginia is having its moment. Whether you think it tastes like mangoes or pineapples or something in between, the popular pawpaw is the newest soft drink flavor around.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode.
WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, nearly 11,000 clean energy jobs last year helped put the state on an important list. A national policy group puts it between Texas and Florida. Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate reports on what’s behind the numbers.
And, that statewide listening tour organized by the Department of Human Services over the summer? The Secretary highlights some of the takeaways – and the next steps.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, the capital city has an alarming 24 hours leading to an arrest.
Also, early efforts to get the vote out across the state. And a celebration of recovery is underway this weekend.
Finally, if you’re feeling frustrated by rising electricity prices, you might want to know about millions of dollars in hidden costs that West Virginians have been paying in recent years.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Hop aboard the Cass Scenic Railroad for a visit with the people who keep the steam trains running.
Also, we head to the woods and take a master class in foraging for wild mushrooms.
And, the makers of Angelo's Old World Italian Sausage still use a century-old family recipe. Customers love it.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Leaves Fall On Cass Scenic Railway
- Mushroom Hunting In Autumn
- Transforming Turkey Calls Into Art
- Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage
- Floyd's Friday Night Jamboree
Leaves Fall On Cass Scenic RailwayMatthew Hauser (left) and Brown Culp (right) are recruits from North Carolina working at Cass Scenic Railroad. Starting out as volunteer train enthusiasts, Hauser is now an engineer with his friend Culp as his fireman.
Photo Credit: Lauren Griffin/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThere’s something special about autumn in the mountains. This is the most popular time of year for a lot of tourist destinations in Appalachia. In West Virginia, visitors flock to view fall foliage by taking a ride on the Cass Scenic Railroad.
In 2022, Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin visited Pocahontas County and met some of the folks who keep the Cass steam trains running, including senior railroad employee Rex Cassell, who passed away during the making of the story.
Mushroom Hunting In AutumnThese chanterelles are about to be turned into a tasty treat. They were harvested the day before an unsuccessful mushroom hunt, and turned into a topper for vanilla ice cream.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingWith cooler temperatures and a little rain, mushroom hunters head into the woods during the early fall in search of wild mushrooms.
In 2023, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with fungi enthusiasts in Virginia and West Virginia. She brought us this story.
Transforming Turkey Calls Into ArtThree-and-a-half inch diameter pot call with painted turkey breast feather.
Photo courtesy of Brian AliffThroughout central Appalachia, fall Turkey season usually starts in late September or early October, which brings out the turkey calls. Now, historically, these have been used as a hunting tool, but one West Virginia artist has taken it to the next level. Brian Aliff makes handcrafted, prize-winning decorative turkey calls.
These works of art are functional, and they’ve become collector's items. But it took a while for Aliff to think of himself as an artist.
Connie Kitts has his story.
Angelo’s Old World Italian SausageAngelo’s Old-World Sausage is available in stores in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMost of us buy our sausage at the store, but it used to be that as part of the fall harvest, farmers would slaughter and process beef and pork to help get through the winter.
Some of that meat went into sausage. Today, some people still make their own sausage using old family recipes. A few have found ways to share that with others.
In 2023, Zack Harold met up with Sonny and Lou Argento from West Virginia. They’re the creators of Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage.
Floyd's Friday Night JamboreeMusicians, including children in the Handmade Music School, play music outside the Floyd Country Store at the Friday Night Jamboree. Store co-owner Heather Krantz is playing guitar (center).
Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPeople enjoy string band music year-round. In Floyd County, Virginia, there’s just one stoplight, and it’s in the town of Floyd, which is home to about 400 year-round residents.
Host Mason Adams brings us this story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Harvey & Copeland, Ron Mullennex and Gary Milnes, musicians at Floyd’s Friday Night Jamboree and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave, Chris Julin and Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, as national parks begin working to remove negative images from America’s past, not everyone views the renovations underway at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park as positive.
And, a 16-year pollution problem is getting some help from a tiny aquatic creature “musseling” its way into a tributary of the Monongahela River.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is asking for public input on two key issues: a plan to triple energy production and applying for Rural Health Transformation funds.
And, broadening the state’s Hope Scholarship program has made the number of participants harder to predict. State Treasurer Larry Pack walks us through the logic behind a sharp drop in estimated costs for next year.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
We remember Rex Stephenson. He’s known for his stage performances of the Jack Tales, which have captivated school kids since the ‘70s.
Also, keeping the family farm going after six generations can be rough.
And, some parts of southern Appalachia still practice the tradition of keeping up community gravesites for Decoration Day.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Rex Stephenson Remembered For The Jack Tales
- Six Generations Of Farming Left To Two Brothers
- Dusting Off Tombstones For Decoration Day
- Diamond Teeth Mary Medicine Show
Rex Stephenson Remembered For The Jack TalesFerrum playwright Rex Stephenson, surrounded by a group of elementary school students, during a "Jack Tales" workshop.
Photo Credit: Tabitha Collison/Blue Ridge Dinner TheatreA Virginia playwright who brought Appalachian folk tales to hundreds of thousands of children and people across the United States has died. Rex Stephenson was a theater professor at Ferrum College at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. He was 81.
Stephenson wrote numerous plays, including at least 25 that were performed on stage. He was known for playing famed American author Mark Twain. And he was best known for telling Jack Tales, in performances that mixed drama, humor, and musical performances to entertain and engage their audiences.
Host Mason Adams has this story.
Six Generations Of Farming Left To Two BrothersThad Wakefield at the family farm in Bedford County, Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: Cade Miller/Penn StateOur next story comes to us from Cade Miller who reported it when he was a student at the News Lab at Penn State. The lab works to address gaps in news coverage — including the plight of family farms. Miller’s family came from farming. His mother grew up on a dairy farm just down the road from the Wakefields, a family that’s farmed for six generations. Miller spent months reporting on the Wakefields, and their struggle to keep the family business going.
Last year, he produced a documentary that speaks to a dynamic happening across the US, as people grow away from their agricultural roots. It’s titled, The Wakefields – Two Brothers, Six Generations.
Dusting Off Tombstones For Decoration DayMichael Harding and his daughter Samantha prepare to scrub headstones.
Photo Credit: Terri Likens/Daily YonderHonoring ancestors is a familiar practice found among all cultures. In the southeastern United States, it can take the form of Decoration Day. Families come together in specially decorated cemeteries. They celebrate their roots, sometimes with music and prayers, and almost always with storytelling and a meal.
In Pickett County, Tennessee, where the Cumberland Plateau and Highland Rim collide, one family keeps one of Decoration Day’s oldest traditions: a swept graveyard.
Lisa Coffman takes us to the 200th anniversary of their Decoration Day.
Diamond Teeth Mary Medicine ShowSinger Mary "Diamond Teeth Mary" Smith McClain.
Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Humanities CouncilThe 25th anniversary of the Diamond Teeth Mary Medicine Show was held recently in Huntington, West Virginia. The blues festival honors a West Virginia native who hopped a train to flee her hometown at the age of 13. Her career crossed paths with a who’s who of American music of the 20th century.
WVPB’s Randy Yohe has this story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by the Jack Tale Players, Dave Odell and Dave Bing, John Blissard, Larry Rader, Blue Dot Sessions, Dinosaur Burps and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Just as America faces some of its most critical political divides, our criminal justice system suffers from a lack of public trust. How are these dual crises interwoven?
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with legal scholar David Sklansky, a Stanford professor who co-directs the school’s Criminal Justice Center. In his new book Criminal Justice in Divided America, Sklansky says reforming the nation’s justice system may be at the core of recovering our democracy.
In fact, he says there are clear approaches and solutions to help reform what’s broken and that even the basic concept of the jury trial can re-educate us in the skills and habits required to work across differences in a pluralistic democracy.
In the end, Sklansky says the criminal justice system is one of the few places where Americans of varying beliefs and persuasions engage with each other to make important decisions.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation and the Just Trust.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
David Sklansky, Stanford Law professor and co-director of the school’s Criminal Justice Center, is the author of Criminal Justice in Divided America: Police, Punishment, and the Future of Our Democracy.
Photo by Scott MacDonald“I think that the relationship between democracy and criminal justice is very deep and also complicated … effective criminal justice policies rely on democracy, and democracy relies on effective criminal justice policies. You need to understand democracy as a system for allowing people with different commitments and different views to work together, to arrive at collective decisions and to leave room for dissent … not as a conveyor belt that simply delivers what the people want. That’s never been a particularly attractive view, and it’s become even less attractive as the country has splintered apart based on the idea that ‘the people’ want one thing — and if you don’t, you’re not really part of the people.”
— David Sklansky, Stanford Law professor
CourtesyLearn more about David A. Sklanshy’s book Criminal Justice In Divided America.
On this West Virginia Morning, after two deadly flooding events this year, lawmakers are working to better understand the state’s capacity to respond to those events – especially against the backdrop of FEMA’s uncertain future.
And, following his wife's death, an Appalachian poet began writing. The result is A Sharper Silence, a book that explores both nature and his marriage.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachian Power will get the funds it needs – but at a much lower cost to customers.
And a series of short, quirky videos of English people talking about Marshall University’s soccer team has taken the internet by storm. News Director Eric Douglas investigates the backstory.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, neighboring Kentucky is known for its lucrative horse racing industry. But despite regulations to ensure all workers are legal, the federal immigration crackdown is causing concerns.
And, nearly a century after she fled Huntington, a blues festival there recognizes the diverse musical talents of Diamond Teeth Mary.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
We speak with the author of a new graphic novel about the West Virginia Mine Wars. The labor struggle culminated in the largest armed uprising since the Civil War.
Also, professional storyteller James Froemel invents quirky characters, like a sign maker who can’t spell. Froemel’s stories are drawn from small town life.
And, one of the most common animals to get hit by cars are opossums. But there’s a kind of animal rescue called pouch picking. We talk with author Laura Jackson.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Black Coal And Red Bandanas, A Graphic Novel
- Talking With Storyteller James Froemel
- Digging Under Ground Leads To Spoonmaking
- Exploring And Explaining West Virginia
Black Coal And Red Bandanas, A Graphic Novel“Black Coal and Red Bandanas” retells the story of the West Virginia Mine Wars.
Photo courtesy of Raymond TylerThe West Virginia Mine Wars are an important but little-known piece of American history. Coal miners in southern West Virginia had been trying to organize a union, while coal companies tried to stop them. Strikes and violent clashes ensued, culminating in the Battle of Blair Mountain in 1921. A version of the story is told in the new graphic novel Black Coal and Red Bandanas: An Illustrated History of the West Virginia Mine Wars.
Host Mason Adams spoke with its author, Raymond Tyler.
Talking With Storyteller James FroemelJames Froemel continues in the long line of Appalachian storytellers.
Photo courtesy of James FroemelAppalachia is known for its storytelling traditions. Cherokee legends, prayers and sermons in mountain churches, joke telling. James Froemel's journey into storytelling has taken a lifetime. From reciting Emily Dickinson in sixth grade to winning the Vandalia Gathering’s Liar’s Competition in West Virginia.
Froemel recently worked with storyteller, author and Liars Competition champ Bil Lepp to hone his craft. James Froemel‘s journey into storytelling has taken a lifetime.
Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef spoke with Froemel about telling tales from the stage.
Digging Under Ground Leads To SpoonmakingStan (L) and Sue (R) Jennings shape spoons on sanding machines in their Allegheny Treenware workshop in Preston County, West Virginia. Sue is pre-shaping while Stan is fine shaping on 40 grit sandpaper. These two stations are only used by the Jennings to shape each spoon by hand.
Photo Credit: Zack Gray/Allegheny TreenwareFor 30 years, Sue and Stan Jennings have run Allegheny Treenware, a West Virginia company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. They started off as a couple of coal miners. And when they weren’t underground, they talked about what else they could be doing.
Last year, Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro visited the Jennings, and brought us this story.
Exploring And Explaining West VirginiaHumorist and essayist Laura Jackson’s book Deep & Wild explores and explains West Virginia — or some of it.
Photo courtesy of Laura JacksonWest Virginia writer and humoristLaura Jackson is an avid explorer of backroads and scenic byways. Inspired by her trips, she wrote a series of essays about what she saw in her home state. They became her 2023 book, Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums & Finding Your Way in West Virginia.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Jackson.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Jeff Ellis, David Mayfield Parade, Dinosaur Burps, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Every day, 10,000 people turn 65 as America’s Baby Boom generation ages. By 2040, the number of people 85 or older will more than double and the need for caregivers will grow dramatically.
In a new episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderates a community conversation focused on some of the unique caregiving needs in West Virginia where nearly 21% of the population is over 65. We’ll also hear excerpts from a recently released PBS documentary called Caregiving from producer Bradley Cooper.
With the potential for Medicaid cuts over the next decade, access to caregiving programs may be a challenge especially for rural regions.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from WETA, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
If you attended WVPB's "Caregiving" screening event on June 18, please fill out this survey. Thank you!
West Virginia Public Broadcasting hosted a community conversation timed to the PBS and WETA documentary “Caregiving,” executive produced by Bradley Cooper. The film explored caregivers’ experiences — including Cooper’s own as he cared for his father. Because West Virginia has one of the nation’s highest shares of older residents, we used the occasion to convene caregivers, families and advocates to share stories, surface needs and connect to resources. We recorded the event and produced this “Us & Them” episode.
View the “Caregiving” documentary.
Orlando Craighead, executive director of the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement, discusses caregiving across West Virginia and how community health partners support families.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“I work with different organizations and try to get resources to our community through events, coalitions and our community health fairs to show that seniors have options. When my grandmother was sick in Kanawha County, we were looking for resources and we didn’t know where to go.
It’s community-based]giving. We can’t rely on the same old system to help us. We, as West Virginians, have to help ourselves and each other. We have to bring our community together and bring organizations together to provide the care we need.”
— Orlando Craighead, executive director of the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement
Learn more about the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement.
Eric Hicks, president of Right at Home, an in-home care provider, discusses nonmedical support for West Virginia families. The company’s Charleston office serves Kanawha and Putnam counties, with three additional offices in southern West Virginia. Hicks also founded the I started the Home Care Association in West Virginia.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“That’s one of the reasons I started the Home Care Association in West Virginia: We need a unified voice across the state to push for higher reimbursement so we can pay caregivers more. There are so many people with a kind, caring attitude who want to do this work, but many were forced to take jobs at big-box stores like Walmart or Target because the pay difference was $3 or $4 an hour.
Working with the state, we were successful. In October of last year, we secured a 34% increase. Now we can pay $15 an hour, and we’re working to ensure caregivers are better compensated so people with that caring spirit can be hired and do work they find fulfilling.”
— Eric Hicks,president of Right at Home
Learn more about the Right at Home: In Home Care & Assistance.
Kimberly Taylor Newsome, program director of the West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center, or ADRC, discusses caregiver support and services for older adults and people with disabilities across West Virginia.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“We’re a statewide resource agency. We’re not a direct service provider — we don’t send people into your home — but we connect you with the agencies that do. We want the fragmented resources across the state gathered in one place so everyone can find what they need without calling five or six or 10 different numbers. Often people don’t know what to do because they don’t realize how deep they’re in until it’s too late. We always say: We want people to know us before they need us.”
*— Kimberly Taylor Newsome*, program director of the West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
Learn more about the West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center.
From left, Kimberly Taylor Newsome, program director of the West Virginia Aging and Disability Resource Center; Eric Hicks, president of Right at Home; and Orlando Craighead, executive director of the Kanawha Coalition for Community Health Improvement, take part in a Us & Them community panel on caregiving, moderated by host Trey Kay, at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee MesserBetween excerpts from the PBS documentary "Caregiving," the panel takes questions from audience members — many of them caregivers, advocates and advisers — at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee MesserLearn more about the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub.
Debbie Boese Elkins, a longtime nurse and childhood friend of Us & Them host Trey Kay whom he hadn’t seen in more than 40 years, shares her experience as a full-time caregiver for her spouse, who has significant memory loss, at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“I still haven’t wrapped my head around it. When we first noticed issues in 2017, I was in denial — is something wrong? As a nurse, I thought I would recognize the signs, but when you see changes in your own loved one, you second-guess.
Getting a diagnosis was a journey — from asking his primary care physician in 2017 to seeing a neurologist who said he was fine, to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, and then learning it wasn’t Alzheimer’s. We saw four different neurologists. I was so exhausted I didn’t have time to think about what providing care might mean.
I didn’t reach out for help at first because I didn’t know who to call. With cancer or other conditions, you know the steps and people show up with casseroles. With dementia — in my husband’s case, frontotemporal degeneration — you don’t know who to call; you’re just trying to get through the diagnosis.
And when you finally get the diagnosis and realize there’s no treatment and no cure, the anger, grief and shock hit. Even though I saw it coming, I had a period of paralysis.”
*— *Debbie Boese Elkins, a full-time caregiver for her spouse, who has significant memory loss.
Check out Debbie Boese Elkins blog where she shares about caregiving.
George Manahan, who runs a statewide Parkinson’s support group, fields calls from families seeking help for loved ones with the disease. Echoing audience concerns about where to start, he says a memorable 1-800 number for caregivers could make a difference in West Virginia, at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“I get calls from Illinois and Virginia — from adult children whose parents live here. They can’t move home and can’t move their parents to them, so they ask, ‘What do we do? How can we help?’
What we don’t have is a simple entry point. I keep asking: What if there were a single number — 1-800-CAREGIVER — for families to call? It would take money and time, but at least people in another state could find help quickly.
I’ve also wondered about federally qualified health centers — FQHCs — and whether this is a burden they could help carry; they’re in 60 to 70 communities.
Parkinson’s is a slow-moving disease; people can live with it for years. That means we need care in our homes as long as we can. If it moves fast, it’s probably something else.”
*— George Manahan*, founder of the West Virginia Parkinson's Support Network
Bonnie Dunn, featured in a 2020 Us & Them story about grandparents who are caregivers, speaks at our community conversation at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va. She explains how she raised awareness of her program as many attendees cite awareness as a major barrier to finding help.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“I went to the Legislature with my grandmother’s apron — holes and all — and told our story. There’s already an infrastructure — Healthy Grandfamilies coalitions, Area Agencies on Aging, the Aging and Disability Resource Center, senior centers. What we need is something that resonates, like 1-800-CAREGIVER. Most people don’t know acronyms; a simple number is self-evident.
My caregiving started when my stepfather’s checkbook was off by a penny . . . later he stood in the kitchen and asked if there was something that makes coffee — while the same pot had sat in the same place for 35 years. After his dementia diagnosis, I had to find a caregiver and figure out the money. Because my name was on the house and accounts, we could make it work.
We built Grandfamilies in all 55 counties. People knew our number and county contacts, and we moved mountains. The Legislature kept funding because they saw the results.”
*— Bonnie Dunn,* founder of the Healthy Grandfamilies in West Virginia.
Read more about the Healthy Grandfamilies organization that Bonnie Dunn founded.
Rachel Carrico, a family and elder law attorney, explains how advance directives and other legal documents can guide medical and financial decisions. She urges families to have a basic estate plan so caregivers can act legally on a loved one’s behalf, during a community conversation at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“The most important document is a durable power of attorney — the ‘golden egg’ of estate planning … Without it, even a spouse can’t access an IRA or 401(k). The alternative is often a court conservatorship or guardianship — stressful, prolonged and expensive; it’s about 70% of my practice.
If you take nothing else from tonight, get a durable power of attorney.
Also consider a written caregiving agreement. Under Medicaid rules, family members are presumed ‘gratuitous’ caregivers; if you pay a child without a properly drafted agreement, you can be penalized when applying for Medicaid."
*— Rachel Carrico,* a family and elder law attorney.
Find out more about the law practice Rachel Carrico founded: Good Grief Law.
J.T. Hunter, founder of R.E.M.T. Care Partner Coaching, speaks about educating, enlightening and empowering care partners — especially those supporting loved ones with Alzheimer’s and related dementias — at the University of Charleston Downtown Innovation Hub in Charleston, W.Va.
Photo by Bobby Lee Messer“Caregiving is a big puzzle. If we don’t have every piece — every one of you — it doesn’t work in West Virginia. Too often we’re siloed and short on systems, but the people in this room are bringing back the village and starting a movement.
I’ve spent more than 17 years talking with legislators in Charleston and in Washington, D.C. I can take your stories to them, but what truly moves them is you telling your own story. We all have a mother, a brother, a grandfather — when they hear and see you, they change.
So find your organization — AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association — or contact me if you don’t know where to start. That’s how we change the system. Never underestimate your story; when you’re ready, please tell it.”
*— J.T. Hunter*, founder of R.E.M.T. Care Partner Coaching
Learn more about R.E.M.T. Care Partner Coaching.
A Tennessee DJ takes us on a tour of Appalachian punk and metal.
Also, Appalachian culture is enriched by its immigrants. We explore the fusion of West Virginia and Japan.
And, Appalachia isn’t all punk rock and Japanese food. There’s also string band music.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Maximumrocknroll Uncovers Appalachia's Extreme Music Scene
- Japanese Homestyle Haven In Morgantown
- Federal Cuts Impacting Mammoth Cave National Park
- Using The Internet To Connect With Extended Family
- A Sharper Silence Explores Grief, Nature and Hurricane Helene
- Journalist Documents Experience Of Trans Youth In American Teenager
- Appalachian String Band Music Festival In W.Va.
Maximumrocknroll Uncovers Appalachia's Extreme Music SceneTennessee DJ Cary Allen at his studio.
Photo courtesy of Cary AllenAppalachia is known for its distinctive music. It’s home to thriving punk, metal, indie and hardcore scenes. Now, the world is getting a chance to check out Appalachia’s extreme music scene, thanks to Maximumrocknroll. Maximumrocknroll was a zine that ran from 1982 to 2019. It first started as a radio show in California though. Now it’s a podcast. Since October, Johnson City, Tennessee, DJ Cary Allen has been part of the show and spotlighting Appalachian bands. Host Mason Adams spoke with Allen.
Cary Allen is a DJ on Maximumrocknroll Radio. He also plays garage rock and gospel on his Fuzzkill and Righteous Fuzz radio shows in the Johnson City area. The bands we heard in that segment were L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider and Buzz-Hound. You can find Maximumrocknroll Radio wherever you get podcasts.
Japanese Homestyle Haven In MorgantownStaff member Ryoko Kijimoto serves up rich rice bowls and ramen in Yama’s diner atmosphere.
Photo courtesy of Min KimJust about every college town has its go to block or neighborhood for restaurants and bars. In Morgantown, the home of West Virginia University (WVU), that’s High Street. And tucked off the main drag is Yama, a cozy diner that’s been serving up homestyle Japanese food since the 1990s. Japanese students and staff go there to share language, culture and food. It’s also a place of comfort and connection for the larger community.
In 2023, Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin brought us this story.
Federal Cuts Impacting Mammoth Cave National ParkGraffiti found inside Mammoth Cave in March 2025.
Photo Credit: Derek Parham/WKUSince January, the Trump administration has fired or laid off nearly one out of four staffers in the National Park Service. Republicans in Congress are now proposing even more cuts.
WKYU’s Derek Parham reports that visitors around the country are feeling the effects, including at parks like Mammoth Cave and the Great Smoky Mountains.
Using The Internet To Connect With Extended FamilyMark Miner runs Minerd.com, which details the history of his family. He is holding one of his many family photo albums.
Photo Credit: Kate Giammarise/WESAA growing loneliness epidemic has gripped the country. People struggle to make connections with other people, and sometimes even within their own families. Some experts blame the internet, especially social media. But a Pennsylvania man is using the internet to connect with his extended family – and they number in the thousands.
WESA’s Kate Giammarise has the story.
A Sharper Silence Explores Grief, Nature and Hurricane HeleneThe cover of A Sharper Silence.
Photo courtesy of Michael Hettich/Terrapin BooksSeven years ago, poet Michael Hettich landed in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Since moving there, Hettich has published four books of poetry, including his latest, A Sharper Silence. The book explores nature, touches on Hurricane Helene and speaks of his relationship with his wife, Colleen, who died in January of lung cancer.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hettich about the collection.
Journalist Documents Experience Of Trans Youth In American TeenagerNico Lang is the author of American Teenager, a new book that explores the lives of transgender teenagers living across the United States.
Photo courtesy of Christian RogersNico Lang is a non-binary, award-winning journalist who has spent over a decade covering the transgender community. Their work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Lang’s latest book, American Teenager, chronicles the daily lives of eight transgender teens across the U.S., including one in West Virginia.
WVPB’s Jack Walker spoke with Lang and brings us this.
Appalachian String Band Music Festival In W.Va.The Jack Wilson Terrier Band playing at the 2025 Appalachian String Music Festival.
Photo Credit: Randy Yohe/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSummer is high time for string band music. And since 1990, mountaineers have gathered in Clifftop, West Virginia for the Appalachian String Band Festival. The festival attracts thousands of old-time music fans from around the world. And if you know much about old-time, you know most folks who journey there don’t show up just to listen, but to play and dance.
WVPB’s Randy Yohe went out for a visit and brought us this.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ron Mullennex, L.I.P.S., Coffin Smoke, Nerve Endings, Ex-Parents, Warmones, Wyndrider, Buzz-Hound, Erik Vincent Huey, Paul Loomis, Mary Hott, Blue Dot Sessions and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, despite heavy public opposition, the state Department of Environmental Protection has approved air quality and construction permits for an energy microgrid between the towns of Davis and Thomas in Canaan Valley. Leaders of a grassroots protest say regulators are siding with industry over community.
And, a six-year battle to prevent construction of a natural gas pipeline was lost. So now conservationists are monitoring the environmental impact of the project that cuts through a protected wildlife corridor.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, what happens when a bankrupt coal company can’t find a buyer? South Fork Coal – which had operations that were contested by numerous conservation groups – has idled its operations and furloughed its remaining employees. Curtis Tate reports on what happens next.
And, a little-known piece of Harpers Ferry’s storied history is getting some attention. That’s thanks to a new book that shines a spotlight on a pair of African American newlyweds who managed to do something few other Black people of their time could do: open and run a successful restaurant and inn. Jack Walker takes a look at the Lovett family and their years of success in the midst of the Jim Crow era.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, some regions have waited more than 30 years for municipal systems to deliver clean drinking water. Meanwhile, they rely on faith communities bringing bottled water. From the tiny town of Anawalt, Wendy Welch attended a water distribution day and brings us this story.
And a lawsuit seeking to halt exemptions to school vaccine requirements has been refiled in Kanawha County Circuit Court.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, flooding swept through Central Appalachia in February, killing at least 27 people across Kentucky and West Virginia. Six months after the flood, federal and state assistance has been slow to come to the region.
And West Virginia National Guard troops will soon be deploying in Washington, D.C. and protestors plan to send a grim reminder to Sen. Jim Justice.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:49 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, some folks can't help but dance when they hear traditional old-time fiddle and banjo tunes. We hear from a few seasoned flatfooters about keeping their tradition alive.
Also, in this episode, we will dive deeper into the challenges surrounding the implementation of a new law banning food dyes in schools.
Plus, we'll hear about a rescue competition for coal miners, as well as a hobby called geocaching that is shaping tourism in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
In troubled times, the outdoors can offer peace. We talk with a West Virginia writer about her new collection of essays.
Also, modern technology makes firing pottery a lot easier, but some potters in North Carolina still do it the old way.
And, East Tennessee’s Amythyst Kiah’s latest album contemplates the cosmos.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- W.Va. Author Writes About The Natural World
- Rare Butterflies In The Blue Ridge Mountains
- Wood Fired Pottery In Western North Carolina
- Rural Transformation Fund Impact In W.Va.
- Public Opposition Mounts Against Trump's Plan For Tennessee Valley Authority
- Amythyst Kiah’s Album, Still + Bright
W.Va. Author Writes About The Natural WorldSheila McEntee, author of Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World.
Photo courtesy of Sheila McEnteeWriter Sheila McEntee has been observing nature for most of her life, especially birds. She’s published essays about her experiences in Stonecrop Review, Woods Reader and Wonderful West Virginia magazine. Several of these essays have been collected for McEntee’s first book. It’s titled, Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with McEntee about writing and developing an interest in nature.
Rare Butterflies In The Blue Ridge MountainsDerek Hennen, a field zoologist with Natural Heritage Program.
Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQSummer is a great time to spy butterflies in your backyard or in meadows across the region. Unfortunately, their numbers are declining. The Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly is federally listed as endangered. Scientists are working to preserve the few meadows where these elusive butterflies still exist.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd tagged along with a surveyor in Floyd County, Virginia to learn more.
Wood Fired Pottery In Western North CarolinaPottery stacked in the wood kiln, before and after firing. The pots sit on small balls of clay, called wads, to prevent them from sticking to the kiln.
Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily YonderTechnology has taken some of the work out of firing pottery. A lot of potters use sophisticated kilns that can be fired by just one person. Some don’t even require human supervision – just punch in your settings, add your pottery and come back later. But other older methods still exist. These take work – and help, which is part of the point.
Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan from the Rural Remix Podcast brings us this story from western North Carolina.
Rural Transformation Fund Impact In W.Va. The Republican budget bill passed by Congress in June includes cuts to Medicaid funding. The changes shift some health care costs from the federal to state governments. That will mean a loss of coverage for vulnerable populations. It also means some rural hospitals may have to close.
As part of the bill, Congress added $50 billion to the Rural Transformation Fund, to help offset those cuts. Rich Sutphin is executive director of the West Virginia Rural Health Association.
WVPB’s Maria Young spoke with Sutphin about the changes.
Public Opposition Mounts Against Trump's Plan For Tennessee Valley AuthorityThe Tennessee Valley Authority is leaning in on fossil fuels. Not only is it considering delaying the retirement of four coal-fired power plants, it’s considering building several new gas-fired plants.
But the TVA is facing community opposition to some of those plans — even from a prominent country star.
Now, in this moment of scrutiny, President Donald Trump could radically change the nation’s oldest and largest public utility.
WPLN’s Caroline Eggers reports.
Amythyst Kiah’s Album, Still + BrightAmythyst Kiah, whose new album is Still + Bright.
Photo courtesy of Kevin & King“Play God and Destroy the World” is the opening track from Still + Bright by singer and songwriter Amythyst Kiah. The album follows 2021’s Wary + Strange, and features guest spots by S.G. Goodman, Billy Strings and others. Amythyst Kiah spoke with Inside Appalachia from her home in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Amythyst Kiah is touring through the fall. In mid-August, she’ll appear on West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Mountain Stage. You can catch the broadcast in September. Check the Mountain Stage website for details.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Paul Loomis, Gery Milnes, Hello June, Mary Hott and Amythyst Kiah.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia writer Sheila McEntee has been observing nature for most of her life, especially birds. For Inside Appalachia, Bill Lynch spoke with McEntee about her first book, a collection of essays about nature titled “Soul Friend: And Other Love Notes to the Natural World.”
And our Song of the Week is renowned singer and songwriter Rodney Crowell’s performance of “Weight of the World,” from his album, "Triage."
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and he produced today's episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, geocaching, has become a cult phenomenon in outdoor recreation. One of the most renowned geocachers lives in West Virginia. He met up with reporter Jack Walker to discuss what’s unusual about his geocaches, and how they’ve shaped local tourism.
And every week more than two U.S. newspapers go out of business. But some publications continue to provide an essential source of local news. On the latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with the father - daughter team Ron and Betsy Allen who put out the Hurricane Breeze.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Every week across the U.S., more than two newspapers go out of business. In the past two decades, more than 3,000 papers have shut down operations. That’s left more than 1,500 counties as so-called news deserts.
Forty-three of West Virginia’s 55 counties have just one local news source and that limited access gives the state a ranking of 46th out of all 50 states. Studies show when local news sources vanish, the result is a drop in community participation on many levels.
On the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay visits some regional news deserts to talk about the way local news organizations help a community see and define itself. Some say local coverage is the glue that brings a place together, and in Putnam County, The Hurricane Breeze continues to offer essential local news while in Greenbrier County, a startup is working to bring back that voice.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Tim Franklin is the senior associate dean at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He also directs the Medill Local News Initiative, a project that gauges the health of local journalism in America. The initiative tackles a big problem with an equally big mission: measuring what happens when local news dies.
Photo courtesy of Jenna Braunstein“I think local news organizations are the glue that binds together a community. It’s where people in a community go to see themselves and go to see their community, and the people who live there... And so when you lose that original local news reporting and coverage, I think it contributes to this disconnectedness... Civic participation declines. Turnout in local elections goes down. The number of candidates running for local office goes down... In some cases, government spending rises and government borrowing costs also go up, this is according to a study done by Notre Dame and the University of Illinois-Chicago, because the bond rating agencies look at the fact there’s no watchdog, there’s no journalist in that community covering government officials and so the fear is that government spending is just going to rise further.”
— Tim Franklin, Director of the Local News Initiative atNorthwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Learn more about the Northwestern/Medill Local News Initiative.
The Hurricane Breeze has been serving the community of Hurricane, West Virginia, since around 1900 — that makes it one of the town’s oldest continuous institutions. This weekly paper has provided a trusted source for local news, events and history, helping keep the community informed and connected.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRead the latest and archived editions of The Hurricane Breeze Newspaper.
Betsy Allen, left, and Ron Allen, right, are the father-daughter team that produces The Hurricane Breeze newspaper. Ron married into the family that has owned the Breeze since 1913 and became owner in the early 1970s. Betsy grew up watching her father and late mother produce the paper and began helping with the operation as a teenager.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I’m 82, going on 83 and I don’t believe that there’s anyone that’s going to step in and do what I continue to do.”
— Ron Allen, owner and publisher of The Hurricane Breeze
“I’d definitely like to see the family legacy continue. The paper has been part of my family since 1913. But there’s too much work for one person to do... In fact, there’s too much work for two people to do, but we make it happen.”
— Betsy Allen, producer of The Hurricane Breeze
Ron and Betsy Allen produce The Hurricane Breeze from their rural home outside the main part of Hurricane, W.Va. Just beyond the doorway where they put together the local newspaper is a large chicken coop and a pasture where cattle graze.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
Randy Yohe is the Huntington bureau chief for West Virginia Public Broadcasting and an adjunct professor of broadcast journalism at Marshall University. Before joining WVPB, he was a frequent and lively presence on WSAZ-TV (Huntington/Charleston).
Photo courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting"Local news is important because it talks about what’s happening in your community, in your backyard. If you’re commuting from Huntington to Charleston, what’s going on, on I-64... that’s going to bog you down or hold you up, besides construction and accidents... There’s a wide spread of counties that WSAZ’s signal goes to — much of western West Virginia, about 10 counties in southern Ohio and about 10 counties in eastern Kentucky. I was the reporter that would often go to the ends of the earth, if you will, because I could get the story and get back quick for the four, five and six o’clock news."
— Randy Yohe, Huntington bureau chief for West Virginia Public Broadcasting News and former on-air reporter for WSAZ-NewsChannel 3.
Watch Randy Yohe’s career retrospective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvVftavQTSQ&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fsearch%3Fsca_esv%3Db510d2a75869389b%26udm%3D7%26q%3DYoutube%2BRandy%2BYohe%2Breel%26sa%3DX%26ved%3D2ahUKEwi0_9zfnIiPAxWLGFkFHU6rJvs&source_ve_path=MjM4NTEStephen Baldwin is a Presbyterian minister in Ronceverte, W.Va., and a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and State Senate. After losing his reelection bid in 2022, Baldwin found himself with time on his hands and launched The Real West Virginia, a rural online news publication. He has funded the start-up costs out of his own pocket and has yet to take a paycheck, relying on his pastoral work to cover his expenses.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“Being a state senator representing 100,000 people in addition to having church ministry is a couple of full-time jobs...
Then suddenly I only had one full-time job. I’m used to doing a lot more than that... The thing that I liked most about public service was telling stories, sharing West Virginia’s story, making sure folks knew what was going on because I was representing six counties, 100,000 people, and every day I was traveling those six counties and so many people didn’t know what was going on one mountain over...
Somebody can read [The Real West Virginia] and one time they might think, oh, well, this is from a Democratic perspective, or another time they’re not going to be sure. We like that because we think that is authentic to West Virginians... We’ve had this shift toward Republican politics away from Democratic politics. But West Virginians have always been pretty partisan one way or another. We don’t think that’s necessarily representative of the way West Virginians operate. So we would like to operate as an outlet that folks aren’t sure from day to day, article to article, what the perspective is.”
— Stephen Baldwin, owner and publisher of The Real West Virginia.
Read the latest and archived editions of The Real West Virginia.
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s annual Appalachian String Band Music Festival is not just about old-time fiddle and banjo music. Randy Yohe spoke with a few seasoned flatfooters about a dance step that’s been shuffling through our hills and hollows since this land was first settled.
And when a century-old scout camp near Parkersburg came up for sale earlier this year, a group of supporters got together to try buying the place. As Maria Young reports, they wanted to preserve the camp for future generations and ensure that the natural grounds and sandstone caves weren’t paved over.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Trump administration has cut staff by more than 24 percent at the National Park Service since January, and Republicans in Congress are proposing more. From the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Derek Parham of WKYU reports that visitors are feeling the impacts nationwide - and at home, in parks like Mammoth Cave and Great Smoky Mountains.
And the latest from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region, is about the demand for energy and the rising costs within the PJM electrical grid that West Virginia is a part of.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, lots of parents have struggled to get their kids to eat healthy food. So imagine the task facing school nutritionists across West Virginia, who are now charged with serving foods that don’t contain the colorful synthetic dyes that can appeal to kids. As Maria Young reports, a new law has forced those experts to learn some important lessons.
Also, Curtis Tate brings us the story of coal miners from West Virginia and surrounding states that met in Morgantown last month to compete in a rescue competition.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, screening for black lung disease is back on – after a pause. Also, Bernie Sanders brings his Fighting Oligarcy Tour to West Virginia. The West Virginia State Fair celebrates its 100th season – we’ll meet a man who’s played a part in most of them. And, some old-time music for you – with a distinctly West Virginia sound.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
After a disaster, can comics help set the record straight?
Also, in Western North Carolina, a new generation of Cherokee potters are keeping old traditions, while shaping a modern practice all their own.
And, schoolyard games come and go, but for kids in one community, marbles still rule.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene
- Rebuilding Veteran Shelters In Asheville, N.C.
- Next Generation Of Cherokee Potters
- Native Bees In Kentucky
- Kids Still Spend Time In Nature At Summer Camps
- Marbles Still Roll At Recess
- Blue Ribbon-Winning Fair Food
Comic Anthology About Hurricane Helene The cover of Islands in the Sky, the first book from the Appalachia Comics Project.
Photo courtesy of the Appalachia Comics ProjectWhen Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina in 2024, it knocked out internet and cell service. That created an information gap that was quickly filled by conspiracy theories and misinformation. Now, a new project looks to tell the truth of the disaster. Islands in the Sky is a forthcoming comics anthology about the storm and its aftermath. The book will feature stories told by survivors in partnership with comics professionals.
Islands in the Sky was conceived by North Carolina comics writer Andrew Aydin. Host Mason Adams spoke with Aydin about the project.
Rebuilding Veteran Shelters In Asheville, N.C. The Veterans Restoration Quarters in Asheville.
Photo Credit: Laura Hackett/Blue Ridge Public RadioCommunities in Western North Carolina are still working through damage from Hurricane Helene. Before the storm, the Asheville-Buncombe Community Christian Ministry ran a transitional shelter in East Asheville for about 180 homeless veterans. Then Helene and the flooding that came with it destroyed the property, forcing veterans into a motel across the street.
Blue Ridge Public Radio’s Lauren Hackett reports that it will be a long time before the shelter makes a comeback.
Next Generation Of Cherokee PottersLevi West displays his maker’s signature on the bottom of his prize-winning pot. West is helping to develop a community art space for pottery and other traditional crafts.
Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily YonderCherokee people have been making pottery in the mountains of western North Carolina for nearly 3,000 years. Today, relatively few Cherokee potters carry on the art form. Thanks to a community-led pottery workshop, a new generation is emerging.
Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has the story from the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies.
Native Bees In KentuckyResearchers with the Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves survey a grasslands preserve south of Elizabethtown for native been species.
Photo Credit: Sylvia Goodman/Kentucky Public RadioEveryone’s heard of honeybees. But there are hundreds of bee species native to the region.
Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman tagged along with researchers to understand which bees are still out pollinating.
Kids Still Spend Time In Nature At Summer CampsCampers at the Junior Ranger Summer Camp at New River State Park.
Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQKids still spend a lot of time outside in the summer months. Warmer temps and longer days mean more time at swimming holes and playing in the woods. And scientists say, giving kids space to explore in nature is important for their development and mental health.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd recently visited one summer camp in Southwest Virginia, to hear how kids feel about spending time in nature.
Marbles Still Roll At RecessGrayson Casto shows off his favorite marbles.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingHang out with kids for very long at all, and you realize some playground games never go out of style – hide and seek, tag and Duck, Duck Goose. Kids today still play those classics. And every spring, the students of one elementary school in Boone County, West Virginia, still get excited for a game that’s more than 100 years old. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold has the story.
Zack also made a video about marbles. It’s part of the Inside Appalachia Folkways television special that first aired last Thanksgiving on West Virginia Public Broadcasting. The show recently won a 2024 Ohio Valley Emmy Award.
Blue Ribbon-Winning Fair FoodIt’s summer fair season. A staple of county and state fairs is the annual craft competition, where everyone from 4-H kids to the local dentist brings their finest quilts and peanut butter fudge to be judged for cash and prizes.
The prizes are usually pretty modest, but local bragging rights are at stake — as well as the highly coveted blue ribbon.
Few have been as successful as Linda Skeens. The Russell County, Virginia resident has won hundreds of ribbons — which made her a social media sensation and got her featured in the New York Times.
In 2023, Skeens released a cookbook featuring her winning recipes, plus poems, pictures and a peek into her life in southwestern Virginia.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Skeens about the book.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Paul Loomis, Blue Dot Sessions and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, an award-winning comic book writer uses his talents to bring authenticity to stories about Appalachia. After he and his dog survived Hurricane Helene almost a year ago, Andrew Aydin started the Appalachian Comics Project.
And, our Song of the Week this week features “Planetarium,” by Blitzen Trapper, an indie rock and folk group from Portland, Oregon. We’ll listen in on this hit from their album, “100’s of 1000’s, Millions of Billions.”
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, there’s a new member of the state’s Supreme Court of Appeals. Gov. Patrick Morrisey made the announcement Wednesday. Judge Tom Ewing was one of four candidates recommended by the Judicial Vacancy Advisory Committee to fill the seat after Justice Beth Walker resigned earlier this summer.
And, today marks the first of ten days of concerts, carnival rides and exhibitions as the annual State Fair of West Virginia returns to the state fairgrounds in Greenbrier County for its 100th season. Bill Lynch caught up to long-time state fair board member John Wilson who – at 81 – is something of a state fair historian.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to cancel billions of dollars in grants for a solar program intended to improve home energy efficiency. The funds – including more than $100 million in West Virginia – were meant to help low-income residents combat rising electricity costs.
And, an annual competition celebrates the strains of fiddle, banjo and guitar – and a tradition of passing a uniquely West Virginian sound to the next generation.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a weekend derailment blocked Amtrak’s Cardinal from operating. Curtis Tate brings us details about what happened – and whether this has a lasting impact.
And, the city of Huntington is tackling its homeless problem by doing something radically different: getting those in need into housing, starting with unhoused military veterans
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, you’ll meet a couple of Appalachian potters who prefer to dig their own clay. That way, they can decide how much of the tiny pieces of natural debris to leave in for authentic texture.
And, United States Postal Service turns 250 years old this year. You might not realize how West Virginia played a critical role in its history: free, rural delivery began in Jefferson County where it proved to be widely popular with farming families and continues to this day.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, growing pains in the Eastern Panhandle and a new plan to house homeless veterans in Huntington by the end of August. Also, the head of West Virginia’s third largest university hit the road this week. We'll tell you why. And, the state is poised to pick up hundreds of thousands of federal dollars to help offset Medicaid cuts – but will it be enough to prevent rural hospital closures?
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
During a pandemic, where do you give birth?
Also, we’ll have the story of a family that cultivated an heirloom tomato in West Virginia. It took a lot of work.
And, a musical tradition brought people together — even when they couldn’t gather in person.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Become A Dad In The COVID-19 Pandemic
- Mortgage Lifter Heirloom Tomato
- The Ramp Hunter
- The Sacred Harp
Become A Dad In The COVID-19 PandemicBaby Cai on his dad Chuck Kleine’s chest.
Photo Credit: Glynis Board/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIn June of 2020, former West Virginia Public Broadcasting videographer Chuck Kleine and Pennsylvania resident Joe Buckland recorded their experiences with having children during the pandemic.
Buckland and his wife had a baby in mid-February, nearly a month before the lockdowns.
Kleine and his wife, Glynis Board, WVPB’s assistant news director at the time, had a baby in March, about a week after most staff were sent home.
Mortgage Lifter Heirloom TomatoMary Lou Estler slices up her family’s heirloom mortgage lifter tomato. But there’s a mystery with this tomato.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingOne of Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adam's friends hates tomatoes — but started growing them in 2020 because he “wanted to be part of it.” It being growing a garden, complete with a swath of heirloom tomatoes. Like a variety called Radiator Charlie’s Mortgage Lifter tomato. This heirloom breed got its start in Logan County, West Virginia.
A guy known as Radiator Charlie bred two varieties of tomato together to get a giant, juicy fruit. Word spread, and eventually so many people bought his $1 tomato plants that he was able to pay off his house. That’s how the “mortgage lifter” got its name.
But in 2020, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold brought us a story about another West Virginia tomato plant, also called “mortgage lifter.” And it’s even older.
The Ramp HunterThe Ramp Hunter. Caroline Blizzard, Secret Location.
Photo courtesy of Michael SnyderA lot of big events were canceled in 2020 — high school proms, baseball games, and even family reunions — but some annual traditions would not be stopped. Like foraging for ramps.
People still went out to their favorite ramp patches in early spring. In 2020, we aired this story of a ramp-hunting expedition, led by Maryland park ranger Caroline Blizzard.
Photographer and filmmaker Michael Snyder tagged along to record her for “The Mountain Traditions Project."
The Sacred HarpShape-note singers in the region most often use oblong-shaped tunebooks like The Sacred Harp and The Shenandoah Harmony. This singer has personalized their copy of The Sacred Harp.
Photo Credit: Kelley Libby/West Virginia Public BroadcastingOne of the oldest European musical traditions in Appalachia is shape note singing. It’s also called Sacred Harp singing. It’s sung acapella, often in large groups, with singers facing each other in a square.
Social distancing made shape note singing a lot harder, but a group figured out a way to continue to sing through the pandemic. Inside Appalachia Editor Kelley Libby — then a Folkways Reporter — filed this story in 2020.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, John Inghram, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Mary Hott and the Cornelius Eady Trio.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Chris Julin and Caitlin Tan.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, since a statewide camping ban went into effect in Kentucky last year, the number of homeless people has increased. A story produced for the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom finds homeless people hide now to avoid arrest – which makes it harder to get them the services that might help.
And, this week’s Song of the Week is “Love To Get Used” by Matt Pond PA. Making his debut appearance, Matt and his band performed this bouncy song off of Spring Fools, from his eighth studio album The Dark Leaves.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving to repeal the scientific findings about greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment. It’s a move that would affect countless regulations that govern everything from vehicles to power plants.
And, in the weeks before school starts, parents are squeezing in time for the kids to spend in nature. Young campers share how they feel about spending time outdoors – and away from electronics.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, scientists are working to preserve the meadows that are home to the endangered Mitchell’s Satyr butterfly. One of those is not far from the borders of West Virginia. RadioIQ’s Roxy Todd ventured there to find out about efforts to save these pretty but rare winged insects.
And, with the fall semester looming at campuses from preschool to college, the president of Fairmont State University is on a road trip. Mike Davis is traveling from county to county in a camper van across West Virginia this week to talk about FSU, how the school is faring and the difference between a job and a career.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Maria Young produced today's episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the state Republican party has a new chairman – a 23-year-old native of Boone county with a surprising amount of political experience. Josh Holstein shares his ideas for bringing the party together and his vision for West Virginia.
A battery factory in Weirton is working to lay foundations and ready its first site for delivery later this year. The co-founder and CEO of Form Energy talks with Curtis Tate about the first installation and how the company fared in recent federal tax legislation.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, flood assistance for storm victims in the Northern Panhandle and energy assistance for families in need. We’ll tell you how upcoming federal cuts to SNAP programs will affect nutrition education here in West Virginia. Also, a mobile black lung screening program is back in operation, and, how ocean lovers in land-locked West Virginia can help protect our seas.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, the music of a West Virginia singer and songwriter was self-recorded long before she passed in 2020. But some of those recordings have been discovered, restored and are now featured in a newly released record entitled “Ella Hanshaw’s Black Book.” A granddaughter, inadvertently featured in some of the recordings, tells the back story.
Our Song of the Week features Will Hoge making his seventh appearance on Mountain Stage. His performance of “John Prine’s Cadillac” pays tribute to the late Prine’s legacy and musical influence.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, fracking has long been a controversial process, pitting oil and gas companies who say the process is necessary and safe, against environmentalists and often nearby residents who point to possible health dangers. Now a non-profit has a new way to track chemical exposure and health effects.
Plus, as more states consider increasing tough-on-crime legislation designed to keep dangerous criminals behind bars, Us & Them, host Trey Kay examines the long-term impact of three strikes laws in Kentucky.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
The perception of crime in our nation shows an enormous divide. One recent poll reports 90% of Republicans say crime is up while 60 percent of Democrats say crime is down.
The result has been a wave of ‘tough on crime’ laws from states across the political spectrum that expand the definition of violent crimes and their penalties. The 2024 Safer Kentucky Act is one of those omnibus crime bills that some say casts too wide a net.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the history of America’s crime laws to check on provisions that are back, like the so-called Three Strikes law that’s part of Kentucky’s crime bill. In the 1990s, similar measures addressed violent drug crimes, however over time the costs of incarcerating more and more people became too big a burden.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Just Trust and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Rep. Jared BaumanRep. Jason NemesPhotos courtesy of the Kentucky General Assembly
Reps. Jared Bauman and Jason Nemes, Republicans from Jefferson County, Ky., sponsored the Safer Kentucky Act, a sweeping crime bill that includes a “three strikes” provision. Similar laws gained popularity in the 1990s but have since been widely criticized as costly and ineffective. Both lawmakers declined interview requests for this story.
Read Kentucky House Bill-5 better known as The Safer Kentucky Act.
Pam Thomas, senior fellow at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, focuses on state budget and tax policy, the social safety net, and the criminal legal system — areas she says are deeply interconnected through public funding.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“The last time Kentucky did major criminal legal system reform was in 2011… They tried to reduce the number of people incarcerated, bring down prison populations, and increase probation and parole. But since then, they’ve passed six or seven times more bills that increase incarceration, lengthen sentences, and impose harsher penalties than ones that reduce them.
A lot of times, people think of violent crime and have a specific image in mind. The federal definition only includes five crimes. But in Kentucky, we have many more definitions in our statutes. What the Safer Kentucky Act did was essentially say that almost everyone charged as a violent offender has to serve 85% of their sentence… Before, someone might be eligible for parole after serving 20%. Now they’re going to serve 85%, which means a lot more days in prison. Year after year, the number of people in the system is going to grow — and there’s nothing you can do about it because they have to serve 85%.
Without more revenue, no — Kentucky can’t afford that if it still wants to fund education, pave roads, maintain a healthcare system, support the judicial system… But it depends on your priorities. You can afford what you decide to afford, but it means you don’t do other things.”
— Pam Thomas, Senior Fellow at the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy
Read Kentucky Center For Economic Policy’s report projecting the cost of The Safer Kentucky Act.
Judah Schept, a professor in the School of Justice Studies at Eastern Kentucky University.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“[Kentucky’s] House Bill 5, the so-called Safer Kentucky Act, is what we call an omnibus crime bill — reminiscent of those passed by state legislatures and the federal government, like the 1994 crime bill signed by President Clinton. We actually have the data. We know this is a disastrous public policy approach to all kinds of issues. After four-plus decades of investing so much into the infrastructure of jails and prisons, they’ve become the catch-all solution to every social problem. If there’s a problem with addiction in your community, you invest in the jail. If there’s a revenue decline — like in Eastern Kentucky after the fall of the coal industry — you ‘solve’ it by expanding jail capacity and renting beds to the state or ICE, who pay a per diem that helps fund your county budget.”
— Judah Schept, professor at Eastern Kentucky University.
Sylvia Goodman, a reporter with Kentucky Public Radio, covers the state Capitol and government affairs.
Photo courtesy of J. Tyler Franklin“One of the main things about the Safer Kentucky Act is that the sponsors emphasized repeatedly in hearings that this was a data-driven bill… they talked a lot about the extensive research. And Democrats who were opposed to the bill and reporters like myself had asked repeatedly for some of their sourcing… until on the House floor, a Democrat asked for [a list of their supporting research]. And lo and behold, they actually pulled out a source list and started reading from it… it was very hyper-academic. It sounded like he was reading citations, like from a bibliography. And so afterwards I asked the lead sponsor of the bill, Jared Bauman, for that list, and he provided it to me… it was more than 100 sources of academic research. And I started looking into it.
At first, I thought, man, they really did do their research… but it became apparent very quickly that many of the studies on that list did not have anything to do with this bill… it’s literally a copy and paste—you can tell the formatting is the same and everything is almost exactly the same. It’s a Georgia policy paper that actually called for very different recommendations than what is in this report… they took maybe one of a dozen or so recommendations that this Georgia policy paper recommended… and then they said that all their sources supported the bill. So, you know, it’s a little dubious, frankly.”
— Sylvia Goodman, a reporter with Kentucky Public Radio
Read a report from Sylvia Goodman: The Safer Kentucky Act source list is ‘cut and paste’ from a Georgia policy paper
Josh Crawford, director of criminal justice initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity, authored a report on crime rates in Atlanta that was cited by supporters of HB5, also known as the Safer Kentucky Act.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Center for Opportunity“I had written a report on violent crime reduction for Atlanta… that report had been given by another legislator to Representative Bauman. He reached out… we had a number of conversations about that report and some of the provisions in House Bill 5 and how they either did align or did not align with some of that work… I provided feedback on some of the relevant provisions… dealing with gangs and violent offenses and stuff like that. The report for Atlanta… included sentencing provisions that are recommendations for the state of Georgia as well… things that impact city-level policy are city-level recommendations, things that impact state-level policy are state-level recommendations. My understanding from the legislators who crafted House Bill 5 was they basically took the principles and some of the technical literature on sentencing that are contained in that report and then used that to inform how they crafted changes in Kentucky.”
— Josh Crawford, director of criminal justice initiatives at the Georgia Center for Opportunity
Read Josh Crawford’s study about crime in Atlanta: Reducing Crime In Atlanta
Former Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Christian County, served as the longtime chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and was a former prosecutor. He was one of two Republicans who voted against the Safer Kentucky Act before retiring at the end of the 2024 legislative session.
Photo courtesy of Craig Hodge“The legislators behind the bill talked about exploding crime—even in Jefferson County. It’s just not true... But there was a painted picture of crime on the rise. Most legislators, regardless of the subject, rely on a handful of colleagues they trust as experts. I think that’s what drove the bill.
It’s politically very popular to do tough-on-crime things, to put bad guys in jail and keep them there. Who doesn’t support that—left or right?
The problem is, in the criminal justice space, nuance matters... the costs and the bottom lines matter... and the outcomes for public safety matter a whole bunch. When you move forward with policy without taking those into consideration, you’re blowing it and creating more harm than you intend.
But when you have to explain the nuance, you lose. The ‘tough on crime, clean up our streets’ side wins by default.”
— Former Sen. Whitney Westerfield
On this West Virginia Morning, a new study from Marshall University confirms that flavors added to e-cigarettes don’t just make them taste good. The flavors can also enhance the effects of nicotine on the nervous system – and make it harder to quit, despite the health risks.
Plus, how will federal cuts to nutrition education program affect healthy lifestyles for low-income families? The director of SNAP-Ed through the WVU Extension Service tells Chris Schulz that poor households need more that education – they also need access to healthy, nutritious food.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a seemingly simple project – to catalog the native bee population in a neighboring state – has led nature preservationists to identify hundreds of bee species. Some are multi-colored, live far away from a hive and specialize in their life’s work, pollinating only one kind of plant.
Plus, the budget bill has created a looming deadline for commercial and residential solar projects relying on tax credits.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a West Virginia author chronicles the daily lives of eight transgender teens across the United States, delving into their unique situations and personalities in a way that goes far beyond the culture that sometimes define them.
Plus, how people in a land-locked state like West Virginia can help protect oceans and sea life – and why some scientists argue we should.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, how West Virginia senators voted on the congressional rescission bill and how hunger activists are preparing for massive federal cuts. We’ll tell you about a key victory in court for anti-abortion activists in the state. Also, a little bakery is getting a big moment to shine. And, the surging popularity of a hotdog called The Homewrecker.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
An international photographer turns his lens toward home.
Also, after Hurricane Helene, whitewater rafting guides are adapting to diminished business and changed rivers.
And, we remember Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a mark on mountain culture and the people who practice and document it.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain Home
- Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane Helene
- Remembering Travis Stimeling
- Surfing The Gauley River
- Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The Night
- Scopes Trial: A Century Later
- Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health
Photographer Michael Snyder Documents Allegheny Mountain HomeDerek Cutter and his sons, Crosby and Max, in Savage River, Maryland.
Photo courtesy of Michael SnyderMichael Snyder is a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in the Allegheny mountains on the border of Maryland and West Virginia. His work has been featured in National Geographic, The Guardian and The Washington Post.
After living away from Appalachia for over a decade, Snyder moved back to document what changed and what stayed the same. The result is a new book. It’s called Alleghania: A Central Appalachian Folklore Anthology.
Associate Producer Abby Neff recently spoke with Snyder.
Whitewater Rafting After Hurricane HeleneHeather Ellis rafts down a section of the Pigeon River with two of her friends and fellow guides. Some parts of the river are running clear and strong enough to host rafters, while other areas are still recovering almost a year after Hurricane Helene.
Photo Credit: Gerard Albert III/Blue Ridge Public RadioHurricane Helene left a lasting mark on central Appalachia and the rivers that run through it. The Nolichucky, the French Broad and the Pigeon were home to a multi-million dollar rafting industry. Seasonal whitewater river guides help tourists have fun and keep them safe. Helene has made that job less certain.
Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) and Grist reporter Katie Myers reports.
Remembering Travis Stimeling Stimeling and Linscheid performing together.
Photo courtesy of Mary LinscheidWest Virginia University (WVU) Professor Travis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia. It was a shock when they died abruptly in November 2023 at the age of 43. There was an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends.
Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold. In June of this year, Zack’s remembrance of Travis Stimeling won an award from the Public Media Journalists Association (PMJA).
Surfing The Gauley RiverAndrew Wagner packs up surfboards for long hike out.
Photo Credit: Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public BroadcastingLast fall, WVPB's Briana Heaney reported on how the Gauley River has become a destination for surfers — even in landlocked West Virginia.
Appalachian Fireflies Light Up The NightBlue-ghost fireflies, who appear a pale blue-green in person and neon green on camera, are generally found in southern Appalachia but can be found as far north as Bernheim Forest and Arboretum south of Louisville.
Photo Credit: Eric Nally/Bernheim Forest and ArboretumA rare Appalachian firefly lives in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky. While the season for the blue ghost fireflies was at its peak, Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman visited the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the rare Appalachian lightning bug.
Scopes Trial: A Century Later One hundred years ago, John Scopes taught evolution in a Dayton, Tennessee, high school.
A few months later he was arrested, tried and convicted of breaking the law in what became known as the Scopes Monkey Trial — a flashpoint in the debate about how to teach science in schools.
To mark the centennial, the town is holding a special celebration. WPLN’s Mary Mancini visited Dayton and brought this report.
Psychedelic Treatment For Mental Health A West Virginia researcher is working at the cutting edge of the study of psychedelics. Corrine Hazel is a West Virginia University microbiology student. This spring, she found a fungus that was barely more than a theory. It produces effects similar to the drug LSD, and might have uses in treating depression, PTSD and addiction.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Hazel and her professor, Dan Panaccione, about the discovery.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Erik Huey Vincent, Mary Hott, John Blissard, Blue Dot Sessions, Paul Loomis and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, what West Virginia’s senior senator, Shelley Moore Capito, has to say about funding for public broadcasting after she and other Republicans vote for cuts.
Plus, a photographer and filmmaker who grew up in West Virginia has turned the camera on the Appalachian region of his childhood. We’ll find out what he has to say about how much has changed – and how much has stayed the same.
Our Song of the Week comes from Nashville banjo man, Kyle Tuttle. “Hard To Say,” from his 2024 solo album Labor of Lust reflects on the grief Tuttle experienced after the loss of his close friend and bandmate.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Chris Schulz examines a decision from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals this week to allow limits on the sale of abortion medications – even those medications that the FDA has deemed to be safe and effective. It partially comes down to a separation of state and federal rights. But there’s more.
Plus, harm reduction programs are controversial – and opponents often point to figures that suggest they aren’t particularly effective. But supporters have studied practices in Appalachia and say some of the programs aren’t broad enough to reach the population that most needs their help.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court ruling that West Virginia can limit the sale of abortion medications – even those medications that the FDA has deemed to be safe and effective. The case involved mifepristone, which is often used to terminate a pregnancy.
Plus, as hunger activists and those who work to provide food for low income people brace for cuts to SNAP benefits, the head of a Huntington-based foodbank details how the cuts may affect thousands of Appalachians.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Board of Education (BOE) held a 10-minute meeting on Monday, to address what sounded like a routine policy issue. But it was promptly rejected by Secretary of State Kris Warner. Now the board plans legal action.
Plus, a new documentary follows efforts to preserve one of the largest collections of Appalachian culture and history from devastating flood waters.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a deep fried, one pound all beef hotdog is suddenly all the rage. Bill Lynch talks with the owner of Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage about how "The Homewrecker" was born.
Plus, a $4 billion steel mill under construction in Mason County borders the Ohio River on one side and a well-traveled, 40-mile, two lane Route 2 on the other. The project is creating hundreds of jobs with more to come – but it’s also bringing scores of drivers to a road that’s become dangerous.
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode. Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, we’ll tell you about new flight destinations coming to Charleston’s Yeager International Airport beginning this fall, and the reasons for a state intervention for another school district. Also, what the Supreme Court has to say about the case of a transgender student in West Virginia. And, those opioid settlement funds? A group of investigative journalism students from WVU delves into where the money is really going.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Also, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist.
And, the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur Kingdom
- Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea Pot
- Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian Trail
- Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes
Civil War Soldiers In The Dinosaur KingdomA dinosaur-solider creation from Mark Cline's roadside attraction Dino World in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife ProgramEvery summer, Americans hit the road for vacation. In Appalachia, families pile into cars and drive from the hills and mountains to, well, other hills and mountains like the Smokies or to the ocean in places like Myrtle Beach or the Outer Banks. The tradition of summer road tripping dates back for as long as there have been automobiles.
On these long drives, people needed breaks. So, they’d stop at fruit stands, or fireworks stores or bizarre roadside attractions. A lot of those weird old-style attractions have disappeared, but some have managed to hang on.
In 2020, Host Mason Adams visited artist Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Spilling Some Tea About The World’s Largest Tea PotThe World's Largest Teapot in Chester has been an attraction for generations.
Photo Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSummer road trips are an annual tradition. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see. Fireworks and fruit stands can pull motorists off the road, of course. But every once in a while, you pass something that makes you say, “What was that?” Like, a gigantic basket towering over the edge of a town or a lighthouse in the middle of the mountains.
In 2023, WVPB’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, in the Northern Panhandle, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there — a souvenir stand known as the "World’s Largest Teapot."
Ice Cream Eating Competition On The Appalachian TrailHikers dig into the half-gallon challenge at the Pine Grove Furnace store on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Photo Credit: Jeremy Long/WITFGardners, Pennsylvania has a food tradition that sounds like a belly ache. See, Gardners is the halfway point on the Appalachian Trail. So, thru-hikers celebrate the milestone with something called the half-gallon challenge. That’s right, a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting.
In this story from 2023, WITF’s Rachel McDevitt takes us to the Pine Grove Furnace General Store, to meet some of the challengers. Abiding by trail rules, we’re only using the hikers’ trail names for this story.
Roadside Plants Used For Natural Dyes Styles stirring the pot of her dye bath made with dried sumac berries. Since water can affect the color of natural dye, she only uses water collected from a creek by her home.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingDede Styles is passionate about weeds. Using common roadside plants, Styles makes natural dyes for fabrics. It’s a skill she teaches to eager students. And it’s part of a mission much bigger than brightly colored yarn.
In 2024, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brought us this story from Swannanoa, North Carolina.
At Inside Appalachia, we love roadside attractions. Got a particular favorite in the region? Drop us a line at InsideAppalchia@wvpublic.org. We might feature it in a future episode.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Dinosaur Burps, David Odell, Dave Bing and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a WVU professor and microbiology student working with a popular flower at a university lab recently found an elusive fungus that produces effects similar to a drug being used to treat depression, PTSD and addiction. Bill Lynch talks with both student and professor about their startling discovery and what comes next.
Plus, on this week’s encore broadcast ofMountain Stage, host Kathy Mattea welcomes American Patchwork Quartet, The Brother Brothers, and Stephanie Lambring to the historic Carnegie Hall in Lewisburg. Our Song of the Week from Kyshona is a live performance of “Carolina.”
West Virginia Morningis a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Chuck Anziulewicz is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMornin
On this West Virginia Morning, Us & Them host Trey Kay examines the closure of the nearly century-old newspaper in Welch, and the efforts to save local newspapers across the nation.
Also, the final installment of an investigative series by journalism students at WVU uncovers the quagmire about harm reduction programs and which ones counties choose for their opioid settlement funds.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Our country’s divides often reveal themselves in our choices and habits, including how and where we get our information. As the economics of the media landscape have imploded, the economics of the industry have forced changes. In the past two decades, online sites have taken over much of the income stream from classified ads and general advertising. Many local news outlets have gone out of business and there are now more than 200 counties across the country with no source of local news, communities often referred to as news deserts.
One of those news deserts is McDowell County in West Virginia. Last year, publisher Missy Nester was forced to shut down the Welch Daily News after a valiant effort to keep the paper running. Join host Trey Kay and reporter Todd Melby on this episode of Us & Them to see what happens when local news organizations stop telling the stories of a community.
This episode was recently honored with a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Best News Documentary and by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters for Best Documentary .
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Pulitzer Center, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation. Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on the back steps of the now shuttered building that housed The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyDowntown Welch, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyBefore the Welch Daily News shut down operations, publisher Missy Nester bought another regional paper, the Pineville Independent-Herald for $1.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy Nester, taking a break in the printing press room of The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy Nester kept a collection of coal-related books and pamphlets in her office, including some from the last century showing several dozen coal companies operating in McDowell County.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News closed down operations in March 2023.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyA discarded iMac rests on top of bound copies of The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News printing press dates to 1966, says publisher Missy Nester.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News hired drivers three days a week to deliver the paper to homes in nearly every holler, road and neighborhood in McDowell County.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyDerek Tyson and Missy Nester on a smoke break in the front office of The Welch News before the paper shut down in 2023.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyUs & Them Host Trey Kay with Steve Waldman, co-founder of Report for America, which is modeled on Teach for America. Instead of bringing teachers to schools, Waldman’s focus is on bringing reporters to newsrooms around the nation. He’s currently the president of Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit dedicated to finding new ways to fund local journalism.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, Breeze Airways is bringing back nonstop service from Charleston to Tampa – with plans to add four new destinations in the next two years. And the state has its eye on two places in particular.
Also, an investigation by journalism students at WVU uncovers the details about which counties are using their opioid settlement funds for prevention efforts designed to keep kids away from drugs – and whether those prevention programs are effective.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
People with mental health challenges or substance use disorder often end up in jail. But crisis response teams offer another way.
Also, one year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline went into service, people who live directly in the pipeline’s path have received compensation. But not everyone.
And, the Sacred Harp songbook gets an update for the first time since the early 1990s.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.
- Celebrating Black Educators Working Through Integration
- Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. Neighbors
- In Conversation With Gambling Addiction Counselor
- Updates In Shape Note Singing
Crisis Intervention For Mental Health In W.Va.A sheriff’s deputy and mental health worker participate in a roleplay with Aaron Beeman, right, during CIT training in Princeton, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAppalachian communities have long dealt with high rates of substance use disorder and mental health challenges, and the toll is felt by everyone. The person in crisis. Their families. Even police officers and EMTs. In West Virginia, the problem reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic. The systems couldn’t handle it. So, a few localities tried something new — and so far, it seems to be working.
Over the last several months, Host Mason Adams spent time with crisis teams in Huntington and Princeton, West Virginia, and produced the following story in collaboration with the Carter Center and the Mental Health Parity Newsroom Collaborative.
A warning, this story contains descriptions of suicide attempts, substance use disorder and mental health crises.
Celebrating Black Educators Working Through IntegrationQuilt for the 23/54 project. 23 of the squares represent the families who signed a lawsuit against the Pulaski County School Board in 1947 for better educational opportunities for 54 Black children.
Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/RadioIQA Virginia Tech team is collaborating with community groups in Appalachian Virginia to uncover and reclaim forgotten history. Part of the project involves the Calfee Community and Cultural Center in Pulaski. It’s a former school that helped educate Black students in the days before integration.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd has more.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Impact On Virginia And W.Va. NeighborsMarkings of where the Mountain Valley Pipeline crosses under a gravel road in Monroe County, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Curtis Tate/West Virginia Public BroadcastingVirginia and West Virginia residents near the Mountain Valley Pipeline lived with anxiety for years during its construction. The pipeline went into service and began transporting gas one year ago. And its neighbors are still uneasy about its effects on their lives and property.
WVPB’s Curtis Tate has the story.
In Conversation With Gambling Addiction CounselorOnline gambling has led to a spike in problem gambling among more men -- and younger ones.
Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSince a U.S. Supreme Court decision opened the door, online sports betting is legal around much of the country. Online poker and casino gambling is legal in six states, including at multiple places in Appalachia. As gambling became more mainstream, states have moved to offer resources to help with gambling addiction. In West Virginia, there is the Problem Gambling Help Network at 1-800-GAMBLER.
News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Sheila Moran of First Choice Services, which runs the helpline. She’s also a certified gambling counselor.
Updates In Shape Note SingingVolunteers in Benton, Kentucky took turns leading the group in shape note singing. They stand in the middle of the singers and dictate the speed of the songs by moving their arm up and down similar a conductor.
Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/LPMA popular songbook for people who sing a style of traditional American music called “shape note singing” is getting an update. The book hasn’t been updated in more than 30 years. Shape note singers are planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom's Justin Hicks reports.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Blue Dot Sessions, Hello June and John Inghram.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Independence Day is nearly upon us. Soon, firework displays will light up the night sky across West Virginia.
While fireworks can be an opportunity for family fun, medical and fire prevention professionals say they also require important precautions. Mark Lambert, director of the West Virginia State Fire Academy at West Virginia University, spoke with reporter Jack Walker about the best safety practices for firework users.
Also in this episode, online gambling has changed how and when people place bets in recent years. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WVPB’s Chris Schulz reports it's also caused a shift in who is placing those bets.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Maria Young produced today’s episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about efforts to improve an important Appalachian waterway, which reaches 14 different states. The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that covers environmental issues, brings us this report on a cleanup of the Ohio River.
Also in this episode, Congress is weighing cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which connects low-income residents with food benefits. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman reports on the prospective changes from Appalachian Kentucky, where more than one in five residents rely on those benefits.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Congress is reviewing a bill that would significantly cut funding to Medicaid. In recent weeks, we've spoken to West Virginians who worry that could impact their access to health care. And those concerns have carried beyond West Virginia.
Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker caught up with residents who traveled to the United States Capitol this month to raise their issues with the bill directly to their elected representatives.
Plus, some West Virginians may be receiving an unexpected letter in the mail soon from Undue Medical Debt, informing them that some or all of the money they owe on medical bills has been erased.
Eva Stahl is vice president of the organization, which aims to eliminate medical debt for those who need it most. She spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about how they achieve that goal and why.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
For 15 years,a Virginia library has been hosting a weekly Dungeons & Dragons game night for teens. It can get a little wacky.
Also, we remember renowned Tennessee luthier, Jean Horner, whose fiddles were played at Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. His shop was a destination for fiddle fanatics.
And, a Hare Krishna community in West Virginia serves vegetarian food made in three sacred kitchens.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia Library
- Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean Horner
- Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears
- The Three Kitchens Of New Vrindaban
Weekly Dungeons & Dragons Night For Teens At Virginia LibraryRoanoke Youth Services Librarian Jeffrey Wood (upper right) conducts a session of Dungeons & Dragons for kids at the Roanoke library.
Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingEvery week for the last 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons & Dragons.
Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D for short, is a roleplaying game that allows players to inhabit characters in a fantasy setting. They work together to battle monsters and find treasure, and to tell a shared story in which they’re all the main characters.
Jeffrey Wood is a youth services librarian, and he’s game master for the library’s D&D program. That means he’s the person who prepares each game, and acts as referee as the kids work their way through it.
Host Mason Adams made a couple visits to the Roanoke Public Library and caught up with Wood one of those evenings as he prepared the next episode.
Remembering Tennessee Luthier Jean HornerJean Horner in his shop.
Photo by Lynn Dudenbostel/Daily YonderFor more than 70 years, Tennessee fiddle maker Jean Horner built instruments that have traveled across the country. His fiddles have been to Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole Opry and the Smithsonian.
Horner’s craft was shaped by his roots in Appalachia’s Cumberland Plateau and his fascination with great Italian violin makers of the 17th and 18th centuries. Horner died in January at age 91.
For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Lisa Coffman interviewed Horner at his workshop in 2023 and brings this remembrance.
Cherokee Cyclists Meet To Retrace And Reclaim Trail Of Tears Before each ride following the northern route of the Trail of Tears, the group of cyclists prays together.
Photo Credit: Cynthia Abrams/WPLN NewsFor years, a group of cyclists from the Cherokee Nation have embarked on an annual ride from Georgia to Oklahoma. The nearly thousand-mile ride follows the northern route of the Trail of Tears. The trip pays homage to the group’s ancestors, who were forcibly removed from their homelands in the 19th century. The cycling trip involves multiple stops related to the migration, during which thousands of Cherokee died.
One of those stops is Blythe Ferry, Tennessee — the last place the displaced Cherokee people were able to see their homelands. Cynthia Abrams of WPLN has more.
The Three Kitchens Of New VrindabanRohini Kumar prepares food in New Vrindaban’s deity kitchen.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingLast fall, Folkways Reporter Zack Harold made a trip to the small town of New Vrindaban, in West Virginia’s Northern Panhandle.
It’s a Hare Krishna community started in the late 1960s. These days, the town is home to a few hundred permanent residents, but thousands of pilgrims visit each year. They come to worship in the temple and to visit the opulent Palace of Gold.
But those main attractions were a pretty small part of Zack’s trip. He ended up spending much of his time in the kitchen.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jean Horner, Erik Vincent Huey, Keith Williams and Myna Belle Williams, Jeff Ellis and Hello June.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, every week for 15 years, kids have gotten together at the Roanoke Public Library to play Dungeons and Dragons, a roleplaying game that allows players to work together to battle monsters and hunt for treasure. Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams visited youth services librarian Jeffrey Wood and spoke with him about the longevity of this game at the library.
And our Song of the Week is the cult classic, "I Put A Spell On You." Originally recorded in 1956 by “Screamin’ Jay” Hawkins and famously interpreted by Nina Simone, we hear Welsh vocalist Judith Owen perform it this week.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director, and he produced today's episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
A U.S. Supreme Court ruling just out upholds a state ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors. The Tennessee case will likely bolster efforts by conservative state lawmakers to regulate care for transgender Americans. It’s the most recent effort in the culture war over gender identity and LGBTQ rights.
On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears about the fallout from this social and political battle for transgender people in West Virginia. Kay also talks with people shaping the debate over transgender rights.
LGBTQ allies say the legal and legislative efforts deny trans people the right to declare their own gender identity, while some conservative policy makers say transgender women are erasing women’s rights; from privacy in the bathroom to athletic competition.
The transgender population, estimated at less than one percent of America, is a social lightening rod of our culture wars.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 23, 2025.
Photo Credit: Kevin Larmarque/ReutersOn Inauguration Day 2025, President Trump signed the first of several executive orders targeting transgender rights. Its title: “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.”
Over the past decade, the United States has seen a political tug-of-war over transgender rights. In 2016, North Carolina passed the nation’s first so-called “bathroom bill,” requiring people to use restrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates. The backlash was swift—tourism, sports events, and business conferences boycotted the state. Even then-presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized the law.
But once elected, Trump reversed course. His administration rolled back many Obama-era protections for LGBTQ people. Since then, federal transgender policies have swung with each new presidency. President Joe Biden restored many protections after taking office in 2021 and pushed for broader safeguards. But during the 2024 campaign, Trump vowed to dismantle Biden’s transgender policies.
Rosemary Ketchum, who lives in Wheeling, West Virginia, became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in the state when she won a seat on Wheeling City Council in 2020. She was recently named grand marshal of the Pride celebration parade in Shepherdstown.
Photo Credit: Jack Walker/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I did not make my campaign about being transgender. We celebrated the kind of historic moment around it and then we got to work. And that was a successful strategy because, frankly, people don't care about it that much. I didn't get calls when I was on city council about people hating me being transgender. They hated that their garbage didn't get picked up on time, or that they liked more public art in their community, or whatever that was. But I do think what we're experiencing now is an example of the pendulum swinging or the backlash from LGBTQ folks kind of entering media or politics.”
— Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council Member
Rosemary Ketchum chairs a teleconference with colleagues from the West Virginia Nonprofit Association.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAfter an unsuccessful 2024 bid for mayor of Wheeling, Rosemary Ketchum became executive director of the West Virginia Nonprofit Association. As a teenager, she was inspired by President Barack Obama and progressive politics she discovered on YouTube. Ketchum launched her public life as a community organizer in Wheeling, focusing on homelessness, racial justice, mental health and LGBTQ equality.
Though no longer in elected office, Ketchum remains politically engaged. When newly elected Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his State of the State address in February 2025, she attended to hear his plans. During the speech, Morrisey announced support for the Riley Gaines Act, which defines individuals strictly as male or female based on their sex assigned at birth.
“And I’m sitting there as a trans person. Whether or not they connected the dots and went, wait a minute, that person is now impacted by this bill, I don’t know. But it felt very surreal, frankly.”
— Rosemary Ketchum, former Wheeling City Council member
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey signs the Riley Gaines Act into law on March 12, 2025. Former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, for whom the law is named, stands behind the governor at right, wearing a yellow blazer.
Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Governor's OfficeIn its 2025 session, the West Virginia Legislature passed the Riley Gaines Act, which defines sex based on a person’s sex assigned at birth and regulates access to bathrooms and other public spaces accordingly. Lawmakers also approved a bill banning public schools from teaching about gender identity.
“Today we sent a strong message that West Virginia stands with women. West Virginia will not bow down to radical gender ideology – we are going to lead with common sense, and the Riley Gaines Act does exactly that. Thank you to Riley, the Independent Women’s Voice, and the many women and girls around the country standing up for what is right.”
— West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey
Read more about Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s press release on the signing of the Riley Gaines Act.
Beth Parlato is senior legal advisor for Independent Women, a Virginia-based conservative organization with offices in Washington, D.C. The group, often referred to as IW, is one of the most active in the country supporting laws aimed at preserving rights and protections for biological women.
Photo courtesy of Beth ParlatoBeth Parlato says Independent Women has worked for years with lawmakers in West Virginia and across the country. She says West Virginia used IW’s model legislation for each of its transgender-related bills this year, including the Riley Gaines Act. Named after a former collegiate swimmer from Kentucky who now serves as an Independent Women ambassador, the law defines humans strictly as male or female. Gaines has become a vocal critic of what she calls “the extreme agenda to erase women.” As the bill’s drafter, Parlato explains why she believes it’s essential to legally define male and female.
“Because men are self-identifying and invading into women's spaces, including athletics. So it has to be defined. Female has got to be defined - that you are, biologically born female~~.~~ Men are physiologically and biologically different from women. They're stronger, they are faster, they're taller, they have greater muscle mass, larger hearts, larger lungs, there is an absolute male athletic advantage. And when men are allowed to participate on girls teams. Not only is it unfair, but you're stealing roster spots, you're stealing trophies, you are stealing the girls' opportunities to compete.”
— Beth Parlato, Senior Legal Advisor for *Independent Women*
Ash Lazarus Orr stands in front of a Transgender Pride flag at the Morgantown home he and his husband recently left. They moved out of West Virginia, saying the state feels increasingly unwelcoming to LGBTQ people — particularly those who are transgender.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingElana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.
Photo courtesy of Williams InstituteTransgender people make up less than 1% of the U.S. population, but they live in cities and towns across the country. Several advocacy groups now work to bring data and facts to that reality.
One of those organizations is the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. Elana Redfield, the institute’s federal policy director, says it was founded more than 20 years ago to address a lack of high-quality data on the experiences of LGBTQ people.
“Because the data wasn’t great, a lot of policies were enacted based on stereotypes or myths,” Redfield says.
She adds that data collection on the transgender population has improved significantly in two decades, thanks to better standards for survey questions and more robust methods. The Williams Institute’s population estimates are based on federal data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have relied upon them [CDC] to get these data in the last several iterations of our population estimates. And what's great about them is that there's a large population, there's a large sample size. So we can say with some degree of certainty that they are accurate. Unfortunately, the current administration has moved to remove gender identity questions from these surveys. So now what we're seeing is that at the federal government level, the data are not being collected, processed, analyzed. And this is also a system that relies upon state participation. So some states might be disincentivized to participate. And even if they did collect the data and share it with the federal government, it wouldn't be all coordinated together and published and analyzed to provide really reliable estimates. So, unfortunately, we’re seeing a little bit of erosion of our ability to use that means to assess population.”
— Elana Redfield is the Federal Policy Director at the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law.
A moving van outside of the home of Ash Lazarus Orr is loaded with belongings just before Ash and his husband move away from this quiet suburban Morgantown neighborhood. The Orrs are leaving because of recent legislation that leaves them feeling unwelcome.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting“I am still struggling with the reality that this is my last month here. Because again, this is home. These people are my home. And I love this state. Sorry. I, uh, I love the state and her people. So much. You know, sometimes when you love something, you truly do have to let it go for a bit. And I do hope that this isn't, you know, my final stay in West Virginia. I do hope that one day I can come back and feel safer and feel at home in a state that I love so deeply. But right now to have the future and the safety that I need and my family needs, West Virginia just doesn't have that for me right now.”
— Ash Lazarus Orr
On this West Virginia Morning, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling just out upholds a state ban on gender affirming care for transgender minors. The Tennessee case is the most recent chapter in the culture war over LGBTQ rights. From the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears from those shaping the debate over transgender rights.
And a mother and son from Gaza have spent two months in Louisville, Kentucky for medical care that would be nearly impossible to get back home. Louisville Public Media’s Amina Elahi shares this story via the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, a collaboration between NPR and several public radio stations in West Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Randy Yohe reports that in a state with many people dependent on federal assistance, health industry workers, care givers, and individuals across West Virginia continue to protest proposed cuts and requirement adjustments to Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
And The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region, looks at the market for electric vehicles in the United States.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Mason County's four billion dollar NUCOR steel plant is now more than half way to completion. Randy Yohe reports that with the facility and others on the way, an employee housing challenge looms large throughout this western West Virginia region.
And in the forests outside Louisville, Kentucky the season of the rare Appalachian blue ghost fireflies is at its peak. Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman takes us to the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, a half hour drive south of Louisville, to learn about the efforts to study the rare Appalachian lightning bug.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a year after the Mountain Valley Pipeline began transporting gas through West Virginia and Virginia, Curtis Tate reports that residents who live near it remain uneasy about its impact on their lives and property.
And in Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. In 2004, community leaders opened a language immersion school for elementary students. The school also works with a printmaking instructor to create learning materials. For the Rural Remix podcast, reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, we have the latest on devastating floods to hit two counties in the northern part of the state. We’ll also talk about West Virginians' efforts to halt Medicaid cuts.
Also, we learn about reviving Black coal camps in McDowell County — through farming. And, Juneteenth celebrations across the state — some hope to see change in future years.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
A hospital in Western North Carolina was bought out. Residents say the quality of care has gone down.
Also, an immersion school in North Carolina is trying to revitalize the Cherokee language with the help of a printmaking class.
And, a pair of artists follow cicada hatchings to make art from their shells.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In Controversy
- Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee Language
- Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary Schoolers
- Turning Cicadas Into Art
- What To Do “If Lost”
Asheville, N.C.'s Mission Hospital In ControversyBuncombe medical examiners shared their list of morgue concerns with Mission executives and the state’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) as far back as January 2021, according to emails obtained by Asheville Watchdog.
Photo by Starr Sariego; photo illustration by Andrew R. JonesPeople in rural areas across the U.S. are struggling to access health care. Hospitals are closing at alarming rates. Some that stay open offer reduced services. Mission Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina serves both the city and the surrounding counties. In recent years, it’s come under scrutiny and has been investigated by the federal government. Andrew Jones has been covering Mission Hospital for the Asheville Watchdog.
Jones spoke with Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams.
Immersion Academy Preserves Cherokee LanguageThe New Kituwah Academy is a Cherokee language immersion program, created to revitalize the language by teaching a new generation of speakers.
Photo Credit: Anya Petrone Slepyan/The Daily YonderIn Western North Carolina, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is working to preserve their language. To help revitalize their dialect, community leaders opened the New Kituwah Academy in 2005. It’s a language immersion school for elementary students. The school partnered with a printmaking instructor at Western Carolina University to create materials to help students learn.
For the Rural Remix podcast from the Center for Rural Strategies, Reporter Anya Petrone Slepyan has this story.
Ski Resort Becomes Education Center For Elementary SchoolersAll second graders in Pocahontas County public schools learn to ski through a partnership with Nature's Mountain Classroom.
Courtesy of Tracey Valach/Nature’s Mountain ClassroomWest Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort is one of Appalachia’s premier destinations for winter sports. But while tourists flock to the resort each year, it’s had problems attracting locals. Until a local woman came up with an idea for how to change that.
WVPB’s Maria Young has more.
Turning Cicadas Into ArtIn plastic soup containers, artist Diego Miró-Rivera collects thousands of cicada shells in Kentucky that will become part of artwork.
Photo Credit: Justin Hicks/Louisville Public MediaAcross Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia, Brood XIV cicadas have emerged and covered the region in their loud drone. Although some folks are annoyed by cicadas, others find profound meaning.
Louisville Public Media’s Justin Hicks has more.
What To Do “If Lost”Poet and poetry organizer, Clint Bowman, says the best way to read poetry in front of people is to read poetry in front of people.
Courtesy PhotoWhen North Carolina resident Clint Bowman couldn’t find the writing group he needed, he formed the Dark City Poets Society in Black Mountain. Bowman has used the group to develop his poetry, some of which explores people and their connection to nature.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bowman last fall about his collection, If Lost.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hello June, John Inghram, John Blissard, Paul Loomis and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about a McDowell County resident's efforts to restore a historically Black coal camp through farming. The coal industry was booming in the early 20th century, but the decline of coal meant Black coal camps began to dwindle, too. Tiara Brown reports.
Plus, this week's encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features a performance from singer, songwriter, poet and Grammy Award winner Carrie Newcomer. Our Song of the Week is her Mountain Stage rendition of “Take More Time, Cover Less Ground” from her 2023 album “A Great Wild Mercy.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a group of bicyclists from the Cherokee Nation have spent the last four decades taking an annual ride spanning nearly 1,000 miles, from New Echota, Georgia to Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Between 1830 and 1850, the United States government forcibly displaced roughly 60,000 Native Americans along this route — an arduous journey that claimed thousands of lives.
The present-day bike ride retraces the northern route of the Trail of Tears, with participants honoring the ancestors forcibly removed from their homelands. WPLN's Cynthia Adams caught up with the group on the fifth leg of their journey, and brings us this report from the heart of Tennessee.
Also in this episode, we have new stargazing tips from radio and television program Almost Heavens. Shannon Silverman, an astrophysicist at the Clay Center in Charleston, guides us through the cosmos above the mountains of West Virginia, and tells us what you can see with the naked eye in the summer sky.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Energy microgrids have been touted as an economic boon for West Virginia. But as Chris Schulz reports, a grassroots organization in Tucker County is coalescing in opposition to one of the first such developments in the state.
Plus, people who perform a traditional style of American music called “shape note singing” are publishing a new edition of music and planning a gathering to celebrate and, of course, sing. For the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, Justin Hicks reports that singers are excited for this once-in-a-generation event.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, Congress may soon eliminate tax credits for clean energy projects, which would place hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in West Virginia at risk. We hear from a former state official who opposes the proposed legislation.
In this episode, we’ll also dive deeper into our discussion on problem gambling in the state, and hear about the path to recovery from gambling addiction, and learn about a new play regarding immigration and identity in West Virginia.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
A West Virginia man is reviving an historic Black coal camp through farming.
Also, the legacy of Affrilachian poet Norman Jordan includes a summer camp for teens to study their heritage.
And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. He’s remembered during Juneteenth through his poetry.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through Farming
- Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"
- Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer Camp
- Hip Hop History In W.Va.
- Generations Of Black Poets Carry On In Tazwell, Virginia
- Torli Bush’s Book, Requiem for a Redbird
Reviving A Black Coal Camp Through FarmingPhotos from the Black coal camp in Berwind, W.Va.
Courtesy of Black by God, the West VirginianIn the early 20th century, the coal industry was booming in Appalachia. That made the region a destination for Black migrants from the Deep South, who were moving northward in search of new jobs. Black communities thrived in Appalachia during the boom. But as coal employment declined, Black coal camps began to dwindle.
Now, a West Virginia man is reviving one of those coal camps — through farming.
Tiara Brown reports with support from Black By God, the West Virginian.
Frank X Walker's Poetry Explores "Affrilachia"Load in Nine Times, by Frank X Walker.
Courtesy PhotoThe word “Affrilachia” was coined by Kentucky poet Frank X Walker in 1991. That’s when he co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. Walker says the word Affrilachia, “spoke to the union of Appalachian identity and the region’s African American culture and history.”
He’s published several collections of poetry. Last fall, Host Mason Adams spoke with Walker about his latest, Load in Nine Times.
Affrilachian Poet Norman Jordan's Summer CampStudents interact during the poetry workshop.
Photo Credit: Traci Phillips/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAffrilachian poet and playwright Norman Jordan was a prominent voice in the Black Arts Movement through the 1960s and 1970s. He was also one of the most published poets in the region, anthologized in at least 42 books. He died in 2015 at the age of 77.
Along with his writing, Jordan left another legacy. A summer camp for teens to learn music, theater and dance.
Last summer, Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips visited the Norman Jordan African American Arts and Heritage Academy in Westover, West Virginia. Traci brought us this story.
Hip-Hop History In W.Va.Shelem at his home studio in Charleston, West Virginia, demonstrating his workflow and organization.
Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIn 2023, communities all around the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, marking a summer day in 1973 when DJ Kool Herc used two turntables to extend a funky drum break. Over the past half century, hip-hop has gone from a marginalized art form to a mainstream powerhouse. It developed in major metropolitan centers like New York, Los Angeles and the Dirty South.
But hip-hop has taken root in Appalachia, too, and it thrives in places like Charleston, West Virginia.
Last year, Folkways Reporter Vanessa Peña had this story.
Generations Of Black Poets Live On Through Tazwell, Virginia FamilyRev. George Mills Dickerson, center, surrounded by his sons, many of whom moved away to pursue higher education.
Courtesy of Jeanette WilsonPoetry is a tradition in Jeanette Wilson’s family. They’ve recited the poems of Wilson’s grandfather and her uncle George for nearly 100 years. Now, these poems about African American life in southwestern Virginia are read during the Juneteenth celebration in Tazewell, Virginia — where they reach a wider audience and connect the past to the present.
In 2023, Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts brought us the story.
Torli Bush’s Book, Requiem for a RedbirdTorli Bush.
Courtesy PhotoWe’ve highlighted several of today's Black Appalachian poets. One of the region’s emerging voices is Torli Bush, who grew up in Webster Springs, West Virginia. He developed his work, in part, through poetry slams in Pittsburgh.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Bush about his book, Requiem For a Redbird.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Carpenter Ants, Tim Bing, Bob Thompson and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Abby Neff is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editors Nicole Musgrave, Jennifer Goren and Clara Haizlett.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and X @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) returns to the campus of Shepherd University next month, bringing actors and creatives from across the country together to premiere five new productions.
Featured among them is the festival’s first play written by a West Virginian. Jack Walker caught up with Marion County native Cody LeRoy Wilson about the production — plus his journey from rural West Virginia to the world of theater.
Also, our Song of the Week is “Life Is Just A Vapor” by Paul Thorn. This is the title track on Life is Just a Vapor, which was released earlier this year via Thirty Tigers.
Thorn is a Mississippi native who started off as a professional boxer, turning to songwriting in the 1990s. He has been a guest on Mountain Stage over 10 times and continues to win us all over with his poignant and often hilarious songs and storytelling.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
State borders are the new front lines in the nation’s abortion battle. On this encore episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the evolving geography of abortion.
Since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned federal abortion rights, 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion access, including West Virginia. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s neighbor, Maryland, is one of 22 states that are protecting abortion rights and expanding access.
Kay follows the decision of Women’s Health Center of West Virginia to move its abortion services from Charleston to a new clinic just over the border near Cumberland, Maryland. The move was intentional because Western Maryland, like West Virginia, is a so-called abortion desert. The two regions have some deep political and cultural similarities. Western Maryland Republicans say they feel ignored by the overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic legislature in Annapolis. They say the new abortion clinic is not wanted or needed in their part of Maryland, and they blame the clinic’s presence on the fallout from Roe v. Wade’s defeat.
This Us & Them episode was recently honored by the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters as Best Podcast of 2024.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Katie Quiñonez stood in the waiting room of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, located about 10 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. Quiñonez is executive director of this health center. She is also the executive director of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which is located in Charleston and was West Virginia’s only abortion clinic until that state banned abortion in September 2022. The West Virginia center still provides reproductive health services, but in the summer of 2023, the Women’s Health Center relocated its abortion services to the Maryland clinic which is less than two miles from the West Virginia border.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSubsequent to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, Gov. Jim Justice signed a measure into law that banned abortions in West Virginia, with limited exceptions. Justice called the signed bill the “protect life” law. The law bans abortions in West Virginia except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger, or instances of rape and incest that are reported to law enforcement in a timely manner. Any abortion must be performed in a hospital within eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for minors.
“I believe wholeheartedly that it does one thing that is absolutely so important. It does protect life.”
— West Virginia Gov. Jim JusticeAbortion access in the U.S. varied widely even during the Roe v. Wade era. Some states had lots of clinics, others had just a few. But every state had at least one. That changed when Dobbs ended the federal right to an abortion and let states come up with their own regulations.
Now, abortion access has become even more fragmented and deeply polarized. Fourteen states, including West Virginia, have essentially banned abortion. They have become what some call “abortion deserts.” Seven states have imposed stricter legal limits, while 22 states have moved to protect abortion rights and expand access. Maryland is one of those states.
In May 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved laws that do several things. They allow a wider range of medical professionals to perform abortions. They maintain the privacy of abortion-related medical records. And they shield doctors and others from criminal investigations by states with more restrictive abortion laws.
“I'm very proud to sign legislation that will protect access to abortion in Maryland. In this moment of serious consequences for women and for all Marylanders, Maryland can and will lead on this issue of abortion access. And I want to say to all women who are out there who are wondering what will happen. Who are worried about their future. Please hear me loud and clear. Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access and abortion rights.”
— Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
Photo Credit: Gov. Wes Moore’s X (Twitter) PostMaryland Democrats, who control the state’s legislature, want abortion rights written into the state constitution. The General Assembly has placed a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot for November 2024. Democratic Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk chairs the House Delegates’ Health and Government Services Committee, where the amendment was first considered. She said an abortion rights amendment is necessary, even though Maryland has been a reliably blue state for a long time.
“It's necessary because we feel very strongly that we want Maryland to remain a state that protects abortion access. On the ballot this November, Maryland voters will once again be able to affirmatively and resoundingly say their reproductive freedom should be a constitutional right. It is the highest protection that we can give our constituents.”
— Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Photo Courtesy of Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D), MD 21Maryland’s drive to protect abortion rights and access has attracted OB-GYNs to the state including Dr. Anne Banfield. She moved her practice to a hospital system in Southern Maryland after working for 13 years at a hospital in Elkins, West Virginia. ]
“I had spent a lot of years trying to recruit to our practice there and working a lot of shifts, taking a lot of calls. And then on top of that, you know, trying to advocate within the state, trying to advocate at the state government level to protect reproductive rights in West Virginia. And I got this great opportunity in Maryland, which is a very friendly and protective state from a women's health and reproductive health standpoint. And we saw the writing on the wall, and I knew I was coming here and I was going to have to work less in a more friendly environment, and I just couldn't pass that up. I don’t think I would have left otherwise.”
— Dr. Anne Banfield, OB-GYN
Photo Credit: Dr. Anne Banfield/MedStar St. Mary's HospitalCresta Kowalski is the president of the Mountain Maryland Alliance for Reproductive Freedom. She said prior to the opening of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, her group had been exploring how to bring an abortion clinic to Western Maryland.
“We were like, OK, a five to 10 year goal would be an indie clinic out here in mountain Maryland. And then in January, I get an email saying, ‘Hi, I'm Katie Quiñonez and my friend Ramsie Monk and I work with the Women's Health Center of Charleston and we'd like to speak with you.’ And they had already found the location and it was perfect. It was made for the operation … I was relieved that we could have options for people that didn't have options.”
— Cresta Kowalski
Photo Credit: Cresta Kowalski/FacebookMichael Mudge is the pastor and founder of Bethany House of the Lord, an evangelical Christian church. He and several other anti-abortion advocates from Western Maryland came together to form Abortion Free Allegeny. He said their goals are to let people know about the clinic, organize demonstrations against it, and raise awareness about pregnancy support centers and other abortion alternatives. Mudge said he and others opposed to abortion do not like having a clinic in their backyard, but he knows it has a right to be there.
“What we're dealing with here in Allegheny County, Maryland, is a direct result of the Dobbs decision. The West Virginia Legislature took the opportunity after the Dobbs decision to pass legislation effectively banning abortion. And the Maryland state legislature, as in many other states, has responded to the Dobbs decision by radicalizing even more their pro-abortion legislation. So, we're caught up in the middle of that. It's just that here, we're in a part of Maryland that doesn't fit well in Maryland.”
— Michael Mudge
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMudge referred to the political segregation that has deepened in Maryland as it has across the country.
There’s the rural, conservative, Republican Maryland of the western panhandle, the eastern Chesapeake Bay, and the counties north of Baltimore. And there’s the urban, liberal, Democratic Maryland of Baltimore City, Annapolis, and the D.C. suburbs that dominates state politics.
David Karol, an associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland said it wasn’t always like this.
Karol said his students were surprised to learn that in the presidential election of 1988, Republican George H. W. Bush won Maryland while Democrat Mike Dukakis won West Virginia.“Which, you know, is just shocking to students because that's a complete reversal of the alignment that we see today,” Karol said.
“The [Maryland] legislature has been Democratic for about 100 years. The governorship has occasionally gone to Republicans, but seldom. And in presidential elections, Maryland has voted Democratic consistently since 1992.”
*—* David Karol
Photo Credit: David Karol/University of MarylandRepublican Mike McKay has represented Western Maryland in the Maryland General Assembly since 2015, first as a delegate and, for the last year, as a senator. He said his constituents have felt out of step with their overwhelmingly liberal Democrat fellow Marylanders. In 2021, then-Del. McKay and five other Republican lawmakers floated the idea of Garrett, Allegeny and Washington counties seceding from Maryland to become a part of West Virginia. They wrote a letter to the Republican leaders of West Virginia’s legislature to gauge their interest. It was a very, very long shot.
“We sent a letter and it became a dumpster fire, to be perfectly honest,” said McKay. “Everybody went crazy - ‘How are you leaving?’ Yada yada yada. And two of our members backed out. And the rest of us out of respect really just went our separate ways.”
McKay said his constituents are more aligned with West Virginia on abortion, too. He described himself as “pro-life” and said the Women’s Health Center of Maryland is not wanted or needed.
“I had a reporter from the Washington Post call me and do an interview, and she asked me, ‘How do you feel about this abortion clinic just moving across the state line, across the Potomac?’ I said, there's never been a need for it. If there was a need for Planned Parenthood to move here, if there was actually this need, they would have been here by now. We have had women's health clinics here for years. Probably 90 percent of everything that Planned Parenthood provides for women. And it's important. That 90 percent is important to urban and rural women. It's the abortion part that I say has been forced on our community, because Annapolis and Charleston had totally two different views, and our community has had to deal with the aftermath.”
— Sen. Mike McKay
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingKatie Quiñonez said she’s not forcing anything on Western Maryland.
“We did a market analysis and looked at what health care was available in those counties in mountain Maryland. And we found that not only was there not an abortion provider, the nearest abortion providers for the people living in mountain Maryland were at least 100 miles away in any direction. But there was also a real lack of reproductive health care, outside of a hospital system located in Cumberland. And then beyond that, we met directly with folks on the ground living and working in those communities to determine that, yes, there is a need here. Not only do we need abortion access, we need reproductive health care.”
— Katie Quiñonez
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThis is what abortion care has become after the fall of Roe: a state-by-state fight over access, where abortion rights are determined by the lines on a map. The state line that divides West Virginia and Maryland runs through mountain communities that are alike in their topography, their culture and their political affiliations.
But on one side of that state line abortion is legal, while on the other side abortion is a criminal offense.
On this West Virginia Morning, Congress is reviewing legislation that would end tax credits for clean energy projects, risking hundreds of millions of dollars in investments and jobs in West Virginia.
Curtis Tate spoke with Mitch Carmichael, former West Virginia economic development secretary, who supports preserving the tax credits.
Also in this episode, we revisit a 2024 podcast episode that received top honors from the Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters. In it, Us & Them host Trey Kay explores the shifting geography of abortion access.
Kay follows the story of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which relocated its abortion services from Charleston to a clinic across the state line in western Maryland — a region that, like much of West Virginia, is considered an abortion desert.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, we take a look at what recovering from problem gambling can look like in West Virginia. As part of an ongoing series on problem gambling, News Director Eric Douglas spoke with a resident about her experiences recovering from gambling addiction, and how she is helping others find the same path.
Also in this episode, water providers in neighboring Pennsylvania say they are removing PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” from drinking water just as the Trump administration threatens to weaken federal regulations adopted last year.
Zoe Read with public radio station WHYY visited Aqua Pennsylvania, one of the state’s largest drinking water providers, to learn more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) is in the process of analyzing the data gathered over eight listening sessions held last month with people in various aspects of the state’s child welfare system.
Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with DoHS Secretary Alex Mayer about takeaways from those sessions and the courses of action ahead.
Also in this episode, a Hardy County LGBTQ group traveled to the nation’s capital this weekend for an international event. Jack Walker caught up with them at the WorldPride parade, and brings us the report.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, federal spending cuts have slowed the ability to help miners with black lung, according to those who attended an annual conference last week, even after a court order to resume the work. Curtis Tate has the story from the Pipestem Resort.
Plus, tourism leaders in Charleston have launched a new campaign that builds on the success of the capitol city’s five year contract to host the Pro Road National Championships. This year was the second year of the competition, and once the dust had settled, Maria Young caught up with Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Tim Brady to find out more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, online gambling is becoming easier to access. But that means some individuals may lose more money than they can afford. We hear from a representative from the behavioral health industry about the challenges online gambling can pose, and how to seek help.
Also in this episode, we discuss efforts to bring river otters back to Appalachia, the emergence of a new brood of cicadas and an alternative justice program for teens that centers around peer accountability.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Textbooks have long left out an important piece of labor history that happened here in the mountains. Now, a new young adult book fills in some of what might have been missed about the Mine Wars.
Also, when flooding devastates a community, people can find solace through faith and through song.
And, we remember songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler, who passed away last month. Dozens of musicians have covered his songs including Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Elvis Presley.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Recalling The Mine Wars For A New Generation
- A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A Flood
- A Bicentennial Celebration in Fleming County, Kentucky
- Remembering Billy Edd Wheeler
Recalling The Mine Wars For A New GenerationAuthor Steve Watkins wants labor history to be remembered.
Courtesy PhotoFor generations, that history of the Mine Wars in the early part of the 20th century was scarcely mentioned in schools.
The author of a new book hopes to bring the story to today’s young readers.
Host Mason Adams spoke with Steve Watkins, author of “The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers' Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields.”
A Family Guitar Brings Peace After A FloodDerenia Dunbar (left) stands with parents Ruby (middle) and James Boggs (right) in front of their family home in Millstone, Kentucky. James holds the guitar that was mostly untouched by the floodwaters that filled their house on July 28, 2022.
Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public Broadcasting.In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, we’re reminded that when disaster strikes, people in Appalachia step up to help their neighbors. In the summer of 2022, floods devastated parts of eastern Kentucky.
At the time, Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave brought us a story about the Boggs family, who told her about the joy that comes from the soothing music of an old family guitar.
A Bicentennial Celebration In Fleming County, KentuckyA church in Fleming County, Kentucky celebrated its 200th anniversary recently.
Photo Credit: Samantha Morrill/Morehead State Public RadioIn Fleming County, Kentucky, there’s an old, covered bridge that’s been a popular tourist destination for decades. The Goddard covered bridge was built in the late 1800s, then moved in 1933. It extends over Sand Lick Creek, where the road leads to an old country church. That church celebrated its bicentennial in September.
Samantha Morrill at WMKY, Morehead State Public Radio, visited the church.
Remembering Billy Edd WheelerSongwriter Billy Edd Wheeler wrote memorable tunes and was a character.
Courtesy PhotoSinger/songwriter Billy Edd Wheeler died in September at the age of 91. The West Virginia native and long-time North Carolina resident was best known for writing songs like “Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Johnny Cash and June Carter. He also wrote “Coward of the County,” which was a hit for Kenny Rogers, and “It’s Midnight,” which Elvis Presley recorded.
Mountain Stage’s Larry Groce was a friend and fan of Wheeler’s.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Groce about Wheeler’s legacy.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by James Boggs, Amethyst Kiah, Caleb Caudle, John Blissard, Paul Loomis, Chris Knight, Johnny Cash and June Carter and Billy Edd Wheeler.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, youth who are alleged to have committed minor offenses can be referred to members of an elite squad known as the teen court. As Chris Schulz reports, organizers say accountability from peers is more effective at keeping teens from re-offending.
And our Mountain Stage Song of the Week is "Lou Reed Was My Babysitter" by Jeff Tweedy, who is no stranger to Mountain Stage. He performed this time with a more familial kind of band, that includes his sons, Spencer on drums and Sammy on backing vocals.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, cicadas are emerging from the ground after completing a 17-year nap. Brood 14 can be found in Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. The Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom’s Justin Hicks reports, while the crunchy critters are annoying to some, they have profound meaning to others.
And WVPB is bringing you a new radio and television feature called Almost Heavens. In it, Shannon Silverman, an astrophysicist at the Clay Center in Charleston, West Virginia, guides us through the cosmos above the mountains – including how to find the Orion Nebula with nothing more than your naked eye. These short stargazing features are also available to watch on West Virginia Public Broadcasting or to stream on PBS Passport.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, nature artist Rosalie Haizlett set out to illustrate some of the birds, reptiles and animals hiding away in the Appalachian Mountains.
Those illustrations became the new book, “Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains, an Artist’s Journey.” Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch recently spoke with Haizlett about the experience.
Also in this episode, we have our Song of the Week from singer, songwriter, poet, and Grammy winner Carrie Newcomer.
She performs “Take More Time, Cover Less Ground” from her 2023 album, A Great Wild Mercy. In the liner note for the song, Carrie states she was inspired by a quote from the contemplative Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, who lived in Kentucky.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director, and he produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia voters will decide on the ballot in November whether or not to change the state’s constitution to prohibit medically assisted suicide.
And a contested race for state Senate brought two candidates to the debate stage in Shepherd Tuesday evening.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Morgantown’s City Council passed a camping ban aimed at addressing homelessness in the city. Community members have vowed to oppose the ban and that opposition has coalesced into a formal petition to repeal the ban.
Also, road construction challenges around the state are not confined to the interstates. In Huntington, a nearly two-year upgrade to one of the city's main traffic arteries is nearing completion. But some are concerned that the traffic element of the upgrade will remain a challenge.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachian Power is at least considering a conversion of two West Virginia power plants from coal to natural gas. The region produces a large amount of natural gas, which has become the preferred fuel for generating electricity nationwide and in the states surrounding West Virginia.
Also, the West Virginia legislature convened for its second special session of the year Monday to focus on supplemental appropriations, as well as proposed tax cuts.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, students and their parents across West Virgnia can now access free online mental health resources. That's after a pilot program in five counties via a partnership between the West Virginia’s Department of Education and the Cook Center for Human Connection so impressed education officials was expanded to all of West Virginia’s 55 counties in May.
Also, Ohio County author Marc Harshman has spent decades writing poetry and children’s books and has served as West Virginia’s state poet laureate since 2012. This year, Harshman was recognized by Shepherd University as the 2024 Appalachian Heritage Writer-in-Residence. He sat down with reporter Jack Walker to discuss his work and Appalachian literature
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Inside Appalachia remembers Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a deep mark on Appalachian culture, and the people who practice and document it.
And, grab your dancing shoes and learn about a movement to make square dance calling more inclusive.
Plus, it’s not just you. There are more deer than ever these days. A writer explores the long, complicated entwinement of people and our wild kin.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode
- Remembering Travis Stimeling, A Musician, Scholar And Mentor
- Traditional Dance Callers Updating For Inclusivity
- The Age Of Deer
Remembering Travis Stimeling, A Musician, Scholar And Mentor
Travis Stimeling, a WVU professor and noted scholar of traditional Appalachian music, died in their home on Nov. 14, 2023.
Photo Credit: Ellen LinscheidTravis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia.
It was a shock when the author, musician and West Virginia University (WVU) professor died abruptly in November at the age of 43. News of their passing prompted an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends.
Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold, who brought us this remembrance.
Traditional Dance Callers Updating For InclusivityA multigenerational group of dancers follows Becky Hill’s calling at the Augusta Heritage Center in July 2023.
Photo Credit: Lydia Warren/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe use of they/them pronouns signals more than a change in language; it’s also a cultural change that allows for people to be identified as they see themselves. And, it’s happening even in the region’s dance halls.
Folkways Reporter Lydia Warren brought us the story.
The Age Of DeerErika Howsare explores our relationship to deer, which has been long and complicated.Courtesy photo
Few animals are as polarizing as the white tail deer. They’re graceful and majestic — and kind of cool to see up close. But they can also ravage gardens, and drivers hit countless deer every year.
Yet, there seem to be more deer than ever.
Erika Howsare is the author of The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Howsare.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Amythyst Kiah, Watchhouse, John Blissard, Yonder Mountain String Band and Larry Rader.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we look back at the life of renowned actor James Earl Jones, who died this month at age 93. Jones was a cast member in the 1987 John Sayles film “Matewan,” shot in Thurmond, West Virginia.
Reporter Curtis Tate spoke to David Wohl, who invited Jones to speak to his acting class at West Virginia State University decades before his passing.
Plus, we’ll hear some good news about the overdose rate from public health issues, concerns over how to address a growing child care crisis and the latest on keeping students focused in the classroom.
In this episode, we also travel 110 years into the past, where a murder, payroll robbery and posse chase played out in one weekend in the hills of Mingo County.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting debuted an original radio play entitled “The Last Train to Glen Alum” this week. The story relives the century-old caper through the contemporary writing of News Director Eric Douglas.
Douglas sat down with historian Stan Bumgardner to discuss the dramatic moment in West Virginia history. You can learn more about the play at this link.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Randy Yohe and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, we travel 110 years into the past, where a murder, payroll robbery and posse chase played out in one weekend in the hills of Mingo County.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting will debut an original radio play on local stations Friday at 8 p.m. Entitled “The Last Train to Glen Alum,” the story relives the century-old caper through the contemporary writing of News Director Eric Douglas.
Douglas sat down with historian Stan Bumgardner to discuss the dramatic moment in West Virginia history.
Also in this episode, we hear from this week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, held at the historic Robinson Grand Performing Arts Center in Clarksburg.
Mississippi native Paul Thorn has performed on Mountain Stage more than 10 times, and stopped by Harrison County for another show. Before becoming a singer-songwriter, Thorn was a professional boxer, and his forthcoming album “Life Is Just A Vapor” packs a punch. Our song of the week is a track off that album with the same name.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, estimates suggest one-third of West Virginia children are not receiving sufficient child care. Gov. Jim Justice is calling lawmakers to Charleston on Monday for a special session where child care will be a main topic of discussion.
Briana Heaney visited the Capitol and spoke to child care providers to learn more about the state's growing crisis.
Meanwhile, we're in the middle of Banned Book Week, an annual campaign that raises awareness about efforts to remove books from libraries and schools. Reporter Caelan Bailey tells us how restrictions on book access have affected West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
It’s election season, and Us & Them is back at the dinner party table for a potluck gathering. With just weeks until the election, our guests have a lot on their minds as they consider their votes. The group discusses some of the year’s biggest stories shaping this campaign—the candidate debates, recent assassination attempts, trust in elections, campus carry laws, gun rights, and what West Virginia might look like without U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.
Us & Them host Trey Kay invites us all back for a new dinner party episode bringing together a wide-ranging group of people for food and conversation. Kay has used this gathering as a forum to break bread with folks who hold vastly different beliefs.
The topics are varied… trust in elections - campus carry and gun rights - party conventions and candidate debates - and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) legacy. We began this dinner party tradition in 2020 and have continued it through the turbulent times since then.
While election season can make it difficult to come together with people who disagree, Kay’s guests offer a fresh perspective and share their reactions to some of the biggest stories of the year shaping this election season.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Trey’s mom Kathy Kay carefully and lovingly sets the table for this year’s Us & Them Pre-Election Dinner Party.
Credit: Us & Them teamIn the fall of 2020, during the pandemic and the run-up to the presidential election, the Us & Them team hosted a virtual dinner party that brought together a diverse group of West Virginians. The episode created from that event earned a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award, inspiring the continuation of the tradition. Once the pandemic subsided, the Dinner Party Crew began meeting in person for potluck dinners and thoughtful conversations at the home of host Trey Kay’s mother in Charleston, West Virginia.
Us & Them host Trey Kay stands in front of the serving table filled with dishes brought by the dinner party guests. The feast included roast chicken, mac and cheese, sweet potato casserole, caprese salad, and soft rolls.
Credit: Us & Them teamTerri Triplett Delauder, veteran to most of the Us & Them Dinner Parties who identifies as conservative, welcomes new guests Alexus Steele and Michael Borsuk, who are students at Marshall University. Steele, who is registered as a Democrat, says she is fiscally conservative on some issues, but is far left on social issues. Borsuk identifies proudly as a Republican, however, he does not consider himself far right, but rather in the middle of the Republican spectrum.
Credit: Us & Them TeamUs & Them host Trey Kay kicks off the gathering with introductions, including from left to right, Felicia Bush, Joe Solomon, and Jay Gould. All three were part of the first virtual dinner party and have participated in most of the subsequent gatherings. Bush, who lives near Parkersburg, identifies as a fiscally conservative Democrat but a social justice liberal. Solomon, a Democrat, serves on Charleston, West Virginia’s City Council and is active in helping people who live with substance use disorder. Gould, from Montgomery, West Virginia, is mostly retired from a business that repairs mining equipment. He describes himself as a conservative Democrat but adds, “There's no such critter anymore, so I’m registered Republican.”
Credit: Us & Them TeamFrank Annie (L) serves on the Charleston City Council alongside Joe Solomon. Annie is a registered Republican and describes himself as right of center on most issues. Although he and Solomon hold different political views, they see eye to eye on many issues and often collaborate on solutions. They campaigned for office together and refer to themselves as the Bipartisan Bros.
Credit: Us & Them TeamUs & Them host Trey Kay kicks off the gathering with introductions, including from left to right, Felicia Bush, Joe Solomon, and Jay Gould. All three were part of the first virtual dinner party and have participated in most of the subsequent gatherings. Bush, who lives near Parkersburg, identifies as a fiscally conservative Democrat but a social justice liberal. Solomon, a Democrat, serves on Charleston, West Virginia’s City Council and is active in helping people who live with substance use disorder. Gould, from Montgomery, West Virginia, is mostly retired from a business that repairs mining equipment. He describes himself as a conservative Democrat but adds, “There's no such critter anymore, so I’m registered Republican.”
Credit: Us & Them TeamElliot Hicks (R) sits next to Marshall University student Michael Borsuk (L). Hicks, an attorney based in Charleston, West Virginia, is a registered Democrat who describes himself as progressive on social issues, but reasonable on fiscal issues.
Credit: Us & Them TeamThe Dinner Party guests discussed some of the year’s biggest stories shaping the upcoming election. Topics included the Trump-Biden debate, the assassination attempt on former President Trump, trust in elections, campus carry laws, and gun rights. Everyone admitted to having strong feelings about the election’s outcome in November. The group has committed to gathering again on the Thursday after the election.
Alexus Steele: I’m excited to hear what you guys have to say [in November]. I am nervous about it, but not so much about talking to you guys, just seeing how it’s gonna change our country.
Michael Borsuk: I’m all for coming back. My only fear is doing it that Thursday immediately after—we might not have results.
Trey Kay: And that might be part of the tension that we need to wade through.
Felicia Bush: I can come and be elated or devastated, and I’ll still feel safe expressing it here. There’s nothing to fear here. We’re just Americans.
Jay Gould: Last night, I listened to our discussion last year. A big topic of that was trust. Canyou name anything that has happened since last year that would have increased our trust in our country and in the officials and so forth? I can name you a whole bunch that would have diminished it.
Terri Triplett Delauder: I wanted to say something that's positive about voter integrity now. Judicial Watch, which is a right-leaning, a bunch of lawyers that do really good work - they sued California, Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, to clean up their voter rolls. So we should have a little bit more confidence in especially those states, that those rolls are cleaned up. It makes me feel a little better.
Eliott Hicks: Right, but what we have to be in mourning for is that there is somebody who has led this whole argument that our elections weren't fair… And we know we've had voter identity issues in West Virginia. We know we've had that, but we keep getting better. What I'm in mourning for, is that there's somebody who continues to agitate and people who jumped on the bandwagon with him to tell people that our elections are not fair when we get better every single time we get better at this.
Frank Annie: I'm happy with the decision by the President [Biden] to step down. I think it was very timely… I think people are tired overall, collectively. They kind of want a little bit [of the] 70 days to be done. It's been an interesting couple months so far.
Joe Solomon: I feel like a real kinship and affinity with this group and the space that creates… I worry about other long shadows, but I don’t worry about more long conversations.
Editor's Note: Elliot Hicks serves as the volunteer president of the West Virginia Public Broadcasting Friends Board.
On this West Virginia Morning, renowned actor James Earl Jones died earlier this month at age 93. He was part of the cast of the 1987 John Sayles film “Matewan,” which was shot in Thurmond, West Virginia.
Curtis Tate spoke to David Wohl, who once asked Jones to speak to his students at an acting class at West Virginia State University.
Plus, early data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a dramatic fall of 12 percent in overdose death rates across the United States in the last year. West Virginia’s drug overdose rate fell almost 11 percent during that time.
To gain insight into this encouraging development, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice spoke with West Virginia’s own Dr. Rahul Gupta, who directs the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, smartphones are often presented as modern tools that offer us the world’s knowledge at our fingertips. But the past several years have proven they can also be a serious distraction to all age groups.
As Chris Schulz reports, schools across West Virginia are starting to restrict access to smartphones in the hopes of directing students’ attention back to the front of the classroom.
Plus, twelve million National Public Radio listeners hear StoryCorps stories weekly on Morning Edition. These recordings are collected in the United States Library of Congress and in an online archive, which is now the largest single collection of human voices ever gathered.
Randy Yohe reports that the StoryCorps Airstream is parked on the Marshall University campus with its recording studio at the ready.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Randy Yohe produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Charleston and Wheeling areas of West Virginia are among 78 communities in the United States approved for a local-federal partnership to reduce firearm violence in domestic abuse cases. Maria Young spoke to the state's two U.S. attorneys, who will manage the program.
Plus, many orchards struggled to find wholesale apple buyers last year, causing a surplus. Federal dollars helped orchards that were unable to sell their produce. But, as Jack Walker reports, the apple market may still face risks.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, a poet talks about his new collection, “If Lost.” He found inspiration for it by walking around in the woods. .
Also, now is a great time for mushroom hunters to head to the woods and find all kinds of fascinating fungi – even those not meant to be eaten.
And, almost everybody has a favorite cup or coffee mug, but how far would you go to replace yours?
In This Episode
- What to do “If Lost.”
- Meandering With Mushrooms
- The Perfect Mug Exists
What to do “If Lost.”Poet and poetry organizer, Clint Bowman, says the best way to read poetry in front of people is to read poetry in front of people. CourtesyWhen Clint Bowman of Black Mountain, North Carolina couldn’t find the writing group he needed, he formed the Dark City Poets Society.
Bowman has used the group to develop his poetry, some of which explores people and their connection to nature.
Producer Bill Lynch recently spoke with Bowman about his new collection, “If Lost.”
Meandering With Mushrooms Glow in the Dark Jack O’ Lantern mushrooms spout out of a hundred-year-old Black Gum tree. These mushrooms make up one of many species that make this area a biodiversity hotspot. CourtesyThe fall tends to be a great time to hunt mushrooms in Appalachia. You might see orange, yellow, red, even blue mushrooms. A few are edible, but some are poisonous, and it’s best not to pick them unless you know what you’re doing.
Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd joined a mushroom hike in southwestern Virginia to learn more.
The Perfect Mug Exists The magic is in the mug. Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingInside Appalachia’s Folkways stories cover a lot of ground. They can also be about finding something lost. Folkways reporter Wendy Welch brought us a mystery behind a very specific mug.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Kaia Kater, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Jeff Ellis, John Inghram, Gerry Milnes and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin. You can find us on Instagram @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, wild mushrooms come out in the fall, but it’s best not to pick them unless you know what you’re doing. Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd joined a guided mushroom tour in southwestern Virginia to find out a little more.
Also, the annual Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant is this weekend, a power rate increase for residential customers is off the table and Governor Jim Justice declines to participate in a Senate debate with his opponent.
And our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes from Fantastic Cat. “All My Fault” is performed by the indie "supergroup" comprised of some of New York’s best singer-songwriters, including Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, Don DiLego, and Mike Montali.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, leaves are already beginning to change color after a dry hot summer. Briana Heaney sat down with New River Gorge National Park Ranger Eve West to discuss what this year's fall will look like in the park.
Also Katherine Johnson, along with her Hidden Figures colleagues, were honored by Congress Wednesday.
And, indictments in the neglect death of a Boone County girl, fire season starts early in the New River Gorge National Park and overdose deaths decrease.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Healing Appalachia music festival featuring singer/songwriter Tyler Childers returns to Lewisburg this week. Bill Lynch spoke with Dave Lavender, president of the festival's board of directors about the festival and what it wants to accomplish.
Also the passing of a native artist, Mingo County’s only hospital reopens and a deepening drought.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Appalachian Queer Film Festival showcases creative works centered around the LGBTQ experience in rural America. For its tenth anniversary this year, the festival is headed to Shepherdstown at the end of September.
Also, although no serious incidents have occurred, more than 130 threats have been made against schools across the state. Rob Cunningham, Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about the state's coordinated response to the threats.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s state employee health insurance agency canceled a pilot program that covered weight-loss drugs due in part, to the program’s cost to the state. But advocates say the state will end up paying more for the health complications caused by obesity.
Also, two years since a near-total ban on abortions in West Virginia, loopholes and travel funds have allowed abortions to continue. Pro-choice religious leaders are joining forces to facilitate access to abortions, just as they did in the days before Roe v Wade.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
One of America’s greatest contributions to world culture … is hip hop. A new compilation documents what it sounds like across Appalachia.
Also people in the region love their local water springs, but in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, they take that dedication to another level.
And, congressional Republicans are trying to freeze funding for new mine safety rules. Advocates are concerned.
In This Episode
- “No Options” Explores Hip-Hop in Appalachia
- The Watery Allure Of Berkeley Springs
- The Continuing Battle Over Black Lung
“No Options” Explores Hip-Hop in AppalachiaRapper Monstalung is one of the artists featured in "No Options," a CD collection of Appalachian hip hop. CourtesyHip hop has been in Appalachia for about as long as the genre has been around, about 50 years. A new compilation from June Appal Recordings, “No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia” 24 tracks from across the region. Mason Adams spoke with executive producer JK Turner, and rapper Eric Jordan, also known as Monstalung.
The Watery Allure Of Berkeley SpringsFans of spring water come from all over to collect water from Berkeley Springs.
Zack Harold/West Virginia Public Broadcasting.There are natural springs all over Appalachia. Before indoor plumbing, that's where most folks got their fresh water. In Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, people still fill jugs with spring water to lug back home. In 2022, Folkways reporter Zack Harold visited the springs and brought us this story.
The Continuing Battle Over Black LungAssistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson moderates a panel on Black Lung and MSHA's new silica dust rule.As Appalachian miners cut into increasingly thinner seams of coal, they’re encountering more silica dust from rock. The dust contributes to an advanced form of black lung disease. Coal miners and advocates have spent decades negotiating with the federal government to add safety rules. When a new rule was finalized in April, advocates celebrated, but before it could take full effect, opponents threw up another roadblock.
Emily Rice reported.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Joshua Outsey, Monstalung, Tim and Dave Bing, Deep Jackson and Dinosaur Burps.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we’ll tell you about a very popular nutrition assistance program at local farmers’ markets that has been temporarily paused because of a lack of funding.
Plus, Gov. Jim Justice formally calls a special session of the legislature, and lawmakers discuss what they want to accomplish.
We’ll also hear a conversation with the director of a local food bank about hunger in West Virginia.
Also, we have stories on efforts to address mental health issues in the state’s military veteran community, rate hikes at one power utility company and avoiding head injuries.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Emily Rice produced this episode.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, “No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia” is a compilation album from Appalshop showcasing Appalachia’s long running hip hop scene. For Inside Appalachia, Mason Adams spoke with executive producer JK Turner and rapper Eric Jordan about the recording.
Plus, this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage brought together an array of artists at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia.
Among them was the band of John R. Miller, a singer-songwriter from the Eastern Panhandle. “Basements,” a track from Miller's 2023 album “Heat Comes Down,” is our song of the week.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Caelan Bailey, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicated that veterans remain more likely to die by suicide than their civilian peers.
In the Eastern Panhandle, advocates say this requires new conversations on mental health. Jack Walker stopped by the Martinsburg VA Medical Center to learn more.
Also in this episode, storytelling and the arts can help build community and that’s just one of the goals of a popular FestivALL Charleston program. Recently Us & Them host Trey Kay joined other guests to explain what inspires them. We'll hear an excerpt from the latest Us & Them episode.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Christopher Rowe is a nationally recognized science fiction and fantasy writer. He imagines the future not in cities or outer space, but in rural areas like the one he grew up in.
Kentucky Public Radio’s Sylvia Goodman spoke with Rowe just after he moved back to the Kentucky county where he grew up.
Plus, September is Hunger Action Month, a campaign meant to raise awareness about hunger and food insecurity in the United States.
Reporter Jack Walker talked to Chad Morrison, development director at Mountaineer Food Bank about hunger in West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a government program that can triple nutrition assistance benefits for shoppers at local farmers markets has been temporarily paused because of a lack of funding. Emily Rice reports that the problem centers around the program’s popularity.
Plus, Chris Schulz reports that Wheeling University has named a new president.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a hiker was rescued earlier this month after going missing in Kentucky's Red River Gorge for two weeks. Shepherd Snyder has more on what it takes to pull off these rescues.
Also, young people in rural communities are just as likely to exhibit risky behaviors as their urban and suburban peers but may have less access to help. West Virginia University is part of a coalition developing resources to change that nationwide.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Schoolyard games come and go, but for kids in one community, marbles still rule.
Also, this year marks the anniversary of some country music milestones, including the 40th anniversary of Floyd, Virginia’s Friday Night Jamboree.
And we remember West Virginia’s first person in space, Jon McBride.
In This Episode
- Marble Madness Lives On In Boone County
- Country Music Milestones and The Floyd Country Store
- The Blue Ribbon Queen of Russell County, Virginia
- Remembering Jon McBride
Marble Madness Lives On In Boone County
Marble King will release a special peacock blue catseye to celebrate its 75th birthday.
Zack Harold/ West Virginia Public BroadcastingSome playground games never go out of style – hide and seek, tag, and Duck, Duck Goose. Kids today still play those classics. Every spring, the students of one Boone County elementary school still get excited for a game that’s over a hundred years old. Folkways reporter Zack Harold had the story.
The Vaccine Divide In WV
As kids head back to school, pediatricians are reminding parents that their child must be immunized to attend school. But for some, this routine has become a time to grapple with fears about the safety of their children.West Virginia lawmakers have been arguing over whether to loosen long-standing vaccination requirements. But how do parents and doctors feel about that? Emily Rice visited a pediatrician’s office to learn more.
Country Music Milestones And The Floyd Country Store
The Floyd Country Store Friday Night Jamboree celebrates 40 years in 2024.
Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThis year is the anniversary of many country music milestones, among them the Friday Night Jamboree at the Floyd Country Store in Virginia. Mason Adams took us there for a visit in 2022.
The Blue Ribbon Queen Of Russell County, Virginia
A staple of county and state fairs are the annual craft competitions, where everyone from 4H kids to the local dentist brings their finest quilts, pumpkins or peanut butter fudge to be judged for cash, prizes and bragging rights.
Few have been as successful as Virginia’s Linda Skeens, who has won hundreds of blue ribbons.
In 2023, producer Bill Lynch spoke with her about competing at the fair and her favorites.
Remembering Jon McBride
The crew of STS-41G, including its pilot, Capt. Jon McBride, lower left, in 1984.NASA astronaut Jon McBride died August 7. He was 80. McBride was the first astronaut from West Virginia, and the only West Virginian to pilot a shuttle mission. Jennifer Levasseu is curator of space history at the National Air and Space Museum. She spoke with WVPB’s Curtis Tate about McBride’s legacy.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Paul Loomis, Frank George, John Blissard, Dinosaur Burps and Blue Dot Sessions.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editors Nicole Musgrave and Chris Julin. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, some playground games never go out of style. From the latest episode of Inside Appalachia, Zach Harold has the story of the students of one Boone County elementary school that still get excited for a game that’s over a hundred years old.
Also, our Song of the Week is “My Uncle Used to Love Me But She Died” by The Sweetback Sisters. This week's show is a compilation episode of Mountain Stage featuring odd, unusual and hilarious takes on familiar subjects from Randy Newman, Todd Snider, Julia Sweeney, Jeff Daniels, and many more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Morgantown’s City Council passed a camping ban aimed at addressing homelessness in the city. As Chris Schulz reports, Morgantown is the third municipality in the state to pass such a ban in the past year.
Also, deaths in the mining industry hit a nearly decade high last year, with most occurring in surface mines. But as Kentucky Public Radio’s Justin Hicks reports there are fewer opportunities to train above ground miners how to rescue their coworkers.
And an anticipated special session of the West Virginia Legislature is announced.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a West Virginia logging firm has been accused of stealing ten acres of timber – some of it from trees estimated to be 100 years old – from the Monongahela National Forest. Maria Young caught up with U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld of the Northern District of West Virginia, whose office has filed suit against the firm, to find out what happened and what outdoor enthusiasts can do if they come across something that looks suspicious.
Also, Mary Anne Hitt led the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign for a decade. As West Virginians grapple with the rising cost of maintaining coal’s dominance over the state’s electricity supply, she spoke with Curtis Tate about what’s changed and what hasn’t.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
In 2016, a wildfire escaped the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It killed 14 people, injured dozens more and destroyed parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We talk with an investigative journalist who has new information on the incident.
Also, four decades ago rice seeds from Laos crossed the ocean to California and made their way to a family of Hmong farmers in North Carolina.
And the Appalachian trail has been exhaustively hiked, explored and written about, but it’s still got a few secrets left.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Investigating The Gatlinburg Fire Of 2016
- The Sweet Sticky Rice Of Western North Carolina
- Save The Salamanders!
- An Appalachian Trail Mystery
Investigating The Gatlinburg Fire Of 2016In 2016, a wildfire at Chimney Tops in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee spread beyond the park boundaries into the nearby tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. At least 14 people were killed. Many more were injured and thousands of residents and tourists had to be evacuated.
A new investigation revealed that National Park Service officials underestimated the severity of the wildfire and were slow to alert Tennessee officials about the danger.
Tyler Whetstone, an investigative reporter, spoke with Mason Adams about his reporting.
The Sweet Sticky Rice Of Western North CarolinaTou Lee holds sweet sticky rice stalks in his rice field in Morganton, North Carolina.Credit: Rachel Moore/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
When you think of rice, you might not think of western North Carolina. But the area is home to several varieties of heirloom rice that made their way here from Laos nearly five decades ago. The rice was carried and cultivated by Hmong refugees.
One family now sells their rice at markets and to restaurants, and they’ve built a passionate following.
Folkways Reporter Rachel Moore has this story.
Save The Salamanders!The West Virginia spring salamander.Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
Have you ever heard of a West Virginia spring salamander? They’re a species found in the General Davis Cave in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, but there are only a few hundred left.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to put the West Virginia spring salamander on the endangered species list.
WVPB's Curtis Tate spoke with Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
An Appalachian Trail MysteryThe Appalachian Trail was completed in 1927. For 25 years, hikers took to the trail and traveled along the mountains from Georgia to Maine, but then the trail was moved. And the old trail was nearly forgotten.
Historian and podcaster Mills Kelly discovered the lost trail and wrote about it in his new book, Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail.
WMRA’s Chris Boros speaks to Kelly about rediscovering the trail.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by David Mayfield, Chris Knight, John Blissard, John Inghram, Eric Vincent Huey and Steve Earle.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, you might not think of western North Carolina when you think of rice. But the region is home to several varieties of heirloom rice that made their way here from Laos nearly five decades ago. Folkways reporter Rachel Moore brings us the story.
Plus, this week's broadcast of Mountain Stage is an archive special from 2014 featuring blues and soul guitar great Robert Cray, gospel titans Blind Boys of Alabama, bluesman John Hammond and New Orleans funk rockers Dumpstaphunk.
Our Song of the Week is "You Move Me" by Robert Cray, from his 2014 albumIn My Soul. Joining Cray is keyboardist Dover Wienberg, drummer Les Falconer and bassist Richard Cousins, whose original tenure with Cray included the landmark albums Strong Persuader and Don't Be Afraid of the Dark.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a camping ban aimed at addressing homelessness in Morgantown is expected to pass next week. As Chris Schulz reports, community members and advocates are speaking up in opposition.
Plus, we hear about the failure of Southern Coal, a company owned by Gov. Jim Justice, to pay for mine safety violations, and how pieces of evidence from past sexual assaults across West Virginia are now being used to identify suspects.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Appalachian Power has asked state regulators for permission to raise electricity rates for the first time in five years. As Curtis Tate reports, the public reaction has been less than receptive.
Also in this episode, coal miners and their advocates have spent decades negotiating with the federal government to put safety rules in place that limit the miners’ exposure to toxic silica dust, which causes black lung and silicosis.
When a new rule was finalized in April, miners and their advocates celebrated. But even before it could take full effect, opponents threw up a new roadblock.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Emily Rice brings the latest story from our series “Public Health, Public Trust” produced in partnership with the Global Health Reporting Center and with support from the Pulitzer Center.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Department of Human Services announced the hiring of West Virginia's first statewide Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) coordinator last month.
Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice sat down with Susan File to discuss how she will assist residents with disabilities in her new role. Christina Mullins, commissioner for the state's Bureau for Behavioral Health, also joined the conversation.
Plus, Pittsburgh-based public radio program The Allegheny Front brings us their latest story on solar panels, and the tax credits and rebates that many consumers are unaware of.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
During the Great Depression, the river town of Osage, West Virginia was a raucous, little place. It’s sleepier now, but music is keeping the magic alive.
Also, after six generations, the struggle to keep a family farm going can be rough.
And the Federal program 340B cuts the price of prescription drugs for people who most need them. So, why are attack ads falsely connecting it to border safety?
In This Episode
The Enduring Music of Osage
The Wakefields, The Saga Of Two Brothers And Six Generations
Truth And Lies About 340 B
Aristotle Jones (right) and choir member Shelley Riley (left) singing “Oh, Happy Day” at the monthly choir meeting. Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe Enduring Music of Osage
Just across the Monongahela River from Morgantown is a small unincorporated community called Osage. Years ago, it was a bustling, industrial town with a thriving nightlife. Today, Osage isn’t quite so bustling, but the love of music endures among its residents. Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett had this story.
Thad Wakefield stands in his family's field. The Wakefields have farmed for six generations, but it's becoming more difficult to continue. Cade Miller/CourtesyThe Wakefields –Two Brothers, Six Generations
The Wakefields have been farming in Pennsylvania for six generations, but the struggle to keep the family business going reached a breaking point when one brother decided to retire. Cade Miller, with the Penn State News lab, brought us this story.
The group went on to take credit for Blairs lost election. The group says that Blair failed his district (Senate District- 15) by protecting the federal 340B program. The 340B program is not taxpayer funded and is in no way related to immigration policy.
Screenshot of one of the "Stand For Us" Pac campaign ad. Truth And Lies About 340 B
340B is a federal program that requires drug companies to provide medicine at discounted prices to pharmacies and hospitals serving vulnerable communities. But the program has been the target of a smear campaign that’s affected West Virginians. WVPB’s Briana Heaney explained.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, Aristotle Jones and Brother Robert Jones, Larry Rader, John Inghram and Blue Dot Sessions. Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Mallory Noe-Payne. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a new school year is in full swing in West Virginia. But Chris Schulz reports that one group of students in Morgantown has a unique concern this year: needing a place in school to pray together.
Meanwhile, another interim session of the West Virginia Legislature is underway at the state capitol. Teachers, child care providers, legislators and advocates gathered in Charleston Sunday to call on Gov. Jim Justice and lawmakers to address a child care crisis in the state. Briana Heaney attended the rally and has the story.
Plus, recreation league basketball can bring joy to small communities. Evan Ellison and Abram Whitt, students at the Fayette Institute of Technology, tell us about the Mount Hope Basketball League in Raleigh County.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, we’ll hear from Governor Jim Justice about efforts to auction off his Greenbrier Resort – and what he says is behind it all.
Plus, why health officials worry that HIV infections in rural West Virginia are going undetected – and spreading.
We’ll also take a look at a proposed camping ban some say targets the homeless in Morgantown.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, just across the river from Morgantown is the small unincorporated community of Osage. Folkways reporter Clara Haizlett looks at the love of music that enduring in the formerly bustling community for the latest episode of Inside Appalachia.
Also, this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features the 70 plus member West Virginia Symphony, under the musical direction of Maurice Cohn. Our Song of the Week is “Michael from Mountains” performed by Judy Collins. She sings the song, originally written by Joni Mitchell, with accompaniment from the West Virginia Symphony.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University and Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, residents around Indian Creek say their water has been contaminated by mining. Briana Heaney went down to Pineville to talk those who are beginning to take legal action.
Also on this episode, many people expected the 2024 presidential election would be unpredictable. But no one anticipated the recent sequence of events.
The latest episode of WVPB's Us & Them looks at where all this is leading to… the ballot box. Host Trey Kay talks with two historians about our right to vote and access to the ballot box.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia ranks 18th in the rate of new HIV infections but that may be an incomplete picture. Caleb Hellerman brings us the fourth episode of a month-long series called “Public Health, Public Trust” produced in partnership between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Global Health Reporting Center.
Also, roughly one-third of American women have struggled to afford products like pads and tampons. Reporter Jack Walker spoke to Lacey Gero, director of government relations at the Alliance for Period Supplies, about the danger of period poverty, and what folks across the country are doing to address it.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, NASA astronaut Jon McBride - the only West Virginian to pilot a shuttle mission - died earlier this month (Aug. 7) at age 80. Curtis Tate spoke with Jennifer Levasseur, curator of space history at the National Air and Space Museum, about his legacy.
Also, the Allegheny Front reports on kayakers making art from the stuff that washes up on the riverbanks around Pittsburgh.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, with temperatures rising and storms intensifying, rain barrels can help farmers and gardeners collect rainwater and ensure it goes directly to their crops.
Also, pollution from abandoned mine drainage is one of the unfortunate legacies of West Virginia's energy history. But one waterway in Monongalia County is on a path to recovery with new opportunities on the horizon.
And a groundbreaking ceremony in the city of Weirton this week celebrates efforts to improve clean water access.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Week, we look at who’s eligible for absentee voting in the Mountain State and how to apply.
Plus, a flight school for future pilots – hundreds of miles from the main campus.
We’ll also delve into the vaccine divide as students head back to class.
Maria Young is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, author Raymond Thompson Jr. speaks with Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams about his new book, “Appalachian Ghost: A Photographic Reimagining of the Hawk’s Nest Tunnel Disaster.” It recounts the 1930 industrial tragedy that killed more than 700 men, most of them African American.
Plus, this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features jam-grass pioneer Vince Herman and his band performing the song “Lost Lover’s Eyes.” It comes from his 2022 solo album “Enjoy the Ride,” and was performed at West Virginia University’s Canady Creative Arts Center.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This conversation originally aired in the August 5, 2022 episode of Inside Appalachia.
A mural in Pound, Virginia, depicts Nancy Mullins Shores — a longtime midwife who delivered many of the town’s residents in the 20th century.
The mural was designed and painted by Lacy Hale, an eastern Kentucky artist known for painting murals across central Appalachia, including one that garnered controversy for its imagery of an opossum amid pokeweed.
Hale is probably best known for “No Hate in My Holler,” a screenprint she designed in 2017 that has spread across Appalachia on TV shirts, tote bags and even billboards.
Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams sat down with Hale to find out more about her mural of Nancy Mullins Shores, and the legacy of “No Hate in My Holler.” CourtesyThis interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Hale: We had several community meetings to see what the projects were going to be about. And Granny Shores kept coming up: Granny Shores, Granny Shores. I found out that she was a midwife in the very early days of Pound who delivered over 1,000 babies. She was born in 1867 and she passed away in 1945. Her husband was a doctor and she went apparently to some of his appointments with him. That's how she kind of got into becoming a midwife. She boasted that she never lost a mother and she lost very few babies. Basically everybody early on in Pound, Virginia, was delivered by this woman, Granny Shores.
Adams: In this Granny Shores mural, you see her, but a lot of it's dominated by this very prominent quilt. Can you tell me more about that?
Hale: Whenever I do a piece of public art, if I'm working with the community, I want the community to be involved. I cut all these pieces of polytab, which is basically parachute material, and we had a community painting day. We let people from the community come and they got to sit down and fill out the quilt any way they wanted to. It was kind of like a modern day quilting bee, I guess.
They could sit there with their own little quilt square and decide how they wanted to make it. It was really cool to see what the community members came up with. I knew once they were installed on the mural itself, that all of these pieces, even though they were very different, would make a cohesive quilt. Just like a community, you know, we're all different and we can work together and make this place that is vibrant and colorful.
rtist Lacy Hale’s mural, honoring Nancy Mullins Shores, a beloved local midwife in Pound, Virginia. CourtesyAdams: I wanted to ask you about “No Hate in My Holler.” How did you first come up with that design?
Hale: In 2017, I was working with Appalachian Media Institute at Appalshop. We were working with youth, and we got word that a group of neo-Nazis were coming to recruit in Pikeville, which is about an hour from here. One of the youths suggested that we have an art-in-response day, which I thought was awesome. The night beforehand, this phrase just popped into my head: “No hate in my holler.” I do a lot of printmaking, I do a lot of block printing.
The next day we had the art-in-response day, and I just sat down, sketched it out, cut a block, carved it and printed it. I posted it on my Facebook, and it kind of blew up. People really took to it and identified with it. For the last five years it just keeps on cycling and growing — and it's not always been for the best reasons. Sometimes when something horrible happens, there's an influx of desire for more t-shirts and stuff. I always donate at least 25 percent of the proceeds from any of the merch sales of “No Hate in My Holler” to nonprofits working toward equality in the region.
Adams: I think it's like the best of art, in that it's taken on its own life once you set it free in the world. Now this design is five years old. What do you think it means today?
Hale: Hopefully now we're at a point where this does not need to be said anymore. And there's always something new that happens that, okay, so this does need to be said again, or reiterated in some way. “No Hate in My Holler” is probably the piece of artwork that I made that I'm most proud of. If you want to know something about me, look at that piece, and that should tell you all that you need to know.
Since this interview was recorded, eastern Kentucky was inundated with historic flooding. The floods saturated Hale’s studio and Roundabout Records, the record store owned by her family. They’ve since relaunched the business with a new name in a new location in Whitesburg, Kentucky. It’s now called “Sisyphus Records.” Its motto? “Let’s try this again.”
The record store is located in EpiCentre Arts’ gallery space on Main Street in Whitesburg.
“We love our town and we never planned on leaving,” Hale said.
For more about Lacy Hale, visit her website, Facebook, or Instagram.
Lacy Hale’s art is decorating more of Appalachia's landscapes.
The eastern Kentucky artist is probably best known for “No Hate in My Holler,” a screenprint she designed in 2017 that has spread across Appalachia on TV shirts, tote bags and billboards.
Hale is also painting a growing number of murals adorning mountain communities. One memorialized a foundational midwife who delivered more than 1,000 babies in the town of Pound, Virginia. Another garnered controversy for its imagery of an opossum amid pokeweed.
Her most recent mural is located in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where it was officially unveiled in July.
Hale spoke with Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams, describing the new mural and sharing stories about how it came together.
“The design is a blue sky with a big sun at the top, and there's a redbud tree that is reaching toward the sun, and really blooming and full and thriving. Then there's a calm stream at the bottom, and there's some mountains in the background. At the bottom, there are these … I call them orbs, but they're circles of different colors that represent flowers or hugs, like the XO.
“This summer, I've had an assistant paid for by the Cowan Community Action Group. They do so much good work in Ledger County, and they placed 45 high school students in different businesses and nonprofits in Letcher County. We got an intern. She helps me prime the mural, and she'd help me mix paint. She helped me get ready for community groups to come out and help us paint.
“We were finished with the community involvement portion, and we were sitting there on the steps. We were going to go in and fill in detail. We were talking and she was like, “You know what? Wouldn't it be cool if community members could come and add their thumb prints and paint to represent the redbud blossoms?” And I was like, “You know, you're 16, 17 years old. That's one of the best ideas.” I was just blown away. It was so awesome. Her name's Chloie Webb, and I was just thrilled. And I was like, “Yes, let's do that.”
“So many people came out and added their thumbprints and would take pictures and remember which step they were on. Families would come out and put them together in a little grouping. I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about it, because it was just such an excellent addition to this mural, and it made it even more special.”
Hale is already at work on her next mural.
On this West Virginia Morning, kids are heading back to school, which means they must update their immunizations. This has become routine for some, but for others sparks recurring concerns over the safety of their children.
Some state lawmakers are pushing for looser student vaccination requirements. Reporter Emily Rice looked into how parents’ concerns are playing out in the doctor’s office.
For this story, West Virginia Public Broadcasting joins with the Global Health Reporting Center. It's the third episode of a month-long series called “Public Health, Public Trust.”
Also this episode, GenreCon is coming to the DoubleTree Hilton in Huntington this weekend. The convention is an annual genre writing conference for aspiring authors of all backgrounds. Bill Lynch caught up with its hosts.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, two more former corrections officers with the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver pled guilty last week for their role in the beating death of an inmate in March 2022. That leaves four more defendants facing trial in October.
Maria Young caught up with U.S. Attorney Will Thompson of the Southern District of West Virginia to learn more about the efforts to change what he sees as a culture of violence at that facility – and possibly others.
Also this episode, a new statewide program is rewarding improved child and community health outcomes. Chris Schulz has the story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Senate Bill 10 — widely known as the campus carry bill — was implemented on all West Virginia college campuses this summer. But with students returning to campus, one of the law's major exceptions is taking shape for college sports fans. Chris Schulz has more.
Also this episode, Marshall University has expanded its degree program for professional pilots into the Eastern Panhandle. This fall, students can pair online classes with in-person training at an airport in Martinsburg. Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker spoke with Nancy Ritter, director of Marshall’s Bill Noe Flight School, about the program expansion and efforts to recruit new pilots more broadly.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the 2024 Paris Olympics concluded last night. But for the athletes that participated in the games, the memories will last a lifetime.
Ed Etzel was a West Virginia University rifle coach when he registered a near-perfect shooting score to win a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He recently spoke with reporter Chris Schulz about his experience and perspective 40 years on.
Also in this episode, Pittsburgh-based public radio program the Allegheny Front reports on an effort in Pennsylvania to establish wildlife corridors for the safety of animals — and drivers.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Curtis Tate produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
A few people still farm the way folks did before tractors. We visit with farmers who still rely on real workhorses to get their work done.
Also, Kentucky artist Lacy Hale’s “No Hate in My Holler” screenprint may never go out of style. Appalachians are still telling her how much they identify with its message.
And a Virginia poet reflects on the importance of spoons and what’s helped his writing.
In This Episode Workhorses On The Farm * No Hate In My Holler * Jim Minick And The Intimacy Of Spoons*
A family photo of Danny Wingate using a team of horses to plow his sister's garden in Comers Rock, Virginia. Shortly after being interviewed for this story, Wingate passed away.Workhorses On The FarmBefore the tractor, farmers in Appalachia relied on workhorses to plow fields and pull their wagons. In southwestern Virginia, the practice has mostly disappeared, often along with the farms themselves. But a few farmers never let go of farming with a horse.
Folkways reporter Connie Bailey Kitts had the story.
No Hate In My HollerIn Pound, Virginia, a mural depicts an old woman smoking a pipe and holding a baby wrapped in a big bright quilt. The mural honors midwife Nancy Mullins Shores and is part of a growing body of work by artist Lacy Hale. Her work also includes the viral image “No Hate in My Holler.” In 2022, Mason Adams spoke with Hale about her work, but also caught up with her recently.
Writer Jim Minick explores meanings in silverware, among other things in "The Intimacy of Spoons."Jim Minick And The Intimacy Of SpoonsJim Minick made a career as a writing professor, teaching at colleges and universities in Georgia, South Carolina and southwestern Virginia, but he’s also the author or editor of eight books. His latest is a volume of poetry/collection of poems titled The Intimacy of Spoons.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Minick about Appalachian book festivals and writing about silverware.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ed Snodderly, James Michael Stevens, Morgan Wade, John Blissard, Tim Bing, Sierra Ferrell and Kaia Kater.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we look back at the life of Jon McBride, the first astronaut from West Virginia to travel to space.
Plus, we hear about the life of Private First Class Mose Vance of McDowell County. At age 21, the West Virginia native died in action during World War II. Eighty years later, he’s finally receiving a proper burial.
We’ll also dive into drought-resistant farming tips and the state of West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, a few farmers in southwestern Virginia are working their land the old-fashioned way - with a horse. For the latest episode of Inside Appalachia, Connie Bailey Kitts spoke with farmers and horse breeders that believe the old way is the best way.
And this week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded in front of a live audience at the Moss Arts Center in Blacksburg, Virginia on the campus of Virginia Tech with host Kathy Mattea, featuring a highly anticipated performance by Hot Tuna during their “Final Electric Run.”
Our Song of the Week is Hot Tuna’s cover of “Death Don’t Have No Mercy,” which is originally by the American gospel blues singer-guitarist Reverend Gary Davis.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, drought conditions have ravaged agriculture in West Virginia, and with temperatures rising globally some say more challenges lie ahead. Reporter Jack Walker spoke with agriculturists about sustainable farming techniques that could be the path through a changing climate.
And from our latest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay moderated a recent event in Charleston called “Second Chances for a Stronger Workforce” where organizers addressed employers’ concerns over former prisoners filling the state's workforce gaps.
Also, a soldier from McDowell County will be buried Saturday, nearly 80 years after he was killed in action.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, major HIV outbreaks in Huntington and Charleston over recent years have exposed conflicting views on the disease among state officials and national experts. Most disagreement surrounds a single topic: needles.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Global Health Reporting Center report together on this issue, with support from the Pulitzer Center. It was reported by Caleb Hellerman, with production help from Emily Rice, as part of an ongoing series called “Public Health, Public Trust.”
Also this episode, southwestern Virginia author Jim Minick is a staple at Appalachian book and literary festivals. The author or editor of eight books, his latest is called “The Intimacy of Spoons.”
Inside Appalachia's Bill Lynch talked with Minick about Appalachian book festivals and writing about silverware.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a federal program that funds critical healthcare for vulnerable people is under threat after a series of ads that promote disinformation and lies.
Also, a recent graduate from West Virginia University looks into the Hope Scholarship program and its impact on the families that use it as well as the public education system.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the increases the risk of flooding in eastern Kentucky has spurred the state to build high ground communities to help residents. But one small mountain town has their own plan for high ground homes.
Also, Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams speaks with Zane McNeill, the co-editor of a new collection of essays exploring the intersection of queer Appalachian life and the environment.
And, a short look at annual West Virginia symposium enhancing biomedical research in the state’s colleges and universities.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Flooding is a recurring problem across Appalachia. This week, we’re taking stock, and looking back on floods that have devastated parts of West Virginia and Kentucky.
We explore some of the reasons for floods, as well as the aftermath and the slow recovery that often follows disaster.
It’s not all gloom. Even in our hardest moments, there’s always hope.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Revisiting The WV Flood Of 2016
- Reclaiming Rand
- Healing Comes From Alan "Cathead” Johnston’s Ballad
- The Flood In Hindman, KY
- Coming Back From Disaster Through Faith And Music
- A Poem For A Flooded Town
Revisiting The WV Flood Of 2016In 2016, West Virginia saw 10 inches of rain in 12 hours. The resulting flooding led to 23 deaths. The governor mobilized hundreds of members of the West Virginia National Guard.
Jessica Lilly reported from the town of Richwood and told a story that went back decades.
Reclaiming RandRand, West Virginia, is a town of about 900 people just outside Charleston. Flooding has been a regular problem for decades, partly because of longstanding issues with faulty storm sewers.
Tiara Brown reported this story.
Healing Comes From Alan "Cathead” Johnston’s Ballad Alan "Cathead" Johnston with his daughters Jessi and Stacey at the Wheeling Jamboree.
Courtesy PhotoSinger and songwriter Alan “Cathead” Johnston wrote the song, “Muddy Waters” about two horrific back-to-back 100-year floods that tore through McDowell County in 2001 and 2002.
It’s been a couple of decades, but Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts found that people are still drawing strength and comfort from this ballad.
The Flood In Hindman, KYIt’s impossible to talk about flooding without acknowledging last year’s historic flooding in eastern Kentucky. The floods killed at least 38 people and damaged some of the region’s cultural centers, including Appalshop in Whitesburg and the Hindman Settlement School.
WFPL’s Stephanie Wolf visited Hindman just after the floods and took stock of what was lost.
Coming Back From Disaster Through Faith And MusicDean (Dino) McBee cleans old recording equipment damaged in the 2022 floods in Kentucky.
Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public BroadcastingWhen you spend time in Appalachia and live through a few floods, you tend to notice a recurring theme: neighbors helping neighbors. In Millstone, Kentucky gospel musicians were cut off from participating in part of their culture after they lost instruments. Many found help reconnecting with their music.
Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave brought us this report.
A Poem For A Flooded TownWest Virginia poet Doug Van Gundy at the Hindman Settlement School in Kentucky for the Appalachian Writer’s Workshop in 2022 the night Troublesome Creek flooded.
He shared this poem with us, which was partly inspired by what he saw.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jackson Browne, The Dirty River Boys, Alan “Cathead” Johnston, Dino McBee and Yonder Mountain String Band.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we hear the traditional sounds of indigenous cultures as a West Virginia museum explores local Native American history.
We talk to a dietician about navigating food and diet information on social media and speak with farmers in the Eastern Panhandle as they navigate an ongoing drought.
We also hear about Charleston’s HIV outbreak in the first installment of a joint series between West Virginia Public Broadcasting and the Global Health Reporting Center, supported by the Pulitzer Center.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Social media is filled with life advice from 5-minute crafts to how to live a healthier lifestyle. However, some information can be harmful or downright untrue. Briana Heaney sat down with Dietitian Gina Wood at the West Virginia University Extension to discuss navigating food and diet information on social media.
Plus, this week’s encore episode of Mountain Stage was recorded last year at the intimate Franklin Theatre in historic Franklin, Tennessee. Host Kathy Mattea welcomes some of Americana’s top artists, including Grammy Award-winning musician, singer and songwriter Jason Isbell, in a solo acoustic set.
Our Song of the Week is Isbell’s solo performance of “Strawberry Woman,” from his 2023 album Weathervanes.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
While educators across the nation are getting ready for the start of another school year, coordinators for an innovative school support program are meeting in Morgantown this week. As Chris Schulz reports, they’re gathering to learn how best to help their most vulnerable students.
Plus, Black and brown students across America are disciplined at twice the rate of white students. Students from poor families get suspended from school for bad behavior more often. West Virginia reflects this national trend.
In this episode, we hear an excerpt from the Us & Them episode called “The ‘Toxic Stew’ of School Discipline,” which was recently honored with a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Reporting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
At the height of the COVID outbreak, Charleston was sideswiped by a second deadly epidemic: what the Centers for Disease Control called the most concerning outbreak of HIV in the entire country. There was a bitter tug-of-war over how to respond. But where did that leave the patients, and the people most at risk? And what’s happened to the outbreak since then?
West Virginia Public Broadcasting has joined with the Global Health Reporting Center, supported by the Pulitzer Center, for this story. This is the first of a series of joint stories we’re bringing you throughout August.
Plus, Kentucky has a bold plan to create seven new neighborhoods, most on top of old mining sites in the eastern part of the state. In the second installment of a three-part series on high ground housing Kentucky Public Radio’s Justin Hicks reports with the new communities, come some new challenges.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Maria Young produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Most of the state is experiencing drought conditions, but the Eastern Panhandle and its agricultural industry are feeling the worst of it. Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker traveled to Jefferson County to see the drought’s impact firsthand.
Also this week, a Charleston-based non-profit is hosting a summit to discuss crisis care and mental health in West Virginia. Emily Rice walks us through the event.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
A good blanket will keep you warm — but a handmade temperature blanket can convey a message to a loved one. This week, we talk to crocheters who make and share their art.
Since 2018, there’s been an explosion of LGBT writing about Appalachia. The editor of the new essay collection “Deviant Hollers” tells us about it and more.
And there’s an alternative to invasive bamboo, and it’s native to the region and found by rivers.
In This Episode
- Temperature Blankets Record Life
- New Book Explores Queer Appalachian Life And The Environment
- A Bamboo To Call Our Own
- Henderson Guitars For The Next Generation
Temperature Blankets Record LifeKaren Long is making a blanket of 2024’s high temperatures for herself.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public Broadcasting Temperature blankets are a popular project among crocheters. They began as a way for artists to document the daily temperatures of a year, using red yarn for record highs and shades of blue for the cooler days. But the tradition of telling a story through textiles goes back to ancient times.
Folkways reporter Wendy Welch had the story.
Henderson Guitars For The Next GenerationJayne Henderson builds her own future as a guitar and ukulele maker.
Photo Credit: Margaret McLeod Leef/West Virginia Public BroadcastingGuitars by Wayne Henderson are prized by players who are willing to wait up to a decade to get their hands on one, but his daughter, Elizabeth Jayne Henderson, grew up wary of following in her father’s footsteps.
But Jayne decided to carry on the family tradition, but in her own way. Folkways reporter Margaret McLeod Leef had this story.
New Book Explores Queer Appalachian Life And The EnvironmentCourtesy "Deviant Hollers," edited by Zane McNeill and Rebecca Scott with foreword by Stephanie Foote.The number of books and articles about Appalachia’s LGBT communities has grown with recent works like Neema Avashia’s “Another Appalachia” and Willie Carver Jr’s “Gay Poems for Red States.” Now, a new collection of essays explores the intersection of queer Appalachian life and the environment. The book is titled “Deviant Hollers: Queering Appalachian Ecologies for a Sustainable Future.”
Mason Adams spoke with the book’s editor Zane McNeill.
A Bamboo To Call Our OwnVolunteers in southwestern Virginia are trying to revitalize river cane.
Photo Credit: Roxy Todd/Radio IQThere are more than 1400 varieties of bamboo in the world.The most common variety in the U.S. is Golden or fishpole bamboo from China, but America has a native species, too. It was once commonly found in Appalachia near rivers and streams.
The species was nearly wiped out, but a group of mostly volunteers is working to restore the plant in southwestern Virginia.
Roxy Todd reported.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Blue Dot Sessions, John Inghram, Paul Loomis and Frank George.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editors Mallory Noe Payne and Jennifer Goren. You can find us on Instagram and Twitter @InAppalachia.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Much of Appalachia has a deep-seeded history connected to the original inhabitants of the land. But often, West Virginia is presented not as a homeland for Native Americans, but simply a transient hunting ground and trading path.
As Chris Schulz reports, a series of events in Elkins is working to change that perception.
Plus, it’s been two years since devastating floods swept through eastern Kentucky. The state has a novel bet: It hopes hundreds of affected families will settle on seven new mountain-top communities. Kentucky Public Radio’s Justin Hicks reports researchers say it’s an example of climate migration.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, crocheters started making “temperature blankets” as a way to document daily life, but the tradition of telling a story through textiles goes way back. For Inside Appalachia, folkways reporter Wendy Welch looks at how this ancient tradition is being carried on.
Also in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes from newgrass pioneer and mandolinist Sam Bush. We listen to his song “I’m Still Here” from his 2022 studio album, Radio John: Songs of John Hartford.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Trey Kay brings us an excerpt from the award-winning Us & Them podcast: “Re-Entry,” where he speaks with a range of people on the challenges of reentry into society after a prison sentence.
Also, It’s been more than 50 years since a sitting president chose not to run for re-election and News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Marshall Associate Professor of Political Science Marybeth Beller to get her take on the country's current political situation.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Department of Health is reminding parents of the importance of immunization. And Briana Heaney talked to Democratic state legislators about their support for Vice President Kamala Harris, their party's presumptive presidential nominee.
Also, a species of bamboo native to Appalachia was nearly wiped out, but volunteers in southwestern Virginia are trying to restore the plant.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, President Joe Biden stepped away from his bid for a second term on Sunday and has now endorsed his vice president and running mate Kamala Harris. Briana Heaney spoke with West Virginia voters about how this decision affects what they will decide to do in November.
Also, in this show, Martinsburg native Sabrina Harrison grew up dancing at a local studio. She took that passion for dance with her into college, and now into a full-time career in New York City. Next month, Harrison will join the touring cast for the musical Hamilton, and she’ll be dancing on stages across the United States.
Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker spoke with Harrison to discuss her upbringing in West Virginia and her career so far.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, electricity prices in West Virginia have increased faster than the rate of inflation. A recent report concluded that the state’s heavy reliance on coal is the reason. Curtis Tate spoke with the report’s author, Brendan Pierpont, director of electricity modeling for Energy Innovation Policy and Technology.
Also, in this show, the West Virginia Film Office has had a bumpy ride to get to where it is today. As part of his capstone project, Max Bruce, a recent graduate from West Virginia University (WVU), looked at the new Film Office's impact on the state's burgeoning entertainment industry. He spoke with Chris Schulz about his reporting.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, members of a Ukrainian Catholic church in Wheeling, West Virginia, make pierogies every week. They’re popular with the community, but what makes them so good?
Also, Salem, Virginia's Flat Five Studio got its first big break when the Dave Matthews Band was searching for a quiet place to record its first album. We hear the story of a big moment for a small studio.
And, a longtime Bigfoot hunter believes his first encounter with the mythical monster happened when he was a kid.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- A Passion For Pierogies In Wheeling, W.Va.
- The Once And Future Flat Five
- Walking Up To The Bigfoot Festival
- Harpers Ferry Author Finds The Spirit In His Shoes
A Passion For Pierogies In Wheeling, W.Va. Just about every culture has some version of the dumpling. China has the wonton. They make ravioli in Italy.
Different forms of dumplings have made their way into Appalachia and that includes pierogies from eastern Europe, which arrived more than a century ago.
Folkways Reporter Will Warren went to Wheeling, West Virginia for a story about neighborhood pierogi makers.
The Once And Future Flat Five Flat Five owner Byron Mack shows a trophy for an award won by one of his songs.
Courtesy PhotoTom Ohmsen’s been around music and recording his whole life. He got his first tape recorder when he was just a kid. In college, he recorded bluegrass bands, which led to the start of Flat Five Studio in Salem, Virginia.
In the early 1990s, the studio helped launch the Dave Matthews Band, but now Ohmsen’s looking toward retirement.
Mason Adams visited Flat Five to get its history and hear about its future.
Walking Up To The Bigfoot Festival Visitors from all over the country visited the Bigfoot Festival at the end of June in Sutton, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Briana Heaney/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIn June,the population of Sutton, West Virginia, swells from 840 people to nearly 20,000 for its annual Bigfoot Festival — a celebration of the mythical giant with extra large feet.
WVPB’s Briana Heaney spoke to those who search for the creature — and some who just love the idea of it.
Harpers Ferry Author Finds The Spirit In His Shoes West Virginia author John Michael Cummings likes the immediacy of short fiction.
Courtesy PhotoJohn Michael Cummings is an author in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, who published his first novel in 2008. Cummings’ new collection of short stories, The Spirit in My Shoes, incorporates elements of flash fiction.
Cummings recently spoke with Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., Jeff Ellis, Blue Dot Sessions, John Wyatt and Sierra Ferrell.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we covered stories from across the state, including what’s driving up the cost of electricity and how deaf and blind children are preparing for the labor force.
Also, students may return to a school along the Ohio River this fall even after learning the groundwater in the town is contaminated. We also witness the release of an Osprey back into the wild and attend a funeral for a homeless Vietnam-era veteran.
And, we’ll take a deeper look into the dos and don’ts of infant nutrition, learn about a new tick species and the warning signs of cognitive decline in adults.
Briana Heaney is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, chicken and dumplings are an Appalachian tradition, but different kinds of dumplings from all over the world have made their way here, including the pierogi from eastern Europe. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Will Warren went to a weekly pierogi making session in Wheeling and has this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from fiddle man Jason Carter, who joined us with his all-star band of friends. We listen to their performance of “Queen of the Nashville Night” off his 2022 album Lowdown Hoedown.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as our state’s population gets older, and since the topic of age has been in the news so much recently, many families are wondering what to look for when it comes to cognitive decline.
In Wednesday’s show, News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Teresa Morris, the program director for the West Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, about the topic. In part two of this conversation, we discuss more signs to look for.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story looks at advanced recycling in the Ohio River Valley.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as summer kicks into full swing and people head outside, exposure to ticks increases. Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice spoke with West Virginia state entomologist Eric Dotseth who urges vigilance against tick bites that could cause major health issues.
Also, in this show, as the presidential race speeds toward election day, there has been a lot of discussion about age and declining mental acuity. But a lot of families are facing the same questions every day.
News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Teresa Morris, the West Virginia program director for the West Virginia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, about what to look for in our own families.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the AIDS epidemic beginning in the 1980s took hundreds of thousands of lives across the country, and even more around the world. A new theater production at this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) in Shepherdstown highlights how the disease impacted the lives of Black Americans in particular.
Jack Walker sat down with playwright Donja R. Love and his colleagues to discuss the project, and what it means to tell this story in the Mountain State.
Also, in this show, experts are concerned about a growing mental health crisis nationally. In this story from our sister station WEKU, Stan Ingold takes a look at the struggles faced by those dealing with mental health access in eastern Kentucky.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, from allergies to introducing solids, the first few years of a child's life have a surprising number of decisions for parents to make. In our latest entry of "Now What? A Series on Parenting," Chris Schulz talks with Isabela Negrin, an assistant professor of pediatrics at WVU Medicine, about the ins and outs of early childhood nutrition.
Also, in this show, it’s been a year since Pennsylvania’s largest coal-fired power plant shut down. Like hundreds of these plants around the country, the Homer City generating station in Indiana County faced stiff competition from natural gas and renewables. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier went to Homer City to find out how the closure is affecting a community that relied on this plant for decades.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, one person’s roadside weed is another’s “golden” treasure. So says a North Carolina fiber artist.
We also talk with a children's book author about a school system that suspended its community reading program over concerns about the sex of her book's main character — an oak tree.
And, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program is now available in every Kentucky community. We revisit our 2022 interview with the American icon.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Colors In The Weeds
- A Controversy About Wishtree
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Continues To Grow
The Colors In The WeedsDede Styles in North Carolina uses common roadside plants to make natural dyes for fabrics. She teaches the craft, but it’s also part of a bigger mission for Styles.
Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brings us this story.
A Controversy About WishtreeKatherine Applegate signs a book at the Jessie Peterman Memorial Library in Floyd, Virginia.
Photo Credit: Mary CrookFloyd County schools in Virginia host a program called “One Division, One Book.” They distribute a copy of the same book to every family, with a schedule to read a few chapters each night. This year, the book was Wishtree, by Newbery Award winner Katherine Applegate, but partway through the reading, the school abruptly suspended the program.
Applegate recently visited Floyd and Mason Adams spoke with her.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Continues To GrowFormer WVPB Executive Producer Suzanne Higgins (right) speaks with Dolly Parton during her visit to Charleston, West Virgin0ia on Aug. 9, 2022.
Photo Credit: Butch Antolini/West Virginia Public BroadcastingOne program that’s connecting rural counties with books is pop icon Dolly Parton’s “Imagination Library.” Started in 1995, the childhood literacy program sends books to children all over the world at no charge to their families.
Last month, the program became available to all children aged five and under in Kentucky.
When that happened in West Virginia in 2022, Dolly Parton visited Charleston and spoke with former WVPB Executive Producer Suzanne Higgins.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sturgill Simpson, Todd Burge, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Jeff Ellis, John Inghram, Dolly Parton and Gerry Milnes.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we spend some time in the Eastern Panhandle and learn about a new Battlefield Park, hear from a Harpers Ferry author and explore the unknown future of the John Brown Wax Museum.
We also travel to Morgantown to experience a Silent Book Club, and then south to Logan County to check out the hopes riding on the inaugural Governor’s School for Tourism.
In other news this week, we learn the latest on the health of the coal industry in West Virginia, check in on a campaign to improve foster care, hear from the state Board of Education meeting and visit an archeological dig in Malden.
Liz McCormick is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Dede Styles in North Carolina uses common roadside plants to make natural dyes for fabrics. It’s a skill she teaches and part of a mission that’s bigger than just yarn. Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams brings us this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from folk hero and storytelling master Steve Poltz. We listen to his performance of “Can O’ Pop,” backed by the Mountain Stage Band.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas produced today’s show.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, every summer, fireflies emerge for a few weeks — sending love signals in the dark. Those fireflies — including synchronous ones — are the stars of a festival at a farm in Forest County, Pennsylvania. As WPSU’s Anne Danahy reports, that farm draws both firefly fans — and researchers — looking to learn more about lightning bugs.
Also, in this show, overcrowding and understaffing have pushed West Virginia’s prisons and jails to what many believe is a crisis point. It’s an issue we’ve delved into on WVPB’s Us & Them. But just last week, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that sought to force the state to spend $330 million to improve prison and jail conditions in West Virginia.
So, this month we’re sharing an encore, award-winning episode entitled “Mental Health Crisis Behind Bars In West Virginia.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Overcrowding and understaffing have pushed West Virginia’s prisons and jails to what many believe is a crisis point.
On this episode of Us & Them, we hear what incarceration is like for someone in a mental health crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people with mental illnesses are caught up in a criminal justice system that was never intended to treat them.
In a recent special session, West Virginia lawmakers earmarked $30 million to address staffing shortages and provide pay raises and retention bonuses to correctional staff. There is also $100 million for deferred facility maintenance. However, a new lawsuit against the state on behalf of West Virginia inmates, demands more than three times that amount is needed.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Just Trust, the West Virginia Humanities Council, the CRC Foundation and the Daywood Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Bishop Mark Brennan and Jeff Allen, director of West Virginia Council of Churches, listen to Beverly Sharp, founder of the REACH Initiative in West Virginia at a West Virginia Council of Churches press conference on the subject of the criminal justice system in West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Kyle VassLara Lawson from Milton in Cabell County, W.Va., has her master’s degree in sociology and is passionate about social justice issues. She has also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manages that condition. Lawson told Us & Them host Trey Kay about her experience during a manic period of her illness when she was placed in Western Regional Jail and deprived of mental health medication. While Lawson said she was not suicidal - she recalled being put in a suicide watch cell for observation.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingUs & Them host Trey Kay met with investigative reporter Mary Beth Pfeiffer at her home in the Hudson Valley of New York to talk about her book Crazy In America: The Hidden Tragedy of Our Criminalized Mentally Ill. Pfeiffer’s book shows how people suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, clinical depression and other serious psychological illnesses are regularly incarcerated because medical care is not available. Once behind bars, she reports that people with mental illness are frequently punished for behavior that is psychotic, not criminal. Pfeiffer’s reporting examines a society that incarcerates its weakest and most vulnerable citizens — causing some to emerge sicker and more damaged.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAshley Omps testified at the West Virginia State Capitol before the Senate Oversight Committee on Regional Jail and Correctional Facility Authority. She told this group of powerful strangers about the worst experience in her life — a time when she was incarcerated in Eastern Regional Jail after an intense, traumatic event and said she was denied mental health treatment. Omps said it was uncomfortable to share her personal story, but it made a difference. West Virginia law has changed, because people like Ashley took their stories to the capitol.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, imagine packing all the highlights of things to do in West Virginia into one fun-filled trip. That’s what the inaugural Governor’s School for Tourism did recently for several dozen high school students. But as Maria Young reports, there are some high hopes riding on the career choices these students will make in the years ahead.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story is all about the final recommendations after the East Palestine, Ohio rail accident.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, John Michael Cummings is an author in Harpers Ferry. He’s published three novels, two novellas and many short stories. Cummings recently spoke with Bill Lynch about writing and his latest collection of short stories, The Spirit in My Shoes, available from Cornerstone Press.
Also, in this show, several of the state’s county school systems are currently under state control. Chris Schulz has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, we visit with a West Virginia man who shows his love for fishing by building exquisite, handmade fly rods. It’s a long process, but he shares his knowledge with others.
We also spill the tea on a classic roadside attraction in Chester, West Virginia.
Andpunk music photographer Chelse Warren takes us into the pit for stories and observations.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing Rods
- Among The Bees Of The Mountain State
- Spilling The Tea On An Appalachian Roadside Attraction
- Open Head Takes Photos
Passing On The Craft Of Making Fly Fishing RodsLee Orr fly fishing on the Elk River.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMost athletes welcome technical innovations in sports equipment, but fly fishing is different. Some fishermen prefer the old-fashioned way, with fishing flies and wooden rods made by hand.
Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took us to the Elk River to learn more.
Among The Bees Of The Mountain StateBeekeeping is busy all summer long in West Virginia.
Photo Credit: MERCURY Studio/Adobe StockHoneybees have been at work since the first days of spring.
In 2022, Folkways Reporter Margaret McCloud Leef brought us a report from a community of West Virginia beekeepers.
Spilling The Tea On An Appalachian Roadside AttractionThe World's Largest Teapot in Chester has been an attraction for generations.
Photo Credit: Zander Aloi/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSummer is a good time to take a road trip. Out on the roads of Appalachia, you never know what you’ll see.
Last year, Inside Appalachia’s Zander Aloi took a trip to Chester, West Virginia, to learn the story behind a classic roadside attraction there – a souvenir stand known as the World’s Largest Teapot.
Openhead Takes PhotosSam Moore during Terror’s set at the Flying Panther Skate Shop in Roanoke, Virginia.
Photo Credit: Openhead Takes PhotosLast summer, Mason Adams visited a two-day DIY music festival called The Floor is Gone.
In the middle of it all was photographer Chelse Warren, who goes by Openhead Takes Photos online.
Mason reached out to talk music and more.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Mary Hott, John Blissard, Town Mountain and Sean Watkins.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, cases of seniors being scammed by strangers, or even victimized by loved ones and caretakers, are common in West Virginia and the country at large. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia William Ihlenfeld prosecutes these crimes far too often. He spoke with Chris Schulz to raise awareness of these crimes and how to avoid them.
Also, in this show, as the number of COVID-19 cases across the country soars, West Virginians have access to a new tool to check their vaccination status. Emily Rice has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, writer Jonathan Corcoran grew up in Elkins. While in college, his mother discovered he was gay. She disowned him and told him to never come back to West Virginia. She died in 2020. They never reconciled.
Corcoran, a writing professor at New York University, has written a book, No Son of Mine, which explores grief and his relationship with his mother. Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with the author, who began with a reading.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story takes us to an art exhibit highlighting our local pollinators.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, roughly 20,000 people traveled to Braxton County for an annual Bigfoot Festival hosted in the small town of Sutton. One of them was reporter Briana Heaney, who spoke to festival goers about the annual celebration of cryptids.
Plus, new legislation takes effect today that allows permit holders to carry a firearm on any college campus in West Virginia. Reporter Chris Schulz spoke to some of these schools about how they're preparing for the change.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, dinos fight Civil War soldiers at a theme park throwback — Dinosaur Kingdom II in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Also, if you’re hungry for a pepperoni roll in West Virginia, you can find one at just about any gas station. So — how did they get so popular? We’ll hear one theory.
And we check out the backstory of a bus that sits at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers — and the man who put it there.
Hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Dinosaur Kingdom Of Natural Bridge, Virginia
- The Riddle Of The Pepperoni Roll
- The Mystery Of The Bus On The Rock
- Traditional Herbalism More Than A 'New-Age' Trend In Appalachia
The Dinosaur Kingdom Of Natural Bridge, VirginiaA dinosaur-solider creation from Mark Cline's roadside attraction Dino World in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
Photo Credit: Pat Jarrett/Virginia Folklife ProgramEvery summer, Americans hit the road for vacation. The tradition of summer road tripping dates back for as long as there have been automobiles.
On these long drives, people needed breaks. So they’d stop at fruit stands, or fireworks stores, or … bizarre roadside attractions. A lot of those weird old-style attractions have disappeared, but some have managed to hang on.
In 2020, Mason Adams visited artist Mark Cline’s Dinosaur Kingdom II, in Natural Bridge, Virginia.
The Riddle Of The Pepperoni RollThe story of the West Virginia pepperoni roll is more than its creation, but also how it spread.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPepperoni rolls have been enshrined as part of West Virginia history through their connection to coal miners. They're absolutely a favorite and available almost everywhere, but that wasn't always true. How pepperoni rolls became a statewide convenience store staple might have less to do with coal mining and more to do with lunch ladies in Kanawha County.
Folkways Reporter Zack Harold took a bite out of pepperoni roll lore.
The Mystery Of The Bus On The RockAnna Sale in 2014.
Photo Credit: Amy PearlIf you listen to the popular podcast Death, Sex and Money, you know Anna Sale. Back in 2005, Anna was a reporter for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. She got curious about an old bus that sits on a rock at the confluence of the New and Gauley rivers, just past the town of Gauley Bridge.
So Anna traveled by boat with producer Russ Barbour to meet the man behind the mystery.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sierra Ferrell, Paul McCartney, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Blue Dot Sessions, Yonder Mountain String Band and Hot Rize.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Chris Julin.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we mark two years since the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which protected access to abortion nationally. We discuss what women are doing now.
This week also marked the 50-year anniversary of a heated debate over whether the Kanawha County Board of Education should adopt new, multicultural language arts textbooks. Trey Kay, host of West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s podcast Us & Them, reflects on the controversy and his journey reporting on it.
Plus, we’ll hear about concerns over an unexpected figure popping up in a mural at the State Capitol, and how lawmakers are addressing chronic absenteeism in West Virginia schools.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Ohio poet laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour has a new collection of poems titled Dirt Songs. In it, she recalls her small-town upbringing in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But also thinks of the people who owned the land where she lives. Bill Lynch spoke with Gunter-Seymour about her new book and what she sees as good in Appalachia.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner Alisa Amador. We listen to her performance of “Slow Down.” It’s the second track on her EP Narratives.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, there’s a deadline looming for business owners across the state. Tens of thousands of them still haven’t filed their annual reports as required by state law. Assistant News Director Maria Young sat down with Secretary of State Mac Warner – who’s hoping all of them get the job done by midnight Sunday night – just, not all at once.
Also, in this show, 50 years ago, June 27, 2024, the Kanawha County Board of Education set off a chapter of the nation’s culture wars as it debated whether to purchase a controversial series of new textbooks. The meeting room was packed, and emotions were hot. Us & Them Host Trey Kay produced an award-winning documentary about the textbook controversy and provides this reflection.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week’s encore broadcast of Mountain Stage features the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest Winner, Alisa Amador. As a bilingual singer and songwriter, Amador commands the audience with her soulful voice and mixture of rock, jazz and alternative folk that is sweetly wrapped with the Latin music she grew up with.
We also hear performances from premier Americana roots band Donna the Buffalo, North Carolina singer-songwriter David Childers & The Serpents, folk-country artist Jon Byrd, and multi-generational, bi-coastal duo, David Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach.
Our Song of the Week, “Slow Down,” is the second track on Alisa Amador’s EP, Narratives. “This song is for anyone who’s feeling stressed,” Amador explains, speaking about those days and moments when you wish you could just slow down time.
This episode begins Friday, June 28 on these public radio stations.
If you are listening overseas or on a smart device, the Mountain Stage podcast is a great way to listen to new and old episodes.
Alisa AmadorDavid Childers & The SerpentsDonna the BuffaloFinale SongBob ByrdDavid Jacobs-Strain & Bob Beach
Read the companion piece to this episode from Us & Them Host Trey Kay.
Fifty years ago this month, a fierce controversy erupted over newly adopted school textbooks in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
The fight led to violent protests in the state. Dynamite hit vacant school buildings. Bullets hit empty school buses. And protesting miners forced some coal mines to shut down — because of the new multicultural textbooks.
The classroom material focused on an increasingly global society, introducing students to the languages and ideas of diverse cultures. The material was an affront to many Christian social conservatives who felt the books undermined traditional American values. They saw their religion replaced by another belief system: secular humanism.
Many of those frustrations boiled over in Kanawha County in the summer of 1974.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, CRC Foundation and Daywood Foundation.
This episode was honored with George Foster Peabody, Edward R. Murrow and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University awards.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
At the pivotal meeting on June 27, 1974, Kanawha County School Board member Alice Moore reviews transcripts as protesters watch through the board office auditorium windows.
“I almost think that Kanawha County was a test case. This was happening in different places around the country, but I wonder if they didn’t think they could come into West Virginia… that these were backward, uneducated people. They could come into this little state; they could do whatever they wanted to and nobody was going to question them.”
— Alice Moore
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersBlack power leader Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice was one of the leading sources of controversy.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingA parent expresses her frustration over the adopted books outside of the Kanawha County Board of Education building.
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersA young girl succinctly summarizes the bottom line of the 1974 Kanawha County textbook protest.
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersThe Rev. Marvin Horan, shown here at a November 1974 rally, was the most prominent person to serve significant jail time for his role in the protests. He served three years for conspiring to "damage and destroy two schools."
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersThe American flag was an ever-present symbol at nearly every anti-textbook gathering. The Rev. Avis Hill is shown here speaking outside the school board office.
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersMiners buck the will of their union leaders and join the textbook boycott.
Photo Credit: Charleston NewspapersA line of textbook protesters picket outside Midway Elementary School in Campbells Creek, W.Va.
Photo Credit: Charleston Newspapers On Nov. 9, 1974, protesters take to the streets the day after the school board reinstates the books.
Photo Credit: Charleston Newspapers Textbook supporters pointed to the apparent contradictions between the violence and the protesters' religious beliefs.
Photo Credit: Charleston Newspapers West Virginia State Trooper D. N. Miller's cruiser was shot by a sniper on Nov. 13, 1974 while escorting a school bus.
Photo Credit: Charleston Newspapers Klansman Dale Reusch attends a January 1975 anti-textbook rally on the steps of the West Virginia Capitol; the Rev. Marvin Horan is holding the umbrella.
Photo Credit: Charleston Newspapers
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia students are struggling to achieve proficiency in basic academic skills like reading and math, according to national test scores in recent years. One possible contributing factor: chronic absenteeism. But as Chris Schulz reports, a new law hopes to address the issue this fall.
Also, in this show, nearly 20,000 active-duty military service members died from 2006 to 2021. That’s not to mention thousands of veterans who died from issues tied to their service. Dubbed “Gold Star families,” the loved ones of service members who die are left with grief that can last a lifetime. But many of these families turn their hardship into an opportunity to help others in need.
West Virginia University (WVU) graduate Emily Zirkelbach spoke with reporter Jack Walker about what she learned from several Gold Star families across West Virginia.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, dozens of BASE jumpers leap from the New River Gorge Bridge during Bridge Day each year. High school students Dylan Neil and Nella Fox of the Fayette Institute of Technology got curious about how to become a Bridge Day BASE Jumper. For Inside Appalachia, they talked with expert BASE jumper Marcus Ellison.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story explores flood prevention along the Ohio River.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This conversation originally aired in the June 23, 2024 episode of Inside Appalachia.
The broad strokes of the opioid epidemic are well known.
The widespread availability of Oxycontin and other opioids that could be obtained with a prescription led to an epidemic of substance abuse that took hold across the country. That, in turn, has led to more conversations — about treatment, recovery, and harm reduction.
But, alongside opioids, there’s been another addictive drug that became well-known in the 1990s, and never really went away. Methamphetamine, or meth, is a stimulant that some people made in their homes during the ‘90s and early ‘00s. But the U.S. cracked down on the sale of the drug’s ingredients, so meth labs are no longer quite so ubiquitous.
But meth has evolved, too.
That history is the topic of a new podcast, called Home Cooked. It’s produced by the Daily Yonder, a national news site that covers rural America, and is headquartered in Whitesburg, Kentucky.
The show is hosted and produced by Olivia Weeks, a reporter for the Daily Yonder based in southern Illinois. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams recently spoke with Weeks about Home Cooked.
Olivia Weeks.
Photo Credit: The Daily YonderAdams: I remember meth because it exploded into the national consciousness in the early 2000s, just as I was entering the media business, but I've heard a bunch of meth stories recently — both in the news and from friends who are dealing with people on meth. How have methamphetamines changed over the last 20 years?
Weeks: Yeah, so that's sort of the starting point of the podcast. We're all really familiar culturally with these stories from the early 2000s. I grew up in a small town. There was a lot of conversation all the time when I was a little kid about, “Oh, that's a meth lab house. They're cooking meth out in those woods,” — that kind of stuff. That fell off of everybody's radar in the later 2000s and 2010s in some places, and then around 2018, you start seeing this flood of new stories that's like, “Meth is back. And it's not your neighbor's cooking it anymore.” That's a St. Louis Post-Dispatch headline that always sticks in my head, because that's really the formula of this new kind of news article that started coming out in 2017, 2018.
Part of it is a little bit silly, because meth never disappeared in that time period between the early 2000s meth-lab-explosions era and today, but I also see why it got so much media attention starting in the late 2010s. Because a transition really happened where, over the course of the 2010s, this vast free market of drug traffickers and producers in Mexico got really good at making methamphetamine really cheaply, and it's transporting it into the United States. That's in a landscape of meth getting really difficult and pretty expensive to produce here domestically, that imported meth really just took over the whole national methamphetamine economy. Instead of being this sort of weird drug that people would make in their barns, and it's very locally specific, and the recipes get passed from person to person, like it has this kind of folk culture around it in the early 2000s.
Then it really transitions into a more traditional drug that's being trafficked along pretty traditional drug supply chains, kind of the way that cocaine is, or one of those other less mythologized drugs, or differently mythologized drugs from different eras.
Adams: Methamphetamine is associated with rural areas, and even with Appalachia, to some degree. Is that just pure myth?
Weeks: There are two questions there. One is meth’s association with rural, and one is meth’s association with Appalachia. I think the answers are pretty different. There is some real factual basis for methamphetamine’s outsized popularity in rural places, especially in the '90s and early 2000s. Back then, meth was largely produced domestically by groups of people in the kitchen, or in the barn or whatever. When you're producing meth in the U.S., you really want some wide open space to do that, because it's a process that smells pretty bad, [and] you don't want your neighbors watching you. Also, there's this sort of association with the countryside because anhydrous ammonia, which is a farm fertilizer, is obviously much more common in agricultural places, sparser places. So people were able to steal anhydrous ammonia from farmers more easily if they lived in the country. Also, they probably had easier access to the farm supply store. So there was this real kind of rural association.
Also, the usage rates were higher for many, many years, and still I think probably are slightly higher, in rural places as compared to the rest of the U.S. now. The rural association makes sense especially in the Midwest. That's where that sort of mom-and-pop-lab problem of the early 2000s was really concentrated. It makes sense that meth picked up that rural association; it makes progressively less sense as time goes on, especially today. It might still be true that meth is more common in rural places, but it's really a problem in all of our major cities, too.
Now, when it comes to Appalachia, it's interesting. I think that places on the East Coast or eastern United States always had a smaller meth problem than in the Midwest and the West. That's for some complicated supply chain reasons. The problem was always kind of slower to take off. Now, that's not to say that there was no meth in these places, certainly, all throughout small towns. In Appalachia, there definitely was meth in the heyday. People could get the recipe online. There was no stopping people from making it, but it didn't quite take off in the way that it took off in the Midwest.
Adams: What accounts for that connection to Appalachia then? Is it people linking rural America and Appalachia, and lumping them together when there's really distinct differences in this case?
Weeks: Yeah, I think that's part of it. There was this very popular and widely known campaign that started in Portland, Oregon, against methamphetamine that was called the Faces of Meth campaign. It was this sheriff taking pictures of people who had been arrested on meth related charges, who were looking pretty rough. He would basically put up a photo of them early in their meth use, [during] their first arrest, and then a photo of them later on in their lives when drug use or whatever lifestyle choices had taken their toll.
A lot of people don't need me to explain it to them; the images just come to mind. There's been really good analysis of the Faces of Meth campaign that hit on hillbilly stereotypes like toothlessness. It's really nasty stuff, and I don't even really want to talk about it, because I don't think this connection actually makes any sense. But I think that those images, especially to urban people, read as, “Oh, those are hillbillies,” — even though the photos are of people from Portland, Oregon. I think those images are honestly responsible for a lot of the connection to the countryside. And I think Appalachia automatically gets lumped in with that, and it automatically hits on a hillbilly, hill people stereotype.
Adams: The podcast covers the 50-year history of meth. Where is methamphetamine in 2024? What do you think the future holds?
Weeks: We're in a pretty scary place right now. Methamphetamine and fentanyl are both produced in really high quantities in Mexico, and those supply chains have sort of merged in some way. Some people call them twin epidemics. A lot of people have started using the term “synthetic drug crisis” because you can't really talk about methamphetamine without talking about fentanyl, or vice versa. Overdose deaths are the highest they've ever been, both for fentanyl alone, both for methamphetamine alone, and for fentanyl and meth combined. Concomitant use of those drugs is really, really common.
Now, addiction has always been one of the dangers of methamphetamine. Also in the early 2000s, meth lab explosions and the interactions with toxic chemicals, that kind of thing. Those were major risks because of methamphetamine-use back in the day. Those aren't really risks anymore. The risk today is fentanyl contamination. That's a big problem. It's a scary situation. At the same time, there's been in recent decades a general turn against mass incarceration as a solution simply because it hasn't worked and because a lot of people have been really negatively affected by that system. Right now with really high levels of homelessness and addiction and overdose, there might be a backlash against that sort of positive turn against mass incarceration. That's kind of scary to me.
In general, people are more open-minded to strategies like harm reduction, more open-minded, trying to be more compassionate to people who use drugs. I think that's positive. I think part of that is the opioid epidemic — that sort of stereotypical narrative of the blue collar man who got hurt at work, and then got addicted to opioids by no fault of his own, and then wound up using heroin, and on and on. That narrative that took hold of the public imagination did some good for people who use drugs, because it showed one possible way in which a person who was really easy to empathize with could wind up addicted to drugs.
I think people are more open to harm reduction, clean needles, fentanyl, test strips, that kind of thing. So that's positive, but overwhelmingly, it's a really scary, scary drug market right now. I think I would tell people that you'd be surprised where you can find a harm reduction organization to get involved with. Even if you live in a small town or a rural place, it's very possible that there's someone out there doing the work, trying to keep people alive, even while they're in the throes of addiction. Look out for that and look out for ways to get involved.
Home Cooked is now available wherever you get your podcasts.
Recovery from addiction is possible. For help, please call the free and confidential treatment referral hotline (1-800-662-HELP) or visit findtreatment.gov.
On this West Virginia Morning, each year, tens of thousands of Americans die from firearm injuries. In 2022, that figure included more than 300 West Virginians. Nationally, U.S. residents are split on a solution. But residents of a town in Brooke County are advocating for an end to gun violence through political organizing, public art and prayer.
Jack Walker spoke with three Bethany residents about their annual demonstration, and the changes they’re pushing for in the Mountain State.
Also, in this show, film director Elaine McMillion Sheldon's latest documentary is called King Coal. The imaginative film focuses on central Appalachia, how coal mining has influenced its culture and how that may be changing. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with Sheldon and co-producer Molly Born about the film.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, old-time music jams aren’t just fun, they’re good for your mental health.
Also, the opioid epidemic has changed how we talk about addiction in Appalachia. But it’s not America’s only drug crisis.
And, every year, hundreds of people parachute off the 876-foot-tall New River Gorge Bridge for Bridge Day, but not just anyone can do it.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Mental Health And Old-Time Music Jams
- The Other Drug Epidemic
- No Son Of Mine
- Breaking Down Base Jumping At Bridge Day
Mental Health And Old-Time Music Jams(Left to right) Hilarie Burhans (banjo), Mark Burhans (fiddle), Mark “Pokey” Hellenberg (mandolin banjo), Steve Owens (banjo), Julie Elman (bass) and Caitlin Kraus (guitar) are playing old-time music on a Monday night at the Burhans home in Athens, Ohio. Hilarie is a sought after claw hammer banjo instructor, and she and Mark also own and operate a local Mediterranean restaurant in Athens named Salaam.
Photo Credit: Liz Pahl/West Virginia Public BroadcastingHuman beings have used music to do everything from soothe children to sleep or to fire up crowds during football games, but there are other benefits, too.
Folkways Reporter Liz Pahl explored them during an old-time jam session in Athens, Ohio.
The Other Drug EpidemicOlivia Weeks hosts Home Cooked, a podcast that looks at the continuing crisis of methamphetamines.
Courtesy PhotoWhen we talk about addiction, a lot of us think about opioids. But there’s another drug still circulating in communities –methamphetamine, or meth.
The powerful stimulant could be manufactured in people’s homes, but after the US cracked down on the sale of meth making ingredients, the ways people make meth evolved. That history is the topic of a new podcast, called Home Cooked, produced by the Daily Yonder.
Mason Adams spoke with the show’s host and producer, Olivia Weeks.
No Son Of Mine West Virginia native Jonathan Corcoran's memoir No Son Of Mine is about coming out and coming to grips with loss.
Photo Credit: Sam KlugmanWest Virginia writer Jonathan Corcoran hid his sexuality growing up, but then in college, his mother discovered he was gay. She disowned him and then died during the pandemic before they could reconcile.
Corcoran, now a university professor in New York, wrote a book exploring grief and his relationship with his mother.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with the author.
Breaking Down Base Jumping At Bridge DayThe New River Gorge Bridge.
Photo Credit: E-WVIt’s a few months off, but thrill seekers are already planning for Bridge Day at the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
High school students Dylan Neil and Nella Fox of the Fayette Institute of Technology got curious about how to become a Bridge Day BASE Jumper and talked with BASE Jumper Marcus Ellison.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Noam Pikelny, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Sierra Ferrell and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Mallory Noe-Payne.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we hear from residents living near the now operational Mountain Valley Pipeline.
We also have the latest on the systemic issues that failed to prevent the death of a 14-year-old girl, and we hear from the man who will oversee the distribution of millions in opioid funds across the state.
We also get an update from a politician recovering after an animal attack, and the sounds of some of this week’s celebrations.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Wednesday was the federal holiday Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Briana Heaney talked to West Virginians as they hit the streets to celebrate the nation’s, and the state’s, newest holiday.
Also, in this show, Cecelia Mason spent 23 years as a reporter for West Virginia Public Radio, even helping establish the Eastern Panhandle Bureau in Shepherdstown. She moved onto a role with Shepherd University’s Office of Communications in 2014 but said her time in journalism shaped the course of her career and her life.
Mason retired from Shepherd earlier this month. But she returned to campus and sat down with our current Eastern Panhandle Reporter Jack Walker to reflect on her time in public radio and how the industry has changed since she left.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, people have always used music to do everything from soothe children to sleep to revving up the crowd for the big game, but it can do so much more. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Liz Pahl learned about the healing power of old-time music when she visited a weekly jam session at the home of a couple in Athens, Ohio.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from the Drive-By Truckers. We listen to their performance of “The Ballad of Cecil McCobb,” which appears on the group’s 14th studio album Welcome to Club XIII, which was released in 2022.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the foundation responsible for divvying up West Virginia's opioid settlement money chose its executive director in March. After taking on the position full-time at the beginning of May, Executive Director Jonathan Board sat down with Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice to discuss his qualifications for the job and plans for the future.
Also, in this show, Kyneddi Miller was found dead in her home in April. A police report said the 14-year-old girl was found in a near skeletal state. Her grandparents and mother have been charged with abuse and neglect. There are conflicting reports about the actions of state agencies involved in the case. Now, officials are pointing fingers at what organizations and policies created the crack that Miller fell through. Briana Heaney has the story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week,hip hop started in New York and took root in places like West Virginia. We explore some of the history of the music and where it is today.
Also, food deserts are places where it’s hard to find nutritious food, but they’re found in more than just rural counties in Appalachia. Food deserts are also in disenfranchised neighborhoods, like in East Knoxville.
And, the Reverend George Mills Dickerson of Tazewell, Virginia, was born in the years after slavery ended. During Juneteenth, he’s remembered especially through his poetry.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- A Hip Hop History In W.Va.
- Food Apartheid In Appalachia
- Dirt Songs Sing Of Remembrance
- Celebrating A Poet During Juneteenth
A Hip Hop History In W.Va.Eric Jordan has led a West Virginia hip hop movement.
Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public BroadcastingLast year, communities celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip hop. Over the past half century, hip hop has gone from a marginalized art form to a mainstream powerhouse. It developed in major metropolitan centers like New York, Los Angeles and the dirty South, but took root in Appalachia, too.
Folkways Reporter Vanessa Peña reports on hip hop in West Virginia.
Food Apartheid In AppalachiaFemeika Elliott uses food to heal her neighborhood.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAcross the country, poor and largely Black neighborhoods were bulldozed and replaced with new highways and civic centers in the 20th century. That concept is known as urban renewal — and it tore communities apart. Now, one woman in Knoxville, Tennessee, is using food to try to heal generations of damage in a city neighborhood.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch has more.
Dirt Songs Sing Of RemembranceOhio Poet Laureate Kari Gunter-Seymour's latest book is Dirt Songs.
Courtesy PhotoOhio poet laureateKari Gunter-Seymour often writes about disenfranchisement, racism, poverty and addiction. In her new collection of poems, Dirt Songs, she recalls her small town upbringing and remembers the original owners of the land she now lives on.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Gunter-Seymour about her new book and what she sees as good in Appalachia.
Celebrating A Poet During JuneteenthJeanette Wilson holds a portrait of her grandfather, Rev. George Mills Dickerson, standing to the right of his son George Murray Dickerson.
Photo Credit: Connie Kitts/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPoetry has been an enduring tradition in Jeanette Wilson’s family. They’ve recited the poems of Wilson’s grandfather and her uncle George for nearly 100 years. Now, these poems about African American life in southwestern Virginia are read during the Juneteenth celebration in Tazewell, Virginia — where they reach a wider audience and connect the past to the present.
Folkways Reporter Connie Kitts brought us the story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Ed Snodderly, Frank Hutchinson, Hazel Dickens, Johnny Statts and Dinosaur Burps.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editors Nicole Musgrave and Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Folkways reporter Vanessa Peña explores the history of hip hop in West Virginia and beyond. Plus, Mountain Stage provides our the Song of the Week: “So Much Love” by Southern Avenue.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, pharmaceutical products are winding up in West Virginia waterways, contaminating local rivers and wildlife. Chris Schulz spoke with two researchers about the issue and its environmental implications.
Plus, with the Mountain Valley Pipeline approved to begin operations, Curtis Tate spoke with residents who live near the pipeline about some ongoing health and safety concerns.
Also in this show, we share part of an episode of Us & Them that won a Best Podcast award from Virginias AP Broadcasters. Host Trey Kay dives into the state's food support resources connected to a federal program called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Forty-two million Americans, or about 12 percent of the the population, need help feeding their families.
That help often comes from a federal program called SNAP — which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly called food stamps. The Mountain State is one of the top recipients of SNAP benefits. Nearly 45 percent of recipients are older adults or families with someone who’s disabled, while nearly 60 percent are families with children.
The nation’s food support program began six decades ago, as a pilot program in McDowell County. Since then, it has reduced poverty and hunger across the nation.
In an award-winning encore episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with three people — a retiree, a mom and a lawmaker who all say that nutritional support has made a difference in their lives.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
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Reenie Kittle, 75, from Harding, W.Va., is a widow and retired with a physical disability. She does what she can to get by on a meager fixed income.
“How do I live on a fixed income? Very scarcely,” Kittle told Us & Them host Trey Kay as they sat in the living room of her converted double-wide home. “So I have to buy pellets for my wood stoves in the winter months. I have to pay the water bill … all my bills. I don't go out very much ‘cause I can't afford the gas. With my income and my bills of $1,300 a month, I am lucky if I have $200, maybe $250 left over to try to find food. My neighbor sometimes will bring me supper, and that's been a blessing to me. They try to help me food-wise as much as they can. For SNAP, I qualify for $23 a month. It is nothing.They just tell me that they've reviewed my case and that's as much as they can do. They have no extra money to give and that's it.”
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingEach month, Reenie Kittle heads to the grocery store in Elkins, W.Va. with $23 from the federal government’s SNAP program. SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — it used to be called “Food Stamps.”
Reenie beelines past the produce section … beyond the tower of packaged strawberries, the cold case full of carrots and greens. She’s not here to buy what she wants to eat. She’s here to stretch the money she is allotted to the very last penny.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRoughly 18 percent of West Virginia residents use SNAP benefits. Nationally, that number is more like 12 percent, which means that 42 million people across America need help getting enough to eat.
Seth DiStefano, with the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, lobbies to support programs like SNAP — which became a centerpiece of the social reform programs in President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” initiative. DiStefano says SNAP has its roots in West Virginia. This goes back to when President John F. Kennedy started the original “Food Stamp” program in McDowell County.
“It truly is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the history of the United States,” DiStefano says.
Photo Credit: West Virginia Center on Budget & PolicyMary Kathryn Molitor, 34, lives in St. Albans, W.Va. with her three daughters and an old dog named Brenda. Mary Kathryn works full-time at a local credit union, making about $13 an hour. When the Us & Them team first spoke with her, she wasn't sure she wanted to talk on the record about her relationship with SNAP saying it was her "dirty little secret."
“I don't tell people that I use SNAP benefits because I know what that person looks like and that person doesn't look like me,” Molitor explains while pulling one of her wriggling twin daughters up onto her hip. “That person doesn't have a college education. That person doesn't have a full-time job. That person isn't who I am. I find it embarrassing. I don't want to admit that I need help.”
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingTo supplement her family's food supply, Mary Kathryn Molitor often goes to the Capital Market in Charleston and checks to see if they have wilted vegetable plants that are about to be discarded. She takes them home to plant in her garden.
“Those are pumpkins right there. Volunteers. All those tomatoes? Volunteers. Sunflowers? Volunteers,” Molitor says while showing Us & Them host Trey Kay the plants around her home. “After Halloween — I threw my pumpkins into a couple of different areas and they rotted, seeded and they are giants now! They grow on their own. They volunteer! If anybody needs a free pumpkin this year, just come to my house!”
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingDel. Jonathan Pinson represents the 17th District of West Virginia's House of Delegates, on the western border of the state including parts of Mason and Jackson counties. Pinson, a Republican and a Baptist pastor was first elected in 2020.
“I cannot say that I have issues with [SNAP] in general,” Pinson told Us & Them host Trey Kay when they met in Point Pleasant, W.Va. “One of the reasons that I can't say that I'm opposed to that is because I think back prior to my adoption … at 15 years old … I go back to Saturday mornings sitting in a line at the armory in Florida, picking up corn flakes and powdered milk and five pound jugs of peanut butter. And I can tell you that there were many, many meals that I wouldn't have had, had my parents not been on food stamps — and at the time, ‘commodities,’ that's what it was called. So I can't say that I'm opposed to the government helping when help is warranted.”
Photo Credit: West Virginia Legislature
On this West Virginia Morning, two companies are working side by side to build a new titanium plant in Jackson County, powered by solar. Curtis Tate went to take a look.
Also, in this show, even in ideal circumstances, the removal of a child from their home by Child Protective Services (CPS) is always traumatic. Emily Rice spoke with community advocates about this process and what resources children need to adapt.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, President of the American Library Association, Emily Dubinsky, is on a three-week road trip from New York to the annual Conference in San Diego. Along the way, she will stop at different rural libraries to talk to them about the work they are doing and what they need to continue that work.
Dubinsky took a pit stop in Charleston, to sit down and talk with Briana Heaney about what she has been hearing from rural libraries during this road trip.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, with the summer season in full swing, grills, fireworks and campfires are making a comeback into our lives. Chris Schulz sat down with Mark Lambert, director of the West Virginia University (WVU) Fire Service Extension about some fire safety basics.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, we visit with West Virginia trappers to learn about the fur trade in the 21st century.
We also meet a county fair champion who keeps racking up the blue ribbons and has released a cookbook of some of her favorites.
And we hear an update on the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Construction has begun again, but some people wonder if it’s even needed.
These stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The West Virginia Fur Trade In The 21st Century
- Blue Ribbon-Winning Fair Food
- Cruising With Vintage Vehicles
- The Mountain Valley Pipeline Saga Continues
- Extended Family Pitching In To Care For Dementia Patients
The West Virginia Fur Trade In The 21st CenturyBefore coal or timber, the fur trade was one of Appalachia’s first industries.
Fur trapping flourished for centuries, made fortunes and led to wars and was still lucrative into the last few generations.
Now, most West Virginia fur trappers struggle to earn a living, but some have adapted or found new careers using their particular skills. Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin brought us the story.
Blue Ribbon-Winning Fair FoodThere’s nothing quite like the county fair, where you can pet a goat or get motion sick on the tilt-a-whirl.
A staple of county and state fairs are the annual craft competitions, where the hopeful vie for the coveted blue ribbon.
Few people have been as successful as Russell County, Virginia resident Linda Skeens, who has won hundreds of ribbons, become a social media sensation and released a cookbook featuring some of her winning recipes.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with her about winning contests and collecting recipes.
Cruising With Vintage Vehicles For over 50 years, in Roanoke, Virginia, on any given Friday night, you can see modified cars and trucks with neon lights, spinning rims and streamlined spoilers strutting from north to south and back again. And often — you’ll see old-timey antique cars out there among them.
Host Mason Adams reported this story in 2020, about a family of mechanics who have spent years developing the skills to get those vintage cars just right.
The Mountain Valley Pipeline Saga ContinuesWe’ve reported on the Mountain Valley Pipeline for years. Completion of the pipeline has been held up because a federal court keeps throwing out its permits. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled to allow work to resume again. But some energy analysts question whether the pipeline is even needed.
WVPB's Curtis Tate spoke with Suzanne Mattei of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
Extended Family Pitching In To Care For Dementia PatientsSpouses or adult children typically care for people with dementia, but more and more extended family members are taking on that role. CareEx is a project at the Center for Gerontology at Virginia Tech that studies extended family caregivers in central Appalachia.
WVPB’s Eric Douglas spoke with project coordinator Brandy McCann about their work.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Sturgill Simpson, Ron Mullennex, Mary Hott and Noam Pikelny.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we’ll look at Black LGBTQ Pride in West Virginia. We’ll also hear how a federal agency regulates the nation’s pipelines and we’ll talk to a national park ranger about summer activities at the New River Gorge.
We’ll also discuss new rules to prevent black lung disease, a new role for the state’s solicitor general and how the state’s opioid settlement money will be spent.
Curtis Tate is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Pride Month is underway, and the West Virginia Black Pride Foundation is carving out a space specifically for Black LGBTQ community members. Jack Walker spoke with founder and Executive Director Kasha Snyder-McDonald to discuss her organization’s vision for a better West Virginia for Black LGBTQ residents.
Also, in this show, 14-year-old Kyneddi Miller was found dead in her Boone County home in April. A police report said she was found in a near skeletal state, her grandparents and mother have been charged with abuse and neglect. Recently, there have been conflicting reports about the actions of state agencies involved in the case and calls for accountability. Briana Heaney has an update on the story.
And, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Stephane Wrembel. We listen to her performance of "Bistro Fada.” He’s joined by Josh Kaye, Ari Folman-Cohen and Nick Anderson. This Django-influenced tune is heard on his fifth album Origins, which became the theme song for Woody Allen’s 2011 Oscar-winning film, Midnight in Paris.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Maria Young.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, reporter Chris Schulz spoke with a master gardener from Monongalia County about difficulties with his crops — and two plant scientists who say it's likely the result of herbicide contamination.
Also in this show, Pittsburgh-based public radio program The Allegheny Front dives into challenges with oil well wastewater being dumped onto local roads.
Plus, Briana Heaney reports that a new study found calls to poison control centers now more often lead to hospitalizations and deaths.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, is meant to help students access funds to pursue higher education. But as Chris Schulz reports, recent changes to the federal form have left students and schools scrambling for answers.
Also, in this show, a new federal silica dust rule is about to take effect. Monday, a panel of Black Lung experts expressed hope for the future of young miners — if they’re educated about their rights. Emily Rice has more.
A U.S. Senate committee approved West Virginia’s solicitor general Tuesday to serve as a federal energy regulator. Curtis Tate has the story.
And, new funding for Preston County aims to improve and expand local water access. Jack Walker reports.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, summer has nearly arrived here in West Virginia. The mountains have filled in and rounded out with lush green trees. The air is getting warmer and the days are longer. Briana Heaney sat down with National Park Ranger Eve West to talk about ways to enjoy the nation’s newest National Park at the New River Gorge.
Also, in this show, we have a special report from graduate students Meaghan Downey and Anastasia Mason of Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism based in Washington, DC. Voter turnout in West Virginia, and across the country, is low. It’s even worse among young voters who say they are disconnected and not interested.
Just before the May 14 Primary Election, Downey and Mason came to West Virginia to report on the state’s low voter turnout and the impact it has on young voters. They spoke with students at West Virginia University and BridgeValley Community and Technical College.
This story is part of a larger project they are working on about how young peoples’ disillusionment with political institutions is a threat to democracy.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, we meet a West Virginia artist who designs stickers, t-shirts, patches and pins. She draws on classic Appalachian phrases her family has used for years. They’re not all radio-friendly.
Also, people who live near Indian Creek in southern West Virginia say something is wrong with the water. Tests show contamination from a nearby mine. Now people and animals are getting sick.
And, lots of schools are seeing teacher shortages. But what happens when the band director quits?
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Hippie’s Daughter Makes Stickers
- Jayne Anne Phillips Talks Night Watch
- Trouble At Indian Creek
- Leader Of The Band
The Hippie’s Daughter Makes StickersElizabeth Elswick has turned a love of design and Appalachian pop culture into a popular line of clothes and stickers.
Photo Credit: Maddie Miller/West Virginia Public BroadcastingStickers have been a regular part of American pop culture for generations. Over the last several years, they’d become more local.
Folkways Reporter Maddy Miller visited with a West Virginia favorite, the Hippie’s Daughter, to talk about some of her best designs and most memorable phrases.
Jayne Anne Phillips Talks Night WatchWest Virginia author Jayne Anne Phillips is this year's winner of the Pulitzer Prize for literature.
Courtesy PhotoThis year’s Pulitzer Prize for literature went to West Virginia writer Jayne Anne Phillips, for her novel Night Watch.
Set years after the end of the American Civil War, the book takes readers to the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, a mental hospital in the town of Weston, West Virginia.
Last fall, Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Phillips about Night Watch and growing up near the asylum.
Trouble At Indian CreekWest Virginia Department of Environmental Protection workers collect water samples from Indian Creek, which dirty mine water flows into in Wyoming County.
Photo Credit: Erin BeckResidents of Wyoming County, West Virginia, say there’s something wrong with the water in a local creek. Residents says it’s making them sick and killing fish.
Reporter Erin Beck has been following the story. Mason Adams spoke with Beck about what she’s learned.
Leader Of The BandJust before the start of the fall semester the band director for Midland Trail High School left for another job. With no one else to take over, a high school senior stepped up.
Kelsie Carte, a student at the Fayette Institute of Technology reported.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sierra Ferrell, Amethyst Kiah, John Blissard, John Inghram, Sean Watkins and Little Sparrow.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our Executive Producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our Audio Mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, longtime Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin has officially changed political affiliations, registering as an independent on Friday.
We’ll look into his decision, plus the sudden departure of the watchdog for West Virginia’s foster care system and a lawsuit filed against a state hospital over allegations of physical abuse.
We’ll also discuss efforts to preserve historic Black churches from Harpers Ferry to Charleston, and the rise of solar energy across the Mountain State.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker and Liz McCormick.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Elizabeth Elswick couldn't find a lot of merchandise to represent her home state of West Virginia while she was growing up. But today, she represents Appalachian culture and sayings through her sticker shop. Folkways Reporter Maddie Miller brings us this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets. We listen to their 2019 performance of “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding" - a song from their EP, Love Starvation/Trombone.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker and Liz McCormick.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Tersea Wills is our host. Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, more than 25 million children across the United States ride the school bus each day, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. But these vehicles emit greenhouse gases that can harm both the environment and public health. To address this, federal officials are encouraging schools to switch to electric buses. As Jack Walker reports, new funds aim to help four West Virginia school districts do just that.
Also, in this show, the appointed watchdog of the West Virginia Foster Care System has resigned, effective June 6. Emily Rice has more.
And, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story features an interview on the Mountain Valley Pipeline with our very own Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, solar is expanding in West Virginia, thanks to shifts in federal and state policies. Curtis Tate spoke recently with Dan Conant, founder and CEO of Solar Holler, about solar growth in the Mountain State.
Also, in this show, a patient at Sharpe Hospital has filed a lawsuit against the facility, its CEO and state health officials. Emily Rice has more.
And, freshwater mussels are like nature’s Brita filters — treating up to 300 gallons of water each month. But their populations are in jeopardy in places like the Ohio River because of poor water quality, and man-made dams. Six years ago, the City of Philadelphia and partners began propagating mussels in a lab to bring them back to the Delaware River Estuary.
WHYY’s Zoe Read reports the hatchery is producing more mussels, thanks to new scientific discoveries.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, we dive into the preservation of historic Black churches across the Mountain State and the nation.
Plus, in the latest installment of our series “Now What? A Series on Parenting,” we’ll hear about efforts to train new child care professionals.
West Virginia is facing a shortage of child care providers, but reporter Chris Schulz spoke with Kerri Carte, assistant director for West Virginia University’s Extension's Family and Community Development, about an apprenticeship program looking to change that.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, the woman behind the popular TikTok account “Appalachian Forager” makes jam from wild pawpaws … and jewelry from coyote teeth.
We also talk with the hosts of a new podcast that looks at coal dust exposure beyond the mines, affecting people far downstream from Appalachia.
And, in some places, slavery continued in different forms well after the end of the Civil War. A new marker in Western North Carolina acknowledges that history and commemorates a disaster that killed 19 Black prisoners.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Appalachian Forager Found In TikTok
- Let’s Talking About Taxidermy
- Downstream Dangers Of Coal Dust
- Remembering The Continuation Of Slavery
- The Last Of The Ramps
Appalachian Forager Found In TikTokThe Appalachian Forager brings native know-how to TikTok with a side of silly.
Photo Credit: Amanda Page/West Virginia Public BroadcastingGathering wild foods has long been a way to put food on the table in the Appalachian mountains. In recent years, the practice has gone digital, with online communities devoted to foraging in the wild, springing up like wild mushrooms after a spring rain.
One woman in eastern Kentucky is sharing what she knows (and some humor) with the TikTok generation through an account called “Appalachian Forager.”
Folkways Reporter Amanda Page has the story.
Let’s Talking About TaxidermyTaxidermist Amy Ritchie is sharing the love of her craft with other enthusiasts.
Photo Credit: Margaret McLeod Leef/West Virginia Public BroadcastingA lot of folks are fascinated by the results of taxidermy. The preservation and mounting of dead animals has been around since at least the middle ages.
In 2023, Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef visited a modern practitioner in Yadkin County, North Carolina.
Downstream Dangers Of Coal DustThe Dominion terminal and coal storage facility in Newport News, Virginia, where residents in nearby neighborhoods have complained of blowing coal dust.
Photo Credit: Adrian WoodAppalachia plays an important part in the world economy. The region produces less coal than it used to — but it’s still a hot commodity for steel makers. That demand creates problems for people living near the terminals where coal is moved from train to ship, to then be carried overseas. Residents of Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, say airborne coal dust from export terminals is coating their cars and houses — and getting into their lungs.
A new podcast called Crosswinds links that fight on the coast to communities in West Virginia.
Host Mason Adams spoke with spoke with Crosswinds producer Adrian Wood, and Lethaniel Kirts, a pastor and activist in one of the affected communities.
Remembering The Continuation Of SlaveryNo known photographs remain of the convict labor crew that the Cowee 19 worked on, but historians say this crew working on the Western North Carolina Railroad in the late 1800s was similar.
Photo Credit: Hunter Library Special Collections, Western Carolina UniversityNorth Carolina is unveiling a roadside historical marker that officially acknowledges the 1882 Cowee Tunnel disaster. Nineteen prisoners were drowned when their boat capsized in a river west of Asheville.
The marker also acknowledges a form of de facto slavery, used for decades following the Civil War. We heard from Jay Price at WUNC.
The Last Of The RampsToward the end of the season, ramp leaves begin to shrivel and die off.
Photo Credit: Bill Lynch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRamp season is winding down in central Appalachia, but before the last ramp was picked, Producer Bill Lynch followed a friend out for a late harvest at her secret ramp patch.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Bob Thompson, Dinosaur Burps and Tim Bing.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editor Jennifer Goren.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, lawmakers returned to the capitol for interim committee meetings and a special session of the West Virginia Legislature. We’ll talk about some of the policy decisions lawmakers made.
Plus, we’ll look at updates on the Mountain Valley Pipeline, the latest news for a Charleston postal facility and a case of neglect that led to the death of a Boone County teenager. Finally, we’ll dive into a West Virginia bike race, and we'll learn how funding changes are affecting housing shelters across the Mountain State.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker and Liz McCormick.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about an incident at a state-run psychiatric facility, we meet a TikTok sensation who forages in Appalachia and we listen to our Mountain Stage Song of the Week.
The commission that oversees West Virginia’s state-run hospitals questioned state officials but received few answers following the January death of a man held at a state-run psychiatric facility. Emily Rice has more.
Also, in this show, gathering wild foods in Appalachia has been a way to put food on the table for decades, but one woman in eastern Kentucky is introducing foraging to the TikTok generation through an account called “Appalachian Forager.” She shares her knowledge, along with some humor, and her videos have gone viral. Folkways Reporter Amanda Page has the story.
And, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from three-time Grammy winner and Austin, Texas-based vocal powerhouse, Ruthie Foster. We listen to her performance of “Healing Time,” the upbeat title song from her ninth studio album of the same name.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker and Liz McCormick.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Memorial Day weekend brings the return of the Vandalia Gathering at the state capitol. Bill Lynch has more.
Also, in this show, nearly half the children in America under 18 have experienced serious trauma. Those early events can affect our physical and psychological health. In the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay learns how neglect, abuse and violence lead to poor health outcomes. Kay talks with a West Virginia woman and her granddaughter about the traumas they’ve survived.
Hear the rest of the episode on WVPB May 23 at 8 p.m., on Saturday, May 25 at 3 p.m. or on demand here on wvpublic.org.
And, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story explores planting native plants in our own backyards.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced last week it would postpone delivery network changes that would downsize the Charleston Processing and Distribution Center. But this news hasn’t remedied months-long tensions between local workers and USPS officials. As Jack Walker reports, union representatives are now filing grievance claims for some workers.
Also, in this show, throughout the year, Kentucky sees a transient workforce that calls the Commonwealth home. The seasonal migrant workers participate in a variety of jobs. Stu Johnson of WEKU looks at some of the picture in Fayette County.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Mountain Valley Pipeline failed a water pressure test in Virginia earlier this month and the Pipeline Safety Trust is urging federal regulators to take a close look at the failure.
Also, in this show, we hear about radioactive waste in the Marcellus Shale fields, one of the country's largest natural gas producing formations.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
For nearly a century, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has staged a formal dance. We visit the festival and learn about a manual that’s been passed down for generations.
Also, abortion is illegal in most cases in Tennessee. A photographer spent a year following one mother who was denied an abortion.
And we talk to Marshall University professor and poet Sarah Henning about her latest book, Burn.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Tradition Of The Grand March
- Indian Creek Water Worries Residents
- Stacy Kranitz And “A Year After A Denied Abortion”
- Memories Of Family And Loss With Burn Poet Sarah Henning
The Tradition Of The Grand MarchThe Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is the oldest festival in the state of Kentucky, and it happens Memorial Day weekend.
It’s a four-day celebration culminating in “The Grand March,” a traditional dance that has been passed down since the first festival in 1931.
Folkways Reporter Will Warren, a Pineville native, went to the festival over Memorial Day weekend last year and brought us the story.
Indian Creek Water Worries Residents One of the three places along the creek where water started sprouting out, and with it a white stringy slime.
Courtesy of David StoverResidents of Wyoming County, West Virginia, say their drinking water is making people sick. But it’s unclear exactly why — and who’s responsible for fixing the problem.
State regulators say water from a nearby mining complex is flowing into the creek, but who owns the mine and who is responsible for cleaning up the toxic water?
WVPB’s Briana Heaney reported.
Stacy Kranitz And “A Year After A Denied Abortion”Photographer Stacy Kranitz documented a family's difficult year, following a denied abortion.
Photo Credit: Stacy KranitzTennessee photographer Stacy Kranitz acknowledges the complicated history of people taking pictures of poor Appalachians, often focusing on the harsher, ugly elements that reinforce stereotypes. She actively wrestles with it in her work.
Host Mason Adams spoke with Kranitz about her work documenting the lives of a young family last year called “The Year After a Denied Abortion.”
Memories Of Family And Loss With Burn Poet Sarah HenningSara Henning's latest book of poetry is Burn.
Courtesy PhotoIn her new book Burn, Marshall University professor and poet Sara Henning draws on her complicated family history and rough upbringing to explore young love, loss and the weight of grief.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with her.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sierra Ferrell, Ed Snodderly, Ron Mullenex and Gerry Milnes, Jeff Ellis, Eric Vincent Huey and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our Executive Producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our Audio Mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, West Virginians went to the polls for primaries to decide some national and local issues. We’ll talk about the results of some of Tuesday’s elections and hear from some voters.
We’ll dive into the soon-to-be legal raw milk trade. West Virginians will be able to purchase raw milk, as long as it is properly labeled. But that might come with a risk.
We’ll also learn about a demonstration at West Virginia University (WVU) calling for the university to disclose investments in and ultimately divest from Israel over the war in Gaza, as well as child nutrition.
Finally, we hear about Gov. Jim Justice's call for a much-anticipated special session of the state legislature this coming Sunday.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival in Pineville, Kentucky has staged a formal dance for nearly a century that has remained the same for generations. Folkways Reporter Will Warren takes us for a visit.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Ohio University alum and Nashville singer-songwriter Kim Richey. We listen to her performance of “A Place Called Home,” which was originally released on her 2002 album Rise.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker and Liz McCormick.
Eric Douglas is our news director and produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the stage is now set for a two man, two party political race for governor of West Virginia. Randy Yohe gives us an initial look at what we can expect from the Republican and the Democratic nominees.
Also, in this show, African Americans played a pivotal role in the development of Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky. In honor of those contributions, the park recently offered special programs dedicated to telling the stories of the enslaved African Americans that helped introduce the largest cave system in the world to visitors.
KPRN’s Alana Watson went on one of those tours and learned more about the park’s history of Black guides — a tour that included a member of a celebrated legacy.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the results from Tuesday’s primary election came in mostly as expected. Government Reporter Randy Yohe has covered the intense campaigning leading up to the primary and he joins us live in the studio with results and reactions.
Also, in this show, we have the latest installment of our series "Now What? A Series on Parenting." Parents are often left with many questions about how to raise a child. Two of the areas that are most concerning and confusing are feeding and nutrition. Government programs can offer many kinds of support, as Chris Schulz learned when he sat down to speak with WIC Outreach Liaison Sarah Moore.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Tuesday’s primary election may be the most important the state has seen in a while. Voters have endured a gubernatorial media campaign blitz with unprecedented mudslinging – coupled with a dominant charge to see a new but familiar face representing West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. Randy Yohe has our story.
Also, in this show, starting in early June, West Virginians will be able to purchase raw milk, as long as it is properly labeled. As Emily Rice reports, that may come with a risk.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a pipeline safety watchdog said federal regulators “should be on notice” about a pressure test failure on the Mountain Valley Pipeline earlier this month.
Plus, students at West Virginia University’s Morgantown campus demonstrated in support of Palestine for the second time in as many weeks. Reporter Chris Schulz covered the protest from downtown Morgantown.
With the May 14 primary election fast approaching, nonprofit newsroom Mountain State Spotlight has created a statewide voter's guide. West Virginia Public Broadcasting's News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Editor-in-Chief Ken Ward about the guide and how to access it.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Teresa Wills is our host. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, rock climbers with disabilities have found a home in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge, which offers some pumpy crags.
Climbers have also been working to make West Virginia's New River Gorge more inclusive.
And a master craftsman, who makes one of a kind whitewater paddles remembers some advice.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Adaptive And Inclusive Climbing
- Removing Racist Language From Rock Climbing
- Crafting A Classic Paddle
Adaptive And Inclusive ClimbingThe mountains of Appalachia are home to some killer rock climbing, but they’re also accessible for some groups who’ve felt excluded in the past.
Adaptive Sports Reporter Emily Chen-Newton covers athletes with disabilities. She brings us this story, exploring why climbing festivals are making a home in Appalachia.
Removing Racist Language From Rock ClimbingIn West Virginia, one of the most popular climbing destinations is the New River Gorge. Advanced rock climbers continue to pioneer new climbing routes there. The first people to climb these new routes are called “first ascensionists.” And they get the privilege of naming the routes. But what happens when dozens of those route names are plainly and clearly offensive?
In 2020 and 2021, Zack Harold followed the story of a climber at the New River Gorge who wanted to make the sport he loved more inclusive for his son.
Crafting A Classic PaddleJon Rugh with his wooden paddle at the New River near Blacksburg, VA.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAppalachia has several huge rivers — the New River, the Youghigheny, the Pigeon — so, it’s no surprise whitewater paddling is popular across the region, but it wasn’t all that long ago that modern paddlers first started exploring these rivers, designing their own gear and even building their own paddles. Some of those DIY paddle makers became master crafters.
Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett followed one.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sturgeon Creek, Anthony Vega, Oakfield, the Delorian, Biba Dupont, Marissa Anderson, Tyler Childers, Jerry Douglas and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, the League of Women Voters of West Virginia has released their 2024 Legislative Scorecard. It compiles the votes from all delegates and state senators on 26 bills that became law to give an idea where they stand on issues.
Judy Ball, chair of the League’s Legislative Action Workgroup, spoke with Government Reporter Randy Yohe on the scorecard results.
Also, in this show, many communities see people turning away from homeless shelters to temporary encampments. Nonprofit agencies and government programs struggle to support a vulnerable population with complicated needs.
At a recent AP award’s event, the Virginias AP Broadcasters acknowledged an Us & Them episode focused on homelessness with a second place for Best Podcast. In that episode, host Trey Kay talks with Barbara DiPietro, the director of policy for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. We listen to an excerpt.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, while Republican candidates dominate the media leading up to next week's primary election, there are also Democrats up and down the ballot running for state offices. Their campaign strategy, however, takes a different path.
Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party, spoke with Randy Yohe on the efforts to rebuild the party and restore Democrats to state offices.
Also, in this show, Harpers Ferry is a hot spot for Black history in West Virginia. The town was home to a major abolitionist uprising, a Black civil rights conference and the historically Black Storer College.
But preserving the city’s historic sites requires upkeep. When the town’s residents saw a historic Black Baptist church falling into disrepair, the idea for a new preservation project was born.
Now, the project has received a $100,000 rehabilitation grant. Jack Walker spoke with Lynn Pechuekonis, incoming chair of the Harpers Ferry-Bolivar Historic Town Foundation, about what’s in store for First Zion Baptist Church.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a West Virginia circuit court removed two members of the Jefferson County Commission from office. But as Jack Walker reports, a last-minute party change has cast confusion over which party will name her successor.
Also, the construction of a pipeline in western Pennsylvania and a rupture in the Mountain Valley Pipeline has left environmentalists asking questions.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as chief legal officer for West Virginia’s citizens, state office holders, agencies and boards, the attorney general’s (AG) responsibilities cover the litigation gamut. The four candidates in the upcoming primary races for AG have diverse views on how those responsibilities should be handled – and prioritized. Randy Yohe has our second story on this race.
Also, in this show, ramp season in West Virginia may be winding down, but before the last ramp has been picked, Bill Lynch went out to see what was left.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, a chef has created a hidden culinary hot spot in Asheville, North Carolina that’s attracting national attention for its eclectic menu and Filipino hospitality.
Also, every thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail begins with a first step. Famed hiker Jennifer Pharr Davis shares hers.
And the holy month of Ramadan ends with a feast. But war and famine in Gaza muted some of this year’s celebrations.
We'll have these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Filipino Hospitality With A North Carolina Flair
- Tackling The Appalachian Trail With Jennifer Pharr Davis
- Ramadan In The Mountains
Filipino Hospitality With A North Carolina FlairChef Silver Iocovozzi brings elevated fare and Filipino hospitality to Neng Jr.'s in Asheville.
Photo Credit: Will CrooksAsheville, North Carolina has an eclectic dining scene and one of its “hidden” gems is Neng Jr.’s. It serves elevated Filipino cuisine in a little restaurant that’s tucked away in an alley on Asheville’s artsy West Side.
Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef visited and brings us this story.
Tackling The Appalachian Trail With Jennifer Pharr DavisJennifer Pharr Davis shares the story of her first steps into the world of trail hiking.
Photo Credit: Keith WrightFew people know the Appalachian Trail (AT) better than Jennifer Pharr Davis — a North Carolina native who’s thru-hiked the AT three times.
In 2008, on her second thru-hike, she set the record for the fastest Appalachian Trail hike by a woman. Three years later, she thru-hiked it again — and set the record for the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail by anyone up to that point.
Last year, Mason Adams spoke to her about some of her hikes — and how they shaped her identity as an Appalachian.
Ramadan In The MountainsMen serve themselves their iftar meal at the Islamic Center of Morgantown, March 24, 2024. One of the sponsors of the night's iftar, Mohamed Hefeida, can be seen wearing a mask.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThis year, April 9, marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic faith. During Ramadan, observant Muslims fast from sunup to sundown. Their fast is traditionally broken with a feast called an iftar. In Morgantown, West Virginia, the meal was overshadowed this year by the war in Gaza.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz reports.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Hotdog, Sean Watkins, John Blissard, Jeff Ellis, Brew Davis and Dinosaur Burps.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our Executive Producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways Editor Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for the state’s educational system. We’ll also learn more about a group of organizations asking the state Supreme Court to side with Cabell County and Huntington in their lawsuit against opioid distributors. And we’ll hear about a South Charleston landfill listed as a Superfund site.
We’ll also talk about new investments in energy communities spurred by tax credits and federal programs. We’ll dive into the attorney general’s role in the state and what each candidate brings to the upcoming election. And we’ll learn about a group that works to give prisoners access to books.
Emily Rice is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Asheville, North Carolina is home to an eclectic dining scene with hidden gems like Neng Jr.’s, which serves up elevated Filipino cuisine. Tucked away in an alley, it’s a slice of home no matter where you’re from. Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef has more.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Los Angeles-area musician Joachim Cooder. Cooder plays an electric mbira and sings accompanied by Gabe Noel on bass and Sam Gendel on saxophone. We listen to their performance of “Fuchsia Machu Picchu.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice produced this episode. Teresa Wills is our host.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, being a parent is a 24-hour role, and a lifetime commitment that has historically fallen to women. As men have started to take on more domestic work, what it means to be a father has started to shift.
Chris Schulz looks at these changes in our latest installment of “Now What? A Series on Parenting.”
Also, in this show, across the country, people who are incarcerated have reduced access to libraries, books and educational resources, according to the Appalachian Prison Book Project. For the past 20 years, the West Virginia-based nonprofit has worked to change that. They say that accessing books is a fundamental human right.
Jack Walker reports on the group’s history, and what it takes to get a book into an Appalachian prison.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, according to state code, the attorney general’s job is to enforce West Virginia’s laws as they relate to – listed in order – consumer protection, unfair trade practices, civil rights and other important areas. As Randy Yohe shows us, the four primary candidates running for attorney general, two Republicans and two Democrats, have diverse views on the overall mission of the office.
Also, in this show, Marshall University professor Sara Henning draws on personal history, taking some of the rough edges and smoothing them into art. Her latest book of poetry, Burn, was released earlier this month. Bill Lynch spoke with Henning about some of her background and what drew her to poetry.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia is seeing a boom in low and no-carbon manufacturing, thanks to tax credits and other federal programs designed to spur investment in energy communities. Curtis Tate spoke recently with Brian Anderson, a senior adviser on energy communities at the U.S. Department of Energy. They spoke at the University of Charleston.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the Jewish holiday of Passover is coming to an end. It is a time for celebration and reflection. This year, it has been a bit more difficult, according to Rabbi Victor Urecki from Charleston. He spoke with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the holiday and the struggle with the war in Gaza.
Also, in this show, student protests in support of Palestine have emerged on college campuses across the country in the past few weeks. As Chris Schulz reports, students at West Virginia University (WVU) joined their voices to the movement Sunday.
And we listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story is about a planned advanced plastics recycling plant along the Susquehanna River.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
In March, broadcast journalists from Virginia and West Virginia were recognized when the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters met to present awards for notable stories produced in 2023.
This week, we listen back to some of our award-winning stories.
In This Episode:
- How Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage Gets Made
- Make Way For The Mushroom Hunters
- Winter Wassailing In Asheville
- Season Of The Witch
How Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage Gets MadeAngelo’s Old World Sausage is available in stores in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.
Photo Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingZack Harold is the unofficial foodie for Folkways. Last summer, he took us to see how the sausage gets made with Angelo’s Old World Italian Sausage. The recipe originated in the Calabria region of Italy, but it’s made in West Virginia.
Make Way For The Mushroom HuntersThese chanterelles are about to be turned into a tasty treat. They were harvested the day before an unsuccessful mushroom hunt, and turned into a topper for vanilla ice cream.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingGathering foods like ramps, sassafras or blackberries from the forest has always been a part of Appalachian culture. In recent years, mushroom hunting has been having a moment.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch spent time with mushroom hunters in Virginia and West Virginia and brought us the story.
Winter Wassailing In AshevilleWassailers sing outside a home in Asheville, North Carolina. Traditionally, wassailers not only sang for their neighbors, but also sang in apple orchards to ensure a good harvest for the coming year.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Williams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingNot many folks are thinking about winter holiday traditions this time of year. But back before Christmas, Folkways Reporter Rebecca Williams explored the old English tradition of wassailing in Asheville, North Carolina. A group of friends there got into this old singing tradition as a way to connect to their roots. Williams reported.
Season Of The WitchH. Byron Ballard at home.
Photo Credit: Llewellyn WorldwideIn Appalachia, witchcraft goes way back. Wise women still practice herbology or trace the patterns of the moon. H. Byron Ballard is a practicing witch in Asheville, North Carolina. She’s also the author of several books, including Small Magics: Practical Secrets from an Appalachian Village Witch. Last fall, she spoke with producer Bill Lynch about her way of life – and quizzed Bill on cryptids.
We also want to congratulate WVPB reporters and Inside Appalachia contributors Emily Rice and Breana Heaney, news director Eric Douglas and Us & Them host Trey Kay. Each of them won awards from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting brought home 12 awards Saturday, March 23, 2024 from the Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards Luncheon at The Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Pictured (left to right) is Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch, Inside Appalachia Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch, Us & Them Host and Producer Trey Kay, Southern West Virginia Reporter Briana Heaney and WVPB News Director Eric Douglas.
Photo Credit: Eric Douglas/West Virginia Public Broadcasting------
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Christian Lopez, Dave and Tim Bing, John Inghram, Marissa Anderson, Frank George and Hank Williams Jr.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editors Chris Julin and Nicole Musgrave.
You can send us an email at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, Earth Day was Monday. We’ll hear from a hydrologist about the state’s rivers. We’ll learn more about why two leading candidates for governor are trading accusations in ads over transgender youth. And we’ll visit a community in southern West Virginia affected by contaminated water.
We’ll also talk about what’s next for opponents of new federal power plant rules. We’ll find out who Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has endorsed to be his successor in the Senate. And we’ll learn when a long-delayed controversial natural gas pipeline proposes to begin operating.
Curtis Tate is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, an experimental apple orchard in the state is helping to fight pollution, improve food scarcity and some hope even heal veterans. Briana Heaney has the story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from co-founder, artistic director and former host of Mountain Stage, Larry Groce. Groce is joined by the Mountain Stage House Band in this 1991 performance of “Turn! Turn! Turn!”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, health care services for nearly 30 percent of West Virginia’s population may be difficult to access if lawmakers don’t fully fund the Medicaid program in an expected special session. Emily Rice has more.
Also, in this show, America has a foster care crisis. More than 390,000 children are in foster care nationally. On the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks into the shortage of licensed foster homes. Last year, more than half of all states saw a drop in licensed foster homes, partly because new foster parents don’t stay in the system for long.
A wide range of agencies and nonprofit organizations offer help navigating what can be a complicated system. We listen to an excerpt from the new Us & Them episode called “Our Foster Care Crisis.” Listen to the rest of this episode Thursday, April 25 at 8 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting, an encore broadcast on Saturday, April 27 at 3 p.m. or you can listen on your own time here on wvpublic.org.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, drinking water in Wyoming County is making people sick. But it’s unclear who is responsible for the creek’s pollution, or when residents will have clean water.
Also, with West Virginia primary elections in about three weeks, government reporter Randy Yohe gauges voter concerns and readiness before they head to the polls.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
There’s a foster care crisis in America. Nationally, more than 390,000 children are in foster care. In West Virginia, that’s just over 6,000 children who need a safe place to call home. Last year, more than half of all states saw their number of licensed homes drop, some as high as 60 percent. That challenge comes because new foster parents don’t stay in the system for long.
On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears about the shortage of licensed foster homes. Foster care is most often needed because of parental substance use, mental health challenges, poverty and neglect.
While official foster care cases are tracked and overseen by state agencies and nonprofit organizations, there are many informal kinds of so-called kinship care that are not official or included in state data. Some experts say the number of those kinship cases drives the stakes of the challenge much higher.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, CRC Foundation and Daywood Foundation. Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Dominic Snuffer was 5 when he and his four younger siblings went into the first of their foster care homes.
“I was in several foster care situations… I think three or four. It always seemed short and seemed as if we were getting bounced around. The hard part was probably just the beginning, how much I just always try to keep my siblings in check. I felt as if, if they behaved in a way, just like the other situations we might get taken away. It feels like yesterday that I got adopted. It went by fast. The things that make me smile was definitely adoption day. ‘Cause I knew, I finally found a family and I could try and live out the rest of my childhood.”
— Dominic Snuffer
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingLarry Cooper is executive vice president of Innovation at The Children's Home Network (CHN) of Tampa Bay, Florida. The agency works with kids in the foster care system and also provides services to prevent and support families from ever entering into the foster care system. Cooper has worked at CHN for more than 20 years, and he’s spent 8 years licensing foster homes while recruiting and training new foster parents. Cooper says some of the challenges bringing in new foster parents comes from an approval process that’s strict for a reason - but can take more than 12 months. A lot of people drop out along the way.
“You might fall off because of just life experiences that you may be going through. You might have a change in jobs. You might have an illness in your family. You might have a death in the family. And so I used to see for every 100 parents that I recruited, I might get only four to six families actually get a kid into their home for every hundred that would call me and be interested in becoming a foster parent.”
— Larry Cooper
Photo Credit: The Children's Home NetworkMarc and Brandi Wilson live in St. Clairsville, Ohio — just across the river from Wheeling, West Virginia. Brandi was a Child Protective Services worker in West Virginia for 20 years. One day back in 2014, her work at the Department of Health and Human Resources and her personal life collided when they became foster parents to a baby related to Marc.
“They both took the stand and said that they give up the rights to their child, I just started breaking down. [Brandi] was sitting beside me like this and she looked over at me. She said, ‘What's wrong?’ I said, ‘I can never imagine saying that about my own child.' She was kind of numb to it because she's worked in the field. It was hard to hear somebody say that.” — Marc Wilson
“It wasn't until he was sitting next to me in the courtroom that I realized not everybody hears relinquishment. Not everybody hears abuse, neglect. Not everybody hears that - as CPS workers [this is] just everyday language. So once I was with him and realized, OK, this isn't everybody's life. They may have drug issues, domestic violence, gangs coming in and out of their home, but these words are not everyday life for a lot of people.” — Brandi Wilson
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingRachel Kinder supervises The Kinship Navigator Program with Mission West Virginia, a nonprofit that’s been around since 1997. Kinder has been working with the foster care system for more than two decades, and has seen lots of trends. In 2019, there was a record high of 7,200 children in West Virginia’s foster care system. She says, while it's one thing to count the legal cases overseen by the Department of Human Services, there are many informal kinds of kinship care that are not official or included in state data.
“I can tell you the number of kids in formal care, so if there are 6,078 kids in foster care in West Virginia, right now 58 percent of those are in kinship relative placements. For kids in informal care, where grandma or an aunt or some type of relative or even what we call fictive* kin has stepped in, it's almost impossible to get numbers on that.”
— Rachel Kinder
*Fictive care refers to placements where a foster parent knows the child but is not related to them. This could be a teacher, family friend or a neighbor.
Photo Credit: Mission West VirginiaThere’s a clear need for foster families across the nation and in West Virginia. Nikki and Louisa Snuffer knew they would consider becoming foster parents when it came time for them to start a family. There’s a lot going on at their Sissonville home. The couple currently has 12 children, ranging from ages 10 months to 20 years old. Plus, they breed French Bulldogs.
“It actually was a pretty easy decision, because we were both on the same page almost always with helping people. I've known since probably my early high school years that I did want to do foster care. However, we really wanted no more than maybe three. And the way life and things happen, we got five at one time. I have two brothers who were put in foster care that I never knew and I still don't know. So we made a commitment that when we got into it, that we would never split up families.” — Louisa Snuffer
“If they call us for a sibling group, we're not going to say no to them because that was our number one belief. Like, ‘We need to do whatever we can to keep siblings together.’ When we were initially approved, we were approved for four children. So, DHHR told us we could have four children in the house, given the space. And that was kind of our cap. I said, ‘Maybe we'll do three tops,’ you know, that seems like a manageable number. And the very first call we got for placement was a sibling group of five. Of course we said yes. We had to do a few things to get approved for a fifth child. They moved in with us. Things went great.” — Nikki Snuffer
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingNikki Snuffer is holding her granddaughter. Many of the children the Snuffers have cared for, they know through Nikki’s job at Winfield High School. She’s an instructor for the Future Leaders Program, which is the National Guard’s high school curriculum that’s taught by veterans. In the program, students learn leadership and life skills, science, career prep and other subjects.
“[For] my kids that have gone to Winfield, I make them go through the [Future Leaders] program. Not because I'm teaching it, but because even if it wasn't me, I'd want them to get these skills. It's the kind of things that are forgotten these days.”
— Nikki Snuffer
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, domestic violence prevention advocates lined the State Capitol rotunda in February, seeking a budget increase. They said lawmakers were receptive to the idea. But no increase was passed before this year’s regular legislative session ended. Jack Walker checked in with domestic violence prevention advocates on funding needs as a potential special session approaches.
Also, in this show, Central Appalachia is home to 16 state and federal prisons. Now, federal officials are considering adding a medium security prison in Letcher County. But as the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting’s Jared Bennett tells — the project is also drawing opposition from activists from across the country.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as the primary race for governor enters the home stretch, some candidate’s negative attack ads running endlessly on broadcast and social media target a minority group – transgender children. But what is the fallout from these ads for this vulnerable group, and West Virginia children and families in general? Randy Yohe has the story.
Also, in this show, West Virginia has many rivers and creeks all over the state and they are all a bit different. Some are wide and slow moving, some narrow and turbulent. Some flow north and some flow south. On this Earth Day, Briana Heaney sat down with Nicolas Zegre from West Virginia University’s (WVU) Mountain Hydrology Center to talk about one of West Virginia's most abundant resources – water.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, a pair of former miners found love shoveling coal and shaped a life making wooden spoons. We learn about treenware.
Also, NASCAR Hall of Famer Leonard Wood shares stories, and a bit of advice.
And, group bike rides are a way to socialize and get outside. But here in Appalachia, newcomers are met with steep hills.
In This Episode:
- Two For Treenware
- Hanging Out With NASCAR Legend Leonard Wood
- Exploring Morgantown On The Back Of A Bicycle
- Sovereignty At The Museum Of The Cherokee People
Two For TreenwareStan and Sue Jennings turned a conversation about a passion into a business.
Photo Credit: Zack Gray/Allegheny TreenwareFor 30 years, Sue and Stan Jennings have run Allegheny Treenware, a West Virginia company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. But they started off as a couple of coal miners. And when they weren’t underground, they talked about what else they could be doing.
Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro visited the Jennings.
Hanging Out With NASCAR Legend Leonard WoodStraight from the source at The Wood Brothers Racing Museum.
Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingStock car racing’s roots run deep in Appalachia. Some of NASCAR's early stars came straight from the lawless moonshine runners of the 1920s and 1930s, but NASCAR’s oldest continuous racing team had nothing to do with moonshine.
Mason Adams visited with Leonard Wood at The Wood Brothers Racing Museum in Virginia for stories and wisdom.
Exploring Morgantown On The Back Of A BicycleThe ad-hoc Morgantown Social Rides aim to get cyclists onto the streets to explore the city in a new way.
Photo Credit: Chris Schulz/West Virginia Public BroadcastingWith spring, lots of folks are heading out to the woods or the rivers, but one group in Morgantown, West Virginia is taking to the streets – on their bicycles.
WVPB’s Chris Schulz grabbed his helmet and tagged along to explore his city in a new way.
Sovereignty At The Museum Of The Cherokee PeopleBPR's Lilly Knoepp (left) spoke with Museum of the Cherokee People Director of Education Dakota Brown and Director of Collections Evan Mathis at the Appalachian Studies Conference on Friday March 8, 2024 at Western Carolina University.
Photo Credit: BPRIn western North Carolina, a new exhibit called “Sovereignty” recently opened at the Museum of the Cherokee People. The exhibit focuses on the autonomy of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Director of Education Dakota Brown is co-curator of the exhibit.
BPR Senior Regional Reporter Lilly Knoepp spoke with Brown as part of a panel at the Appalachian Studies Association conference in March and sent us an excerpt.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Dirty River Boys, Charlie McCoy, John Blissard, Sierra Ferrell, and John Inghram.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from folkways editors Nicole Musgrave and Mallory Noe Payne.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, legislators started off the week back in Charleston for the first time since the end of the regular session for interim meetings. We learned more about the state’s finances, government auditing and a new approach to maintaining the state’s roads.
Meanwhile, we heard about the state’s rising natural gas production, the new challenges of digital devices for parents, and ahead of Earth Day, we took a look at a major composting operation.
We’ll dive into these topics, plus a national award for a local breakfast favorite and upgrades to regional rail-trails.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, Sue and Stan Jennings for 30 years have run Allegheny Treenware, a company that makes wooden kitchen utensils. But they started off as a couple of coal miners. Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro has more.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Sam Weber. Known for his distinctive style that blends elements of folk, rock and Americana, Weber performed a handful of new works during his second appearance on Mountain Stage. We listen to his performance of “Hey, Hey.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice and Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, uncertainty about the future amidst a changing climate has given rise in recent years to a phenomenon known as "climate anxiety." Ahead of Earth Day Monday, Chris Schulz spoke with Amy Parsons-White, sustainability manager for Marshall University, to discuss this mental health issue and potential solutions.
Also, in this show, lawmakers had the opportunity to ask questions of state health leaders about the state’s IDD Waiver program. Emily Rice has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, digital devices and social media command more and more of our attention these days. Balancing this and creating healthy boundaries for increasingly younger children is becoming a bigger part of being a parent. Chris Schulz takes a look at this issue in the latest installment of, “Now What? A Series On Parenting.”
Also, in this show, Monday is Earth Day, an annual reminder of the growing importance of environmental conservation and sustainability. Recycling is a major component of sustainability – and composting highlights recycling at the organic level. As Randy Yohe discovered, West Virginia’s first commercial composting facility is spinning its wheels.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, harm reduction advocates celebrated the first anniversary of the installation of a Narcan vending machine in Charleston on Monday.
Also, Curtis Tate speaks with Charlie Burd, president of the West Virginia Gas and Oil Association, about the state’s role in supplying the global market of natural gas after a record year of production.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, you don’t see caned chairs as much as you used to. Cane breaks down with age and there aren’t many people who know how to repair these old chairs. But in Wheeling, there’s a workshop called Seeing Hand, where skilled workers repair old chairs and so much more. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett brings us this story.
Also, in this show, when your power goes out, water bill comes in or your nearby fire hydrant looks ancient, there’s a state organization keeping tabs on all of that and more. Randy Yohe talks with Charlotte Lane, chair of the West Virginia Public Service Commission, on how this regulating entity balances public protection with keeping utilities viable.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Spring wildflowers are in bloom, and some of the most common species play an important role in herbal medicine. This week, we learn about some of the ways people use violets.
What’s your favorite style of egg roll? An acclaimed, out-of-the-way restaurant in Pounding Mill, Virginia bends culinary genres and uses an unexpected ingredient.
And, more and more school boards are pulling books from library shelves. We’ll speak with a reporter in a Virginia county where 57 titles were yanked.
In This Episode:
- Violet Tendencies
- Taking A Bite Out Of Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque
- A Book Ban In Rockingham, Virginia
Violet TendenciesViolets will grow almost anywhere. They are one of the first flowers to grow in Appalachia come spring.
Photo Credit: Brandon TesterEvery April, violets bloom across Appalachia, adding purple, white and yellow to the deepening green of the hills. But violets do a lot more than add natural flair. These flowers have long been a key ingredient in herbal remedies.
People use them to fight cancer and the common cold. And they make a pretty tasty snack.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us the story.
Taking A Bite Out Of Cuz’s Uptown BarbequeYvonne Thompson owns Cuz's Uptown Barbecue in Pounding Mill, Virginia. A place that mixes cultures, flavors and fun.
Photo Credit: Connie Bailey Kitts/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIn the South, people love to argue over which barbecue sauce is most authentic — vinegar, tomato or mustard. But Cuz’s Uptown Barbeque in Tazewell County, Virginia, is distinguished by something entirely different. For starters, its food is inspired by Asian cuisine and local mountain specialities.
You can find dishes on its menu like Morel mushrooms, cheesy egg rolls, and country ham caprese.
Back in 2022, Folkways Reporter Connie Bailey Kitts and her family stopped in at Cuz’s for supper.
A Book Ban In Rockingham, VirginiaMembers of the Rockingham County School Board, which recently voted to remove 57 books from school libraries.
Photo Credit: Ashlyn CampbellBook bans are nothing new. But we’re seeing a new spike in book removals across Appalachia, including in North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.
Sometimes, debates that lead to book bans happen in state legislatures. But they’re just as likely to play out on the local level, in public schools.
In January, the school board in Rockingham County, Virginia voted to remove 57 books from school libraries, prompting an outcry.
Ashlyn Campbell has been covering the story for the Daily News-Record. Mason Adams spoke with Cambell to learn more.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Sean Watkins, John Inghram, John Blissard, Amythyst Kiah, Dinosaur Burps, Doc Watson and Frank Hutchinson.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. We had help this week from Folkways editors Nicole Musgrave and Mallory Noe-Payne.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, West Virginia residents were united by Monday’s solar eclipse, spreading out across college campuses and community parks to observe the astronomical event.
Meanwhile, decision-making over last week’s storms has proven more divisive among state officials.
We’ll dive into these topics, plus changes to a pair of West Virginia sawmills, how Muslim residents celebrated the end of Ramadan, and the much-anticipated return of the American chestnut to Appalachia.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, violets bloom across Appalachia throughout spring, but the flowers are more than just some extra color in the yard. They’ve long been a key ingredient in herbal remedies. For Inside Appalachia, Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us Ed Snodderly, whose songs have been recorded by some of roots music’s most well-known names. We listen to his performance of “Gone with Gone and Long Time,” accompanied by the Mountain Stage Band and Lisa Pattison on fiddle and vocals.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
More than 4.5 million Americans cannot vote because of a felony conviction but only about a quarter are currently in prison.
On the newest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with people who support expanded voting rights for felons, and those who say people who’ve committed crimes should forfeit their rights until they serve their entire sentence, including any probation or parole.
Felon disenfranchisement laws differ significantly from state to state and even legal experts say it can be difficult for someone to know their rights. In a few states, a person can vote from prison, while in others, voting rights are restored upon release or completion of parole or probation. Despite recent trends to expand voting rights, some states are moving in the opposite direction. In Florida, voters passed an amendment to restore voting rights to most people with felonies, but lawmakers passed a new law requiring that people pay all of their court fees first. And in Virginia, only the governor can restore the right to vote for someone convicted of a felony.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Anthony Cole, 32, is from Huntington, West Virginia. He was released from prison in May 2023 after serving 12 and a half years for second-degree murder.
“I started life over, I'm living as a productive citizen. I work for the food bank. I'm trying to give back to the community at the same time, as well as feed myself. Like, I'm back into society, I should be able to be a part of society … That's what our politics and our whole system is off of. [It’s] supposed to be equality … But it feels even less than now because my voice is completely silenced in that matter.”
— Anthony Cole
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSara Carter is a legal fellow with the Brennan Center, a nonprofit dedicated to civil liberties and voting rights. She tracks nationwide trends and variations in voting laws for felons from state to state. She says in some states, felons can vote no matter what crimes they’ve been convicted of — even from prison. On the other end of the spectrum, in Virginia, for example, those convicted of a felony can only restore their voting rights with an appeal to the governor.
“Everyone should be able to have a say in who governs them, and everyone should be able to be represented, no matter how they choose to exercise that right when it comes to an election.”
— Sara Carter
Photo Credit: Brennan Center for JusticeNatalie Delia Deckard is an associate professor of criminology at the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada.
“There is absolutely no way to talk about voting rights in the United States without talking about the fact that the United States has the highest incarceration rate in not only the world but in world history. We know that incarceration is not sprinkled randomly through the society, it's not just that men are overwhelmingly more likely to have criminal records. It's that racialized men are more likely to have criminal records, because of the ways in which we understand crime … It's also about poverty and class. It's poor men that go to jail, they go to prison. We absolutely know that class divisions very much predict voting divisions.”
— Natalie Delia Deckard
Photo Credit: University of WindsorMac Warner is West Virginia’s Secretary of State. He’s running for governor this year as a Republican.
“They have violated the state code, they have committed a criminal offense. And they have shown that they are not worthy at that time, they've done something to go against the people of the state of West Virginia. And so we wouldn't want people who are committing crimes to then be a part of a system that would allow them to vote for someone who may then decide to change and say, ‘These criminal offenses are OK.’ It serves as a deterrent value. So people know that they lose those rights when they commit an offense. And, again, this is just part of the criminal justice system. We all want them to be a part of society, again, with voting rights, but we want them to serve their time for the crime that they committed. There is no effort to suppress votes or to keep somebody from voting.”
— Mac Warner, West Virginia’s Secretary of State
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMike Stuart was the former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. He currently serves in the West Virginia State Senate and is running for state attorney general.
“I know that we live in a period of time, where there's a heavy emphasis on criminal rights. I support that, too. We've got to make sure we treat folks humanely, that we try to be in the business of rehab and rehabilitation and treatment, especially when it comes to the drug scourge. But I'm focused on victims. …I fully support the idea of the restoration of rights, but after you've served your entire penance, to society … and that means … not only your time behind bars, but your period of supervised release, if there's a period of probation, it's at the end of that entirety, that you ought to get the restoration of rights. West Virginia already does this today. I just think I'm one of those folks that truly believe that there's a purpose to punishment, we don't do it to hurt people. We do it for the rehabilitation part … they're not part-time, or lesser citizens because they don't have the right to vote. And we didn't take that right from them. They took it from themselves when they committed the heinous crime, whatever crime it happened to be.”
— Mike Stuart, WV State Senator
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAutumn McCraw was born and raised in West Virginia. She says she used drugs for several years and spent more than two and a half years in prison for felony convictions. After she was released from her most recent incarceration, she went to a recovery residence. She says she hasn’t used drugs in over six years. After she was released from parole, she registered to vote and decided to laminate her voter registration card.
“I opened the card … and I held it in my hand, and I just looked at it and I'm like, ‘I have arrived.’ It was a really emotional moment for me. I cried because I felt like I belonged again. Like I can contribute again. Like this is my ticket back into the forefront of society and not just necessarily in the shadows or in the underbelly.”
— Autumn McCraw
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, WVPB last spring covered efforts at Shepherd University to regrow American chestnut forests in Appalachia. One year later, that project has incorporated new technology and a familiar tree variant. Jack Walker caught up with a pair of self-proclaimed “chestnutters” to discuss the project at large, and the future of the American chestnut.
Also, in this show, more than 4.5 million Americans cannot vote because they’ve been convicted of a felony. On the newest episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the patchwork of state laws that restore voting rights to people after those convictions. The laws differ significantly from state to state. A few allow a person to vote from prison, while others require release and completion of probation or parole. Kay meets Anthony Cole who’s been out of prison for nearly a year after serving 12 and a half years. We listen to an excerpt from the next Us & Them: “Locked Out of Voting?"
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Tuesday marked the end of the holy month of Ramadan in the Islamic faith. Like millions across the world, Muslims in West Virginia fasted from sunup to sundown each day of the month. Their fast is traditionally broken with a meal called iftar. Chris Schulz takes us to an iftar in Morgantown.
Also, in this show, during the recent regular state legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill aimed at improving foster care communication and accountability. Emily Rice has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, across the country Monday, people took a moment out of their day to watch the solar eclipse. West Virginia was no exception, and at West Virginia University’s (WVU) Morgantown campus, a large crowd gathered to experience the celestial event. Chris Schulz has the story.
Also, in this show, the state Senate unanimously approved a resolution in February to place a statue of Hershel “Woody” Williams in the U.S. Capitol. Williams, who died in 2022 at age 98, was the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II. The measure, though, did not get a vote in the House of Delegates before the regular session ended. Curtis Tate spoke with Chad Graham, Williams’ grandson, about what happens next.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, we learn from graduate students about how to view Monday's eclipse safely and why the celestial event is scientifically important.
Also, in this show, Randy Yohe looks at changes made in the latest legislative session - on how and when political parties can fill vacancies after the candidate filing deadline in state elections.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week on Inside Appalachia, we’re talking about traditional ballads - how they tell stories and connect us to the past.
These old tunes can mean so much. They can tap into difficult emotions and give feelings space to be heard. Some songs may even be too uncomfortable to sing.
In this special episode with guest co-host, ballad singer Saro Lynch-Thomason, we explore songs about lawbreaking folk heroes, runaway trains and murder ballads.
All the stories in this episode are produced as part of our Folkways Reporting Project, a partnership with West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Inside Appalachia and the Folklife Program of the West Virginia Humanities Council.
We’ve recorded more than 150 stories for this project, and you can find them all here.
In This Episode:
- The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian Residents
- Ballads About Train Wrecks Hold Lessons For Modern Life
- Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” Media
- Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties
The Ballad Of ‘John Henry’ Elicits Varied Feelings For Some Black Appalachian ResidentsThe ballad of “John Henry” tells the story of a railroad worker who competes against a steam drill to see who can drill a hole through a mountain fastest and farthest. With his immense strength and skill, John Henry wins, but dies from his efforts. There is great debate about the historical facts, but most accounts describe Henry as an African American man from West Virginia or Virginia, working for the C&O Railroad. For some who grew up in Black communities in Appalachia, the song elicits a variety of feelings. Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has more.
If learning about John Henry piqued your interest, be sure to check out the recent Black in Appalachia podcast episode about John Henry. They dive into some important topics, including a current-day link between health and working conditions, especially for Black workers.
Ballads About Train Wrecks Holds Lessons For Modern LifeStarting in the late 19th century, trains were everywhere in southern Appalachia, and so were songs about them. Scott Huffard, an associate professor of History at Lees-McCrae College, says these ballads weren’t just about trains, they were emulating trains using special techniques with common instruments. Reporter Laura Harbert Allen has that story and tells us what we can learn from ballads about trains.
Traditional Murder Ballads Reveal A Dark Truth About “True Crime” MediaThere are many murder ballads from Appalachia - and most of them are about men killing women. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold is a musician himself. In fact, you can hear him playing guitar and banjo on a song called “Little Sadie” that appears in this week’s episode.
“Little Sadie” is a ballad about a man killing his sweetheart - exactly the kind of song Zack sought to understand in his reporting about murder ballads. What can they tell us about history? And what is “true crime” the modern-day equivalent?
Real-Life Outlaw Otto Wood Went Viral In The Thirties As Zack explored in his story, people in the past and the present love viral “true crime” stories. In the early 1930s, the way for a story to go “viral” was by being sung about in a ballad. That’s what happened to Otto Wood, a real-life outlaw who grew up around Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He spent time with the Hatfields of southern West Virginia, became a famous moonshiner, and died in a shootout with police in 1930. Less than one year later, his story was told in the ballad “Otto Wood The Bandit,” recorded by Walker Kid and the Carolina Buddies.
Our host Mason Adams reported on that song.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Wes Swing, Dinosaur Burps, and The Chamber Brothers. Roxy Todd produced this episode. Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Alex Runyon was our associate producer. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, severe weather pounded the state, from destructive tornadoes in the south, to historic floods in the north.
Jobs in the state saw some losses, and some possible wins, while a program for people with disabilities was cut from the recent Budget. Chris Schulz takes listeners on a bike ride through the hills of Morgantown.
Also, Friday marked the 14th anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. Briana Heaney sat down with former WVPB reporter Ashton Marra to discuss her reporting on the trial that followed the disaster.
Brina Heaney is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week’s biggest news in the Mountain State. It’s produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, which caused the deaths of 29 miners, happened 14 years ago. Ashton Marra worked for WVPB at the time and covered the trial of Don Blankenship, CEO of the company that owned the mine. Briana Heaney sat down with Marra to talk about what it was like being a reporter covering the trial.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from four-time GRAMMY winner Sarah Jarosz. We listen to her performance of “Good at What I Do,” which recently reached #1 on the Americana Radio charts.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, as temperatures start to rise, people are taking the opportunity to get outside. One group in Morgantown is taking to the streets on their bicycles. Chris Schulz takes us with him as he tags along to explore the city in a new way.
Also, in this show, with March Madness underway, some Kentuckians will legally bet on games, thanks to a law passed last year. Proponents of legalizing sports betting said the move would add oversight – and keep tax revenue in the Commonwealth.
But some worry easier gambling could come with harmful behaviors. As LPM’s Jacob Munoz reports, some experts say at-risk gamblers in Kentucky and nationwide need more help.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, from grandfamilies to kin networks and everything in between, families come in all shapes and sizes in West Virginia, and there is a growing need for one particular type.
In the latest installment of our occasional series “Now What? A Series On Parenting,” Chris Schulz speaks with Terri Lynn Durnal of the National Youth Advocate Program about the unique experience of fostering children – and the need for foster parents in the state.
Also, in this show, in the final hours of the 2024 regular state legislative session, lawmakers passed a budget that cut funding for IDD waivers. Emily Rice has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, Berkeley County in 2022 celebrated its 250th anniversary. Now, the county is looking back at its history through a public art lens. By early June, a mural will be on display in the heart of Martinsburg tracing the history and culture of Berkeley County over the years.
Jack Walker spoke with Lea Craigie, the artist behind the new mural, about her public art piece so far.
Also, in this show, we listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest piece looks at proposals to place chemical plastic recycling centers in our region.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the closure of the Port of Baltimore to most shipping has a ripple effect for coal producers in northern West Virginia. Curtis Tate takes a deeper look.
Also, in this show, one solution to slow climate change is for industrial facilities to capture carbon dioxide emissions before they reach the atmosphere. The Allegheny Front’s Julie Grant looked into a new project that would transport CO2 to underground storage wells, including in Pennsylvania.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, we visit the Seeing Hand Association. They bring together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning.
Corporate greed has been gobbling up newspapers for years. Now, some of those same companies are taking a bite out of mobile home parks. They’re raising rents and letting repairs slide.
And, as the Mountain Valley Pipeline nears completion, people who live near it say government officials are ignoring their concerns about pollution.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Seeing Hand Fixes More Than Chairs
- Quilting In The New, Traditional Way
- David Vs. Goliath At A Mobile Home Park
- West Virginia Flood Concerns
Seeing Hand Fixes More Than ChairsEmployees restore caned chairs at the Seeing Hand workshop in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingA lot of folks in Appalachia grew up with caned chairs in the house. Maybe your parents or grandparents had a set in the kitchen, but you don’t see the old caned chairs as much as you used to. Cane breaks down and needs to be replaced. Few people know where to go to fix their chairs. So, a lot of them are discarded or thrown away. But they don’t have to be.
At a workshop in Wheeling, WV, a community of skilled workers repair old chairs and show that not everything that looks broken has to be thrown out. Folkways reporter Clara Haizlett brought us the story.
Quilting In The New, Traditional WayShane Foster pictured with a quilt made by his great-grandmother.
Photo Credit: Liz Pahl/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPassing on traditional knowledge happens in different ways. Shane Foster is an optometrist in Ohio and an avid quilter. Quilting had been in his family for generations, but to learn this traditional craft, Foster chose a way that’s a little less traditional.
From 2022, Folkways Reporter Liz Pahl has this story.
David Vs. Goliath At A Mobile Home ParkAfter a new owner took control of a mobile home park in Mercer County, West Virginia, the rents went up, and it seemed like less was done to take care of problems. One resident started looking into exactly who this new owner was.
Mason Adams brought us the story.
West Virginia Flood ConcernsThe floods of 2016 devastated several counties and it has taken seven years for them to be mostly returned to normal.
Photo Credit: Kara Lofton/West Virginia Public BroadcastingFlooding has always been a threat in Appalachia, but over the past few decades, severe floods have become more frequent.
Curtis Tate spoke with Nicolas Zegre, an associate professor of forest hydrology at West Virginia University, about why West Virginia is so prone to flooding.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Blissard, John Inghram, Tim Bing, Gerry Milnes, Mary Hott, and Tyler Childers.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, the deadline for the governor to sign or veto bills from the state legislature’s regular session before they automatically become law was this week, and WVPB looked at what did and didn’t get the governor’s signature.
We continue our series looking back at the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on retail and outdoor recreation four years after its start.
We also take a look at the Republican primary race for a U.S. Senate seat, as well as updates from the state police on investigations into sexual misconduct.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, after a new owner took over a Mercer County mobile home park, rents quickly went up while repairs slowed. One resident did some digging and found a reporter in California who had some unexpected answers about who this new owner was. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with reporter Julie Reynolds.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from GRAMMY-winning Australian rock star Colin Hay. We listen to an acoustic rendition of his international hit, “Down Under.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, tourists from around the world visit Harpers Ferry each year to immerse themselves in U.S. history. But the number of visitors fell in 2020, as public health restrictions ramped up nationwide. Jack Walker visited the town to learn how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
Also, in this show, some of the divides in our nation are defined by where we get our information. As social media sites gain a larger audience, some traditional news organizations find themselves losing out and going out of business.
In a new episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay finds the media landscape has changed, and fewer newspapers and radio and television stations are doing daily reporting. A study from Northwestern University shows 200 counties in the U.S. now have no source of local news.
Kay talks with Steve Waldman, a longtime journalist who is now trying to save local journalism. Co-founder of Report for America, Waldman says the industry has imploded after watching its business model turned inside out. We listen to an excerpt from the latest Us & Them episode, “Another Small Town Paper Down.”
And to hear the rest of the episode, tune in Thursday, March 28 at 8 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting or on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. for an encore. You can also listen on your own time, right here.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Our country’s divides often reveal themselves in our choices and habits, including how and where we get our information. As the economics of the media landscape have imploded, the economics of the industry have forced changes. In the past two decades, online sites have taken over much of the income stream from classified ads and general advertising. That has led newspapers and broadcasters to slash thousands of jobs. Many local news outlets have gone out of business and there are now more than 200 counties across the country with no source of local news.
One of those is McDowell County in West Virginia. Last year, publisher Missy Nester was forced to shut down the Welch Daily News after a valiant effort to keep the paper running. Join host Trey Kay and reporter Todd Melby on this episode of Us & Them to see what happens when local news organizations stop telling the stories of a community.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Pulitzer Center, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Derek Tyson and Missy Nester on the back steps of the now shuttered building that housed The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyDowntown Welch, West Virginia.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyBefore the Welch Daily News shut down operations, publisher Missy Nester bought another regional paper, the Pineville Independent-Herald for $1.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy Nester, taking a break in the printing press room of The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyMissy Nester kept a collection of coal-related books and pamphlets in her office, including some from the last century showing several dozen coal companies operating in McDowell County.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News closed down operations in March 2023.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyA discarded iMac rests on top of bound copies of The Welch News.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News printing press dates to 1966, says publisher Missy Nester.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyThe Welch News hired drivers three days a week to deliver the paper to homes in nearly every holler, road and neighborhood in McDowell County.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyDerek Tyson and Missy Nester on a smoke break in the front office of The Welch News before the paper shut down in 2023.
Photo Credit: Todd MelbyUs & Them Host Trey Kay with Steve Waldman, co-founder of Report for America, which is modeled on Teach for America. Instead of bringing teachers to schools, Waldman’s focus is on bringing reporters to newsrooms around the nation. He’s currently the president of Rebuild Local News, a nonprofit dedicated to finding new ways to fund local journalism.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, it has been a year since allegations of illicit recordings of cadets and other women at the West Virginia State Police barracks launched federal and state investigations into the law enforcement department.
In the aftermath, Col. J.C. Chambers was named superintendent of the state police. He spoke with Chris Schulz to provide some updates on the investigations, as well as to discuss reforms he has implemented during his tenure.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Chris Schulz produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, political analysts say the two Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate in the upcoming May primary election give voters some particular, and troubling, food for thought. The candidates themselves say voters need to focus on the positives, not the negatives. Randy Yohe has our story.
Four years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic changed daily life for everyone, but the adjustments were perhaps most acute for schools and students. Then a deputy superintendent, now State Superintendent Michele Blatt spoke with Chris Schulz about adapting learning for the COVID-19 pandemic and its continued effects on the state's schools.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Emily Rice produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, shortly after the first COVID-19 case hit West Virginia four years ago, our way of simple day-to-day living drastically changed. Many of those alterations dealt with how we went shopping. Randy Yohe spoke with West Virginia Retailers Association President Bridget Lambert on COVID-19’s effect on retail – and how our shopping lives have forever been changed.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from the The Allegheny Front – a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. We listen to their story about the updated growing plant hardiness zone map from the USDA.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas produced this episode.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Red Terry’s property in Bent Mountain, Virginia, is in the path of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. She says the place was beautiful, but she's worried about the dangers of the pipeline not far from her home.
Plus, almost everybody has a favorite cup or coffee mug, but how far would you go to replace it? One woman would go pretty far.
And… we explore an effort in western Virginia to make old-time music more available to Black musicians.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Back On Bent Mountain With Red And Coles Terry
- The Last Unicorn (Mug)
- Earl White’s Old-Time Music
Back On Bent Mountain With Red And Coles TerryColes and Red Terry at their home in Virginia in 2024.
Photo Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingPeople have been fighting the Mountain Valley Pipeline since it was first announced. The project runs through West Virginia and Virginia, connecting natural gas terminals with a 303-mile pipeline stretching across some of Appalachia’s most rugged terrain. Almost immediately after construction began, protestors tried to block it by setting up platforms in trees along the route and living in them.
In 2018, host Mason Adams interviewed activist and tree sitter Theresa “Red” Terry, as she protested against the pipeline on her own property.
Six years later, with the pipeline nearly finished, Adams went back to Bent Mountain to talk with Red Terry and her husband Coles to hear what’s happened since Red came down from her tree sit.
The Last Unicorn (Mug)The magic is in the mug.
Photo Credit: Wendy Welch/West Virginia Public BroadcastingFolkways stories come in all shapes and sizes. And sometimes, they bring a little magic – like a story about how losing a very special mug can lead to finding something greater.
Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch brings us this tale of a potter who lost her mojo and a woman who helped her get it back.
Earl White’s Old-Time Music Earl White (right) with wife and bandmate, Adrienne Davis, in their home in Floyd County, Virginia. White and Davis are both old-time musicians, and they host a music camp on their farm called Big Indian Music Camp.
Photo Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAppalachian old-time music brings together traditions from man cultures: African and African American, Native American and Scots-Irish. And yet, the contributions of Black and Indigenous musicians have often been erased or overlooked. In Floyd County, Virginia, one man has spent years working to make old-time music more available to Black musicians.
Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has this story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, June Carter Cash, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Earl White, Amethyst Kiah, Tyler Childers and Dinosaur Burps.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, spring has sprung! We’ll look at patching potholes, how babies learn to sleep and what’s changed in health care four years since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Plus, we’ll discuss the largest single renewable power project in the state, a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against the U.S. EPA, new developments in an opioid court case and a dispute between creditors of Gov. Jim Justice.
Finally, we’ll hear what two experts have to say about President Joe Biden’s pause on new permits for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.
Curtis Tate is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, our program Inside Appalachia features stories about all things Appalachia, including an epic quest to find a lost coffee mug. Folkways Reporter Wendy Welch has this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle. We listen to their performance of “Jim Devlin.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director. Emily Rice produced this show.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, March 17, 2020 marked the day West Virginia became the last state in the U.S. to test positive for COVID-19. Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice spoke with two state health leaders about the fourth anniversary of the COVID-19 pandemic arriving in West Virginia.
Also, in this show, distilling a piece of Appalachian heritage bubbled up debate in the West Virginia Legislature during the 2024 regular session. Randy Yohe reports on the spirited exchange of views prompted by the “Moonshine Bill.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, sleep is a key part of both mental and physical health for everyone. But for many parents, ensuring their baby is getting good sleep can be frustrating and elusive. In our latest installment of our new series “Now What? A Series On Parenting,” reporter Chris Schulz speaks with Dr. Paul Knowles, a Marshall Health neurologist and assistant professor at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, about infant sleep.
Also, in this show, a tradition at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind allowed kids from across the state to show off their braille and cane usage skills. It was placed on hiatus during the pandemic. This year, the tradition made a grand return. Jack Walker visited the school’s campus in Romney to learn more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the state has long been a standards bearer for vaccination rates across the country, but the legislature this year passed a bill to loosen restrictions for certain students in the state. But it has one final hurdle to clear before it’s implemented. Emily Rice has more.
Also, in this show, a bill Gov. Jim Justice vetoed last week would have helped fund research to treat Alzheimer’s disease, substance use disorder and more. Randy Yohe has the story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, a recent decision by the Biden administration to suspend permitting for new export terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) has drawn criticism from West Virginia lawmakers. To hear what impact the decision has on United States LNG exports, Curtis Tate spoke with Sam Reynolds and Ana Maria Jaller-Markarewicz of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
Also, in this show, the U.S. has seen a huge buildout in plants using fossil fuels to make plastics over the last decade. A new report finds those plants routinely break environmental laws, even though they receive major subsidies from taxpayers. The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier reports Shell’s ethane cracker in Beaver County, Pennsylvania was given over $1 billion in tax breaks yet violated its air pollution permit even before opening.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
This week, we’re revisiting our episode “What Is Appalachia?” from December 2021. Appalachia connects mountainous parts of the South, the Midwest, the Rust belt and even the Northeast. The Appalachian Regional Commission defined the boundaries for Appalachia in 1965 with the creation of the Appalachian Regional Commission, a part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. It was legislation that sought to expand social welfare, and some localities were eager for the money, while others resisted the designation. The boundaries and definition of Appalachia can now only be changed by an act of Congress.
Politically, Appalachia encompasses 423 counties across 13 states — and West Virginia’s the only state entirely inside the region.
That leaves so much room for geographic and cultural variation, as well as many different views on what Appalachia really is.
For Inside Appalachia, we turned our entire episode over to the question, “What is Appalachia?” With stories from Mississippi to Pittsburgh, we asked people across our region whether they consider themselves to be Appalachian.
A 1996 map that shows the southern part of Appalachia, as defined by John Alexander Williams. MississippiBob Owens — locally known as ‘Pop Owens,' stands in front of his watermelon stand outside New Houlka, Mississippi. Pop says he was aware that Mississippi is part of Appalachia, but that no one in the state would consider themselves Appalachian.
Credit: Caitlin Tan/West Virginia Public BroadcastingBob Owens is a watermelon farmer outside New Houlka, in the northeastern part of Mississippi. Owens said he was aware that Mississippi is part of Appalachia, but that no one in the state would consider themselves Appalachian. “I consider myself the worst redneck you’ve ever seen,” Owens said. “I live in the area of the Appalachian mountain range — not part of it, but close to it. So I guess you call me a redneck Appalachian.” This is the general consensus among the people in Mississippi we spoke to.
Geographically, the foothills of the Appalachian mountain range are located in northern Mississippi. The state’s tallest point is Woodall Mountain, 806 feet in elevation. For reference, the highest point in North Carolina, Mount Mitchell, is more than 6,600 feet in elevation, eight times higher than Woodall Mountain.
Co-host Caitlin Tan spoke with Texas State University History professor Justin Randolph, who wrote an essay for “Southern Cultures” called “The Making of Appalachian Mississippi.” Randolph argues in his essay that Mississippi became part of Appalachia for political and racial reasons, as well as economic advantages the designation brought to the 24 counties in Mississippi that were included in the ARC’s boundaries.
Shenandoah Valley In the 1960s, while some localities were clamoring to get into Appalachia, on the eastern edge of the region, some lawmakers fought to keep their counties outside the boundaries, including politicians in Roanoke, Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. Appalachian Studies associate professor Emily Satterwhite said explaining to her students why some counties in Virginia are included in Appalachia, but others aren’t, is confusing. “
The students in front of me are wondering why they're not included,” White said.
Pittsburgh The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania skyline.
CourtesyAppalachia’s largest city is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When we asked people from that city to tell us if they consider it a part of Appalachia, about half said no. “I definitely do not feel that I am Appalachian culturally,” said Mark Jovanovich, who grew up just outside Pittsburgh’s city limits in the Woodland Hills area. “Personally, I would consider the city of Pittsburgh is sort of like a mini New York City. I guess we'd probably be lumped in as like a Rust Belt city, which makes enough sense, but definitely not Appalachian culturally.”
Writer Brian O’Neill disagrees. He wrote a book called The Paris of Appalachia: Pittsburgh in the Twenty-First Century. “My original title for the book was ‘I love Pittsburgh like a brother and my brother drives me nuts.’”
An editor advised him to change the title of his book to a phrase that he said is sometimes used to refer to Pittsburgh derisively. “I couldn't figure out why that should be a putdown, because Paris is nice. And Appalachia is a beautiful part of the world. And if we were called the Paris of the Rockies, we wouldn't run from that. So why would we run from this? Why don't we embrace it? So that became the title of my book.”
He said that geographically, Pittsburgh is clearly in the Appalachian Mountains. “I mean, this is one mountain range that stretches from Georgia to Maine. And the idea that it belongs only to the southern part of the mountain range defies logic to me,” O’Neill said.
What Do You Think?How about you? Do you call yourself an Appalachian? Why or why not? Send us an email to InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by John Wyatt, John R Miller, Alan Cathead Johnston, and Dinosaur Burps. Roxy Todd originally produced this episode. Bill Lynch is our current producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Alex Runyon was our associate producer on this original episode. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Another year's legislative session is now behind us, but news of a special session this spring means the West Virginia Legislature won’t be gone for long.
In the meantime, we’ll dive into stories on education, including stories on a new study on special education and a group of West Virginia principals visiting the United States Capitol.
Plus, we’ll discuss potential expansions to passenger train services, protections for residents with Long COVID and the return of the beaver to Appalachia.
Finally, we’ll listen to the first installment of a new series on parenting that will explore the most up-to-date advice for infant care.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, few wild animals live as close to us as white tail deer. Graceful and majestic, they’re prized by hunters and hated by backyard gardeners. Deer are everywhere and misunderstood.
Erika Howsare is the author of The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors, a book that takes some of the mystery out of these animals that have lived on the edge of humanity for a very long time.
Bill Lynch spoke with Howsare for Inside Appalachia.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from James McMurtry and our 40th anniversary celebration. We listen to McMurtry’s performance of “Painting by Numbers,” which appears on his 1989 album Too Long In The Wasteland.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, it was a shock when author, musician and West Virginia University professor Travis Stimeling died abruptly in November. They were 43. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold collected remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends. He shared them recently on Inside Appalachia.
Also, in this show, farmers in America’s heartland are watching the effects of a recent federal court ruling about a popular weed killer called dicamba. The decision stops the use of dicamba, saying the herbicide can drift to injure and kill desirable plants, bushes and trees. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now says despite the ruling, farmers may use existing supplies on their fields this year.
On the latest episode of Us & Them, we bring back a story from our archives about this ugly battle in farm country. Host Trey Kay and his colleague Loretta Williams head deep into farm country to hear from Bo Sloan. He’s the manager of a national wildlife refuge surrounded by farm fields where dicamba is sprayed. Here’s an excerpt from Us & Them’s “Dicamba Woes.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, we begin a new series called “Now What? A Series On Parenting.” WVPB reporter Chris Schulz recently welcomed his first child and is grappling with how much there is to learn. In this ongoing, occasional series, we ask experts what they think parents – both old and new – need to know to best raise their children.
In this first installment, we talk with Dr. Adriana Diakiw, an assistant professor of pediatrics at West Virginia University (WVU), to explore how discussions between grandparents and new parents reveal just how much advice around what’s “best for baby” has changed in just one generation.
Also, in this show, a familiar species is coming back to West Virginia. Jack Walker spoke to conservationists about how they’re preparing for new arrivals.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
There's a nationwide rift among farmers over the use of dicamba, a popular herbicide. A 2024 federal court ruling has halted dicamba's use, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given the green light for farmers to use existing supplies this year.
In this episode of Us & Them, we revisit a story from our archives that delves into the intense battle unfolding in farm country. Originally designed to help soybean farmers combat 'pigweed,' dicamba has proven controversial because it drifts from where it’s sprayed, causing harm to desirable plants. The legal fallout has reached a point where farmers and gardeners hesitate to speak out about crop or plant damage due to fear.
On the flip side, those advocating for dicamba have taken the matter to court, challenging the authority over pesticide use rules in some states. In a departure from the typical tight-knit atmosphere of rural farm communities, where issues are often resolved locally, Arkansas is experiencing an un-neighborly atmosphere, with tensions escalating.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Fund for Investigative Journalism, the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Terry Fuller, former member of the Arkansas Plant Board, shows Us & Them host Trey Kay the place where several of his hay bales were set ablaze not long after he made public statements calling for limitation on the use of a special formulation of dicamba during the growing season. Fuller also says that two of his tractors were vandalized which caused more than $60,000 worth of damage.
Photo Credit: Loretta WilliamsTerry Fuller, former member of the Arkansas Plant Board, displays a couple of signs that have repeatedly been posted alongside the roads near his house. One sign could be seen from his daughter’s bedroom window on Christmas Day.
Photo Credit: Loretta WilliamsRichard Coy’s family has been in the honey producing business since the 1960s. Over the years, Coy’s Honey Farm became the largest commercial bee business in Arkansas. Coy claims dicamba has had an adverse effect on the plant life necessary for honey bees to thrive and produce honey. He says the conditions got so bad that he and his family had to move their business from Arkansas to Mississippi.
Photo Credit: Loretta WilliamsFranklin Fogelman, a soybean farmer in Arkansas, speaking at a special session of the Arkansas Plant Board in 2019. He believes farmers like him need to be able to use dicamba during the growing season to control weeds in their fields.
Photo Credit: Loretta WilliamsReed Storey, a soybean and cotton farmer, opposes the use of the newer formulations of dicamba during the growing season because he believes the herbicide can harm the crops of neighboring farmers. He sees this as “big agriculture against smaller growers.”
Photo Credit: Loretta WilliamsCharles “Bo” Sloan is the manager of the Dale Bumpers White River Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. He says dicamba has a tendency to volatilize when the weather gets above 85 degrees. When the chemical transforms into a gas, it can drift away from its intended targets. Sloan has heard the complaints that dicamba might adversely impact agriculture, and is also worried that it might be harming the environment in some of the nation’s protected lands.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingCheck out the original Farm Wars episode the Us & Them team produced for Reveal in 2019.
On this West Virginia Morning, a new analysis of special education data hopes to advance understanding and solutions for students with the greatest need. Chris Schulz has more.
Also, in this show, flood events are becoming more frequent and severe in West Virginia, causing millions of dollars in damage to property, disrupting communities and displacing lives. Curtis Tate spoke with Nicolas Zegre, an associate professor of forest hydrology at West Virginia University (WVU), about what’s behind this trend.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, the West Virginia Legislature wrapped up its 60-day regular session Saturday night with a flurry of activity in the House of Delegates. The Senate, on the other hand, spent the last hour recognizing staff and shutting down 15 minutes early. Eric Douglas has this lookback.
Also, in this show, the Brasstown Carvers have been a part of the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina since the 1920s. The group’s woodwork has been celebrated, sought after and collected. Today, only a handful of Brasstown Carvers remain, but they’re still attracting new students and trying to shape a new future. Folkways Reporter Stefani Priskos has this story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Inside Appalachia remembers Travis Stimeling. The author, musician and educator left a deep mark on Appalachian culture, and the people who practice and document it.
And, grab your dancing shoes and learn about a movement to make square dance calling more inclusive.
Plus, it’s not just you. There are more deer than ever these days. A writer explores the long, complicated entwinement of people and our wild kin.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Remembering Travis Stimeling, A Musician, Scholar And Mentor
- Traditional Dance Callers Updating For Inclusivity
- The Age Of Deer
Remembering Travis Stimeling, A Musician, Scholar And MentorTravis Stimeling, a WVU professor and noted scholar of traditional Appalachian music, died in their home on Nov. 14, 2023.
Photo Credit: Ellen LinscheidTravis Stimeling carried the torch for bluegrass and traditional music in Appalachia.
It was a shock when the author, musician and West Virginia University (WVU) professor died abruptly in November at the age of 43. News of their passing prompted an outpouring of remembrances from colleagues, former students and friends.
Some shared their stories with Folkways Reporter Zack Harold, who brought us this remembrance.
Traditional Dance Callers Updating For InclusivityA multi-generational group of dancers follows Becky Hill’s calling at the Augusta Heritage Center in July 2023.
Photo Credit: Lydia Warren/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe use of they/them pronouns signals more than a change in language; it’s also a cultural change that allows for people to be identified as they see themselves. And, it’s happening even in the region’s dance halls.
Folkways Reporter Lydia Warren brought us the story.
The Age Of DeerErika Howsare explores our relationship to deer, which has been long and complicated.
Courtesy PhotoFew animals are as polarizing as the white tail deer. They’re graceful and majestic — and kind of cool to see up close. But they can also ravage gardens, and drivers hit countless deer every year.
Yet, there seem to be more deer than ever.
Erika Howsare is the author of The Age of Deer: Trouble and Kinship with Our Wild Neighbors.
Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Howsare.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Amythyst Kiah, Watchhouse, John Blissard, Yonder Mountain String Band and Larry Rader.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session is wrapping up. Saturday, March 9 is the final day state lawmakers can consider bills during this regular session. We bring you conversations with members of the House of Delegates and Senate who look back at the last 60 days — and ahead.
We also bring you conversations from our new student reporter program, and we hear from our statehouse reporters who share what they’ve been watching this session.
Finally, we’ll hear from a professor who helps us understand our vaccination laws in West Virginia.
Liz McCormick is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our final reporter roundtable of the 2024 state legislative session. WVPB statehouse reporters Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney talk with Leah Willingham from the Associated Press about the past 60 days and the upcoming final hours of the session on Saturday.
In the House Friday, the chamber started the day with more than 60 bills on third reading. Bills passed and sent to the governor included posting the national motto in schools, lowering prescription costs, fixing substandard recovery residences and the development of Corridor H. Randy Yohe has the story.
In the Senate, the chamber has so far approved 361 bills from both the House and Senate this year, but there are several left to discuss and a lot of those bills are controversial. Briana Heaney looks at what the Senate worked on Thursday night, on Friday, as well as some of the legislation slated for Friday evening.
Finally, for their last story, our high school reporters Ben Valleau and Ameera Mustafa look at bills in the legislature that involve mental health issues.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezii7F1lo7IThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Join WVPB Saturday, March 9 at 8 p.m. for our special Final Hours program on The Legislature Today. Please note, this program will only be available on WVPB TV and not live streamed on YouTube.
On this West Virginia Morning, our state Senate reporter Briana Heaney sat down with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, on The Legislature Today to discuss where things stand in the legislative process and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from singer/songwriter Nellie McKay, whose music incorporates many different styles infused with her zany and profound interpretations of life. We listen to her performance of “Drinking Song.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, our Senate reporter Briana Heaney talks with Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, and Sen. Mike Oliverio, R-Monongalia, to discuss where things stand and how that compares to what they planned to do at the beginning of the session.
Also, earlier in the day Thursday, Gov. Jim Justice issued a proclamation to extend the legislative session by one day to allow the legislature to finalize the state budget bill. There has been discussion about a special session in May to finalize questions regarding a potential federal claw back of COVID-19 relief funds.
In the House, there was a long debate over minorities purchasing car dealerships and another contested debate over control of the Legislative Auditor’s office. Other proposals included smoking in the car with a child and taking action over a massive federal deficit.
In the Senate, the chamber passed several House bills, some of which head to the governor and others back to the House to concur on changes. Some notable bills in the Senate Thursday were on topics such as renewable energy, pornography and cyber security. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, a state Senate committee heard new details Wednesday about how the Pleasants Power Station will be converted from coal to hydrogen. Curtis Tate has the story.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcjOSfLshVAThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, with just days left of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session, WVPB reporters Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney sit down to discuss the many bills that have passed or failed this session.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story looks at air emissions coming from fracking sites and the people who are getting sick.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, when the session began in January, our government reporter Randy Yohe was assigned to cover the House of Delegates and our southern West Virginia reporter Briana Heaney was assigned the Senate. With a budget bill still to be finalized, Yohe and Heaney offer some of their insights into bill proposals, passed and failed, that affect the lives, wallets and communities of West Virginia.
In the House Wednesday, several Senate bills on third reading were sent to the governor’s desk for his signature. Bills were completed on adult education, safeguarding health care worker’s personal information, and leadership and structural changes to the Educational Broadcasting Authority – which governs West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Randy Yohe has more.
Also, a bill with bipartisan support to criminalize artificial intelligence (AI) child pornography now has an unexpected insert – resurrecting a bill regarding libraries and obscene materials. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate Wednesday, the chamber processed many House bills with zero debate and unanimous or near unanimous votes. It was also Suicide Prevention Day at the Capitol. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, the Senate Health Committee met in front of a room full of white coat-wearing physicians to discuss House Bill 5105 – a bill to eliminate vaccine requirements for public virtual schools. The committee approve the bill after amending it to remove religious exemptions for public school students, but not for private and parochial school students. The bill will now be considered by the full Senate.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVcnojxp9ugThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, amidst a flurry of vaccine legislation, Appalachia Health News Reporter Emily Rice spoke with Dr. Susan Flesher, professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Marshall University, for a conversation about vaccination laws in West Virginia.
Also, in this show, community air monitoring has been debated during this legislative session, and House Bill 5018 would restrict how data from air monitors could be used. But a Senate committee meeting that was expected to consider this legislation Tuesday was canceled, so the fate of the bill is uncertain.
Curtis Tate spoke with Morgan King, the West Virginia regional organizer for the Climate Reality Project, and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, to get an update on that and other issues.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we are in the final days of the 2024 session, and there is a rush to get bills across the finish line – including the budget bill.
In the House, much of the debate Tuesday morning focused on satisfying a $465 million federal claw back regarding the state’s spending on education. When it came to the budget debate – some promised program funding not education related - fell by the wayside. Randy Yohe reports.
Also, two bills debated in the House Judiciary Committee dealt with two lightning rod issues: crimes regarding married couples and sexual abuse, and setting parameters on teaching scientific theories when it comes to the creation of the universe – and of life. Randy Yohe has more.
School discipline was identified as a key issue coming into this year’s legislative session. But with the session’s end just days away, a key school discipline bill is in question after a contentious committee meeting Monday afternoon. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, community air monitoring has been a topic of debate this session. House Bill 5018 would restrict how data from the monitors could be used in the regulatory process or in court. But a Senate hearing on the bill Tuesday was canceled, so the fate of HB 5018 is unknown. Also, the West Virginia Office of Energy released a priority action plan last week. Curtis Tate spoke with Morgan King, the West Virginia regional organizer for the Climate Reality Project, and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, to get an update on that and other issues.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBCVgfV2WoIThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, as we enter the final week of the state legislative session, we decided to check in with party leaders to see how they feel about the session and whether they met their priorities. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha. WVPB invited Republican House leaders to join in the discussion, but none were available.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we’ve begun the final week of the 60-day West Virginia Legislative session, and everything wraps up Saturday at midnight. Randy Yohe talks with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, to see how his caucus feels about the session and whether they met their priorities for this year. WVPB invited House Majority Whip Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer, to join the conversation, but he was unable to participate.
In the House Monday, bills that were delayed, tabled or banished stood out more than what the chamber passed. The underlying concern was passing a budget with a possible $465 million deficit looking over the legislature’s shoulder. Randy Yohe reports.
House Democrats held a press conference before the floor session Monday. Their single topic was the budget, now under debate.
In the Senate, the chamber approved several House bills. Some head to the governor's for a signature. Others head back to the House for consideration of any Senate changes. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, advocates gathered under the Capitol dome Monday to educate lawmakers about the prevention of addictions and mental health struggles. Emily Rice has this story.
Finally, euthanasia, or medically assisted suicide, is already illegal in the state. Now, a legislative resolution aims to reaffirm that stance. Jack Walker reports on what lawmakers think about the policy from both sides of the aisle.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X84EfWRG0IwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, this legislative session, we had high school reporters on The Legislature Today who covered issues of interest to them while they also learned about the legislative process. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Ameera Mustafa and Ben Valleau to hear what they had to say.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story explores efforts to restore the Ohio River Valley.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
For nearly a century, some of the best wood carvers in Appalachia have trained at a folk school in North Carolina. The Brasstown Carvers still welcome newcomers to come learn the craft.
In 2021, Willie Carver was named Kentucky’s Teacher of the Year. Then he left his job over homophobia and became an activist and celebrated poet.
And, the zine Porch Beers chronicles the author’s life in Appalachia — including a move from Huntington to Chattanooga, and back again.
You're hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Brasstown Carvers Continue On In The 21st Century
- Gay Poems For Red States And Appalachia’s Love Language
- Cracking Open Porch Beers
- A Trip To Cabbagetown
Brasstown Carvers Continue On In The 21st CenturyAngela Wynn and Richard Carter carve tiny beavers out of basswood at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. The Brasstown Carvers continue on through new generations of woodworkers.
Credit: Stefani Priskos/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe Brasstown Carvers have been a part of the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina almost since its founding in the 1920s. The group’s woodwork has been celebrated, sought after and collected. Today, only a handful of Brasstown Carvers remain, but they’re still attracting new students and trying to shape a new future.
Folkways Reporter Stefani Priskos has the story.
Gay Poems For Red States And Appalachia’s Love Language Willie Carver, Kentucky educator, poet and proud Appalachian.
CourtesyWillie Carver was Kentucky’s teacher of the year in 2021. He taught English and French for 10 years at Montgomery County High School, where he also oversaw several student clubs.
He’s also gay and not everyone accepted a gay high school teacher. Carver said he and his LGBTQ students were harassed.
In 2022, he resigned from the high school.
Last summer, Carver released the book Gay Poems for Red States, which attracted a lot of praise and helped turn him into a much-followed, outspoken voice on social media.
Bill Lynch spoke with Carver.
Cracking Open Porch BeersElliott Stewart, the publisher of the zine Porch Beers takes a look at life as an Appalachian trans man.
CourtesyElliott Stewart has been making zines since he was 13. His ongoing zine “Porch Beers” is an incisive look at Appalachian culture, through the eyes of a queer trans man. “Porch Beers” dives into pop culture fandom, West Virginia food and Stewart’s complicated relationship with his hometown of Huntington, West Virginia.
Mason Adams spoke with Elliott Stewart about his zine and about what a “porch beer” is anyway.
A Trip To CabbagetownCabbagetown was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Archival ImageAfter the Civil War, droves of Appalachian workers migrated to a mill town in the middle of Atlanta, eventually known as Cabbagetown. Many went to work at the Fulton Bag and Cotton Mill and raised families in Atlanta, but the area is still home to urban Appalachian culture and traditions.
Jess Mador has the story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Dinosaur Burps, John Inghram, Tyler Childers, Mary Hott, Joyce Brookshire and John Blissard.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, the state legislature began winding down its 2024 session. Wednesday marked the last day for new bills to pass out of their chamber of origin, and now both the House and Senate are voting on bills proposed by their colleagues across the rotunda.
We talked to lawmakers about some bills that were passed this week, like a contentious proposal to remove vaccine mandates in some West Virginia schools, and a bill addressing potential risks tied to artificial intelligence (AI).
Plus, we’ll discuss a possible strike at a major grocery chain, a court case involving one of Gov. Jim Justice’s companies and what’s next for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., after Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., steps down.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, there is just one more week of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session. These last days of the regular session are usually when state budget issues are debated and resolved. But a surprise notification from the federal government that the state return nearly half a billion dollars in COVID-19 funds has several major legislative funding issues on hold. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate Friday, the chamber advanced several pieces of legislation including bills on suspended school personnel, artificial intelligence (AI) and running for office. Briana Heaney has that story.
In the House, the chamber approved bills on gun shops, county funds and they memorialized a former delegate who recently passed away. Randy Yohe has more.
Also, hundreds of high school students filled the Capitol Rotunda on Friday to show off their career and technical skills. Emily Rice has more.
Finally, this session, our student reporters have been covering issues of interest to them while they have learned about the legislative process. News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Ameera Mustafa and Ben Valleau to hear what they had to say about their experience.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEDHYaJO6b8The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, Willie Carver was Kentucky’s teacher of the year in 2021, but as a gay man, he and some of his students were harassed. So, in 2022, he resigned from Montgomery County High School. Last summer, he released Gay Poems for Red States. The book earned praise and helped turn Carver into a much-followed, outspoken voice on social media.
Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch recently caught up with Carver.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week is by Amy Ray Band. We listen to her performance of “A Mighty Thing.” It’s the leading title of her 10th solo album If It All Goes South.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we sit down a day early for our weekly reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe, Emily Rice and our newest reporter Jack Walker discuss some of the legislation that has moved so far this week.
Also, the Senate Wednesday night passed a bill that would reduce overall unemployment benefits but increase initial benefits, and they approved a bill that would affect transgender people in the state. Briana Heaney has the story.
In the House Thursday, global partnerships and international politics took center stage, along with a continuing legislative effort to address the mental health crisis among the state’s first responders. Randy Yohe has the story.
And, a bill allowing suspended school employees to attend public functions at schools has now passed both education committees. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, it was Arts Day at the Capitol, a day when artists and organizations gather in the rotunda to spread the word on the variety of arts in West Virginia. Landon Mitchell has the story.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq_9HBOoRGIThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, there has been a lot of discussion about artificial intelligence (AI), but many of us use it every day without even thinking about it. Randy Yohe spoke with Joshua Spence, chief information officer for Alpha Technologies, and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, on what AI means for now and the future.
Also, in this show, we listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story looks at issues with natural gas storage wells and their potential for failure.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, it was Crossover Day, meaning all bills must be passed out of their chamber of origin if they are to be considered this session.
Briana Heaney and Randy Yohe have stories from the Senate and House as both chambers worked to get through a flurry of legislation.
Also, a new information portal would be available to foster parents and kinship caregivers if a House bill becomes law. Emily Rice has this story.
Finally, it took 66 years to go from the Wright Brothers to the moon. Experts say it won't take that long for artificial intelligence to turn everything on its head. AI is top of mind for the state’s legislative leadership as well. Randy Yohe talked with Joshua Spence, chief information officer for Alpha Technologies, and Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, on what AI means for now and the future.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHcxky27y6oThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, there has been a lot of discussion in the West Virginia Legislature this year about vaccines and whether they should be required in private, parochial or virtual schools. Emily Rice spoke with Del. Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha, and Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, to get their perspectives.
Also, in this show, one of the banks barred from state contracts by the Treasurer’s Office is financing the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Curtis Tate has more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, there has been a lot of discussion this year about vaccines and whether they should be required in private schools, and there has been spirited debate on the topic in the last few days. Health Reporter Emily Rice spoke with Del. Chris Pritt, R-Kanawha, and Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, about this issue.
Also, nearly 2,600 bills have been introduced this session, but fewer than 50 have completed legislative action so far. Wednesday is Crossover Day, meaning it will be the final day for bills to be passed out of their chamber of origin.
In the House, the chamber considered more than 30 bills on third reading, including proposals highlighting water service cut offs, banning mugshots, helping veterans and outlawing deep fake election material.
In the Senate, the chamber passed a bill that would require public schools to show a video on the early stages of human development – and include language that life begins at conception. They also considered bills on competitive sports teams, tobacco and exams.
And, as this year’s window for proposing new legislation draws to a close, nonprofits that support victims of domestic violence are calling for more state funding. Jack Walker has the story.
Finally, with the deadline of Crossover Day looming, committees in both chambers are working through bill after bill. Education committees in both the House and Senate moved quickly at the start of the week to advance or decline more than a dozen bills. Chris Schulz has more.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHHCzk-7Tg4The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Mountaineer Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America serves 12 counties in north central West Virginia. On Feb. 8, the council appointed the first woman to serve as its governing board president. Jack Walker spoke with new president Amy Garbrick about her scouting background and gender inclusivity in scouting since the Boy Scouts became co-ed in 2019.
Also, in this show, West Virginia, like most of the country, is enjoying record setting low unemployment numbers after the coronavirus pandemic. For The Legislature Today, Briana Heaney sat down with Josh Sword, president of West Virginia's AFL-CIO union, and Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, to discuss two bills that would reduce unemployment benefits in the state.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, West Virginia, like most of the country, is enjoying record setting low unemployment numbers after the coronavirus pandemic. Briana Heaney sat down with Josh Sword, president of West Virginia's AFL-CIO, and Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, to discuss two bills that would reduce unemployment benefits in the state.
Also, we’re in the final two weeks of the 2024 state legislative session. All bills, except for the budget bill, must be out of their chamber of origin by the end of the day Wednesday to give time to consider the bill. This is called Crossover Day.
In the House Monday, lawmakers passed bills on third reading altering the state’s definition of human trafficking and a separate bill increasing leniency over youth vaccination. Jack Walker has the story.
In the Senate, the chamber passed and advanced bills concerning marital sexual assault and unemployment benefits. Briana Heaney has the story.
Finally, it was Nursing Day at the Capitol. Bob Brunner spoke with nurses about the challenges they face, and he spoke with a leader who runs a retreat for nurses who are burned out.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiVu0kYHrdwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a group of Black civil rights leaders in 1905 came together to form the Niagara Movement. Historians describe the group as a precursor to the NAACP. The group was founded in Ontario, Canada. But soon it forged ties with historic Harpers Ferry. Now, a new documentary on aims to highlight the movement’s origins and trajectory. Plus, it’s shedding a light on lesser-known pieces of West Virginia history. Jack Walker has the story.
Also, in this show, for our reporter roundtable in last Friday’s episode of The Legislature Today, Chris Schulz spoke with our primary legislative reporters — Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney — to discuss some of the things we’ve been reporting on this week.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Step shows are a tradition at many historically Black universities, including schools in Appalachia. We hear about one that’s part of West Virginia State University’s annual homecoming celebration.
Abandoned industrial sites have long been a magnet for people to explore and turn into not-at-all-legal hangout spots, but some come with hidden dangers. We learn about the danger at Fairmont Brine, a site in West Virginia that processed liquid used in hydraulic fracking.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Steppin’ Up At West Virginia State University
- Teaching Soul Food
- Radioactive And Dangerous
- Sugar Syrup Season In Central Appalachia
Steppin’ Up At West Virginia State UniversityMembers of Delta Sigma Theta at WVSU's homecoming. The sorority was part of the annual step show at the university.
Photo Credit: WVSU’s Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.Fraternities and sororities at West Virginia State University (WVSU), one of the state’s two historically Black universities, introduced step dancing at the school decades ago. They made it part of the school’s annual homecoming celebration.
Folkways Reporter Traci Phillips has been attending step shows since she was a kid. Last fall, she brought along her 11-year-old daughter Jayli. They brought us the story.
Teaching Soul FoodXavier Oglesby cuts onions for a macaroni salad he is cooking inside Manna House Ministries’ kitchen. A pot of boiling water is behind him, cooking the pasta for the dish.
Photo Credit: Vanessa Peña/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThe Appalachian table is complex and varied. Along with biscuits and gravy, it includes things like collard greens, extra cheesy mac and cheese and fried chicken feet — soul food.
Soul food is associated with southern Black communities, but it’s also traditional to Appalachia, too.
Folkways Fellow Vanessa Peña visited with Xavier Oglesby, a master artist in soul food cooking from Beckley, West Virginia.
Radioactive And DangerousFairmont Brine has fallen into disrepair since it was abandoned.
Photo Credit: Justin NobelStarting in the late 2000s, parts of Appalachia saw a natural gas boom from hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But, some of that faded and in some places, the oil and gas industry has left behind dangerous industrial sites — like Fairmont Brine in Marion County, West Virginia.
Left alone, the abandoned site became a popular hangout spot for unsuspecting young folks.
Justin Nobel, an investigative reporter, wrote about the issue for Truthdig. The story is titled “Inside West Virginia’s Chernobyl: A highly radioactive oil and gas facility has become a party spot in Marion County.”
Mason Adams spoke with Nobel about his investigation.
Sugar Syrup Season In Central AppalachiaValerie Lowry offers samples to visitors at the Highland County Maple Syrup Festival.
Photo Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingHighland County, Virginia and its neighbors in West Virginia are some of the southernmost places in the U.S. to make maple syrup.
Generations of people in these communities have turned tapping trees for syrup into a longstanding tradition — but modern producers are experimenting with new syrups while adapting to changing demands, and a changing climate.
Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett brought us the story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Jeff Ellis, Tyler Childers, Amethyst Kiah, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood and Frank George.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, the state legislature got to work as the session drew closer to its final stretch. Lawmakers talked about home schooling, raw milk, keeping youth safe online, allowing 14-year-olds to work, and creating a lasting monument to one of the state’s most beloved figures, war hero Woody Williams.
We’ll also hear about the United States Postal Service’s proposed changes to mail processing, what the legislative auditor’s office does, and finally, we’ll talk to a Marshall University professor who studies fossils.
Curtis Tate is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we are in the final stages of the 2024 West Virginia Legislative session, and the pace is picking up with just two more weeks to go. Next Wednesday, Feb. 28, marks what is known as Crossover Day. That is the day all bills must be out of their chamber of origin if they are to be considered for passage this year.
In the House Friday, bills on third reading ranged from improving schools and learning, to providing guidance on social media and political campaign ads, along with harsher penalties for the sexual assault of a minor. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber considered bills on welfare, natural hair, oil and gas taxes, as well as one that would affect West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, marriage would no longer be a defense in cases of sexual assault if a Senate bill becomes law. Emily Rice has more.
And, our high school reporters were interested in interviewing some of the people behind the scenes that make the legislative session run. Ameera Mustafa interviews Senate Doorkeeper Jeff Branham.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with the audio recording of high school reporter Ben Valleau’s interview with Donnie Linkenhoger, so we are unable to bring you that part of the program. Our apologies to Mr. Linkenhoger and Mr. Valleau.
Finally, for our reporter roundtable this week, Chris Schulz joins our two primary legislative reporters, Randy Yohe and Briana Heaney, to discuss some of the things they’ve been reporting on this week.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2dCQ_p0RnwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, parts of Appalachia saw a natural gas boom from fracking, but as fortunes have changed, the industry has left behind dangerous industrial sites — including one near Fairmont, which became a popular hangout spot for the young. Investigative Reporter Justin Nobel has been looking into this and spoke with Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams about what he discovered.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Wilco. We listen to their performance of “Cruel Country” from their twelfth studio album of the same name.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, from staffing to security, West Virginia's schools are facing a variety of issues. Bills introduced this year have ranged from associate degrees for vocational students to reducing barriers to teacher certification. Chris Schulz spoke with Senate Education Chair Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason, about legislative action to address the state's educational problems.
In the House, lawmakers considered bills on third reading that included cutting the Social Security tax, getting broadband fiber optic cable on poles, and making it easier to visit certain gravesites. Randy Yohe has the story.
In the Senate, the chamber looked at bills on missing children, SNAP benefits, and Oil and Gas property taxes. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, the House Education Committee moved to address a critical shortage of special education staff, while the Senate Education Committee took a rarely seen action in their meeting. Chris Schulz has the story.
Finally, war hero Hershel “Woody” Williams was honored at the U.S. Capitol following his death. Now, a statue of him could be on permanent display there. Curtis Tate has more.
And, scientific and social research has to start somewhere. On Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol you can learn how theory and hypothesis develop into pragmatic information meant to help people.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjmjtTkOCCAThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, many bills and amendments have been introduced in the state legislature this year that focus on women's health policy. But feminine hygiene isn’t one of them. Briana Heaney talks with Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, about women's health in the state and legislation that affects women.
Also, in this show, aftereffects from the coronavirus pandemic continue to challenge our health care systems. The most recent spotlight is on Medicaid which offers health coverage for more than 90 million Americans with limited resources. After several years of continuous coverage, everyone must now reapply to determine eligibility. In a new episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay reports on how that process is going for residents of the Mountain State.
Kay talked with Deedra Toppings about her experience. She was covered by Medicaid when her headaches began eight years ago, but that changed. We listen to an excerpt from our latest episode. To hear this full episode, tune in to WVPB Radio on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. or on your own time at wvpublic.org.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Updated on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at 10:14 a.m.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, there was contentious third reading debate in the House of Delegates over the much talked about bill to arm teachers as concealed carry protection officers. Randy Yohe has the latest on House Bill 4299.
In the Senate, the chamber had one of its busier days as official deadlines draw closer. Next Wednesday is Crossover Day, meaning that all bills have to be out of their chamber of origin to have a chance of becoming law. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, the Senate Government Organization Committee advanced a bill that would promote Randall Reid-Smith, the curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History, to a cabinet secretary. The committee approved Senate Bill 865, which now goes to the full chamber. West Virginia Public Broadcasting is part of the Department of Arts, Culture and History.
A health facility would not need to obtain a certificate of need to operate in West Virginia if a certain House bill becomes law. Emily Rice has more.
Special education educators, students and their families gathered at the Capitol to advocate for more support in their classrooms. Chris Schulz has the story.
And, on History Day at the Capitol, the rotunda is sent back in time. It becomes a place of living history, where the lives and lessons from our state’s past become touchstones for the present and future. Randy Yohe has the story.
Finally, women's health has been a popular topic in the Senate this year. Many bills and amendments have been introduced that focus on women's health policy. Briana Heaney speaks with Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, about women's health in the state and legislation that affects women.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj8kMrv8PT4The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
Our health care systems continue to struggle from aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic.
The most recent example spotlights Medicaid — a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for more than 90 million Americans with limited resources. After several years of continuous coverage, now everyone must reapply for eligibility.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay reports more than a quarter of West Virginia residents rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. It pays for three-quarters of West Virginia’s nursing home residents, and nearly half of the state's school kids use Medicaid to pay for their annual checkups. However, the application process is finding many ineligible because of changes in personal information and contact data that weren’t updated in the system.
Join us as we look at the ‘unwinding’ of Medicaid, as millions of the nation’s most vulnerable struggle to maintain their health coverage.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, the Daywood Foundation and the CRC Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Tricia Brooks, a research professor at the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, parses out the nitty gritty details behind Medicaid access to explain how Medicaid coverage changed under the pandemic. The re-enrollment process for Medicaid involves millions of people, but the government cracking down on eligibility isn't new. Like many safety net programs, Brooks told Us & Them’s Trey Kay that Medicaid is vulnerable to the push and pull of politics in Washington.
“In 2018, there were efforts made by the administration at that time to have a chilling effect on Medicaid and Medicaid enrollment for kids dropped by one million kids. And that same year, the uninsured rate for kids went up by a half a percentage point. We'd gotten down to about 5 percent uninsured kids. If we've lost 3.5 million, we're talking about another 50 percent increase in the share of uninsured children in this country. And that would be a real travesty after decades of working to try to bring health coverage to almost every American child.” — Tricia Brooks, Georgetown University Center for Children and Families
Photo Credit: Georgetown UniversityDirector Craig Robinson oversees Cabin Creek Health Systems, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in West Virginia. Cabin Creek, like other FQHCs, exists to give low-cost care to people in need. Robinson showed Trey Kay the 14-page Medicaid application the government sent out after the COVID-19 health emergency ended. He said people are required to fill it out and send it back, to determine their ongoing eligibility for Medicaid coverage.
“I've actually tried to complete it [the form] myself. And I couldn't get through it because I couldn't understand what they were asking for. They want to know about the situation of everybody in the family, including their medical situation. They want to know about your assets, and I had no idea that assets mattered in terms of Medicaid eligibility. I thought it was all income. But they're asking for, what's in your checking account, what's in your savings account kind of thing. How do I fill this out in a way that I don't mistakenly declare myself ineligible?” — Craig Robinson, director of Cabin Creek Health Systems, Charleston, West Virginia
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingJake Van Horn is a psychologist and community impact officer for Cabin Creek Health Systems in Charleston, West Virginia.
“It's extremely short sighted to think that the upfront or initial investment in something like Medicaid doesn't pay you dividends, in the long run. A community being better put together. Having better health care creates better employees, creates better employment opportunities, creates growth, creates better parents, creates better kids, creates better caregivers. People not struggling so much to maintain basic health, does create a more advantageous society.” — Jake Van Horn, Cabin Creek Health Systems, Charleston, West Virginia
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingKatie May, psychologist and clinical director for Cabin Creek Health System's Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Program, said that many of her substance use disorder patients don't have time to parse through Medicaid’s 14-page re-enrollment form that’s full of legalese.
“Some of them might be experiencing homelessness. I was on Medicaid during graduate school and just graduated a while ago. And so when they started doing these annual reviews again, I was getting call after call from Medicaid to do my reviews and I was thinking, ‘How are my patients missing these reviews? They won't leave me alone.’ But it's also a privilege that I've had the same phone number for 15 years and that I have an address forwarding that they were able to keep up with me. Some of my patients, for various reasons, have a different cell phone number every couple months. Whether it's their phone is being stolen; they're losing their phone; they can't afford a service and are having to change services. So, yes, a 14-page application, but that's even if they get it. And then my patients are coming in and the first time that they're finding out about this is us telling them, ‘Oh, it looks like your Medicaid has expired.’ And then there's panic, of course, because that's how they get their treatment. That's how they get lifesaving medication.” — Katie May, Cabin Creek Health Systems, Charleston, West Virginia
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingIt's true that publicly funded medical insurance opens the door for a lot of Americans to take better care of their health. Deedra Toppings, from Branchland, West Virginia, has had significant health challenges, some of which came during the pandemic when she was not working and eligible for Medicaid. COVID-19-era policies gave Deedra’s family a taste of stable insurance that actually worked for them. But when she returned to work, the circumstances changed. As Medicaid returns to business as usual, people are losing resources that made their lives better.
“I feel like we're being punished because we want to work and we want to better our lives and make sure our children have what they need. When I didn't work, and we didn't want more for our lives, we would get the Medicaid and it would help with the hospital bills, the doctor bills, whatever. But because we both want to work, I mean, we do not make a ton of money, we don't have extras, we don't have all of this stuff. It just kind of feels like we're punished, because when we work, then we don't get the help that I necessarily need for my health.” — Deedra Toppings, Branchland, West Virginia
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingJames Hairston, 63, is a disabled coal miner living in St. Albans, West Virginia. He told Trey Kay that his disability occurred when “1,800 pounds of sandstone and coal” collapsed on him and pinned him to the mine floor. Hairston and his wife are both disabled. He used to get Medicaid benefits, which meant he could use home health care. That provided help with household chores and meals. He didn’t see it as a handout, just some help. Under the COVID-19 emergency declaration, Hairston couldn't be removed from Medicaid. But once that ended, the state reported that he made too much to qualify.
“It's a real hurting feeling. I've worked to provide a good living for my wife and kids. It's hard for me to look at it and say, ‘Well, you know, you cut me off.’ And I didn't bring this pain and all this stuff to myself. It's just, I mean, I love what I was doing and I miss it so bad and I still had a lot of good years left in me.” — James Hairston
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingJames Hairston shows the crack in the miner’s helmet that he was wearing the day the mine ceiling fell in on him and ended his coal mining career.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingEric Hicks works with a range of Medicaid clients, including James Hairston, through the local home care company he runs called Right At Home. Right At Home is a nationwide franchise and in West Virginia, most of the company's business comes from Medicaid patients. Hicks says when the government stops paying for a person's home care, it puts families in a bind. Most times, they'll try to find friends or family to help out. If that's not available, the only other alternative is often a skilled nursing facility.
Trey Kay asked Hicks what Medicaid gives someone like James Hairston. The answer is simple: autonomy.
“There is absolutely a place for skilled nursing facilities and the services that they provide. When a person graduates from in-home care, that's where they go, because we cannot meet all their needs. But it's that gap in between, that people want to stay at home and they have the ability to stay at home if they have a little bit of assistance. They want to have all their things that they have at home and not be forced to leave their home to go to a place that they're not comfortable with. A lot of people don't want to be in a more institutionalized setting, they want to be able to comfortably have as many of their family and friends over to visit whenever they want to come by, not be restricted by time constraints, et cetera.” — Eric Hicks, president of Right at Home, Charleston, West Virginia
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingCheck out our colleague Emily Rice’s AP of the Virginias award-nominated series Unwinding Medicaid.
On this West Virginia Morning, a researcher at Marshall University has discovered an entirely new type of plesiosaur after studying the fossils of two different creatures. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Robert Clark, the academic laboratory manager for the Biology Department at Marshall to find out more.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, in the midst of school shootings like Park View, Sandy Hook and Uvalde, school safety continues to be a pressing issue across the country.
In West Virginia, small and rural schools find it difficult to staff school resource officers and other security personnel, but a bill now making its way through the House of Delegates would allow teachers and other school staff to carry a firearm or other weapon on school grounds. Chris Schulz spoke with Del. Elliot Pritt, R-Fayette, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, for their perspective.
In the House, along with 13 bills on third reading, several resolutions were passed, and tributes were read honoring fallen West Virginia combat veterans.
In the Senate, the chamber addressed keeping West Virginia safer online. The chamber approved bills addressing ways that AI (artificial intelligence) could be used to sexually exploit children on the internet and protect the personal information of people online. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Monday afternoon considered an idea as old as the nation’s founding: Creating a currency backed by gold and silver. Curtis Tate has that story.
The House and Senate Education committees started the week off by considering changes to homeschooling requirements, as well as sports outside the school. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, West Virginia’s senior citizens took center stage this Tuesday for AARP Day at the Capitol. There is a core group of statewide AARP leaders who lobby for certain legislation just about every day of every regular session – and 2024 is no different.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7pLCi1UuNwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, eastern Kentucky’s AppHarvest was called the future of farming and a way to bring new jobs to coal country. But as Inside Appalachia’s Mason Adams explores, the company fell nearly as fast as it rose and filed for bankruptcy last year.
Also in this show, in our most recent episode of The Legislature Today, bills in both the House and the Senate would change the way the legislative auditor operates. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Mike Pushkin and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw about the office, which has long been a watchdog of the executive branch of government, making sure that money is spent properly.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Legislative Auditor is a department under the West Virginia Legislature tasked with auditing offices under the executive branch. There is a bill making its way through the legislature that some say will “defang” the work done by the department while others say the bill strengthens it.
Randy Yohe spoke with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and Democratic Party Chairman Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, for perspective on the issue.
In the House, a wide range of bills on third reading included a change in oil and gas property taxes, the sale of raw milk and changing the title of the curator of the Department of Arts, Culture and History. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber approved 10 bills on third reading covering topics ranging from creating a state Alzheimer's task force to the James A. Manchin Environmental Action Plan. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, a group that spends a lot of time at the legislature campaigning for Second Amendment issues was back. Bob Brunner spoke to a representative to find out what they were working on now.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVvIJMaxAc8The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the United States Postal Service (USPS) held a public hearing in Charleston last week where officials discussed their plans to downsize a local mail processing facility. But union representatives came away from the hearing with questions left unanswered. Now, they say their trust in the USPS has only further eroded. Jack Walker has the story.
Also, in this show, in our most recent episode of The Legislature Today, we had our weekly reporter roundtable. Last week, Brad McElhinny from West Virginia MetroNews joined Randy Yohe and Curtis Tate in our studio to discuss the governor’s latest legal trouble and the library obscenity bill, among other things.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Appalachians love to compete. Whether it’s recreational league softball, a turkey calling contest or workplace chili cook offs, Mountain folks are in it to win it.
But there’s more to competing than just winning or losing.
In this show, we’ll meet competitors who are also keepers of beloved Appalachian traditions.
In This Episode:
- Musgrave Reports From The Mountain Mushroom Festival
- An Accident Of Appalachian History Led To A New Style of Pizza
- Brave Kids Continue Eisteddfod Tradition
- Playing To Eat And Eating To Play
- A Southern Ohio Town Honors The Appalachian Connection To The NFL
Musgrave Reports From The Mountain Mushroom FestivalTina Caroland shows off a morel mushroom at the Mountain Mushroom Festival in Irvine, Kentucky. Caroland has demonstrated how to fry morels at the festival for about 15 years. She purchased morels for a recent year’s cooking demonstration because Caroland and her family were slow to find morels at the start of the season.
Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public BroadcastingEach spring, people take to the woods in search of morels, a seasonal favorite throughout Appalachia, and they inspire all kinds of competition.
Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave went to the Mountain Mushroom Festival in Irvine, Kentucky and found people looking for the most mushrooms — the biggest mushrooms — and the tastiest way to eat mushrooms.
An Accident Of Appalachian History Led To A New Style of PizzaIn Wheeling, West Virginia, people are passionate about their pizza. People there say that an accident of history led to a new style of pizza – Appalachia’s contribution to America’s great regional pizza traditions. Folkways Reporter Zack Harold visited DiCarlo’s Famous Pizza to find out more.
Credit: Zack Harold/West Virginia Public BroadcastingEver live in a place where there’s a competition between two restaurants, and people sort of decide which team they’re on?
Folkways Reporter Zack Harold says people in Wheeling, West Virginia are passionate about their pizza.That’s because an accident of history led to a new style and who’s better/who’s best contest that’s been going on for decades.
Brave Kids Continue Eisteddfod TraditionEisteddfod is probably not a word that rolls off the tongue of everyone in Appalachia. But in Wales, it refers to a traditional music competition that goes back nearly 1,000 years. Immigrants brought the tradition to southern Ohio, where it has endured for generations. Thanks in part to some brave kids.
Folkways Reporter Capri Cafaro has this story.
Playing To Eat And Eating To PlayJared Kaplan holds the game he designed with Chris Kincaid.
Credit: Clara Haizlett/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAnother competitive tradition that’s endured for generations is weekly board game night. Whether with family or friends, we play Monopoly, Settlers of Catan, and sometimes even Candyland.
Folkways Reporter Clara Haizlett reported on a board game that matches West Virginia’s favorite cryptids with some of its favorite places to eat.
A Southern Ohio Town Honors The Appalachian Connection To The NFLAppalachia’s connection to professional football has always been a little loose. Lots of pro players have come out of Appalachia, but there’s really only one Appalachian NFL team — the Pittsburgh Steelers, or two if you count the Atlanta Falcons, as a listener recently argued we should.
It turns out, at least one other professional team has Appalachian DNA — the Detroit Lions. That franchise began as the Portsmouth Spartans in Portsmouth, Ohio, just across the river from Kentucky.
Sports fan and WVPB Reporter Randy Yohe has this story.
What about you? What kind of competitions are happening in your neck of the woods? Maybe you know about a sport or contest we’ve never heard about. Or someone there makes pizza like nobody else. Tell us about it. Email us at InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Charlie McCoy, The Steel Drivers, Larry Groce, David Mayfield, and Dean Martin.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens. Zander Aloi also helped produce this episode.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, the state legislature had Child Care Advocacy Day, centering on an issue leaders flagged as a top priority at the start of the session. But with the session more than halfway through, action still remains to be seen.
We also hear about law and order issues facing the state, a bill that narrows definitions of gender, as well as updates on Corridor H and the loss of manufacturing jobs in the Northern Panhandle.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our weekly reporter roundtable. Brad McElhinny from West Virginia MetroNews joins Randy Yohe and Curtis Tate in the studio to discuss what’s going on in the West Virginia Legislature and what they expect to see in the final weeks.
Also, there are just three weeks left in the 2024 state legislative session. The pace is picking up, and the respective Finance committees in the House and Senate have been working on a state budget.
In the House, a contentious bill regarding schools, libraries and obscene material went to third reading – meaning the voting stage. Randy Yohe has the story.
In the Senate, the chamber passed quieter bills. The chamber approved 11 bills and sent them to the House for consideration. The Senate also advanced more than 20 other bills, seven of which are House bills, and there was emotional debate around a resolution.
Also, surrogacy is legal in West Virginia, and a Senate bill aims to add legal structure to the process. Emily Rice has more.
Finally, our student reporters this week took a look at several environmental bills moving through the legislature. We check in with them.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t33YYDzYKKcThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 571, creating an Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority for Corridor H. Curtis Tate spoke with Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael about the importance of Corridor H to the state. Before that discussion, though, they talked about some breaking news about a steel plant in the Northern Panhandle.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Phish. We listen to the band’s performance of “All Things Reconsidered.” It’s guitarist Trey Anastasio’s variation on NPR’s All Things Considered theme, and this performance marks the only time it was ever performed live by the band on National Public Radio.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 571, creating an Advanced Energy and Economic Corridor Authority for Corridor H. Curtis Tate spoke with Economic Development Secretary Mitch Carmichael about the importance of Corridor H to the state. Before that discussion, though, they talked about some breaking news about a steel plant in the Northern Panhandle.
In the House, there was a lengthy, emotional, life and death debate over the pros and cons of euthanasia and medically assisted suicide.
In the Senate, the chamber focused on voting, with three out of five bills relating to voting or voter ID. Briana Heaney has the story.
Also, whether or not to teach middle schoolers about fentanyl and overdose-reversing medicine sparked discussion in the House Education Committee, while Senate Education modified a House bill on special education. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, West Virginia State University is one of the state’s two HBCU’s, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities. It was WVSU Day at the Capitol, where school leadership worked the shoe leather, as they say, to see big dollar budget legislation passed.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYhReqZ8G_IThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, having access to childcare so people can go to work is a serious issue in West Virginia for economic development. In our most recent episode of The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, to explore the issue.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, leaders from both sides of the aisle have declared that childcare for the working men and women of West Virginia is a priority regarding economic and workforce development. So far, there has been plenty of talk but little legislative action. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Joey Garcia, D-Marion, and Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, to explore the issue.
In the House, the controversial Women’s Bill of Rights, House Bill 5243, was put back on the active calendar for third reading. And, yet another call for a legislative oversight committee to monitor yet another state government agency. Randy Yohe has more.
There was also a public hearing held in the House on a bill that would remove a sunset clause from the current oil and gas personal property tax. Briana Heaney has more.
In the Senate, the chamber is building momentum now that it is well into the second half of the legislative session. Ten bills were passed and sent to the House, two bills were passed and sent to the governor's desk. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, it was Childcare Advocacy Day at the Capitol. Childcare is one of the hot topics in the 2024 regular session, directly related to the state's economic development. Randy Yohe has more.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtobo8u6EIUThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces.
Briana Heaney sat down with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and Molly Kennedy, a community outreach director at the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss the bill. West Virginia Public Broadcasting tried several times to get one of the Republican sponsors of the bill to come on the show and discuss it, but they all declined.
Also, in this show, we have a new story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. Their latest story is about the long-term effects of PFAS contamination.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” or House Bill 5243, would put certain definitions of “man” and “woman” into code and determine who can use single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms. Democrats call it an “anti-trans” bill. Randy Yohe spoke with the bill’s lead sponsor, Del. Kathie Hess-Crouse, R-Putnam, asking if her bill was fair to all.
Also, a public hearing was held on the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” where 20 speakers spoke in opposition to the bill and seven in support. As the bill advanced through the House, it gained an amendment to remove an exception in criminal code for marital rape. Briana Heaney sat down with Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, and Molly Kennedy, a community outreach director at the American Civil Liberties Union, to discuss the bill. West Virginia Public Broadcasting tried several times to get one of the Republican sponsors of the bill to come on the show and discuss it, but they all declined.
In the House, one resolution and two bills on third reading dealt with helping preserve West Virginia history, increasing help for the coalfields economy and alcohol at community festivals.
In the Senate, the chamber approve seven bills. Six of those head to the House for consideration and one heads to the governor's desk. The bills dealt with issues on landowner liability, retirement plans and burglary. The bill headed to the governor would streamline West Virginia's science, technology, engineering and mathematics scholarship programs. The Senate advanced more than 10 other bills.
In committees, the Education committees of both chambers started the week off by advancing bills to improve management of local school districts. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, it was E-Day at the Capitol, where environmental organizations gathered to speak to lawmakers. Solar power and community air monitoring were the main topics of discussion. Curtis Tate has this story.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQNoPXU26LcThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, bills about crime and punishment come before the state legislature every year. Often, they adjust punishment or even establish a new section of the state’s criminal code. For The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and a former U.S. attorney, to get their take on bills before both chambers.
Also, in this show, a bill passed the state Senate Monday that would prohibit anyone smoking in the car with a minor. Briana Heaney has that story.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, bills about crime and punishment come before the West Virginia Legislature every year. Often, they adjust punishment or even establish a new section of the state’s criminal code. Randy Yohe spoke with Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, and Sen. Mike Stuart, R-Kanawha, and a former U.S. attorney.
Also, in the Senate, the chamber approved seven bills and sent them to the House. The body also advanced more than 20 other bills.
In the House, seven bills on third reading were sent to the Senate. The controversial House Bill 5243, so-called the “Women’s Bill of Rights,” was removed from the active calendar without announcement. It could be brought back at any time.
And, lawmakers heard from cancer patients, survivors and advocates during Cancer Action Day. Emily Rice has the story.
Finally, Bob Brunner spoke with representatives from the corrections department at the capitol, asking how things are going after legislative changes last year increased salaries and recruiting efforts for more officers.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LzPpyHWdyYThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, we regularly invite reporters from outside news organizations onto our program The Legislature Today to discuss what they are seeing during the state legislative session. On Friday, Briana Heaney and Emily Rice spoke with Lori Kersey, a reporter from the independent news organization West Virginia Watch. One of the big stories on Friday was the bill called the Women’s Bill of Rights.
Also, in this show, it’s been a year since the Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing chemicals and resulting in the burning of vinyl chloride. Some residents are still worried about chemicals inside their homes. But as The Allegheny Front’s Reid Frazier reports, the EPA won’t do indoor testing.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
When the farming start-up, AppHarvest, launched in Kentucky, it promised good jobs in coal country — but some workers called it a grueling hell on earth.
We also explore an island of Japanese culture in West Virginia called Yama.
And fish fries have been a staple in Charleston, West Virginia’s Black community for years. We visit one and learn a little about what’s made them so popular.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- The Rise And Fall Of AppHarvest
- Japanese Homestyle Haven In Morgantown
- Fish Fries, An African-American Tradition In Charleston, WV
- Remembering the WV Water Crisis 10 Years Later
The Rise And Fall Of AppHarvestWhen AppHarvest built its first greenhouse in 2020, it was touted as no less than the future of farming — and even Appalachia itself. The start-up would use cutting-edge technology and local workers to produce vegetables on an industrial scale. But then, last year, the company filed for bankruptcy.
Austyn Gaffney recently reported on the downfall of AppHarvest, in a story for Grist. Mason Adams talks with Gaffney to learn more.
Japanese Homestyle Haven In MorgantownStaff member Ryoko Kijimoto serves up rich rice bowls and ramen in Yama’s diner atmosphere.
Credit: Min KimHigh Street in Morgantown, West Virginia is a bustling strip. Tucked away off the main drag is a place called Yama, a cozy diner that’s been serving up homestyle Japanese food since the 1990s. Japanese students and staff share their language, culture and food. It’s also a place of comfort and connection for everyone.
Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin has the story.
Fish Fries, An African-American Tradition In Charleston, W.Va.Andre Nazario
Credit: Leeshia Lee/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSigns for fish fries are pretty common in Charleston, West Virginia, especially in the city’s Black community, where they’ve become a tradition.
Folkways Fellow, Leeshia Lee, grew up in Charleston and says friends and neighbors frequently hosted fish fries, often as a way to raise money for community needs. Lee has the story.
Remembering The W.Va. Water Crisis 10 Years LaterKallie Cart reporting on the January 2014 West Virginia water crisis.
Credit: Kallie Cart/WCHS-TVTen years ago, a chemical spill in Charleston, West Virginia’s Elk River contaminated the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of people. The disaster became a national story, about corporate distrust and community action.
WVPB's Randy Yohe spoke with Kallie Cart, a former broadcast reporter who covered the crisis and went viral after one particular exchange.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Chris Knight, Tim Bing, Amythyst Kiah, Jeff Ellis and Bob Thompson.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we are back with more coverage of the West Virginia Legislature, where bills regarding school discipline, gender identity and air monitoring continue to spark debate. We’ll revisit conversations with some of the lawmakers helming these bills.
Plus, we’ll discuss a failed Senate bill that aimed to increase border security, a debt owed by one of Gov. Jim Justice’s companies, and ongoing medical difficulties facing the governor’s bulldog, Babydog.
Jack Walker is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
Updated on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024 at 11:20 a.m.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we wrap up another week of the West Virginia Legislative session, and the pace is starting to pick up in both chambers. We also have a story from our student reporters and a history lookback as well.
In the House, 10 bills passed through third reading, all with either unanimous or near unanimous votes. Some follow a trend this session of creating more legislative oversight. Others increase consumer protection on gift card fraud and phone spam. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber approved five bills on things like new energy technology and left lane driving. Seventeen bills advanced. Briana Heaney has more.
Debate broke out on the House floor after amendments were proposed to the Women’s Bill of Rights. Emily Rice has more.
Our high school reporters this week bring us a look at three bills they’ve been following.
Also, the House earlier this week introduced House Bill 5006. The bill is related to the administration of the A. James Manchin Rehabilitation Environmental Action Plan. Who was he? We asked Bob Brunner to give us a little more background.
Finally, we regularly invite reporters from outside news organizations into our studio to discuss what they are seeing during the legislative session. Our own Briana Heaney and Emily Rice spoke with Lori Kersey, a reporter from the independent news organization West Virginia Watch.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkFqORHcRBkThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, tucked away in downtown Morgantown is Yama, a cozy diner that serves up homestyle Japanese food. Since the 1990s, Japanese students have come there to share their common language and culture with the staff. It’s also a place of comfort and connection for everyone. Folkways Reporter Lauren Griffin has this story.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes from Robbie Fulks, whose witty, yet sophisticated songs have captivated our audiences for years. We listen to his performance of “Fare Thee Well, Carolina Gals,” which originally appeared on his 2016 album Upland Stories.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, higher demand for coal and natural gas, as well as higher prices, produced a severance tax windfall for the state over the past few years. But prices have fallen, and with it, tax revenues.
To get a better idea of where things stand, Curtis Tate spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy.
In the House, among the bills on third reading Thursday included a proposal to allow schools to hire trained security guards. The bill led to a social debate over the issue of training in systemic racism. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber advanced 13 bills. They sent Senate Bill 596 to committee. That bill is the same as House Bill 5045, which would give the EPA assurances that carbon capture and storage will not pollute groundwater. The House version was amended to be fused with the Senate bill.
Also, House Democrats held a press conference to highlight their priorities going forward. Randy Yohe has that report.
Finally, the House of Delegates held a public hearing on a bill that would restrict transgender West Virginians access to bathrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECZK-7sckZ8The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a bill defining what air monitoring systems can and can’t be used in regulatory issues and in court has garnered some spirited and extended debate in the House of Delegates. Randy Yohe has the story.
Also, in this show, the nation’s abortion battle is now in the hands of the states. Since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned federal abortion rights, 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion access, including West Virginia. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s neighbor, Maryland, is one of 22 states that have taken steps to protect abortion rights and expand access.
On the latest Us & Them podcast, host Trey Kay follows the decision of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia to move its abortion services just over the border to a new clinic in Maryland. However, some residents in Western Maryland say that goes against their more conservative social and political nature. We listen to an excerpt from the next Us & Them, “The Geography of Abortion.”
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, the House of Delegates passed a bill this week that would restrict how data from community air monitors can be used. The state’s industry and mining trade groups support House Bill 5018, while community and environmental groups oppose it.
Curtis Tate spoke with Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, and Lucia Valentine from the West Virginia Environmental Council about the legislation.
In this House Wednesday, the chamber advanced eight bills to the Senate, including legislation that would help provide for pregnant and parenting teen mothers and fathers, getting dentures while on Medicaid, and patriotic societies recruiting in West Virginia schools. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber passed seven bills including a bill designed to make certain drugs affordable to low income and uninsured people. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, it was Black Policy Day at the Capitol, and advocates gathered to talk about legislation affecting people of color in the Mountain State. Briana Heaney also has this story.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcrRaXSdcKYThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
State borders are the new front lines in the nation’s abortion battle. On this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the evolving geography of abortion.
Since a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision overturned federal abortion rights, 21 states have either banned or restricted abortion access, including West Virginia. Meanwhile, West Virginia’s neighbor, Maryland, is one of 22 states that are protecting abortion rights and expanding access.
Kay follows the decision of Women’s Health Center of West Virginia to move its abortion services from Charleston to a new clinic just over the border near Cumberland, Maryland. The move was intentional, because Western Maryland, like West Virginia, is a so-called abortion desert. The two regions have some deep political and cultural similarities. Western Maryland Republicans say they feel ignored by the overwhelmingly liberal, Democratic legislature in Annapolis. They say the new abortion clinic is not wanted or needed in their part of Maryland, and they blame the clinic’s presence on the fallout from Roe v. Wade’s defeat.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council and the CRC Foundation.
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Katie Quiñonez stood in the waiting room of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, located about 10 miles south of Cumberland, Maryland. Quiñonez is executive director of this health center. She is also the executive director of the Women’s Health Center of West Virginia, which is located in Charleston and was West Virginia’s only abortion clinic until that state banned abortion in September 2022. The West Virginia center still provides reproductive health services, but in the summer of 2023, the Women’s Health Center relocated its abortion services to the Maryland clinic which is less than two miles from the West Virginia border.
Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingSubsequent to the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling in June 2022, Gov. Jim Justice signed a measure into law that banned abortions in West Virginia, with limited exceptions. Justice called the signed bill the “protect life” law. The law bans abortions in West Virginia except in cases when the mother’s life is in danger, or instances of rape and incest that are reported to law enforcement in a timely manner. Any abortion must be performed in a hospital within eight weeks for adults and 14 weeks for minors.
“I believe wholeheartedly that it does one thing that is absolutely so important. It does protect life.” — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice
Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAbortion access in the U.S. varied widely even during the Roe v. Wade era. Some states had lots of clinics, others had just a few. But every state had at least one. That changed when Dobbs ended the federal right to an abortion and let states come up with their own regulations.
Now, abortion access has become even more fragmented and deeply polarized. Fourteen states, including West Virginia, have essentially banned abortion. They have become what some call “abortion deserts.” Seven states have imposed stricter legal limits, while 22 states have moved to protect abortion rights and expand access. Maryland is one of those states.
In May 2023, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore approved laws that do several things. They allow a wider range of medical professionals to perform abortions. They maintain the privacy of abortion-related medical records. And they shield doctors and others from criminal investigations by states with more restrictive abortion laws.
“I'm very proud to sign legislation that will protect access to abortion in Maryland. In this moment of serious consequences for women and for all Marylanders, Maryland can and will lead on this issue of abortion access. And I want to say to all women who are out there who are wondering what will happen. Who are worried about their future. Please hear me loud and clear. Maryland will always be a safe haven for abortion access and abortion rights.” — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore
Credit: Gov. Wes Moore’s X (Twitter) PostMaryland Democrats, who control the state’s legislature, want abortion rights written into the state constitution. The General Assembly has placed a reproductive rights amendment on the ballot for November 2024. Democratic Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk chairs the House Delegates’ Health and Government Services Committee, where the amendment was first considered. She said an abortion rights amendment is necessary, even though Maryland has been a reliably blue state for a long time.
“It's necessary because we feel very strongly that we want Maryland to remain a state that protects abortion access. On the ballot this November, Maryland voters will once again be able to affirmatively and resoundingly say their reproductive freedom should be a constitutional right. It is the highest protection that we can give our constituents.” — Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Credit: Maryland Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk (D), MD 21Maryland’s drive to protect abortion rights and access has attracted OB-GYNs to the state including Dr. Anne Banfield. She moved her practice to a hospital system in Southern Maryland after working for 13 years at a hospital in Elkins, West Virginia.
“I had spent a lot of years trying to recruit to our practice there and working a lot of shifts, taking a lot of calls. And then on top of that, you know, trying to advocate within the state, trying to advocate at the state government level to protect reproductive rights in West Virginia. And I got this great opportunity in Maryland, which is a very friendly and protective state from a women's health and reproductive health standpoint. And we saw the writing on the wall, and I knew I was coming here and I was going to have to work less in a more friendly environment, and I just couldn't pass that up. I don’t think I would have left otherwise.” — Dr. Anne Banfield, OB-GYN
Credit: Dr. Anne Banfield/MedStar St. Mary's HospitalCresta Kowalski is the president of the Mountain Maryland Alliance for Reproductive Freedom. She said prior to the opening of the Women’s Health Center of Maryland, her group had been exploring how to bring an abortion clinic to Western Maryland.
“We were like, okay, a five to 10 year goal would be an indie clinic out here in mountain Maryland. And then in January, I get an email saying, ‘Hi, I'm Katie Quiñonez and my friend Ramsie Monk and I work with the Women's Health Center of Charleston and we'd like to speak with you.’ And they had already found the location and it was perfect. It was made for the operation … I was relieved that we could have options for people that didn't have options.” — Cresta Kowalski
Credit: Cresta Kowalski/FacebookMichael Mudge is the pastor and founder of Bethany House of the Lord, an evangelical Christian church. He and several other anti-abortion advocates from Western Maryland came together to form Abortion Free Allegeny. He said their goals are to let people know about the clinic, organize demonstrations against it, and raise awareness about pregnancy support centers and other abortion alternatives. Mudge said he and others opposed to abortion do not like having a clinic in their backyard, but he knows it has a right to be there.
“What we're dealing with here in Allegheny County, Maryland, is a direct result of the Dobbs decision. The West Virginia Legislature took the opportunity after the Dobbs decision to pass legislation effectively banning abortion. And the Maryland state legislature, as in many other states, has responded to the Dobbs decision by radicalizing even more their pro-abortion legislation. So, we're caught up in the middle of that. It's just that here, we're in a part of Maryland that doesn't fit well in Maryland.” — Michael Mudge
Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingMudge referred to the political segregation that has deepened in Maryland as it has across the country.
There’s the rural, conservative, Republican Maryland of the western panhandle, the eastern Chesapeake Bay, and the counties north of Baltimore. And there’s the urban, liberal, Democratic Maryland of Baltimore City, Annapolis and the D.C. suburbs that dominates state politics.
David Karol, an associate professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, said it wasn’t always like this.
Karol said his students were surprised to learn that in the presidential election of 1988, Republican George H. W. Bush won Maryland while Democrat Mike Dukakis won West Virginia.
“Which, you know, is just shocking to students, because that's a complete reversal of the alignment that we see today,” Karol said.
“The [Maryland] legislature has been Democratic for about 100 years. The governorship has occasionally gone to Republicans, but seldom. And in presidential elections, Maryland has voted Democratic consistently since 1992.” – David Karol
Credit: David Karol/University of MarylandRepublican Mike McKay has represented Western Maryland in the Maryland General Assembly since 2015, first as a delegate and, for the last year, as a senator. He said his constituents have felt out of step with their overwhelmingly liberal Democrat fellow Marylanders. In 2021, then-Del. McKay and five other Republican lawmakers floated the idea of Garrett, Allegeny and Washington counties seceding from Maryland to become a part of West Virginia. They wrote a letter to the Republican leaders of West Virginia’s legislature to gauge their interest. It was a very, very long shot.
“We sent a letter and it became a dumpster fire, to be perfectly honest,” said McKay. “Everybody went crazy - ‘How are you leaving?’ Yada yada yada. And two of our members backed out. And the rest of us out of respect really just went our separate ways.”
McKay said his constituents are more aligned with West Virginia on abortion, too. He described himself as “pro-life” and said the Women’s Health Center of Maryland is not wanted or needed.
“I had a reporter from the Washington Post call me and do an interview, and she asked me, ‘How do you feel about this abortion clinic just moving across the state line, across the Potomac?’ I said, there's never been a need for it. If there was a need for Planned Parenthood to move here, if there was actually this need, they would have been here by now. We have had women's health clinics here for years. Probably 90 percent of everything that Planned Parenthood provides for women. And it's important. That 90 percent is important to urban and rural women. It's the abortion part that I say has been forced on our community, because Annapolis and Charleston had totally two different views, and our community has had to deal with the aftermath.” — Sen. Mike McKay
Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingKatie Quiñonez said she’s not forcing anything on Western Maryland.
“We did a market analysis and looked at what health care was available in those counties in mountain Maryland. And we found that not only was there not an abortion provider, the nearest abortion providers for the people living in mountain Maryland were at least 100 miles away in any direction. But there was also a real lack of reproductive health care, outside of a hospital system located in Cumberland. And then beyond that, we met directly with folks on the ground living and working in those communities to determine that, yes, there is a need here. Not only do we need abortion access, we need reproductive health care.” — Katie Quiñonez
Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThis is what abortion care has become after the fall of Roe: a state-by-state fight over access, where abortion rights are determined by the lines on a map. The state line that divides West Virginia and Maryland runs through mountain communities that are alike in their topography, their culture and their political affiliations.
But on one side of that state line, abortion is legal, while on the other side, abortion is a criminal offense.
On this West Virginia Morning, about 20,000 West Virginia children are homeschooled, with the numbers growing every day. Some in state education and the West Virginia Legislature help champion school choice, while others worry about the quality of the education and the safety of homeschooled children.
For The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe sat down with public school teacher Del. Jeff Stephens, R-Marshall, and Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, Chair of the Senate School Choice Committee, for a discussion.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, about 20,000 West Virginia children are homeschooled, with that numbers growing every day. Some officials in state education and the West Virginia Legislature help champion school choice. Others worry about the quality of the education and the safety of homeschooled children.
Randy Yohe sat down with public school teacher Del. Jeff Stevens, R-Marshall, and Sen. Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, chair of the Senate School Choice Committee, to discuss all things homeschooling.
In the House, spirited debate echoed through the chamber. Bills on third reading included a bill on what air monitoring systems can be used in court, and another bill toughening laws on copper theft. Randy Yohe has more.
In the Senate, the chamber passed four bills and sent them to the House for consideration.
Also, student discipline continues to be an issue in West Virginia schools, and lawmakers continue to try and address the issue through legislation. A bill in the Senate is trying to expand on a law that was passed last year. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, it was Food and Farm Day at the Capitol, and the emphasis was on West Virginia farmers getting legislative help to better market their produce and products. Randy Yohe has more.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaD_Jh-kpF0The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, it’s been a little more than a year since a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. While there’s been much attention paid to the environmental fallout, many local business owners say they’ve struggled to keep their businesses afloat.
Reporting from East Palestine, WESA’s Oliver Morrison checked in to see how business is faring one year later.
Also, in this show, 90 bills to-date have been introduced into the West Virginia Legislature on elections. For The Legislature Today, Briana Heaney spoke with Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, and Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, in a noisy capitol rotunda studio to hear what some of these bills may do.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, 90 bills to-date have been introduced this year between the Senate and the House about election laws.
We’ve heard a lot since the 2020 general election about potential voter fraud, although numerous courts have ruled there was no election fraud that would have changed the outcome of that election. Secretary of State Mac Warner has also said there was also no major election fraud in West Virginia. He has prosecuted a handful of people for election violations in the last few years.
Briana Heaney spoke with Del. Josh Holstein, R-Boone, and Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, to get their perspective.
In the House, eight bills advanced from third reading to the Senate. Two of the proposals help further protect the environment and one takes telehealth a step further with a proactive technological approach to medical care. Randy Yohe has the story.
In the Senate, the chamber approved five bills, sending them to the House for consideration. The Senate advanced 12 other bills. Briana Heaney has more.
Finally, advocates and recovery experts filled the Capitol rotunda on Monday to educate lawmakers about substance use disorder. Emily Rice has the story.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZBSsz2f3XwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, to have broadband connectivity for all of West Virginia within five years, there are progress and time markers that must be met to get all of the $1.2 billion federal dollars to complete the work.
In a recent episode of The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe sat down with House Technology and Infrastructure Committee Chair Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, and Broadband Consultant Charlie Dennie to discuss meeting those markers.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
In 2016, a wildfire escaped the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It killed 14 people, injured dozens more and destroyed parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. We talk with an investigative journalist who has new information on the incident.
Also, four decades ago rice seeds from Laos crossed the ocean to California and made their way to a family of Hmong farmers in North Carolina.
And the Appalachian trail has been exhaustively hiked, explored and written about, but it’s still got a few secrets left.
You'll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Investigating The Gatlinburg Fire Of 2016
- The Sweet Sticky Rice Of Western North Carolina
- Save The Salamanders!
- An Appalachian Trail Mystery
Investigating The Gatlinburg Fire Of 2016In 2016, a wildfire at Chimney Tops in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee spread beyond the park boundaries into the nearby tourist towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. At least 14 people were killed. Many more were injured and thousands of residents and tourists had to be evacuated.
A new investigation revealed that National Park Service officials underestimated the severity of the wildfire and were slow to alert Tennessee officials about the danger.
Tyler Whetstone, an investigative reporter, spoke with Mason Adams about his reporting.
The Sweet Sticky Rice Of Western North CarolinaTou Lee holds sweet sticky rice stalks in his rice field in Morganton, North Carolina.
Credit: Rachel Moore/West Virginia Public BroadcastingWhen you think of rice, you might not think of Western North Carolina. But the area is home to several varieties of heirloom rice that made their way here from Laos nearly five decades ago. The rice was carried and cultivated by Hmong refugees.
One family now sells their rice at markets and to restaurants, and they’ve built a passionate following.
Folkways Reporter Rachel Moore has this story.
Save The Salamanders!The West Virginia spring salamander.
Credit: U.S. Geological SurveyHave you ever heard of a West Virginia spring salamander? They’re a species found in the General Davis Cave in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, but there are only a few hundred left.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to put the West Virginia spring salamander on the endangered species list.
WVPB's Curtis Tate spoke with Will Harlan, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity.
An Appalachian Trail MysteryThe Appalachian Trail was completed in 1927. For 25 years, hikers took to the trail and traveled along the mountains from Georgia to Maine, but then the trail was moved. And the old trail was nearly forgotten.
Historian and podcaster Mills Kelly discovered the lost trail and wrote about it in his new book, Virginia’s Lost Appalachian Trail.
WMRA’s Chris Boros speaks to Kelly about rediscovering the trail.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by David Mayfield, Chris Knight, John Blissard, John Inghram, Eric Vincent Huey and Steve Earle.
Bill Lynch is our producer. Zander Aloi is our associate producer. Our executive producer is Eric Douglas. Kelley Libby is our editor. Our audio mixer is Patrick Stephens.
You can send us an email: InsideAppalachia@wvpublic.org.
You can find us on Instagram, Threads and Twitter @InAppalachia. Or here on Facebook.
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Inside Appalachia is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Week, we continue our coverage of the West Virginia Legislative session with discussions from lawmakers and community stakeholders. We'll listen back to a few of our conversations with our guests on our program The Legislature Today as they discuss taxes, natural hair and trans rights.
We also hear about drug testing strips, new potato chips and the state’s broadband future.
Chris Schulz is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Week is a web-only podcast that explores the week's biggest news in the Mountain State. It's produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have our weekly reporter roundtable. Randy Yohe is joined by WVPB reporter Briana Heaney and Ogden Newspapers’ State Government Reporter Steven Allen Adams to recap the week’s action.
In the House, there was a lengthy, heated and partisan debate over border security in a resolution to support the state of Texas. On the flipside, there was full bipartisan support for the House Speaker’s bill to help with groundbreaking, disease curing medical efforts at West Virginia University (WVU).
In the Senate, the chamber passed two rules bills – one is headed to the House for consideration, and the other is off to the governor's desk. Another bill was held over for a day that deals with air quality. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, community and environmental groups testified Friday morning in a public hearing against House Bill 5018. The bill would limit how community air monitoring data could be used in court cases or to affect regulations. West Virginia’s industrial and mining trade groups support the bill, but most people spoke in opposition.
It was also Homeschool Day at the Capitol. With Hope Scholarship funding and a legislature and administration advocating more school choice, homeschooling is a growing endeavor – but not without some basic education and safety concerns.
Finally, for our weekly report from our high school journalists, they look at a couple bills that were of particular interest to them and to other high school and college-aged students around the state.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqYgDyKO2BYThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a wildfire in 2016 escaped the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee and made it as far as Gatlinburg, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. Inside Appalachia Host Mason Adams spoke with investigative reporter Tyler Whetstone about new information he’s helped bring to light about the fires.
Also, in this show, our Mountain Stage Song of the Week comes to us from Americana Tex-Mex, indie rock group Calexico, who made their fourth appearance on the show. We listen to their performance of “Cumbia de Donde,” from their album Edge of the Sun.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Our Appalachia Health News project is made possible with support from CAMC and Marshall Health.
West Virginia Morning is produced with help from Bill Lynch, Briana Heaney, Chris Schulz, Curtis Tate, Emily Rice, Eric Douglas, Jack Walker, Liz McCormick, and Randy Yohe.
Eric Douglas is our news director and producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, and other members of the upper chamber held a press conference to discuss the recent pause on new permits for liquefied natural gas exports. Briana Heaney has the story.
In the House, the House Committee on Energy and Manufacturing discussed a bill that would prevent publicly sourced air pollution data from being used in lawsuits and regulatory proceedings.
Also, in the House, a resolution regarding a constitutional amendment over a woman’s reproductive rights is under consideration.
In the Senate, the Senate Education Committee quickly moved along five bills, many of which updated existing educational programs. One bill would add another university to the list of eligible institutions for the Promise Scholarship. Chris Schulz has more.
And, the full Senate approved and sent one bill to the House. It would permit wineries to serve wine without serving food, and it would also permit wine to be served at festivals. The Senate advanced eight other bills. Two of these bills, if passed without amendments, will head to the governor's desk. Briana Heaney has more.
Advocates from across the state gathered at the state capitol Thursday to bring attention to sexual violence. Emily Rice has the story.
Finally, in meeting the plan to have broadband connectivity for all of West Virginia within five years, there are progress and time markers that must be met to get all the $1.2 billion federal dollars to complete the work. Randy Yohe sits down with Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, and Broadband Consultant Charlie Dennie to talk about meeting those markers.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diKFy21XIFUThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, for the last several years, state legislators have introduced bills that make it illegal to discriminate based on hair texture and style — typically referred to as The Crown Act. But it has never passed. Briana Heaney spoke with Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, who are trying to change that.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front — a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. A year ago, a train derailment in the community of East Palestine, Ohio turned the lives of many residents upside down. We hear from a group trying to make a difference when this happens again.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, legislation for the last several years has been introduced that would make it illegal to discriminate against someone based on the texture and style of their hair. This legislation is typically referred to as The Crown Act.
Every year, that legislation fails.
Sen. Mike Caputo, D-Marion, has introduced two of the same bill on the issue already this session, and Del. Anitra Hamilton, D-Monongalia, has a version ready to introduce into the House of Delegates. Briana Heaney spoke with both of them to get their perspective.
Also, several health and education bills were on third reading in the House of Delegates. The proposals included one of the most talked about issues this session – getting a handle on a statewide wave of school discipline challenges.
Finally, the state’s two flagship academic institutions, West Virginia and Marshall universities, enjoyed separate featured days at the Capitol. For one school, the growing public, private and academic partnership in workforce development was the leading theme on display.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGUATjXcsPwThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virgnia Morning, lawmakers have introduced bills this session that they say protect single-sex spaces. Advocates with LGBTQ rights organizations, though, say the legislation follows a pattern of singling out transgender people for discrimination.
Curtis Tate spoke with Eli Baumwell, interim executive director of the ACLU-WV, and Isabella Cortez, gender policy manager for Fairness West Virginia, about those efforts.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, lawmakers have introduced bills this session that they say protect single-sex spaces. Advocates with LGBTQ rights organizations, though, say the legislation follows a pattern of singling out transgender people for discrimination.
Curtis Tate spoke with Eli Baumwell, interim executive director of the ACLU-WV, and Isabella Cortez, Gender Policy Manager for Fairness West Virginia, about those efforts.
In the House, five bills on third reading were approved, including two that fostered some debate over election laws, voting laws and candidate filing periods.
In the Senate, the chamber passed and sent two bills over to the House and introduced a separate bill that would change rules for wineries in the state. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, to start the week, education committees in both chambers have focused on supporting students in difficult situations. Chris Schulz has more.
Finally, it was WVU Day at the Capitol, and the growing public, private and academic partnership in workforce development was the leading theme on display.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjD7CpZKJhUThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, a bill to legalize drug test strips passed both chambers last week. Emily Rice has more.
Also, in this show, much of the state, especially in rural areas, is covered by volunteer firefighters. But those departments need money for equipment that can’t be raised with bake sales. Chris Hall, the executive director of the West Virginia EMS Coalition, and Del. Clay Riley, the vice chair of the House Fire and EMS Committee, spoke with Randy Yohe about funding issues.
Here’s an excerpt from that conversation, as heard on The Legislature Today.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this episode of The Legislature Today, we’re now a third of the way through the 60-day state legislative session. In the coming weeks, deadlines on what bills can be introduced and how they will be considered are coming quickly.
In the House, a bill passed that deals with the physician shortage in West Virginia and discusses ways to expand medical services rendered to the public.
In the Senate, the chamber approved five bills unanimously and sent them to the House. One of the bills could open more recreational trails in West Virginia. Briana Heaney has more.
Also, a piece of legislation introduced last Friday, aims to define sex-based terms used in state law. Emily Rice has the story.
And, West Virginia is not really known as an agriculture state, but you might be surprised at the variety and diversity of farming that goes on here. Bob Brunner brings us a look at Farm Bureau Day at the Capitol.
Finally, an ongoing discussion in the legislature is how to staff and fund fire and EMS services around the state. Randy Yohe has been following this issue and sat down with Chris Hall, the executive director of the West Virginia EMS Coalition, and Del. Clay Riley, R-Harrison, the vice chair of the House Fire and EMS Committee.
Having trouble viewing the video below? Click the here to watch it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEERGQ1r-rAThe Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.
Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
On this West Virginia Morning, state lawmakers are mulling over countless tax proposals that would directly affect West Virginians and their wallets. On Friday’s episode of The Legislature Today, Randy Yohe spoke with House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, and Kelly Allen, the executive director at the West Virginia Center on Budget & Policy, to discuss budgets and taxes.
Also, in this show, we have the latest story from The Allegheny Front – a public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region. We listen to their story about replacing coal and natural gas jobs with clean energy jobs.
West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.
Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.
Eric Douglas is our producer.
Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
Alleghany and Covington high schools were rivals for decades. But now, they’ve merged. This week, we head to a home football game and learn how it’s going.
Also, the daughter of a legendary guitar maker didn’t set out to take up her father’s craft — but she’s found it irresistible.
And, we take a trip to the mushroom capital of the U.S.
You’ll hear these stories and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Cougar Football
- A New Generation Of Henderson Guitars
- Pennsylvania’s Mushroom Empire
- The Migration Of Frijoles Charros
Cougar FootballA consolidated school might be different, but student spirit remains the same.
Credit: Mason Adams/West Virginia Public BroadcastingThere’s nothing hotter than a high school sports rivalry. Host Mason Adams grew up in Alleghany County, Virginia and went to Alleghany High School. His school’s biggest football rival was the Covington Cougars, on the other side of the county.
The two schools consolidated this past year. Adams made a trip home to visit the new school during its very first homecoming to see what has changed and what hasn’t.
A New Generation Of Henderson GuitarsJayne Henderson builds her own future as a guitar and ukulele maker.
Credit: Janie WitteWayne Henderson has been making guitars since he was a teenager. The guitars he makes are prized by players who are willing to wait up to a decade to get their hands on one.
His daughter, Elizabeth Jayne Henderson, never intended to follow in her father’s footsteps. She went to law school, but now Jayne is carrying on the family tradition in her own way.
Folkways Reporter Margaret McLeod Leef had this story.
Pennsylvania’s Mushroom EmpireShiitake mushroom.
Credit: Keith Weller/United States Department of AgriculturePeople have hunted wild mushrooms for generations — but did you know that Pennsylvania is the biggest producer of mushrooms in the U.S.?
WVIA’s Kat Bolus brought us this story about Pennsylvania’s mushroom farms and foraging clubs.
The Migration Of Frijoles CharrosA bowl of frijoles charros sits to the right of a bowl of refried beans. While refried beans are a standard side dish in most Mexican restaurants in Southern Ohio, frijoles charros often accompany the main meal at restaurants in northern Mexico and along the US-Mexico border.
Credit: Nicole Musgrave/West Virginia Public BroadcastingA bowl of brothy pinto beans is comfort food for lots of folks here in Appalachia. There’s a similar tradition in rural Mexico — frijoles charros — or charro beans. Now, the dish has made its way north to the former coal town of Wellston, in southeast Ohio.
Folkways Reporter Nicole Musgrave has the story.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Mary Hott, The Sycomores, Anna and Elizabeth, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, John Blissard, and the Alleghany High School marching band.
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Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship received the maximum sentence for his misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate federal mine safety laws. His sentence- one year in prison and a $250,000 fine- was the maximum that could be order by a federal judge. In this episode of Blankenship on Trial, host Scott Finn discuss what it was like both inside and outside the courtroom Wednesday with Ashton Marra, West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Assistant News Director, and Mike Hissam, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and partner at the Charleston law firm Bailey & Glasser.
Some 24 hours after a verdict was handed down in the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said he is not disappointed in the outcome. In fact, he's calling the conviction on one misdemeanor count a victory.
Jurors returned a split verdict Thursday in the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship finding him guilty on a misdemeanor charge of conspiring to violate federal mine safety laws. In the final episode of the podcast "Blankenship on Trial," host Scott Finn discusses the verdict, its implications and what comes next with West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Ashton Marra and Charleston attorney and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hissam.
Editor's Note: This is a developing story. Be sure to keep refreshing this post for the latest. For more, follow @wvpublicnews on Twitter. For more on the verdict, see this post.
Jurors have begun deliberations in the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Ashton Marra and Charleston attorney Mike Hissam detail the closing arguments in the case with host Beth Vorhees in this special episode of the podcast recorded as a part of West Virginia Public Broadcasting's morning news show, West Virginia Morning.
Defense attorneys chose to rest their case Monday morning without calling a single witness to aid in their defense of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. In a special edition of the podcast "Blankenship on Trial," host Scott Finn discusses the surprising turn of events with reporter Ashton Marra and Charleston attorney Mike Hissam.
Jurors in the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship will soon be asked to deliver a verdict. At 10:10 a.m. Monday, the prosecution rested its case. In a surprising move just moments after a bench conference, the defense also rested without calling any witnesses to the stand.
After 31 days of presenting witness testimony and hundreds of pieces of evidence, the U.S. Attorney's Office was set to rest its case Thursday against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. That was, until a motion from the defense to allow them to use a government witness to bring in more evidence threw the prosecution, once again, off course. In this week's podcast, host Scott Finn discusses that motion with West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Ashton Marra and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hissam as well as the government's arguments surrounding a 2010 Massey Securities Exchange Commission filing and defense motions for acquittal.
The sixth full week of the trial of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship has been almost exclusively focused on Bill Ross, a key witness for the prosecution.
After a week on the stand and nearly five days of cross examination by the defense, prosecutors are attempting to save their case set off track by former Performance Coal President Chris Blanchard. In this week's episode of the podcast "Blankenship on Trial," host Dave Mistich discusses Blanchard's testimony with West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Ashton Marra and Charleston attorney Mike Hissam.
In his third day in the witness seat, former Marfork and Performance Coal President Chris Blanchard continued to answer questions about safety priorities at Massey Energy. Blanchard is testifying in the trial of former Massey CEO Don Blankenship who faces charges for conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards and lying to investors and securities officials. Blanchard's coal group oversaw production at the Upper Big Branch mine.
In this week's episode of "Blankenship on Trial," host Scott Finn discusses the latest witness to take the stand, Performance Coal President and Upper Big Branch mine operator Chris Blanchard, with West Virginia Public Broadcasting's Ashton Marra and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hissam.
In this week's episode of the podcast "Blankenship on Trial," host Scott Finn discusses the first major witness to take the stand- former Massey Energy executive David Hughart- with reporter Ashton Marra and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hissam.
On West Virginia Morning, more recordings made by ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship are played for jurors in his trial on conspiring to violate federal mine safety laws. Also, officials in West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania sign a natural gas production pact. These stories on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting – telling West Virginia’s story.
“We can’t outrun this bear.” “Without MSHA we would blow ourselves up.” “I have to get one thousand people off the payroll.” These are all statements jurors in Charleston listened to Don Blankenship make during phone conversations he recorded in his Belfry, Kentucky, office in the few years before the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. The ex-Massey Energy CEO is charged with conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards and lying to investors about the company’s safety record after the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men. Those secret recordings are now being used by federal prosecutors to make a case against him.
In ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship's criminal trial, prosecutors have started replaying phone calls that the executive secretly recorded in his office.
In this week's episode of the podcast "Blankenship on Trial," host Scott Finn discusses the first full week of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship's trial with reporter Ashton Marra and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mike Hissam.
Money. That’s what both sides arguing the case of former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship say his trial boils down to. For the prosecution, Blankenship employed a top-down leadership style that protected his own financial interests - both his $12 million annual salary and his substantial stock holdings in Massey. For the defense, it’s that same money that made him a target.
On West Virginia Morning the latest from the trial of Don Blankenship, the former CEO of Massey Energy. We'll talk with reporter Ashton Marra who has been sitting with other reporters in a separate courtroom from the proceedings and Charleston attorney Mike Hissam . That's on West Virginia Morning from West Virginia Public Broadcasting - telling West Virginia's story.
Host Scott Finn discusses the first day of jury selection in the trial of former Massey CEO Don Blankenship with reporter Ashton Marra. They talk about the lack of access to the courtroom for both members of the media and family members of those who lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster. Charleston Gazette-Mail's David Gutman discusses Blankenship's political influence in the West Virginia. Ten years ago, Blankenship attempted to bankroll the Republican Party to move his political agenda forward. A decade later many of the issues Blankenship pushed for have been approved and his hired political operatives remain major figures in the West Virginia GOP.