West Virginia Morning

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.

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.