podcast Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting: Recent Episodes
West Virginia Public Broadcasting
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia is home to more than 100,000 stray cats, according to estimates from the state’s Federation of Humane Organizations. Pet advocates say subsidies to spay and neuter strays and pop-up clinics can help reduce overpopulation. As Jack Walker reports, so can creative efforts to find cats a home.
And Us & Them host Trey Kay is thinking about what the results of the recent election mean as he talks with people across the culture divides in our country in an excerpt from a special post-election 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
After Helene, an Asheville guitar maker grapples with how to help her neighborhood when there’s so much need.
A church in West Virginia is helping turn unwanted guns into garden tools.
And, for writer Wei Tchou, it took leaving her home in East Tennessee to start seeing herself in a new way.
In This Episode
- Catching Up With Luthier Jayne Henderson After The Flood
- Gun And Garden
- A Study Of Identity And Ferns In “Little Seed”
Catching Up With Luthier Jayne Henderson After The Flood
Elizabeth ‘Jayne’ Henderson in her workshop in Asheville, North Carolina before Hurricane Helene.
Credit: Janie WitteEarlier this year, we visited the workshop of renowned guitar-maker Wayne Henderson, for a story about him and his daughter, Jayne Henderson.
Jayne lives in Asheville, North Carolina, and Wayne lives in Rugby, Virginia. Both places were wrecked by Hurricane Helene. Folkways reporter Margaret McLeod Leef caught up with Jayne in the days following the storm.
Gun And Garden
Outside the Shepherdstown Fire Department, Craig Snyder runs a firearm through a power tool, dismantling it.
Photo Jack Walker.Sometimes when people die, they leave behind guns, and their relatives don’t always know what to do with them. So a church in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle is providing a way to dispose of old firearms - and find new uses for them. WVPB’s Jack Walker reported.
A Study Of Identity And Ferns In “Little Seed”
Author Wei Tchou explores nature and personal identity in her book, "Little Seed."
Courtesy photo.The book “Little Seed” by Wei Tchou (CHEW) is a hybrid of nature writing and memoir. Tchou’s parents migrated from China and raised her in eastern Tennessee. The book’s chapters alternate between stories of her passage into adulthood, and descriptions of ferns and closely related plants. Mason Adams spoke with Tchou several weeks before Hurricane Helene.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Amethyst Kiah, Wayne Henderson, Jane Kramer, Gerry Milnes, Steve Earle, John Blissard 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. 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, West Virginians have played a significant role in hurricane recovery efforts in North Carolina – but usually that means heading to the sight of destruction. Last week, a Mountain State native now based in Asheville returned to his childhood roots, where he found more than a little help from his friends.
And our Song of the Week comes from this week’s premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage from the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, West Virginia. Will Hoge, a singer-songwriter from Tennessee, performs the song “John Prine’s Cadillac.”
West Virginia Morning 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, Matthew Ferrence did not like what his local representative was saying, so he decided to run against him in 2020. He talked to voters in his Pennsylvania district throughout his campaign, but garnered far too few votes to win office.
Ferrence wrote about the experience in his book “I Hate It Here, Please Vote For Me: Essays On Rural Political Decay.” He spoke with Inside Appalachia's Bill Lynch about the book and whether he would ever run for office again.
Meanwhile, additional results from this year's general election continue to trickle in. Among them, a new constitutional amendment including protections against medically assisted suicide passed by a slim margin, Emily Rice 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 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
On this West Virginia Morning, another election has ended. West Virginia Public Broadcasting followed major races statewide throughout the evening and reported election results live. Reporters Bri Heaney and Caelan Bailey bring us a wrap-up of some of the major results across the Mountain State.
Also this episode, the election marks the end of an era for West Virginia politics as U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., is soon to depart his seat. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., will become the state's senior senator. Curtis Tate took a look at Manchin and Capito's decade-long partnership at the Capitol.
West Virginia Morning 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
Tomorrow is Election Day. While West Virginia was once a Democratic stronghold, the Republican Party became the state's most common political affiliation by 2021.
Today, the Republican Party leads the Democratic Party in West Virginia by more than 100,000 members. Reporter Jack Walker asked party leaders and voters in the Eastern Panhandle why they think West Virginia is turning increasingly red.
Plus, with a $3 billion steel plant under construction, Mason County is facing growing pains it’s never before experienced. Workers, housing, road conditions and commercial growth concerns have been thrust upon an area formerly rich with corn, soybean and tobacco fields. 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 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 wrap up another Halloween season in the Mountain State. We’ll revisit spooky stories, haunted attractions and yearly traditions that made this year’s holiday one to remember.
Plus, the Nov. 5 general election is fast approaching. Our newsroom has talked to candidates for state office, attended a major debate and spoke with early voters. We’ll look back on a week’s worth of election coverage in the countdown to Election Day.
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, Maria Young and Randy Yohe.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, most outdoor sporting gear gets thrown away when it wears out. But in western North Carolina, one climber-turned-crafter is giving old equipment a new purpose. Folkways reporter Emily Chen-Newton brings this story.
This week’s premiere episode of Mountain Stage was recorded live at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center in Huntington. Nashville banjo artist Kyle Tuttle performed work from his new solo album, “Labor of Lust.” His piece “Hard to Say,” which comes from that album, is our Song of the Week.
Also in this episode, a Democrat running for the West Virginia Senate was left off of one county's early voting ballot. Briana Heaney has the details.
West Virginia Morning 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, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., is not seeking reelection, which means residents are voting on his successor in the Nov. 5 general election. The main-party candidates are Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, and Glenn Elliott, the Democratic former mayor of Wheeling.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting reached out to both Justice and Elliott for interviews. Justice's office did not respond, but Elliott sat down with News Director Eric Douglas in the studio.
A former staff member for Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., Elliott recognizes he is an underdog for office both politically and geographically. But he told Douglas about his campaign so far, and what he would do if elected.
Plus, you never know where you might run across a ghost — or a good ghost story — in these West Virginia hills. Jim Lange, host of the radio show Eclectopia, spoke to Historic Shepherdstown Commission Museum Committee Chairman John Kavaliunas about a spooky tale from the Eastern Panhandle.
Also in this episode, we discuss a Libertarian candidate's protest during this week's gubernatorial debate, and ways to make Halloween more inclusive for children with disabilities.
West Virginia Morning 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 gubernatorial candidates took the debate stage at Fairmont State University on Tuesday evening. Caelan Bailey was in attendance, and tells us what Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican candidate, and Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, the Democratic candidate, had to say.
Plus, Halloween is fast approaching. To celebrate, West Virginia residents and visitors alike can take part in the state's Paranormal Trail, organized by the West Virginia Department of Tourism.
The trail includes 18 haunted or spooky locations around the state. Briana Heaney stopped by some of the sites and tells us what they have to offer.
Also in this episode, Election Day is Nov. 5, and early voting is ongoing. Briana Heaney went down to Mercer County to talk to voters about the state and local issues important to them.
West Virginia Morning 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, pumpkins are an iconic image of Halloween. As Chris Schulz reports, they are also part of an unconventional learning experience at West Virginia University.
Plus, technology company Sparkz will soon build lithium batteries for energy storage and electric vehicles in Bridgeport, on the site of a shuttered glass factory. Curtis Tate spoke with CEO Sanjiv Malhotra about the batteries and why West Virginia is a good fit for his company.
West Virginia Morning 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 Republican and Democratic candidates for governor, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, will face off in a televised debate Tuesday evening.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting reached out to both campaigns for an interview. Morrisey’s campaign never scheduled a time to come in. But News Director Eric Douglas sat down with Williams to discuss what he would bring to the governor’s office.
Plus, citizens across the country are preparing to go to the polls in the coming days. But finding information on candidates and ballot issues can be difficult.
Julie Archer, president of the League of Women Voters of West Virginia, spoke to reporter Chris Schulz about resources her organization has created to help voters make more informed choices.
West Virginia Morning 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
Submitted for your approval, we have a selection of spooky tales for Halloween and beyond.
We have scary stories read by acclaimed sci-fi and horror authors, tales of the supernatural, and we might know someone who says they’ve seen a ghost.
All this and more this week, Inside Appalachia.
In This Episode:
- Mike Allen And “The Button Bin”
- Molly Born And The Spooky Old Tunnel
- A Ghost Story
- Another Ghost Story
- The Return Of The Headless Man And The Murdered Girl
Mike Allen And The Button BinMike Allen is an award-winning science fiction, fantasy and horror writer based in Roanoke, Virginia. Besides writing, Mike also runs Mythic Delirium, a micropress that “specializes in speculative fiction and poetry, with a penchant for writing that’s challenging to classify.”
Mason Adams visited Mike to talk about fantasy and horror and to hear excerpts from one of his stories.
Molly Born And The Spooky Old TunnelSpooky stories can be about people, but sometimes they’re just about a place. In Mingo County, West Virginia there’s an old single-lane railroad tunnel that’s become a local legend.
Back in 2018, reporter Molly Born ventured inside the Dingess tunnel to find out what makes it so unsettling.
Ghost StorySome people are afraid of ghosts. Others want to figure out ways to communicate with them – like Anita Allen, a writer and paranormal investigator in Roanoke.
Mason Adams talked to her about a couple of her ghost encounters.
Another Ghost StoryHaunted places dot Appalachia – moonlit hollers, mist-shrouded cemeteries, and dusty buildings that hold unspoken secrets. Playwright and theater director Dan Kehde knows just such a place in Charleston, West Virginia.
Return Of the Headless Man And The Murdered GirlJames Froemel, an actor and storyteller in Morgantown, West Virginia brought us two stories from Ruth Anne Musick.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by The Animals, Amy Lavere, Jason Isbell, Gerry Milnes, Sierra Ferrel, Southern Culture on the Skids and Red Sovine.
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 will hear about voter education, rural health care, and this year's fire season.
Jack Walker takes us to an event that gives gun owners a creative way to surrender their firearms.
Plus, we will learn how classrooms are incorporating the election into their curriculum.
Briana Heaney is our host this week. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
West Virginia Weekis a web-only podcast from West Virginia Public Broadcasting that looks back at the major news of the week. This podcast features rotating hosts and producers from the WVPB Newsroom. Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert.
Check back every Saturday at 8 a.m. to listen to our latest episode and learn what happened this week in West Virginia.
And for daily news, tune in to West Virginia Morning at 7:43 a.m., Monday-Friday on WVPB Radio, through our live stream at wvpublic.org, or tune in through the WVPB mobile app.
Subscribe to West Virginia Week via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR One or RSS.
Learn more about West Virginia Week.
On this West Virginia Morning, presidential elections tend to garner the most attention, and that added excitement provides a unique opportunity to engage students in the classroom with real-world events.
And from this week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage, our Song of the Week comes from Kyshona, a songwriter and powerful vocalist who lends her voice to those who have been silenced and feel forgotten and alone. In this live performance of “Carolina” from her 2024 album 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 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, an excerpt from the newest episode of Us & Them takes us to a recent event at Marshall University in Huntington. In the midst of this unpredictable election season, host Trey Kay wanted to talk with students, to hear how this unusual campaign is landing with some of the nation’s youngest voters.
Also, The Allegheny Front out of Pittsburgh looks at a series of studies into the chemicals released from the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment last 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 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
For this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay heads to Marshall University to hear from Generation Z voters. In the final weeks of the 2024 Presidential election, young voters share their thoughts on the challenges of political divisions, campaign tactics, and frustrations of whether or not their perspectives are being heard.
The 2024 Presidential election season continues to be a rollercoaster of unpredictable actions, reactions and events and it seems that each week brings big political headlines.
Political campaigns have always had some rough edges, but now, candidates routinely call each other names and some frequently perpetuate outright lies in their speeches and at their rallies. That’s a challenge for many voters, including some of the youngest.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay travels to Marshall University to talk with a new generation of voters. Many Generation Z voters, from 18 to 27 years old, want to get involved. At a recent Us & Them event, they talked about their role in our democratic process, and about the frustrations that come from the compromises our system can require.
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.
Us & Them host Trey Kay leads a discussion with students at Marshall University.
Credit: Julie Blackwood
Dr. Marybeth Beller is an Associate Professor in Political Science at Marshall University. She also advises the Cabell County Young Democrats.
Credit: Julie Blackwood“How can you get candidates to respond? Running a campaign now is based on numbers - candidates look at precinct level voter turnout for the previous two elections and if they see high voter turnout then they're going to look at which party predominated and play to that. One of the ways to change this is to get your cohort out to vote. All counties have records of who turned out to voteand while we cannot know how they voted, we can know if they voted. Candidates will pay attention to the voters that they think are more likely to turn out. Every campaign has limited resources and time and money. So if you're voting regularly, people are going to pay attention to you. It's not the way it should be, but it's the way it is.”
— Dr. Marybeth Beller
Dr. Shawn Schulenberg is an Associate Professor in Political Science at Marshall University and serves as Chair of the Faculty Senate.
Credit: Julie Blackwood
“The generation that has the least amount of trust in institutions, is the Gen Z era. They are much more skeptical about future oriented issues, especially in the era of sustainability. From most of my conversations and also seeing in the data, there is a thought that none of the institutions are working as they should. We're not getting the results that we should. And therefore, there is some type of breakdown. They're supposed to be solving big problems, but it doesn't seem like we're getting any closer to that.”
— Dr. Shawn Schulenberg
Marshall University students queueing up to ask questions or share a comment about the 2024 Election.
Credit: Julie BlackwoodUs & Them host Trey Kay with Marshall University professors Marybeth Beller and Shawn Schulenberg speaking with students about the upcoming election.
Credit: Julie BlackwoodCredit: Julie Blackwood“I do feel a lot of personal frustration when I see a politician just straight lie to my face. I haven't attended a speech or rally, but if I did, I wouldn't be too happy about it. And while I can try to do my best to keep any biases out of my decisions, it's impossible to be completely unbiased. I'm not a big Trump fan and that's because of how many falsehoods he's put out there and stood by - kind of creating this web of lies so much that your voters aren't sure what's true.”
— Gavin Reynolds, Marshall University student
Reagan Clagg, a Political Science major and President of the College Democrats, asked the panel how they feel the media — traditional or social — has motivated young voters.
Credit: Julie BlackwoodCredit: Julie Blackwood“It was very clear for a very long time that President Biden was not a popular candidate for this general election. I think it was a February poll that had even 71 percent of Democrats didn't want him as their candidate. And as that kept being ignored and ignored, I felt very disrespected and ignored by the party. So, while I'm not a huge Harris booster — although I'm very impressed with what I've seen so far — just the fact that they made any change at all in the candidate, I think has motivated a lot of people. They think that the party has listened to them, has listened to the American people in some regard.”
— Logan Stickler, Marshall University student
Credit: Julie Blackwood“What makes you think that politicians don't come and speak to us like you're speaking to us right now? [Politicians] make claims about climate activism and violence. Show me what you're gonna do to fix it. Like, what makes you think politicians won't come and speak to us like you all are right now?”
— Marshall University student
Credit: Julie Blackwood“When you're looking for what's motivating young voters, I would look towards activism and issues they're passionate about, and this is just one example. But one significant form of activism we've seen in the past year driven by youth is protests surrounding the U. S. government and institutions support of Israel's genocide in Palestine, but neither major political party seems to be listening. What should young voters be doing? Do you think this might be pushing voters toward third parties? We must demand candidates address the issues we care about, but what does that look like?
— Olivia Andrew-Vaughan, Marshall University student
This Marshall student asked the panel what drives shifts in which party platforms win elections. He referenced Obama’s 2012 win, Trump’s victory in 2016, and Biden’s success in 2020, asking whether changes in voter perspectives, platforms, or key issues influenced the outcomes, and how the panel sees this evolving in the future.
Credit: Julie Blackwood
Credit: Julie BlackwoodQuinlin Sollars: You keep on talking about the age demographic, I believe 18 to 24 I believe. I'm 22 on the older end of that,and I believe this will be my sixth election I'll be voting in. But my question is … how do you think the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United has undermined trust in our institutions and specifically for my generation which came of age politically entirely in a post Citizens United era?
Trey Kay: Can you explain to me what a person 22-years-old knows about Citizens United? Why does it matter to you?
Quinlin Sollars: It matters to me because a lot of the very wealthy people and very large industrial companies might donate to both political sides because they want a certain policy. And that way they win either way when it comes down because they're like, “Well, if we stay in West Virginia, Democrats most likely not going to win this state.” So if you're a Google, you might be supportin a Democrat in California. But you're also going to support a Republican in West Virginia, because that's who's going to end up in power, and that's who's going to regulate you in that state. So, they're sort of playing both sides. And it makes it hard to trust a candidate when they're taking money from a company that really doesn't care about your issue or anything like that. They're supporting both sides, and they're sort of playing the long games to the point where your voice doesn't matter in the end.
Credit: Julie Blackwood“I’ve noticed that in both myself and my peers, like people in the general age range, they have issues, but they don't really know how to get involved. And if they do get involved, it's very simple. It's like voting, and that's pretty much all where it ends. And I'm thinking, like, is there any way for people to feel more empowered in, you know, issues, government, media, uh, anything like that?”
— Marshall University student
On this West Virginia Morning, Marshall University’s campus TV studio will be the election day hub for a nationwide broadcasting network of collegiate perspectives on the presidential race and issues facing many first-time voters.
Also, the tobacco industry is still feeling the impacts of a reform signed into law by former President George W. Bush. Lily Burris with WKMS reports that in Kentucky - where there were once well over 100,000 farms growing the crop - now there’s just under a thousand.
West Virginia Morning 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, firearm deaths in the United States hit a 40-year high in 2021. Jack Walker reports on one church in the Eastern Panhandle that provides a creative way out of gun ownership.
Also, Maria Young reports that more than 500 people in need of medical care showed up for free treatment Saturday at West Virginia HealthRight's first ever WeCare WV day.
We also have stories on early voting, whooping cough and microcredentialing.
West Virginia Morning 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, Marshall University's “Marshall For All’ project allows participating students to complete a 4-year bachelor’s degree without accruing any debt. Randy Yohe spoke with Marshall For All Project Director Jennnifer Jimison on how the program works, even as America's student loan debt percentage continues to soar.
Also, fire season came early for New River Gorge Park in September, with the Beury Mountain fire. Caelan Bailey reports on how firefighters prepare, contain, and coordinate fire response.
And Hurricane Helene closed much of the southern Appalachian Trail. Allegheny Trail Coordinator Marissa Bennett wants hikers to know they can find alternatives in West Virginia. She spoke to reporter Jack Walker about efforts to reach more hikers and 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 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning
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.
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. 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 Nicole MusgraveIn 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 Samantha MorrillIn 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 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 Week, we hear from first time voters at Marshall University about what matters to them leading up to this year’s election.
Briana Heaney will tell us about a unique way some people are enjoying the Gauley River’s whitewater rapids.
Plus, we’ll hear about an artistic expression of identity at Shepherd University, and what could become the state’s latest public charter school in Morgantown.
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, 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, Mason Adams spoke with young adult author Steve Watkins for Inside Appalachia about his new book “The Mine Wars: The Bloody Fight for Workers’ Rights in the West Virginia Coalfields." Watkins hopes to bring the story of the struggle to unionize coal mines to today’s young readers.
Also, this week's premiere broadcast of Mountain Stage was recorded in the intimate historic Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee. Our Song of the Week “Dear Louisiana” comes from the talented singer-songwriter and daughter of Levon Helm, Amy Helm.
West Virginia Morning 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, as the general election approaches, polling analysts continue to break down the demographics of voters who might turn the tide in a razor close presidential race. Randy Yohe offers some 2024 election questions for several Marshall University students that will be voting in their first general election.
Also, author Joy Callaway isn’t a West Virginia native, but the state has figured into her writing. Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch spoke with Callaway about West Virginia and her latest book, “What The Mountains Remember”.
West Virginia Morning 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, undergrads at Shepherd University say a school’s culture determines whether they feel comfortable exploring their identity. Jack Walker reports on students' visual representations of their LGBTQ experience on campus.
Also, the only organization currently pursuing approval for a charter school in the state held a public forum in Morgantown last week. Chris Schulz reports on what could be the newest charter school 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, West Virginia is becoming a fall destination for surfing. The fall’s Gauley River rafting season is in full swing, and Briana Heaney talked to some landlocked surfers.
Also, Inside Appalachia’s Bill Lynch recently spoke with When North Carolina poet Clint Bowman about his new book, “If Lost”, forming poetry groups and encourage others.
West Virginia Morning 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, Affrilachian poet Frank X. Walker has a new collection of poetry that looks at Black life in Kentucky before, during, and after the Civil War.
We also check in with the people affected by flooding in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee.
A new collection of essays and poems remembers the 2022 flood in Eastern Kentucky witnessed by writers trapped at the Appalachian Writers Workshop.
And bird watching only sounds relaxing. Sometimes, it can get a little wild.
In This Episode
- Frank X. Walker Explores The Civil War
- Witnessing The Historic Flooding Of East Kentucky
- The Historic Flooding in Western North Carolina and Tennessee
- Endangered Birds of Appalachia
Frank X. Walker Explores The Civil War
Poet Frank X. Walker returns with his latest collection "Load In Nine Times." Courtesy
Kentucky poet Frank X. Walker co-founded the Affrilachian Poets Collective to challenge the idea that Appalachian identity is defined by whiteness. He’s published several collections and now has a new book, “Load in Nine Times.” Mason Adams spoke with him.
The Historic Flooding In Western North Carolina And Tennessee
Flooding caused by Hurricane Helene has devastated communities across western North Carolina and east Tennessee.
Courtesy Blue Ridge Public RadioHurricane Helene left many without water, power or cell service in western North Carolina and east Tennessee. We heard reports from Gerard Albert III at Blue Ridge Public Radio and Riley Thompson at WUOT about communities struggling and coming together in the aftermath of the flood.
Witnessing The Historic Flooding Of East Kentucky
"Troublesome Rising" features writers who witnessed the 2022 flooding in Eastern Kentucky first-hand.Courtesy photo
Flooding is not uncommon in Appalachia. In 2022, parts of Eastern Kentucky were also ravaged. Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, an author from the Qualla Boundary, the territory of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina was at the Appalachian Writer’s Workshop in Hindman, Kentucky, when it was struck by the thousand-year flood. Her writing is included in the new anthology, “Troublesome Rising,” which compiles poetry and stories from writers who witnessed the flood.
B-P-R and Grist climate reporter Katie Myers spoke with Clapsaddle about flooding in the mountains.
Endangered Birds of Appalachia
Photographer and author Matt Williams hopes people who love watching birds can be encouraged to take a more active role in conservation.Courtesy photo
Nature photographer Matt Williams hopes a passion for bird watching might lead people to conservation. He’s published three books of photographing wildlife, including his latest — “Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast.” Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Williams about the book.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Amethyst Kiah, Larry Rader, Jeff Ellis, John Blissard, Sierra Ferrell 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 Jennifer Goren. 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 Week, we start with the yays and nays of the legislature’s second special session of the year.
Reporter Briana Heaney will also tell us about the on-again-off-again sale of the Greenbrier Resort.
Plus, we’ll hear about do-it-yourself skate parks… and the search for a permanent place for kick flips, knee slides and all your skateboarding thrills.
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, 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, nature photographer and conservationist Matt Williams has a passion for birds. His latest book is “Endangered and Disappearing Birds of Appalachia and the Southeast.” Bill Lynch spoke with Williams about the book and helping the bird population.
Also in this episode, Mountain Stage hosted two shows at The Franklin Theatre in Franklin, Tennessee this week. Our song of the week comes from the performance of Judith Owen, a Welsh singer-songwriter and self-described "drama queen."
Owen and her band called the "Gentlemen Callers" performed the cult classic song "I Put A Spell On You," originally recorded in 1956 by "Screamin' Jay" Hawkins.
West Virginia Morning 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. Maria Young 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, sports can unite teammates from all different backgrounds. But in the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at one way sports can drive us apart.
Allegations of discrimination in youth football were raised by a West Virginia lawsuit, highlighting questions about who is allowed to play. Kay spoke with Olobunmi Kusimo Fraser, a lawyer who handled the case, in the latest episode of Us & Them: “Is The Playing Field Fair?”
Also in this episode, new research is examining how rural Appalachians feel about the usage of their land for solar energy. The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program that reports on environmental issues in the region, brings us this story.
Plus, the West Virginia Legislature adjourned this year's second special session Tuesday evening. Reporters Briana Heaney and Caelan Bailey recap what happened at the Capitol.
West Virginia Morning 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, Pennsylvania-based Consol Energy announced it would merge with St. Louis-based Arch Resources to form Core Natural Resources. The combined company won’t just produce coal for generating electricity or making steel. Curtis Tate spoke with Dan Connell, senior vice president for Consol Energy , about what else coal can do.
And reporters Briana Heaney and Caelan Bailey have the latest from the West Virginia Legislature's second special session of the year, including another cut to the state's income tax and an embattled child tax care credit.
West Virginia Morning 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
Sports in America often sit at the crossroads of social, cultural, and racial debates. From controversial referee calls to athletes taking a knee during the national anthem, the conversation extends from little league to the pros. In this episode, we explore how sports and race intersect in a Kanawha County youth football league.
We love our sports in America.
From little league to professional competition, athletic teams can bring us together. However sports can also spotlight some of our most pointed social, culture and racial debates. Mascot names drive a wedge between fans. Some athletes choose to display their opinions about political candidates or police violence.
In this episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay looks at the intersection of race and sports. Lawsuits over youth football in West Virginia have highlighted questions between teams and leagues over who’s allowed to play and whether young Black and brown athletes face discrimination. While some parents accuse the youth leagues of foul play, the leagues say some parents are simply not following the rules.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the West Virginia Humanities Council, the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, and the Daywood Foundation.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Coach Rayshawn Hall speaks to his Charleston Cougars football team at the end of a practice on a hot Saturday morning in August. The Charleston Cougars football team is not allowed to play in their local league in Kanawha County, West Virginia. To compete, they must travel over an hour to face teams in Parkersburg or even Ohio. Coach Rayshawn Hall explains that the travel is a financial strain for some parents and a challenge for others who need to take time off work. When Us & Them host Trey Kay asked Hall how it feels not being able to play locally, he responded, "Weird. It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel like home. Even when we have home games, it doesn’t feel the same. Nothing feels the same."
Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier is an attorney based in Charleston, West Virginia.
Photo courtesy of Olubunmi Kusimo-FrazierIn the fall of 2013, Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier was asked to represent a youth football team from the West Side of Charleston, W.Va. that had been barred from a Kanawha County football league in West Virginia. The team, part of a club league not governed by a school system or any single authority, had nowhere to play that season. Each league has its own bylaws and requirements, often run by parent volunteers, which can lead to inconsistencies and confusion when new teams join. It also opens the door to potential unfair practices.
Kusimo-Frazier said all the teams were originally part of one league, but when that league disbanded and formed a new one, existing teams were invited to reapply for membership. However, some teams were not accepted, including those with a high concentration of African-American and mixed-race players. To Kusimo-Frazier and the affected teams, the exclusion appeared racially motivated.
She filed a civil rights lawsuit to allow the excluded teams to play. The suit, against the Kanawha County Board of Education, sought to prevent the league from using school property for games unless all teams—representing all citizens—were allowed to participate. Kusimo-Frazier noted that while private clubs can discriminate against non-members on private property, an organization cannot enforce discriminatory practices on public property.
The case was settled without an evidentiary hearing, but Kusimo-Frazier said she felt confident in the legal theory of her case.
But why were these teams excluded in the first place?
Kusimo-Frazier recalled that many around the league didn’t like how certain parents behaved during games.
“They didn’t like the way the parents acted. They felt the parents were sometimes vulgar,” she said. “This is a Sunday morning, and they didn’t want to deal with rowdy parents. They wanted a more congenial atmosphere, with good sportsmanship. They didn’t like that the coaches would curse in front of the children.”
However, she believes there was another factor. The excluded teams had a history of success on the field.
“When you look at who was winning championships before the league was restructured, it was [the excluded teams]—year after year. I think they got tired of it.”
Trent Redman, a lawyer and youth football coach, has a son who has been playing in the league since 2021, starting at age 6.
Photo courtesy of Trent RedmanRedman, who is Black, has a mixed-race son who has played youth football for three years. He says he's seen situations similar to the 2013 lawsuit brought by Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier, although some issues are more about leadership than race.
"There are so many layers to this onion," Redman says. "The most recent issue wasn't about color—it was about leadership. People were upset because we were winning by 40 points with a team of talented kids from across the city. After we went undefeated, there were suddenly issues with the paperwork, and the majority-Black team was disqualified."
The "books" Redman refers to are the paperwork each player must have, such as a birth certificate, medical clearance, and proof of address. A player must have a waiver to join a team outside their zone. After his team’s undefeated season, the league cited problems with some players’ paperwork.
"We went to court and got permission to play in the playoffs, but it didn’t work out for us. After the court hearing, teams left to join a different league, and the league basically dissolved. The following year, we won the championship again, but they disqualified us because a player had participated in middle school football," Redman says.
Because of the rules violation on one team, all three of Redman’s teams were disqualified. His wife, Tiffany Davis Redman, also a lawyer, filed an injunction, allowing the other teams to continue playing.
Attorney Olubunmi Kusimo-Frazier reflected on the disqualifications, comparing them to voter suppression tactics.
"It feels like a poll tax—like keeping the wrong people from voting," Kusimo-Frazier says. "Instead of educating and helping people follow the rules, they make it exclusive. Why kick people out instead of guiding them to do it right?"
Justin Knapp, a volunteer coach for South Hills Football Club, has a son who has played youth football for three years.
Photo courtesy of Justin KnappKnapp, who is white, says his team is about 90% white this year. He explains that players must get a waiver to switch teams, including kids from travel leagues whose seasons end in the middle of the youth football season.
In 2021, before Knapp became a coach, South Hills allowed several travel team players to join midseason, which led to them dominating other teams. This upset parents, prompting league presidents to agree on stricter rules for waivers and transfers.
When the next season began, several players from South Hills wanted to transfer to the Charleston Cougars but were denied due to the timing. The decision caused outrage, leading to racial accusations against the South Hills president and threats that escalated to police involvement.
Knapp insists the issue wasn’t racial but a matter of following rules. “It wasn’t about race—it came down to rules,” Knapp said, explaining that travel teams have both Black and white players. “But on social media, it turned into a racial issue.”
To avoid conflict, South Hills canceled a game against Charleston, and later, the team withdrew from the playoffs. The controversy contributed to South Hills’ decision to leave the league, as they believed other teams weren’t adhering to the agreed-upon rules.
Knapp acknowledges the inconsistency in leadership year over year, as new board members and coaches take over when others leave. Despite this, he says many coaches and volunteers go out of their way to support the kids, even buying equipment or helping them with schoolwork.
At the end of the day, Knapp, like Trent Redman, says that every time something like this happens, teams leave the league—and it's the kids who lose out.
Coach Rayshawn Hall of Charleston Cougars football team on a field at the North Charleston Recreation Center in Charleston, W.Va.
Credit: Trey KayRayshawn Hall has played football since he was 5 years old and believes in the value of bringing kids from different backgrounds together through sports.
"I met a lot of people through playing sports, even some of my best friends, whether they were white or Black," Hall said. "It didn’t matter. Once we came together, it was like a brotherhood. I don’t know what they did outside of sports, but when we were together, that’s all that mattered."
On this West Virginia Morning, record-keeping might sound dull, but it’s an important part of maintaining a sense of culture and place. As Chris Schulz reports, a recent visit from a federal record-keeper to West Virginia emphasized the importance of records in maintaining our democracy.
Plus, West Virginia Music Hall of Famer Billy Edd Wheeler died last month at the age of 91. The Boone County native was a singer, author and a playwright, but was best known for writing songs like “Jackson,” which won a Grammy for Johnny and June Carter Cash, “Coward of the County,” a hit for Kenny Rogers, and “It’s Midnight,” which was recorded by Elvis Presley. There were many others.
Mountain Stage co-creator Larry Groce was a friend and fan of Wheeler’s. Bill Lynch talked to Groce about Wheeler’s legacy and getting to know him.
West Virginia Morning 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, there’s no public skatepark in Martinsburg, so locals spent a decade building one from scratch. And they’re not alone: Skaters nationwide are adding ramps and rails to abandoned lots, calling them DIY skateparks.
Reporter Jack Walker visited the “do-it-yourself” park in Martinsburg. He talked to skaters about the spot, plus a push for something permanent.
Plus, how do government and emergency response agencies make sure people with disabilities are safe during chemical or oil spills? We hear from The Allegheny Front, a Pittsburgh-based public radio program focused on environmental issues in the region.
Also in this episode, we dive into the latest from the West Virginia Legislature's interim session following several committee meetings Sunday.
West Virginia Morning 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
Hurricane Helene dumped nearly 30 inches of rain in parts of western North Carolina and east Tennessee. Communities are reeling from the devastation. We check-in with Lilly Knoepp at Blue Ridge Public Radio in western North Carolina.
Also, a new book illustrates the tiny worlds of mountain critters, like a lizard that changes color.
AndWhite potters co-opted the African art of face jugs in the 1800s. A modern-day Black potter says his art can’t be replicated.
In This Episode
- Hurricane Helene Hits Appalachia
- Rosalie Haizlett Explores “Tiny Worlds”
- Reclaiming An African Art
Hurricane Helene Hits Appalachia
Hurricane Helene brought flooding through Appalachia, including southwestern Virginia.
Photo by Roxy ToddAs we were working on this week’s show, Hurricane Helene hit the Southeast. The storm washed away roads and bridges, knocked out power and cell service and left a trail of devastation. Many people are still missing, and the number of confirmed dead continues to rise. Mason Adams spoke with Blue Ridge Public Radio reporter Lilly Knoepp, who lives in western North Carolina, near where the storm caused the most damage.
Helene also rocked southwestern Virginia. Radio IQ’s Roxy Todd reported.
Rosalie Haizlett Explores “Tiny Worlds”
"Tiny Worlds" is a menagerie of little critters found in the Appalachian Mountains.
Photo by Rosalie HaizlettIn 2022, nature artist Rosalie Haizlett set out on a trip to illustrate some of the tiny “critters” of the Appalachian mountains. Her illustrations became “Tiny Worlds of the Appalachian Mountains, an Artist’s journey.” Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Haizlett about the book.
Reclaiming An African Art
African Face Jugs came to America through Slavery. Artist Jim McDowell uses the art form to speak about the African American experience.
CourtesyYou’ve probably seen pottery with a face on it.
There are lots of examples of face-shaped vessels out there — from cheap souvenir shop knick-knacks to museum-quality pieces that can sell for millions of dollars.
Some are connected to African Face Jugs, an artform made by enslaved people in the deep South in the mid-1800s.
In 2023, Folkways reporter Zack Harold traced the story of Face Jugs, beginning in the basement pottery studio of West Virginia artist Ed Klimek.
Our theme music is by Matt Jackfert. Other music this week was provided by Dinosaur Burps, Sierra Ferrell, Sean Watkins, Joe Dobbs and the 1937 Flood, Paul Loomis, 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 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 start with the legislature’s second special session of the year. The Governor’s original call for this special session prioritized childcare tax credits and cutting the income tax by 5 percent, but once lawmakers gaveled in, discussions quickly devolved.
Statehouse Reporter, Caelan Bailey will tell us about one measure on nuclear regulations that passed with the smallest margin of 73 yeas out of 91 votes cast.
Plus, we’ll hear about the devastation in the southeast from Hurricane Helene and how West Virginia’s National Guard will help recovery efforts.
Also, a ballot amendment could decide the fate of medically assisted suicide in West Virginia this November, a possible transition from coal power to natural gas and a community pushes back against a new city ordinance.
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, 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, 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
On this West Virginia Morning, the Eastern Panhandle saw major military activity in the Civil War. But, driving through the region today, you wouldn’t know some of these historic sites exist. One county’s government is partnering with a historic preservation nonprofit to change that. Together, they’re creating a new battlefield park that commemorates local history.
Jack Walker visited the battlefield site to discuss plans for the park, and why preserving West Virginia history matters.
Also, in this show, from movies and TV to live music, there are a lot of options for entertainment in your free time these days. As Chris Schulz reports, one group in Morgantown has found a way to read and socialize in silence.
West Virginia Morning 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, 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.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
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
On this West Virginia Morning, some residents living near the Mountain Valley Pipeline have been watching it for several years. Now that the pipeline is carrying natural gas, they say they’ll continue to do so. Curtis Tate has the story from Bent Mountain, Virginia.
Also, in this show, former legislator Doug Skaff in May was taking down signs for his secretary of state campaign when he felt a sharp sensation in his foot. He only realized what happened when he looked down and saw a copperhead. By the time he got away, Skaff was bitten four times by two separate snakes.
One month after the incident, Jack Walker caught up with Skaff about what happened, and the status of his 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.
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,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.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
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
On this West Virginia Morning, the Mountain Valley Pipeline is under scrutiny from federal regulators after it failed a pressure test in Virginia last month. Curtis Tate spoke with Cynthia Quarterman, the former head of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration from 2009 to 2014, about the federal agency’s role in regulating 3 million miles of pipeline.
Also, in this show, just before the start of the fall semester last year, the band director at Midland Trail High School left for another job. With no one else to take over, senior Carol Nottingham stepped in. We bring you this story from student reporter Kelsie Carte.
West Virginia Morning 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 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
This conversation originally aired in the May 26, 2024 episode of Inside Appalachia.
Appalachia produces less coal than it once did, but that coal is still desired around the world for making steel.
The demand is now creating problems for people who live 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 getting on their cars, on their houses, in their lungs. Residents have started to take matters into their own hands.
A new podcast called Crosswinds links that fight to communities in West Virginia. It’s produced by an environmental justice research project at the University of Virginia called the Repair Lab.
Mason Adams spoke with Crosswinds producer Adrian Wood, as well as Lathaniel Kirts, a pastor and activist in one of the affected communities.
The transcript below has been lightly edited for clarity.
Adams: The podcast that you all are working on, looks at a problem affecting communities in Norfolk and Newport News, Virginia, but then zooms back out to trace this issue to its roots in Appalachia. Lathaniel, you live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Can you share how you became aware of this coal dust issue?
Kirts: In the Hampton Roads area, there are two different distinct communities that we’re focusing on. One being Norfolk, and the other being Newport News. I am from Norfolk, Virginia — a native of the area. I grew up there. I applied for a job with a coalition called New Virginia Majority. They were focusing on environmental justice. This was back in 2017, and it was about the coal dust issue that was happening in the Lambert’s Point area of Norfolk. so I began working with them building their social media campaign, and helping to spread awareness to try to find something meaningful to change about the coal dust issue.
At that moment, they were focusing on covering the coal. Now, I have recently moved to Newport News, and I realized the same thing that was happening in Norfolk was [also] happening in Newport News as well. So that's when I started this project with a dear friend of mine, who I was raised with in Norfolk [named] Malcolm Jones. He and I are both practitioners-in-residence with the University of Virginia's Repair Lab. The Repair Lab’s goal is to help focus on environmental justice in predominately African-American communities, and try to build a coalition around these individuals who do meaningful changes around the work of environmental justice — namely in this area, coal dust.
Lathaniel Kirts and Malcolm Jones of the Repair Lab.
Photo Credit: CrosswindsAdams: Can you describe these neighborhoods, a little bit in Newport News in Norfolk, that are near these coal terminals? Who are the folks that are being affected by this?
Kirts: Two distinctly different communities, [with] some very similar traits. I love them both. Norfolk is of course the biggest military hub in the world. The world's largest naval base is in Norfolk. It has a diverse population. In Norfolk, when you get to Lambert’s Point community, it is a predominantly Black community, which also has a hub of college students from Old Dominion University there as well. So you’ve got a lot of young people coming in from all over the commonwealth and all over the nation to this place.
Then you have Newport News, which is right across the water. Where the coal terminal sits is a predominantly Black community as well. A lot of poverty as well in the area, a lot of systemic issues are there. I am also a pastor in this community. So this is something that is near and dear to my heart, because I want to see the people — who I pastor, who I work alongside, who I live alongside — to be able to thrive and have a meaningful life, to be able to breathe fresh and clean air.
Adams: These communities are dealing with issues involving coal dust blowing off of the ships and trains into their communities. What are the folks there doing to try to address this problem?
Kirts: There've been petitions signed. Yard signs have been put up that say, “Coal dust kills.” They are going out and they're protesting. They've been doing it for years with protests at the former Norfolk Southern headquarters in Norfolk (they have since moved on to Atlanta). They've written letters. They've contacted their legislators on a national, state and local level. They have gone to city council meetings. They have recorded oral histories through the University of Virginia. We've had so many different things that they've been doing because, once again, this is affecting their community. What we want to do is to make more people aware, and hopefully come up with some type of meaningful legislation that can stop the spread of coal dust in our area.
Coal yards at Norfolk Southern’s pier at Lambert’s Point, Norfolk, Virginia.
Photo Credit: CrosswindsAdams: Adrian, how did you get involved with this community effort?
Wood: I first met Lathaniel through working with the Repair Lab. I’m the full-time multimedia producer for the Repair Lab. Part of what the Repair Lab does is offer resources to our practitioners-in-residence who work with us for a one-year duration residency, and we offer them resources like academic access to libraries or different kinds of academic connections and policy research and also multimedia production around the topic or the issue that they're bringing to us. I work as a resource for our practitioners-in-residence, and support the work that they're doing with environmental justice storytelling that shows the work that's already been done and also tells us about the work that's to come.
Adams: How did the idea for the podcast take off?
Wood: The idea for the podcast came because podcasts can be really versatile forms of media. Also, my expertise is in sound and audio editing, so it was maybe the best use of my talents. With the resources at-hand, it made sense. It worked for what we were trying to do, which is to disseminate the story about coal dust, environmental racism and Hampton Roads to the rest of the nation and even the rest of the world. Podcasts work really well for that, because little segments can be picked up by other media entities, and it's a lot easier to get something broadcast on radio than it is to get something on Netflix. Podcasts also work really well for amplifying and elevating the voices of community members and really allowing them to tell their own stories and speak for themselves around the issues that have been affecting them sometimes for generations.
Adams: So as y'all begin to develop this podcast series, you traced the route of these coal cars back up the railroad tracks and to where the coal was produced, including in West Virginia. So what did you find there?
Wood: I traced the coal that gets shipped out of the Dominion terminal in Newport News back to about a dozen coal mines, all in southern West Virginia. I was shocked but not surprised to find a lot of neglect on behalf of the coal companies around a lot of the towns where coal is being extracted — in terms of failure to reclaim sites that had been extracted and mined, and the ways that those costs had been displaced back onto the backs of residents in those communities in a way that eerily echoed what was happening in Newport News and Norfolk with the costs of environmental remediation being displaced, and people paying for that through their health and with their lives.
In West Virginia in particular, some of the mines and some of the depots where the coal gets moved from the mine onto the train are owned either by CSX, the rail company that ships to Dominion terminal, or to some other coal giants that own Dominion Terminal Associates and parts whose names you're probably familiar with, like Peabody Coal or Arch or Alpha Metallurgical Resources. Those companies all have stakes in Dominion Terminal Associates and not surprisingly they often own the mines that the coal is coming from.
Adams: Are the folks there in West Virginia being affected by blowing coal dust as well?
Wood: Yes, I heard about this from an advocate in Junior Walk, who lives in Eunice, West Virginia, who talked about coal dust settling so thick on records on his record player that the record wouldn't play after just sitting out for 24 hours in his home. Coal dust affects people there like it affects people in Hampton Roads, and it's coal dust coming from the same seam in the same mountain that's being moved from one side of the Appalachians to the ocean, and it’s coal that really should just have been left in the ground.
Activists speak about blowing coal dust from terminals in coastal Virginia.
Photo Credit: CrosswindsAdams: So what connections do you see between these communities in Appalachia and in Newport News and Norfolk?
Kirts: There's historic poverty in both communities. These people are bearing the brunt of the health disparities that are spread because of coal dust. That's one of the main similarities that I see. And then, of course, we're not reaping the benefits monetarily of that being in our communities. The coal is being transported mostly overseas. Two percent stays within the country; the rest is going over to other places. It’s been labored here, it's being pulled here, being dumped into our community. And then once that coal dust spreads into our lungs, and we're sick, we're not going to be helped, we're not going to be provided for, we don't have the adequate health care to be sustained. And then these companies who like to pretend to be benevolent and to be green and friendly, are not who they say they are. They are cancer-causing agents in our community, and they're doing damage.
That is what the similarities I see: that we're all being negatively affected, and seeing none of the benefits of what they're seeing being the manufacturers of coal dust.
Wood: I agree with that. And I would just add that these communities are not being protected by existing regulatory pathways through the EPA or through state environmental departments. The regulations that exist around coal dust right now through the EPA, which recently were strengthened, are still not enough to protect communities in Newport News, Norfolk or West Virginia because of the way those regulations work, which is, averages that are regional and over every 24 hours.
So a regional average may not address a high amount of coal dust concentrated in one place when the rest of the region is not being affected by that dust. Similarly, a 24-hour average doesn't address coal dust that's getting blown really hard for 30 minutes and covering your whole porch in black dust, and then the wind doesn't blow for the rest of the day. That may not be enough to affect the 24-hour average. So the way that the regulations are designed are not addressing the health needs and the lifestyle needs of these communities.
And we know that coal dust is more dangerous than other kinds of dust that these regulations are designed to address, because coal dust can contain lead, mercury, arsenic and cadmium, among other heavy metals that are known to cause cancer and neurological damage and birth defects.
Adams: What's next for the folks involved in this struggle to tamp down coal dust in these coastal communities?
Kirts: We're looking for a few changes here in our area. One of the things that we're trying to do in order to alleviate coal dust within our communities is an ordinance that will either support a coal dome — to enclose the coal into a dome so that the coal dust will not be blown into our communities — and/or a wooden fence that is going to prevent the wind to blow coal dust into the area, and once again alleviate coal that's being spread into our communities. Anything is better than sitting beside mountains of coal terminals right next door to our playgrounds, where we have our gardens, where we have our worship facilities. These are places that are supposed to be safe places for us to go and to live freely and sit and breathe freely. And that's what we're fighting for and advocating for.
Adrian Wood and Lathaniel Kirts’ new podcast Crosswinds is available now.
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 Lathaniel 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
We continue to learn more about the way childhood trauma can affect our physical and psychological health, and the result is creating a social movement. More than two decades ago, researchers first came up with a way to assess the impact of childhood neglect, abuse and family dysfunction. Nearly half the kids under 18 in the U.S. have had an adverse experience or serious trauma — also known as ACEs, which stands for adverse childhood experiences. Now, advocates are getting traction with “trauma-aware” campaigns and coalitions.
Many institutions are investing in trauma awareness, training and screening. The original study, published in 1998, concluded that early traumas contribute to poor health outcomes later in life. That research got almost no attention when it was first published, however today its findings are considered ground-breaking. But some say using such a rubric to assess a person’s experience won’t work for everyone and may simply label and limit their future potential.
If you are in West Virginia and want to learn more about ACEs, contact the West Virginia ACEs Coalition.
If you are anywhere else in the world and would like to know more about ACEs, reach out to PACEs Connection.
This episode of Us & Them is presented with support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and CRC Foundation.
This program is made possible by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 through the West Virginia Humanities Council. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations do not necessarily represent those of the West Virginia Humanities Council or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Subscribe to Us & Them on Apple Podcasts, NPR One, RadioPublic, Spotify, Stitcher and beyond.
Kathy Szafran, a licensed professional counselor in West Virginia for 30 years, works primarily with high-risk foster care children who have lived through significant trauma.
“Kids need to know that someone loves them. They need to have hope. Something as simple as hope that it's going to be okay, is critical. Imagine a life without it. Imagine if that child didn't have grandma who rescued her. What if she stayed in the foster care system and was bounced around, and had no one to connect to? We have a lot of children in the system like that.”
— Kathy Szafran
Photo Credit: Charleston Gazette-MailPediatrician Dr. Nadine Burke Harris — the former Surgeon General of California — gave an influential TED Talk nearly a decade ago on the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. In that presentation, she described the link between the body, brain and toxic stress.
“Imagine you’re walking in the forest and you see a bear. Immediately, your hypothalamus sends a signal to your pituitary, which sends a signal to your adrenal gland, that says, 'Release stress hormones! Adrenaline! Cortisol!' And so your heart starts to pound. Your pupils dilate, your airways open up. And you are ready to either fight that bear or run from the bear. And that is wonderful if you’re in a forest, and there’s a bear. But the problem is what happens when the bear comes home every night and this system is activated over and over and over again?”
— Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Photo Credit: Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans(Click here to view Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’ TED Talk: “How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime.”)
(Click here to read about Dr. Nadine Burke Harris’ book: The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma and Adversity)
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is sworn in by California Gov. Gavin Newsom as the state’s first surgeon general.
Photo Credit: Nadine Burke HarrisCarey Sipp, the southeastern regional community facilitator for ACEs Connection, is author of The TurnAround Mom, about breaking cycles of addiction and abuse.
“It's clear, it's there. A child whose brain is steeped in cortisol and adrenaline is going to have structural and functional changes that are going to predispose that child to having those health issues. At the same time, though, if we can buffer with more positive childhood experiences, we may be able to turn that around. That's the hope. And that's the proof. We've got proof – you can turn this around.”
— Carey Sipp
Photo Credit: Whitney Jones/Jean Exum PhotographyMany advocates, including Nadine Burke Harris, want to see ACE screenings become commonplace at schools, in the doctor's office and in other settings across the country. Screening for adversity may seem like a good idea — after all, we screen for developmental disabilities and smoking and drug use, which can lead to early interventions. But, education scholar Alex Winninghoff questions the value of widespread screening. She believes it’s inappropriate, maybe even damaging to screen individuals with regard to childhood adversity.
“So if we're thinking about the use, for instance of an ACE score, in relation to health care as a potential data point for assigning risks by insurance companies … if we think about the ways that the ACE score could be interpreted by professionals, including educators, social workers, police… We can see that number, as a kind of reductive, summative representation of someone's previous experience, also projects a future story that can be dismal and devastating. So the use of the ACE score as a label to imagine potential risk and to give us information about what that person's likely outcomes are going to be in terms of, you know, education and social functioning and health? There are a number of ways that the interpretation of a score could be deeply problematic and consequential at the system's level.”
— Alex Winninghoff
Photo Credit: Alex Winninghoff(Click here to read Winninghoff’s scholarly paper: “The road ahead: Moving beyond ACEs in transformative SEL.”)
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
On this West Virginia Morning, West Virginia’s mechanism for funding emergency shelters shifted earlier this year to an application-based system. As Chris Schulz reports, that change has proved a boon for some – and a problem for others.
Also, in this show, this last week the National Pro Road Championships came to the streets of Charleston. Events included a time trial along the Kanawha River, a one-mile loop through the downtown streets and a longer course through the hills and flats around the city. The event is a qualifier for the Paris Olympics this summer. Some of the winners will go directly there to compete. A cyclist himself, our on-air host Joseph Zecevic 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 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
Homelessness has been on the rise since 2016, and the pandemic only exacerbated an acute shortage of resources to help people living on the streets. Many communities are struggling to provide support, even as some homeless people turn away from emergency shelters and remain in outdoor encampments.
In Charleston, West Virginia, the city’s opioid response program also focuses on support for people who are homeless. Tent cities have been a focus at the state legislature as debate continues over how to help people living on the street.
At the same time, some people say they’re more afraid of people living on the street than in the past. Providing sustained care for homeless people continues to elude and divide even well-meaning and determined communities.
Earlier this year, our Us & Them episode called Compassion Fatigue received a second place award from the Virginias AP Broadcasters for Best Podcast.
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.
Us & Them host Trey Kay met Randy Lantz on the steps of First Presbyterian Church in Charleston on a cold night in January 2023. Lantz, who’s from Georgia, said he’s been homeless since 2016. Lantz said after serving three prison sentences, he found his way “back into the world” after his first incarcerations, but this time, he said, he’s struggling.
Photo Credit: Julie BlackwoodRev. William Myers became First Presbyterian Church’s new head minister in August 2021. It wasn’t long before he became aware of the church’s transient guests who slept on the building’s front steps. Rev. Myers allowed them to camp there overnight, but he also wanted to set limits, knowing children in the church’s preschool program used that entrance every morning and afternoon.
Myers established ground rules for those sheltering on the steps. But this did not resolve the concerns of some community members in and outside the congregation. In his first days in Charleston, Rev. Myers was quickly immersed in the debate over how best to help people living on the street.
(Click here to view Rev. Myer’s sermon about caring for homeless people.)
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAshley Switzer and her husband have raised five children in West Virginia’s capitol city. Her grandson attends a preschool located near First Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church, which houses Manna Meal, a soup kitchen that’s been serving meals to homeless people for more than four decades.
“There was a group of parents from this school right here who actually called for a meeting with the mayor of our town because of instances with homeless or criminal vagrants on school property, near school property, banging on parents’ car doors, children in the back screaming,” she said, standing outside the preschool playground where her grandson plays. “There have been children playing on this actual playground where homeless people will threaten them. My grandson has witnessed someone walking down this very sidewalk with no pants.”
Photo Credit: Ashley SwitzerBarbara DiPietro, senior director of policy for the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, oversees the group’s federal advocacy and policy analysis. “It's not compassion in our public policies when we consistently choose not to fund housing, not to raise wages, to allow people to not get health care,” DiPietro said. “Homelessness isn't an accident. These are conscious public policy choices.”
Photo Credit: National Institute for Medical Respite CareTaryn Wherry, director of the City of Charleston’s CARE program, or Coordinated Addiction Response Effort, said the city’s outreach program focuses on those with substance use disorder as well as people living on the streets. The CARE program began under Charleston’s current mayor, Amy Goodwin.
(Click here to hear Mayor Goodwin on meeting the needs of Charleston’s homeless population.)
“We take a very hands-on, boots on the ground approach every day,” Wherry said. “We’re in the streets, we're on the [river] banks or in abandoned properties. We're talking to people and meeting them where they're at.”
Wherry said CARE staff know firsthand what it is like to be out on the streets, struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.
“We have individuals who have lived and learned experience in all fields, people who are in long-term recovery who have been in active addiction,” she said.
(Click here to view former Charleston Mayor Danny Jones announcing his order to dismantle a homeless encampment known as “Tent City.”)
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingA peer support worker with Covenant House, Sommer Short works for the nonprofit service organization that partners with Charleston’s CARE team. When Sommer was 21, she was injured in a car accident and prescribed opioids. Over the next five years, she transitioned to heroin use and said she eventually left home and became homeless.
Short works to support people who are living without shelter, like she used to live. She said many of the homeless people she meets are living with substance use disorder and feel like “her people.”
“Though I may be in a position where I'm three years sober today, I am comfortable going out there and trying to help someone the same way that someone helped me,” she said.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingShort offers food and hygiene bags that she keeps in her trunk to homeless people camping in and around Charleston.
“We have a Ziploc bag, which contains the toilet paper and their socks and some ointment. Then we have some baby wipes. And inside, we also have a bottle of water, a hairbrush, a comb, a little travel pack for their toothpaste and a brush, a razor, shaving cream,” she said. Short also has food gift cards and Narcan nasal spray, which can be used to reverse a drug overdose.
Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public BroadcastingAs Short walked toward a homeless encampment, she passed under a highway overpass where someone had written “HOPE” in yellow spray paint on the concrete wall.
“Hold On Pain Ends,” Short said, describing what the word means to her. “You always gotta have hope. Pain ends eventually. But you got to work for it as well.”Photo Credit: Trey Kay/West Virginia Public Broadcasting
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Sign-up for the Inside Appalachia Newsletter!
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.
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.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzcY4ZKEMnQ Black lung disease was thought by some to be a disease of the past. It is not. It is not treatable or curable. Federal law says that a coal miner should work his or her entire life without incurring any disability from black lung. Why isn’t that happening? We’ll talk about Black Lung on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works - Black Lung one hour program will air Thursday, September 18 at 8:00pm.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuScLS_Upu4 Sexual violence is never the victim's fault. It doesn't matter where you were, the time of day, what you were wearing, or if you were drinking -- sex without consent is rape. Dan Ringer and guest Nancy Hoffman, State Coordinator for WV Foundation for Rape Information & Services will talk about finding help for victims of sexual violence on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76WxBLwBC6w West Virginia is home to some of the world's most beautiful rivers and streams. But many of these waters are polluted, in part because of the way land is used in nearby areas. Dan Ringer and guests Katherine Garvey, Director, WVU Land Use Law Clinic and Nathan Fetty, Managing Attorney, WVU Land Use Law Clinic will talk about land trusts and conservation easements on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEhJOSwzq9g For the past few years the United States has been involved in war with a rock. The rock in question is coal. And just like any civil war the participants on both sides are from the same country, this one. The United States. Dan Ringer and guest Patrick McGinley will talk about the War on Coal on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLByKN9ClVE Freedom of information acts, were enacted for the purpose of providing information about the workings of government and the acts of public officials and employees. So how's that working out? Dan Ringer with guests Prof. Patrick C. McGinley, WVU College of Law and Don Smith, Executive Director, WV Press Association will talk about freedom of information on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC55SJsSdtQ Do you have a budget? How do you create it? Is it easy to follow? The State of West Virginia has a budget. It is not easy to create, and it is not easy to follow. Dan Ringer and guest State Senator Roman Prezioso, Chair of the West Virginia State Senate Finance Committee will talk about the West Virginia State Budget on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26sQ7ZIpTZQ There is much discussion in West Virginia, and elsewhere, about damage to streams and other wetlands as a result of coal mining and other mineral extraction industries. Streams are being buried and wetlands drained. Our water resources are being damaged, and sometimes lost. But what's to be done about it? Dan Ringer with guests WVU Law Professor Patrick C. McGinley and George Kelly, the founder of Environmental Banc and Exchange, LLC, will talk about stream and wetlands mitigation on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDhh1OQ0KNw If you're accused of a crime, you are entitled to a few things. An attorney. To see the evidence. To confront witnesses. Your day in court. And an honest police effort. But what if the police are not honest? Dan Ringer and Richard Neely, Esq., former West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice will talk about Police Corruption, on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGg7YaBIbKw If you are selling or renting a house, apartment, or other residence, can you decide to whom you wish to sell, or have as a tenant?. What can you consider? Dan Ringer with guests Claire Chantler, Program Manager, Fair Housing Initiatives Program and Jan Derry, Executive Director, Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living, will talk about Fair Housing on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68J_lH4zPxo What should a court do when presented with an issue that has never been considered before, or one in which the law is not clear, or maybe the times have simply changed. Dan Ringer and former West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Neely will talk about active American Courts, on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWiXjQcOiuw We live in a complex world. We deal with new challenges every day. New technologies. New relationships. New ideas. And so do our courts. Dan Ringer and former West Virginia Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Neely will talk about the challenges facing our courts, on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC9aH8OX6AI Can you name two drugs, given to soldiers in wartime, and valued for their effects on behavior? One caused the troops to behave heroically. The other kept troops going when they were otherwise too tired to continue. Dan Ringer and guests William J. Ihlenfeld, II, U.S. Attorney, NDWV and Brian Kornbrath, Chief Federal Public Defender, NDWV will talk about Heroin and Methamphetamine on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
West Virginia University’s College of Law is hosting a forum this evening to discuss marriage equality in West Virginia. Evan Wolfson is the featured guest at Tuesday's event. Evan Wolfson is the founder and President of Freedom to Marry, a nation-wide campaign to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Currently, the state of West Virginia makes no allowances for same-sex couples to be wed. “Couples who live here who get married in the 17 states that do have the freedom to marry can come back home and they will be respected by the federal government. But West Virginia continues to discriminate,” Wolfson says. Wolfson says that discrimination is currently being challenged by a lawsuit brought by Lambda Legal on behalf of three couples within the state. Wolfson was formerly the marriage project director for Lambda Legal and was co-counsel in a historic Hawaii marriage case in the mid-90s. “What we’re talking about here is the freedom to marry under the law, who can get a
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5vvTdbxWxA Suppose you live in a town or city. You work for the municipal government. You depend on the government for your pension, your police and fire protection, for trash pick-up, for street maintenance and parks. Then it files bankruptcy. Now what? Dan Ringer and guest Attorney Martin Sheehan will talk about Municipal Bankruptcy on this episode of The Law Works. The Law Works airs Thursday at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11:00 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEITSep9Vm0 Forty years ago, the United States had the highest public school graduation rate in the world. Today we're number twenty-one. In West Virginia we have a public school truancy rate of up to fifty percent in some counties. Dan Ringer and his guests Judge Alan Moats, Barbour & Taylor Counties and Glenn Sweet, Director, Barbour County Office of Attendance will talk about Truancy. The Law Works airs Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on WV PBS and Friday at 11 a.m. on WV PBS2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgAWDbtFIKg What happens when a company causes an environmental disaster... injures hundreds of thousands of people...closes large and small businesses for days...then files bankruptcy? Join The Law Works host Dan Ringer and guest Martin Sheehan as they talk about "getting away with it" through bankruptcy. The Law Works airs on WV PBS Thursday at 8:30 p.m. and on WV PBS.2 Friday at 11 a.m .
Frustration and anger continue to mount in the affected counties of last month’s chemical spill. West Virginians are getting schooled in chemistry and biology, and are suddenly intimately involved in considering the bigger picture of environmental regulations on industrial activities. Three experts, one on water quality, one on environmental law, and one on public health, spoke on the West Virginia Public Broadcasting's The Law Works about these issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ejGNYfILKw One chemical company used to proclaim "better living through chemistry." But at what cost? That chemistry, those chemicals may be helpful, but they may also be dangerous. Host Dan Ringer and special guest Professor Patrick McGinley of the WVU College of Law will discuss the transport, storage, and control of chemicals, on this episode of The Law Works. This program airs February 6 at 8:30 p.m. on West Virginia PBS and is rebroadcast on WV PBS.2 on February 7 at 11 a.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Urh8HgOfZ8A In West Virginia we have town governments, county governments, the state government, and the federal government. All of these governments govern the same people, in the same places. How does that work? Mayor Guy Ward of White Hall, WV and Michael Romano of the Harrison County Commission discuss Governments with Dan Ringer on this episode of The Law Works. This episode of The Law Works premiers on Nov. 14, 2013 at 8: 30pm on WV PBS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYFB1ki0YW8 Why are some convicted criminal defendants sentenced more harshly than others? If two people commit the same offense, and are convicted of it, sometimes one goes home, and the other to prison. Why is that? Judge Alan Moats and Judge Russell Clawges join Dan Ringer to discuss Sentencing in Criminal Cases on this episode of The Law Works. This episode of The Law Works premiers on November 7, 2013 at 8:30 pm on WV PBS.