West Virginia Morning

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.

Blood is a key part of modern medical care, but keeping a regular supply relies on thousands of volunteers donating regularly. We learn about the importance of blood drives and how technology is making it easier than ever to roll up your sleeve. The post Tackling The Nation's Blood Shortage, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

For most of us, the cold and ice of the last few weeks have been a struggle, but a group of local rock climbers made the best of it. Also, lawmakers considered bills related to absentee ballot deadlines and medications used to terminate pregnancies. The post Climbers Take Advantage Of Cold Weather, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

It has been three years since the East Palestine train derailment. What have we learned about the health impacts from exposure to chemicals on board? Also, ICE officers arrested 650 people in West Virginia over 14 days last month. The post 3 Years After East Palestine Train Derailment And ICE Arrests, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We hear from Senate President Randy Smith who in last week's episode of The Legislature Today discussed his goals for supporting small businesses in the state. Also, the Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom examines how cold can affect your body. The post How Cold Affects The Body And A Talk With State Senate President, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

"Bombshell" is a new film from American Experience that explores how the government manipulated the public about the bomb's development and deployment. Inside Appalachia's Mason Adams spoke with author Greg Mitchell, who appears in the film. The post New American Experience Film Explores WWII Atomic Bomb, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We hear the latest story from The Allegheny Front, a public radio program based in Pittsburgh, that reports on environmental issues in the region. In this story, we learn how electricity costs are on a sharp rise despite a record year for solar and battery construction. The post Soaring Electricity Costs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in West Virginia, accounting for about 4,200 deaths annually. The American Lung Association released its annual report grading West Virginia with Ds and Fs. We spoke with Elizabeth Hensil, the director of Advocacy at the American Lung Association, to better understand what the grades mean. The post W.Va. Receives Low Grades From American Lung Association, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

How important is habitat for survival? We listen to The Allegheny Front's latest story on what's happening with federal efforts to limit protections for endangered species. Also, following a major winter storm, West Virginia officials are warning of frigid temperatures for much of the week. The post Proposed Changes To Endangered Species Act And Aftermath Of Winter Storm, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

We hear from House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, who outlines his goals for the 2026 West Virginia Legislative session. Also, if you're newly pregnant and haven't been able to afford health insurance, there's a good chance you qualify for Medicaid. The post Hanshaw's Priorities And A Special Medicaid Application For Pregnancy, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

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.