West Virginia Morning

Over the last several years, catastrophic floods have washed out parts of eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia, as well as North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Why are the mountains getting so much flooding? And what do frequent major storms mean for the future? Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with Brady Dennis with The Washington Post. He and a team of journalists investigated those questions. The post Understanding Flooding In Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

State prisons release at least 95% percent of incarcerated people back into society. Some individuals struggle to navigate those transitional challenges successfully. On the latest Us & Them, host Trey Kay talks with Rahim Buford who was paroled after 26 years in prison. The post Navigating Society After Incarceration, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

One year after President Donald Trump's second inauguration, West Virginians took to the streets Tuesday to express their frustrations with recent policy changes at home and in Washington. The post Residents Take Part In National Protest Movement, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Pearls are prized gemstones that have been crafted into jewelry for millennia. They can be found in the wild, but they're also cultivated on farms. We hear a report from North America's lone freshwater pearl farm located along Kentucky Lake in Tennessee. The post Growing Pearls In Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

If you're looking to sign up for a new gym membership this year, it's worth looking into whether your health insurance will help with some or all of the cost. And, soaring electricity costs and the slow growth of renewable energy. The post Affording A Gym Membership And Increasing Electricity Costs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

WVPB's annual TV/radio simulcast The Legislature Today kicks off Jan. 16 through March 13. Every Friday at 6 p.m., our journalists will bring you the latest news from the West Virginia Legislature, including interviews with lawmakers and stakeholders. In our first episode this year, you'll see an interview with Del. Sean Hornbuckle and Sen. Mike Woelfel, both minority leaders in their respective chambers and both from Cabell County. Here's an excerpt. The post House, Senate Minority Leaders Weigh In On 2026 Session, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey delivered his second State of the State address Wednesday night, giving lawmakers and the public a look at his priorities for the legislative session now underway. The post Morrisey Says Investments In Higher Ed, Roads, Tourism Are Keys For 2026, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

For the second week in a row, every state touching West Virginia's border is experiencing high or very high cases of influenza. So far, this state is showing only a low to moderate outbreak. But health experts in West Virginia predict that's about to change. The post Health Experts Say Flu Is On The Rise, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

When people think of career and technical education, professional pathways in nursing and mechanics come to mind. But West Virginia has a long tradition of agriculture that is reflected in some technical programs. We learn how one school can say they take livestock from pen to plate.  The post A Look Into Technical Education In Agriculture, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

If you feel under the weather, how do you know when it's time to see a doctor? Also, a growing movement to make Appalachia the “truffle capital of the world,” is being led by a small-town farmer in southern Kentucky. The post When To See The Doctor And A Truffle Movement, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Appalachia has had high rates of substance abuse and mental health disorders for years. After the problem reached a boiling point during the COVID-19 pandemic, a few communities tried using crisis response teams, and so far, that seems to be working. Last year, Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spent several months with some of these teams and has this story. The post A Look Inside Quick Response Teams, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We explore the history of a song that's become a universal anthem of hope and forgiveness. “Amazing Grace” was first written as a Christian hymn, and its beginnings in America come in the early 1800s. That's when people traveled to revivals to worship with preachers from various denominations. The post The History Of ‘Amazing Grace,' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia is set to receive a nearly $200 million federal award for the state's 2026 Rural Health Transformation Fund. It's designed to transform rural health care, but against the backdrop of staggering cuts to Medicaid. There are significant questions about what the new program can accomplish – and how rural hospitals in the state may fare in the months and years ahead. The post Transforming Rural Health Access, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A job loss or an unexpected change in coverage costs might mean that you're starting the year without health insurance. If you're looking for care, there might be an affordable option near you that you've never heard of. The post Benefits Of Community Health Centers, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Mon River has long been called “the hardest working river in the United States.” The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, brings us their latest story on the legacy of steel works on the Mon River. The post Steel Works Legacy On The Mon, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a special reading of “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” as well as a year in review from Gov. Morrisey. The post Hear ‘Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Christmas has become a huge cultural and commercial holiday, but where did we get traditions like Christmas trees? And how do people in other countries celebrate? We talk with West Virginia University (WVU) religious studies professors Aaron Gale and Alex Snow to learn more about Christmas' ancient history. The post The History Of Christmas, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Health care options are shrinking across rural Appalachia. In November, an urgent care center in rural Patrick County, Virginia closed. In the wake of the closure, Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams went to Stuart, Virginia, to meet with the county's only doctor. The post How Health Care Options Are Shrinking Across Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, used the law to achieve social change. On the next episode of Us & Them, Trey Kay hosts a community conversation, sponsored by West Virginia Public Broadcasting, highlighting Marshall's legacy through a new Maryland Public Television (MPT) documentary called “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect.”  The post Latest ‘Us & Them’ Explores Thurgood Marshall's Legacy, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Christmas season for many is not all merry and bright but laced with an emotional weight that at times can be overwhelming. Those challenging emotions prompted a Cabell County musician to compose a different kind of Christmas song. The post New Christmas Song Highlights Emotional Weight Of Holiday, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Trump administration plans to weaken the Endangered Species Act, and that could impact the fate of an ancient creature found in Appalachia: the eastern hellbender salamander. The Allegheny Front's Julie Grant recently visited a new preserve dedicated to hellbenders and found not only natural history – but American history. The post New Preserve To Protect Hellbender Salamander, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Carpenter Ants have been a staple of the state's music scene for decades. For the holidays, the band released “There Ain't No Sanity Claus,” a Christmas record featuring friends like Mountain Stage's Larry Groce, actress/singer Ann Magnuson and singer/songwriter John Ellison. Bill Lynch talked with guitarist Michael Lipton about the album. The post New Christmas Album From The Carpenter Ants, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A lot of people who came of age listening to the Grand Ole Opry know Little Jimmy Dickens. With his clever songs and his rhinestone-studded outfits, the West Virginia native influenced a generation of performers. Now he's remembered in a new book of poetry. The post State Employee Pay Raises And Little Jimmy Dickens, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Federal funding for arts and culture has been curtailed. Trey Kay looks at the reasons in the latest Us & Them. Also, the state board of education has approved another round of school closures and consolidations, the state Legislature is expected to take up several bills in the coming session to address foster care and children who are homeless, and U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom was laid to rest Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton. The post Latest ‘Us & Them' Reflects On 2025, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

It's common at Christmastime for churches and businesses to set up angel trees, decorated with paper ornaments holding a child's name and wish list. Trees set up this year for the children of Iaeger, West Virginia, reflect the long-term damage done by the February floods that devastated McDowell County. The post Christmastime After A Flood, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We listen to the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh. In their latest story, organizers of a custom mapping project hope it stirs more interest in the Mon River. The post Mapping The Mon River, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Eastern Kentucky is full of isolated, rural towns that have experienced decline alongside the coal industry. But some who want to stick around are trying to revitalize the region's downtown spaces. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, Shepherd Snyder reports. The post Revitalizing Rural Downtowns, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Public radio listeners know acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. WNYC recently released "Our Common Nature," a new podcast that follows the musician and producer Ana Gonzalez as they explore the country. This included a visit to West Virginia. Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spoke with Gonzalez about the podcast. We listen to an excerpt. The post WNYC's New Podcast ‘Our Common Nature' Visits W.Va., This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

More than nine months after the February flood that hit southern West Virginia, residents are still rebuilding their lives. WVPB asked West Virginia photojournalist Roger May to create a photo essay on the people in that region. May sat down with News Director Eric Douglas to discuss the project. The post Photojournalist Talks Resilience, Recovery After Flood, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Low-head dams across Appalachia have been responsible for many deaths, causing state officials to label them as public safety hazards. But some community members are hesitant to have the fixtures removed. The post The Future Of Low-head Dams, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Regular listeners to our afternoon programming will immediately recognize the voice of Terry Gross. She has been the host of Fresh Air for 50 years – well before it became a national staple. News Director Eric Douglas spoke with Gross recently about her career, her style and the uniqueness of public radio. The post Terry Gross Talks With WVPB About Public Radio, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey appeared on NPR's All Things Considered over the weekend with host Miles Parks to discuss the shooting of the two West Virginia National Guard soldiers, Air Guard Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe and Army specialist Sarah Beckstrom. We listen to an excerpt. The post Morrisey Gives Update On National Guard Shooting, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

People who buy health care through the federal marketplace are set to see their premiums rise 40 percent or more. It depends on whether Congress extends the 2021 enhanced subsidies that help people pay their premiums. Ruby Rayner is a reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press who's been covering this story in Tennessee. Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spoke with Raynor. The post A Conversation On Increasing Premiums, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We're an aging nation, and the cost of care is lower the longer people stay in their homes. The trend has led to an explosion in home-based support and care services. On the next episode of Us & Them, host Trey Kay focuses on the challenges of care for our growing elderly population. The post Caring For Our Aging Population, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

By now, cooler temperatures have closed many theme parks around the area. But if you've got a craving to get on a roller coaster, you don't have to wait until spring and you don't have to drive very far. Bill Lynch takes us to the Brush Creek Holl'r Mountain Coaster. The post A Ride On W.Va.'s Mountain Coaster, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

WVPB is hosting a special screening of “Becoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect” at Marshall University on Nov. 18, and Us & Them host Trey Kay will moderate the live event along with a panel discussion. Ahead of the screening, Kay talked with one of the panelists, historian Cicero Fain, about why Marshall's story matters now. The post Why Thurgood Marshall's Story Matters Today, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

More than a quarter of adult West Virginians are serving as caregivers for a family member. The AARP just released a new nationwide report on caregiving. News Director Eric Douglas speaks with Jane Marks, the state president of the organization, to find out more. The post A Look At AARP's New Report On Caregiving, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

There's a style of singing in bluegrass and traditional music that's rooted in the music of Primitive and Old Regular Baptist churches, places where singers like bluegrass legend Stanley were raised. On a recent episode of Inside Appalachia, reporter Zack Harold introduced us to a woman who helps keep this sacred tradition alive. The post Appalachian Hymn Singing, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

How violent is America? We listen to an excerpt from the latest episode of Us & Them where host Trey Kay looks at what crime data really tells us. The post Understanding Crime Data, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, decorative pumpkins and Jack O'Lanterns can find a second life on your table and in the garden. We explore ways to reuse fall decorations. Also, we have the latest edition of our occasional series, Almost Heavens. The post Ways To Reuse Fall Décor, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

More than 500 residents of Mercer County are about to find out if they have been chosen for a rare opportunity. They have applied for a Guaranteed Minimum Income program through the nonprofit Give Directly, which uses funds from wealthy benefactors to give cash benefits to those in need. The post New Program To Help Residents In Poverty, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

High winds Wednesday fanned more than 20 fires across the state, and the largest of those fires is still burning. Also, we speak with a journalist who has been covering population decline in central Appalachia. The post W.Va. Wildfire And Appalachia's Declining Population, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Founded by assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA focuses its energies largely on college campuses like Marshall University. Mason County freshman Branson Tolliver is Marshall's chapter president. He talks with Randy Yohe on the goals of this growing student movement. The post A Conversation With MU's Turning Point USA President, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Halloween may be over, but Mountain State spookiness continues on with a new horror film called "Self-Help" shot in locations near Huntington. The film was produced by brothers Erik and Carson Bloomquist. Bill Lynch spoke with Carson about the film and their experience in West Virginia. The post Spooky Season Continues With New Film, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Kentucky utility regulators could approve a rate increase for Louisville Gas & Electric and Kentucky Utilities customers. They've approved new power plants to meet the electricity demands of data centers. Customers may not have known about the hidden cost they're paying for two coal plants. Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom Managing Editor Ryan Van Velzer spoke with WVPB's Curtis Tate about his reporting on those plants. The post A Conversation About Hidden Costs On Utility Bills, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, TJ Meadows from the Metro News Network spoke with News Director Eric Douglas about using his background in business and the energy industry to ask questions and shaking things up. The post Questioning The Status Quo, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia and her ancient hills are no stranger to spooky happenings and things we can't explain. You'll find no bigger fan of these stories than Jim Lange, the host of Eclectopia. This year for Halloween, he shares this paranormal story from Robert Tipane. The post A Spooky Mountain State Story, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Halloween is more popular than ever. We speak with WVU religious studies professors to learn more about the holiday's rich history. The post Digging Into Halloween's Rich History, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

An influx of cash will provide more than 500 residents at or close to the poverty line in Mercer County $1,500 each month for 16 months. The key here is it's no strings attached. Also, with delays to federal nutritional benefits expected, the state government is trying to step up to meet the need. The post Help For Mercer County Residents And Stepping Up State Nutritional Needs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We hear from Huntington-based Facing Hunger Food Bank CEO Cyndi Kirkhart on meeting the challenges faced in getting nutritional food to families in need amid the government shutdown. Also, students in Jefferson County will now have an easier time continuing their education after graduation, and we learn about historic preservation grants available in West Virginia. The post Meeting Food Needs Amid Shutdown, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

There are lots of options for enjoying fall colors across Appalachia. And, America's largest rodent has caused some even larger problems -- but a new national movement that's close to home finds there are reasons to help them out. The post Celebrating Fall In Appalachia And Protecting America's Biggest Rodent, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.