West Virginia Morning

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.

Help for federal workers and finding literary inspiration at the nation's first radio astronomy observatory. And, an Appalachian writer drew inspiration from memories of her childhood vision to the Green Bank Observatory. The post Help For Unpaid Federal Workers And Inspiration At The Green Bank Observatory, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

One in six West Virginians rely on the federal government's SNAP payments for food -- but that money may not come during the shutdown. And, Us & Them examines how the rocky housing market impacts low income families. The post Concerns About SNAP Benefits And The Rocky Housing Market, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Tuesday that 60 people have been arrested since the state entered into a partnership with the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) earlier this year. And a new national report examines some of the factors that influence this state's high obesity rates. The post Touting The Success Of ICE Partnership And Exploring Reasons For Obesity, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A group of Tucker County residents are asking the Intermediate Court of Appeals for help learning about a proposed power plant in their community. Also, we hear the second part of our look back at reporting from Point Pleasant columnist Mary Hyre as she went from writing about the "Mason County Monster" to the Silver Bridge collapse in a little more than a year. The post Tucker County Mystery And From Mothman To The Silver Bridge, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Across West Virginia on Saturday, at least 20 communities held their own demonstrations and rallies as part of the national 'No Kings' movement. And, we'll examine the role of a newspaper columnist who covered the early sightings of what is now known as Mothman. The post Statewide ‘No Kings' Protests And Reporting On Mysterious Sightings, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia once again tops an unfortunate national list. And, the author of a new book about paranormal sightings talks about the trouble in gathering the facts. The post Behind W.Va's. Climbing Obesity Rates And Investigating Paranormal Reports, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

An old a strip mine is the site of a future trail system for off-road vehicles and dirt bikes riders. And a new book examines the parallels between America's last public hanging and racial justice today. The post Breaking Ground On An Old Strip Mine And Lessons In Racial Justice, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The state's largest festival will take place Saturday at the New River Gorge National Park -- despite the ongoing government shutdown. And, environmentalists are using 360-degree mapping platforms to study the Monongahela River and the Ohio River Basin. The post Moving Ahead With Bridge Day And Mapping The Monongahela, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

As the Monongahela River flows into the Ohio River Basin, pollution from development upstream is impacting parts of West Virginia. And, roughly half way into a statewide listening tour, we check in with Democratic delegates to find out what constituents have to say. The post Monongahela River Woes And Democrat's Kitchen Table Tour, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Low income people in Mercer County can apply for a new program to give them a guaranteed monthly income. And, when Appalachian country singer Rob McNurlin announced plans to retire, a filmmaker decided to tell his story. The post A Helping Hand In Mercer County And An Appalachian Singer's Life Story, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The federal subsidies that allow airlines to serve small, rural airports could be suspended in the government shutdown. And, groups on both sides of the aisle are successfully mobilizing young people to vote. The post Flight Subsidies Up In The Air And The Rise Of Young Voters, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The Higher Education Policy Commission, wants lawmakers to help make the state's academic aid system less complicated. And, the state has invested in tools and resources to help travellers track the brightest shades of fall colors. The post Simplifying Academic Financial Aid And Tracking Peak Fall Colors, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Lawmakers learned about a broad range of issues facing education in West Virginia Sunday afternoon. And, a top policy experts points out how the federal government shutdown impacts West Virginia. The post A Focus On Education And Feeling Effects Of The Shutdown, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Justice Thomas H. Ewing has already been sworn in to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, but a public investiture ceremony will take place Monday. And, one way to see the fall leaves: from the open cockpit of an 82-year-old biplane. The post Supreme Court Investiture And Leaf Peeping From The Skies, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia State Police, working with federal ICE agents, have made dozens of immigration arrests in a short period of time. And, an author born in Appalachia delves into America's attitudes about the poor and working classes -- and how that affects every day life. The post More Immigration Arrests And A Tale Of Challenges, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The head of the state Board of Education presents concerns about public school finances. And, a Writer-in-Residence at Shepherd University talks about her debut novel and how it impacts Cherokee identity. The post Financial State Of Public Schools And Author Discusses Cherokee Identity, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The National Weather Service is hosting a training session for volunteers interested in storm spotting. And, while the state's clean energy jobs have been growing, the federal government is focused on fossil fuels. The post The National Weather Service Needs You And The Future Of Clean Energy, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, a volunteer group makes sure all preschool kids get new picture books and learn a love of reading and a foodbank is struggling to meet a sharp increase in demand. The post Demand Increases At Food Banks And Volunteers Support Child Literacy, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Quilting is more than a hobby: it offers some colorful lessons in math. And, the Matthew Perry Foundation comes to Appalachia to carry out the mission of its famous namesake. The post Teaching Math Through Quilting And Matthew Perry Foundation In Appalachia, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

A double milestone for West Virginia State University and what began as a local effort to prevent fatal overdoses is now in all 50 states. The post WVSU Celebrates Two Milestones And Save A Life Day Goes National, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

On this West Virginia Morning, three top historians revisit America's origin story, and the latest court filings in the state's school vaccine lawsuit are zeroing in on a linchpin legal question. The post Reflecting On America's Founding And School Vaccine Lawsuit Updates, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Save A Life Day will hold events across West Virginia and in all 50 states to prevent fatal overdoses. And, the pawpaw is the latest soft drink flavor to hit store shelves. The post Save A Life Day Expands And Bottling The Taste Of Pawpaws, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

West Virginia is a top 10 state in the growth of energy jobs. And, those in charge of the state's child welfare system say they learned some important lessons this summer. The post Energy Jobs Rising And Lessons From A Child Welfare Tour, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

An age old tradition of using shapes instead of notes helps untrained singers harmonize. And as the fall season kicks off, a look at weather extremes -- and if climate change is playing a role. The post A Rural Singing Tradition Takes Shape And How Climate Change Affects Weather, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Not everyone approves of the efforts to present only positive images of America's past. And, biologists are using a rare method to clean up a tributary of the Monongahela River. The post Renovating ‘Negative' Images Of History And Using Mussels For Pollution Cleanup, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Healing Appalachia draws big names and big crowds to an annual celebration of recovery. And, a program that helps thousands of disabled West Virginians could be cut. The post Healing Appalachia Kicks Off And Bracing For Disability Cuts, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Energy & Environment Reporter Curtis Tate highlights his investigation in millions of dollars in hidden costs for power customers in West Virginia and we'll tell you what health officials are doing to prep for the upcoming flu season. The post Prepping For Flu Season And Investigating Hidden Power Costs, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Gov. Patrick Morrisey is asking for public input on two key issues: a plan to triple energy production and applying for Rural Health Transformation funds. And, broadening the state's Hope Scholarship program has made the number of participants harder to predict. The post Seeking Public Opinions And Assessing Hope Scholarship Estimates, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

As summer fades into fall, West Virginians have a short time left this season to view two distinct stars in the skies overhead. And, electric customers in this state may have paid millions of dollars in hidden and unnecessary fees. The post Bright Orange Stars Overhead And Hidden Costs For Power, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

As WVU and Pitt prepare for to clash, Gov. Patrick Morrisey is highlighting a different kind of backyard brawl. And, an Appalachian playwright is being remembered for the laughter he brought to stage with a hapless character. The post A Different Backyard Brawl And An Appalachian Playwright, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

The West Virginia Dept. of Human Services has released the results of its statewide listening tour. And we'll preview the latest Us & Them edition, which takes a look at this country's criminal justice system and what it would take to make it stronger for all. The post Findings From Child Welfare Tour And Rebuilding Justice In A Divided America, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Lawmakers are getting a better understanding of the state's capacity to respond to deadly floods. And an Appalachian poet explores nature and marriage in his latest book. The post Assessing Future Flood Response And Turning To Poetry In Grief, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Health experts talk about the FDA's latest restrictions for the COVID-19 shot and call center operators discuss the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The post COVID-19 Vaccine Guidelines And 3 Numbers To Call For Help, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Wildfires in Canada can create air quality concerns in West Virginia. And, high tech helmets are the latest effort to prevent traumatic brain injuries in student athletes. The post How Wildfires Affect Air Quality And Protecting Student Athletes, This West Virginia Morning appeared first on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.