West Virginia Morning

Lawmakers in both West Virginia and Virginia have been looking at ways to make power bills more affordable, but their approaches are very different. We spoke with economists, politicians and ratepayers to learn why tensions between the two states may be driving up costs.  The post Different Approaches To Providing Electric Power, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, some unusual things are happening in the leadup to the state's primary elections next month. A Marshall political science professor shares some perspective. The post Political Science Professor Analyzes Upcoming Primary Election, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

With the war in Iran now in its second month, many questions remain about the motivations for and the objectives of the conflict. Ace Parsi's family left Iran for the U.S. because of the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. He shared his perspective on the situation with reporter Chris Schulz. The post Iranian American Weighs In On War In Iran, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

America's rural hospitals are closing at an alarming pace. That's become a concern in many parts of West Virginia. We look at nearby Tennessee, which has the highest hospital closure rate in the nation – but also some shining examples of hope. WPLN's Health Reporter Catherine Sweeney takes us to Linden – a Tennessee town where the shuttered hospital there has recently reopened.  The post Saving Rural Hospitals, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We've long known that smoking can cause lung cancer. But what about air pollution? As The Allegheny Front reports, a new Appalachian study finds a connection. The post The Connection Between Pollution And Lung Cancer, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Lots of public radio listeners know acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma. In the fall, WNYC released Our Common Nature, a podcast that follows the musician and producer Ana Gonzalez as they explore the country. This included a visit to West Virginia. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with Gonzalez about the podcast and what she and Yo-Yo Ma learned along the way. The post A Conversation On Acclaimed Cellist's Visit To W.Va., This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

By some measures, West Virginia has the nation's highest homeownership rate. However much of that housing is old and needs repair. Our latest episode of Us & Them is a recent award winner from the Virginia AP Broadcasters. Trey Kay uncovers an aspect of the housing crisis we don't often hear about – structures without electricity or running water that people call home. The post A Look At The Housing Crisis, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Fluorspar is a little-known mineral used to make everything from steel, aluminum and gasoline to uranium fuel and batteries. For the Appalachia Mid-South Newsroom, WKMS' Lily Burris reports the largest known deposit of the critical mineral in the U.S. is in western Kentucky – and its applications in artificial intelligence (AI) could reawaken the region's mining industry.  The post The Connection Between A Mineral And Data Centers, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The economy is everything we buy or sell and services we use. It can be a broad category and most of us struggle to understand what it all means. The show "Planet Money" from NPR dives into those topics and attempts to make sense of it. And now, the show has published a book called Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life. We speak with the author and one of the program's hosts. The post How To Better Understand The Economy, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

"Verity Vox and the Curse of Foxfire" is a young adult novel set in Appalachia. Written by West Virginia native Don Martin, the book follows the story of a witch-in-training who uses her magic to help a forgotten mountain coal town. It was an instant New York Times bestseller after it was released last year. Inside Appalachia Producer Bill Lynch spoke with Martin about the book and his podcast "Head on Fire." The post A Conversation With ‘Verity Vox And The Curse Of Foxfire' Author, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

For nearly 100 years, Snuffy Smith has been a staple of newspaper comic pages, though these days, it's easier to find him online. Snuffy Smith was brought to life by artist Fred Lasswell in the 1930s, but now the strip is written and drawn by John Rose, who lives in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke to Rose about drawing the famous hillbilly.  The post The Legacy Of Comic Strip ‘Snuffy Smith,' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A panel discussion consisting of community, political and data center industry leaders Tuesday night at Shepherd University has reignited the debate over local control of data center development in the state. Also, WorkForce West Virginia has released state unemployment figures for January. And, Amazon this week celebrated the grand openings of two news operations facilities in West Virginia. The post Panel Explores Data Center Development In State, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

It has been a week since the bill creating the state's new Office of Entrepreneurship was signed into law – with an official opening date of July 1. Maria Young caught up with Secretary of State Kris Warner to find out what the new office can do to help would-be new business owners turn their hopes and dreams into reality.  The post A Look At The State's New Office Of Entrepreneurship, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Overwhelming issues at school districts across the state in the last few years have prompted the West Virginia Department of Education to investigate and intervene in the administration of local education. We learn about an analysis conducted by the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy of 10 school districts and the need for a broader look at the issues facing the state's schools. The post An Analysis Of 10 State School Districts, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Thousands of people at roughly 20 different events in West Virginia last weekend joined "No Kings" protests against President Trump and the actions of his administration. Also, we learn about the cosmos above the Mountain State in our latest episode of our occasional series, Almost Heavens. The post ‘No Kings' Rallies And A Look At Mountain State Skies, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a photographer spends more than a decade documenting grandfamilies and new business opportunities come to the state. The post Photographing Grandfamilies in Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a look at the consequences of the Safer Kentucky Law, and a look forward to protests planned nationwide this weekend. The post The Consequences Of A Statewide Camping Ban, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Two films that made the Netflix Top 10 list this month were shot in West Virginia and produced by the same West Virginia film company. As it turns out, the film industry here has been quietly growing in recent years, thanks in part to financial incentives. But the state is also home to some picture-perfect settings that aren't easy for movie makers to find. The post W.Va.'s Growing Film Industry, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Kathleen Driskell is Kentucky's current poet laureate. Driskell has authored six poetry collections, and her work has appeared in The New Yorker and Rattle, among others. Her most recent is Goat-Footed Gods. Inside Appalachia producer Bill Lynch spoke with Driskell about living next to the dead and America's most lethal cryptid. The post KY Poet Laureate Talks ‘Goat-Footed Gods,' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

GLP-1s have quickly become one of the most popular weight loss drugs in America, but it takes more than a regular shot to be successful. Also, extreme weather and aging infrastructure are a tough combination for many rural communities. One impact? The quality of drinking water. The post Weight Loss Drugs And How Weather, Infrastructure Affect Water Quality, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Around this time of the year, some area churches get into the business of selling chocolate Easter eggs. These are the kind of eggs that have some weight to them. But one West Virginia church has become known far and wide for its chocolate eggs. The post The Legacy Of A Clarksburg Church's Chocolate Easter Eggs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture earlier this month issued an advisory to poultry owners about the rising number of avian flu cases in surrounding states. So far, it has infected only a small number of poultry farms in West Virginia. But in nearby Pittsburgh, the number of avian flu cases is high. The post How Avian Flu Is Wreaking Havoc In Nearby States, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A desperate attempt to pass a bill that had support from both parties in both chambers came down to the final minutes of the 2026 state Legislative session Saturday night. Aimed at keeping children in desperate situations safe, debate over the bill led to high emotions as hope from supporters began to fade. Senior Reporter Chris Schulz looks at what happened – and what comes next. The post Continued Obstacles To Approve ‘Raylee's Law' — And What Comes Next, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We speak with Ron Flanary, co-author of "Big Emma," a book that explores the story of a powerful steam locomotive that hauled passengers, freight and coal in eastern Kentucky. Also, state officials want to keep the public informed about the launch of new rural health programs. The post An Author Interview, Rural Health And Data Centers, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The 2026 state Legislative session stretched all the way to midnight Saturday night. WVPB reporters Randy Yohe, Chris Schulz and Maria Young were in the rotunda as the session concluded and brings us this recap. The post Reporters Recap Final Hours Of The 2026 Legislative Session, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A new young adult novel titled "The Secret Astronomers" captures a slice of life in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. This debut novel by author Jessica Walter tells the story of a friendship between two high school students as they unravel a decades-old mystery. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with Walker before the book was released a few months ago. The post A Look At New Novel ‘The Secret Astronomers' Set In Pocahontas County, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

In rural communities across America, there are people traveling many miles from home to deliver babies. In the past five years, nearly 125 rural hospitals have stopped delivering babies or announced that they will. That's about two closings a month. On the next Us & Them, host Trey Kay hears from families facing that change, and how it's affecting prospects for their rural cities and towns. The post How Hospital Closures Are Affecting Rural Communities, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Online gambling commercials in the state seem to dominate the television and radio airwaves. Those messages are not lost on our college students. Marshall University Broadcast Journalism senior Abigail Ayes just completed an impactful story about student online gambling for the campus news program, MU Report. Randy Yohe, who is also Ayes' instructor, spoke with the student reporter about her findings. The post The Prevalence Of Student Online Gambling, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The annual Mothman Festival has a competition for the title of ‘most unusual Appalachian celebration.' Bath County, Kentucky, celebrated a historic occurrence this week. The meat shower of 1876. That's when pieces of meat mysteriously fell from the sky onto a farm. The post The Meat Shower Of 1876, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

With a final budget now approved by both the House and Senate and headed to Gov. Patrick Morrisey for a signature, West Virginia budget watchers say there are looming expenses that haven't been taken into consideration. Also, more Americans than ever have access to a kind of savings account that lets them set aside pre-tax money for medical expenses. But this option takes a little effort to set up and navigate. The post State Budget Talk And Setting Up A Medical Savings Account, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a James Beard award winner is cooking up her twist on the old-fashioned fish fry, and the West Virginia Legislature completes a budget. The post Making Award-Winning Affrilachian Food In Asheville, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

WVPB had a conversation with Us & Them host Trey Kay earlier this week on the significance today of the 250th anniversary of America's founding. This week, WVPB is hosting a special screening event at Marshall University with excerpts from Ken Burns' The American Revolution, and Kay will lead a panel discussion. We once again hear from Kay, this time speaking with one of the panelists — Marshall University political science professor George Davis — about why revisiting the nation's founding story still matters.  The post Marshall Professor Weighs In On Significance Of Nation's Founding – 250 Years Later, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

After a frigid winter, we are now in the month that will bring us spring. The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, that reports on environmental issues in the region, brings us this look at how climate change might affect just how early spring flowers bloom. The post How Climate Change Might Affect Spring Flowers, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

WVPB will be screening excerpts of Ken Burns' recent PBS documentary series "The American Revolution" this week at Marshall. Us & Them host Trey Kay will moderate the event, and he spoke recently with WVPB News Director Eric Douglas about why revisiting the nation's founding story matters today. Also, a bill to temporarily delay moving a child to homeschooling during an active case of abuse or neglect hit a snag in the Senate on Monday. The post Why The Nation's Founding Story Matters Today, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginians gathered at the capitol last week to urge lawmakers to take action on rising electric bills. Also, state leaders have been quick to respond to news of the U.S.-led attack on Iran. And, Larry Kump, a Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, died over the weekend. The post The ‘Ratepayers Bill Of Rights' And State Leaders Respond To US-Led Attack On Iran, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We listen to an excerpt from the latest Inside Appalachia and learn about the influence and contributions of Oscar Micheaux, an African American filmmaker who lived in Virginia in the 1920s and shattered stereotypes. The post How A Filmmaker In The 1920s Shattered Stereotypes, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Millions of people are addicted to opioid pain medication. Some use medication-based treatment for their addiction. But that has created a divide in the world of recovery. We listen to an excerpt from the latest Us & Them, exploring the difference between an early medication called methadone and suboxone, which is often used now.  The post The Differences Between Methadone And Suboxone, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, we learn about radioactive materials and other contaminants in solid fracking waste, and the state Legislature is still working its way through next fiscal year's budget, but Gov. Patrick Morrisey wants the body to follow his lead. The post Fracking Waste And Sorting Out The State Budget, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A West Virginia cabinetmaker describes his journey to becoming an accomplished poet. Also, state lawmakers have taken an important step to funding the state's EMS. And, the Trump administration announced it would roll back a rule on power plant emissions of mercury. The post From Cabinetmaker To Poet – A Conversation With Steve Scafidi, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Issues with CPS and the state foster care system are persistent. The West Virginia Legislature faces questions on how to correct the problems that arise every year. We spoke with Dels. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason, and Hollis Lewis, D-Kanawha, on last week's The Legislature Today to get their take on the issue. The post Lawmakers Weigh In On Foster Care Needs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Connie Jordan Green has been writing most of her life. We talk with her about her poems and growing up in a secret city in Tennessee – Oak Ridge. Also, House Finance approved a budget for consideration of the full chamber. And, under a bill passed by Senate Health, pregnant women could have access to a prescription that might reverse the effects of abortion medication in time to save their pregnancies. The post Writer Talks Growing Up In Secret Appalachian City, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, volunteers in Wyoming County have found families recovering from last year's floods are unwilling to declare the damage to their homes. And the latest from the state legislature. The post Distrust Hampers Flood Recovery Efforts In Wyoming County, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Secretary of State Kris Warner said his office has received a second request from the U.S. Department of Justice seeking unredacted information on hundreds of thousands of registered voters in this state. We recently spoke with him to learn why he's not turning that information over. Also, high school students from all over the state came to the capitol Tuesday, asking legislators to put money in the budget for smoking cessation programs. The post Warner Says ‘No' To US Department Of Justice A Second Time, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Recovering from substance use disorder is hard at the best of times. How did people working on recovery during the February 2025 floods hold on to their sobriety? As we approach the one-year anniversary of those deadly floods, we wanted to check in on this often overlooked issue. The post How The February 2025 Flood Affected Sobriety Efforts, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A challenge lawmakers are struggling with this session is how to pay for public schools in a state where there's falling enrollment, especially in rural counties. Also, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom explains snow mold. The post School Funding Needs And Understanding Snow Mold, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah released "Still + Bright" last year, which featured guests like S.G. Goodman and Billy Strings. Inside Appalachia host Mason Adams spoke with Kiah from her home in Johnson City, Tennessee at that time. We listen to an encore of that conversation. The post Musician Amythyst Kiah On Album ‘Still + Bright,' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The struggle against racial discrimination has hundreds of years of history in the United States. On the next episode of Us & Them, Trey Kay looks at the intersection of music and race in the 1960s. It's about a band that took a stand against racism – and musicians who suffered the consequences. The post The Intersection Of Music And Race In The 1960s, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Three years after the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, some of those who joined a successful $600 million class action lawsuit have been paid. But some have not. Also, Gov. Patrick Morrisey pushes for his tax cut and the House of Delegates debates elections and employment bills. The post Some In East Palestine Still Waiting On Train Derailment Settlement Checks, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey has made his case for a 10% state income tax cut – but not everyone is convinced that's the way to go. Assistant News Director Maria Young spoke with Kelly Allen, executive director of the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, to learn more. The post State Center On Budget, Policy Weighs In On Morrisey's Tax Cut Proposal, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Financial leaders in the House of Delegates discuss the difference between the governor's budget numbers and the budget state lawmakers are crafting at the Capitol now. Also, we hear the latest from our occasional series on the cosmos above West Virginia, "Almost Heavens." The post Lawmakers Weigh In On The State Budget Process, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Our program, Inside Appalachia, in December was tagged in an Instagram post by WVU Professor of Art Joseph Lupo. The post showcased four-color reductive relief prints made by WVU students — each one inspired by a story or episode they heard on the show. The post WVU Students Inspired By ‘Inside Appalachia,' This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.